Written Answers Nos 120-136
120. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the report on the costings of pay equality as called for in an amendment to section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 will be published; and the timeframe for implementing the recommendations of the report. [11948/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report on the cost of and a plan for dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service which was provided for in section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11836/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report on the costings of pay equality as called for in an amendment to section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report on the costings of pay equality (details supplied) will be published. [12014/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the report on the costings of pay equality (details supplied) to be published. [12174/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a publication date for the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 report on costings which is to report on pay equality in the teaching profession and across the greater public sector; the timeline within which to achieve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12192/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra140. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date the report on the costings of pay equality for teachers will be received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12446/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra151. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a report on pay equalisation required under section 11 of the Public Services Pay and Pensions Act 2017. [12484/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will receive a report on the issue of restoring pay equality in the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12571/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report on the costings of pay equality and a timeframe to achieve it as called for in an amendment to section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12595/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 126, 129 to 132, inclusive, 140, 151, 153 and 155 together.
As the Deputy is aware, under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020, it was agreed that an examination of the remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades covered by Parties to this Agreement will be undertaken and that there would be discussions between the parties.
Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 requires a report on the cost of, and a plan for dealing with these matters within 3 months. The report was submitted to the Oireachtas in line with the requirements set out in the Act on 16 March. A copy of the Report can be found on my Department's website:
http://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Report-to-Oireachtas-on-New-Entrant-Salary-Scale-Issues.pdf.
This was a significant body of work and staff resources from within the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service (IGEES) were assigned to collect, collate and examine the data and provide detailed point in time costs associated with the remaining new entrant salary scale issues. Available data were returned by the Sectors and analysed.
The report and the data underpinning it will provide an evidence base to inform dialogue between the parties on this issue over the period ahead, in accordance with the terms of the PSSA.
121. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a property (details supplied) is for sale; if so, the point of contact for inquiries regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12577/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the Old Lifeguard Station at Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford is currently occupied by the Irish Coast Guard and is not for sale.
122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost to his Department of negative interest rates on deposits held; the details of same for agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11742/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, my Department was charged €143,604 in negative interest in respect of moneys for which it is accountable and are held in the following accounts at the Central Bank of Ireland:
- National Lottery Fund: €111,566
- State Property (Miscellaneous Deposits): €29,062
- Ireland /US Educational Fund: €2,976
Negative interest arises from the necessary application by the Central Bank of Ireland of the policies and decisions of the European Central Bank. The value arising from the payment of negative interest by banks or by the State accrues to the Central Bank and adds to its profits. Some 80% of the Central Bank’s annual surplus is paid to the Exchequer. In 2017, the payment amounted to €1.836 billion in respect of the 2016 surplus.
123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns from January 2017 to date in 2018, by year, month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11772/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Company Name |
Service Provided |
Year |
Month |
Cost |
|
Public Appointments Service |
Social Media Advertising |
2018 |
January / February |
€553.50 |
|
Mindshare Media Ireland Ltd |
Media buying across communication channels for the Public Services Card media and communication campaign |
2017 |
December |
€145,441.83 |
|
Inventive Marketing Ltd T/A KICK Communications |
Creative concept development for the Public Services Card media and communication campaign |
2017 |
December |
€59,998.17 |
|
Morrow Communications |
OGP – Design and production of brochures and folders |
2017 |
December |
€7,890.00 |
|
Morrow Communications |
OGP – Production of video series promoting SME engagement in public procurement |
2017 |
December |
€46,190.00 |
|
Morrow Communications |
OGP – Design of eInvoicing logo |
2017 |
December |
€1,080.00 |
|
Morrow Communications |
OGP – Brand Development |
2018 |
February |
€5,200.00 |
|
Morrow Communications |
OGP – Design of pull-up banners |
2018 |
February |
€480.00 |
|
Morrow Communications |
OGP – Design of eInvoicing infographic, development of eInvoicing logo |
2018 |
February |
€1,710.00 |
(OGP - Office of Government Procurement).
124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons that have been overpaid as a result of errors within the National Shared Services Office; the highest overpayment recorded; the average overpayment; the amount recovered; the total in overpayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11778/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the National Shared Services Office that an overpayment to staff of salary, allowances and expenses can and does occur across the entire public service for a number of reasons, including late notification, after the payroll closed and the file has issued to the bank for payment.
In addition, the reform of sick leave in the public service, while creating significant savings and standardisation of administration and elimination of legacy issues, has meant that staff are reaching sick leave thresholds earlier, which increases the risk of a pay adjustment not being notified in a timely manner.
Shared Services is reliant on employees and managers notifying sick leave on the first day of occurrence. Late or delayed notification results in overpayments. Regular communications were issued by the NSSO to civil service staff to notify them of their obligations and an intensified information campaign is also planned for 2018 with Local HR.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, I am advised that the data provided in the table is for 2017 and is estimated as it is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
|
Question |
Response |
|
The number of persons whose payroll is administered by the NSSO to the end of 2017 |
124,500 people |
|
The number of persons whose payroll is administered by the NSSO who were in receipt of an overpayment at the end of 2017 |
2,412 people |
|
The percent of those overpayments arising from errors in the NSSO to end of 2017 |
10% |
|
The highest overpayment value recorded by the NSSO |
€60,457 and this was a processing error in a retirement case that has been fully recouped |
|
The estimated average overpayment value during 2017 |
€2,036 |
|
The amount recovered in 2016 – no estimated 2017 figures available yet |
€2.015 million for 2016 |
|
The estimated total amount paid to the 124,5000 people in receipt of payroll and pension payments from the NSSO in 2017 |
€4.2 billion |
|
The estimated (not yet audited) total value of overpayments for those customers whose payroll is administered by the NSSO to the end of 2017 |
€3.7m |
125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons in the Civil Service at the grade of principal officer or higher who entered the service other than through an entry level competition run by the Public Appointments Service or its predecessors; the grades of each; and the basis for the alternative recruitment decision. [11834/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to the Civil Service is undertaken under the terms of the Public Service Management (Recruitment Appointments) Acts 2004, as amended, and is subject to the Codes of Practice set down by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and is open to audit by them if they see fit.
The CPSA is responsible for setting standards for recruitment and selection, including promotion and is charged with monitoring compliance with those standards by all Civil Service bodies. The Codes of Practice issued by the CPSA provide for the core principles of probity and fairness, selection on the basis of merit and the implementation of best practice in recruitment and selection.
The 2004 Act also provides for the exclusion of appointments to certain posts from the provisions of the Act. Section 7 covers excluded positions generally and provides for the exclusion of appointments to a range of posts including:
- officer holders under the Constitution
- appointment made by the President
- appointment made by the Government
- appointment to the position of an officer of the Houses of the Oireachtas
- appointment to the position of special adviser
- appointment in the public interest
One of the key roles of the CPSA relates to the approval and monitoring of Excluding Orders for temporary non-established positions as provided for under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. In essence this means that section 8 of the Act empowers the Commission to exclude positions from the scope of the Act where the proposed appointment is for a specific position within a defined time period. The exclusion process is intended to be used where, for valid business reasons, recruitment needs to take place outside the provisions of the Codes of Practice.
I understand from the CPSA that the following exclusion orders were granted from 2011 to 2017.
|
Category |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Total |
|
Ministerial appointments |
52 |
6 |
4 |
19 |
1 |
32 |
18 |
132 |
|
Student Placement |
4 |
9 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
25 |
27 |
108 |
|
WAM Project |
18 |
6 |
12 |
15 |
19 |
19 |
17 |
106 |
|
Appointments where specific skills were required for time limited periods |
4 |
21 |
6 |
18 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
81 |
|
Engagement of retired staff members (specific skills) |
0 |
0 |
17 |
12 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
41 |
|
Staff Exchange Scheme |
0 |
0 |
13 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
21 |
|
Total |
78 |
42 |
67 |
79 |
55 |
87 |
81 |
489 |
I also understand that the information you requested about Principal Officers and above is listed below by year. This list is a subset of the data above.
2017
- Reviewer
- HR Manager (PO)
- Assistant Secretary (Witness in High Court Case)
- Deputy Director of Audit
- Principal Officer
2016
- Chief Medical Advisor (extension)
- Delivery Office Director
2015
- Chief Medical Advisor (extension)
- Director Mother and Baby Homes Commission
2014
- Principal Officer (extension)
- Principal Officer (extension)
- Chief Medical Advisor (extension)
- Director PeoplePoint (Contract extension PO)
- Parliamentary Counsel (extension)
- Government Chief Information Officer
- Director PeoplePoint (extension)
- Deputy Director Audit
- Deputy Chief Nursing Officer
- Parliamentary Counsel (extension)
- Chief Medical Advisor (extension)
- Chief Information Officer (extension)
2013
- Principal Officer
- Counsellor (PO)
- First Parliamentary Counsel
- Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- Principal Officer
- Head of Regulation, Insolvency Ireland
- Principal Officer (extension)
- Procurement Manager
- Chief Medical Advisor
- Deputy Director of Audit
2012
- Commissioner of Valuation
- Early Years Specialist
- Governor
- Commissioner of Valuation
- Chief Medical Advisor
- Principal Officer
- Principal Officer
- Irish national delegate to UNEP (PO)
- Pharmacist and Technical Co-ordinator
- Assistant Secretary
2011
N/A
127. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons holding Civil Service positions above clerical officer grade in his Department who entered the Civil Service via a route other than through an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service or its predecessors; the grades of each; and the basis for the non-standard recruitment. [11863/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll recruitment for my Department is conducted in accordance with the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) Codes of Practice. The Commission is the principal regulator of recruitment and selection processes within the Public Service. It has a statutory role to ensure that appointments in the organisations subject to its remit (those that fall under the authority and scope of the Commission) are made on candidates’ merit and as a result of fair and transparent appointment processes.
As well as open competitions conducted by the Public Appointment Service, recruitment can also take place through other means, i.e., Confined Competitions, Interdepartmental Competitions, Recruitment under our own Recruitment Licence and under Excluding Order from the CPSA. Recruitment can also involve lateral moves through Redeployment, Secondment or transfer/mobility. The following table shows current grades by number and recruitment method for all staff above grade of Clerical Officer in my Department who did not attain their position through Open Competition. :
|
|
Confined Competitions |
Interdepartmental Competitions |
Recruitment under Recruitment Licence |
Excluding Order from the CPSA |
Redeployment |
Secondment |
Transfer or mobility |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
27 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
17 |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
58 |
|
Administrative Officer |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
3 |
10 |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
7 |
81 |
|
Principal Officer |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6 |
21 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
3 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
|
Secretary General |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the directions provided to the payment of staff in the public sector and Civil Service that fall under the direction of his Department for the days during Storm Emma when staff were directed to stay at home; if deductions in pay and annual leave were made to staff in the public sector or Civil Service as a result of days lost during the storm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11880/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployers across the Civil Service were responsible for managing attendance at work in their own organisations during Storm Emma. Civil Service organisations provide different and complex services in locations across the country. Each employer was best placed to determine the individual needs of their organisations and to assess the risks to staff of attending work. In certain areas of the Civil Service staff were required to be in work. In instances where facilities were available many civil servants worked from home on the days that offices were closed.
While there is no legal obligation on employers to pay staff who do not make it into work, other than where there may be contractual obligations, there are considerations from an engagement and morale perspective. Where a public office or service is closed by the employer on the basis that the risk was too great to the safety of the workforce and/or customers, staff cannot come to work. There could be long-term implications if the employer then refused to pay staff for what is essentially a forced absence.
133. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the design stage for proposed flood protection plans for Buncrana and Luddan, County Donegal under the north western Neagh Bann CFRAM programme will be completed and progressed. [12203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBuncrana-Luddan has been studied as part of the North Western – Neagh Bann Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Flood Risk Management Plan proposes flood relief schemes for Buncrana – Luddan consisting of a series of sea walls, flood embankments and floodwalls to protect against coastal and fluvial flood events.
In summer 2017, the OPW finalised all Plans and each Plan was submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) for an independent review of the environmental assessments. Having now received the outcomes of the independent review of the environmental assessments for the Flood Risk Management Plans, the Commissioners of Public Works are submitting the Flood Risk Management Plans to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval.
It should be noted that approval of the Plans does not confer approval to construct a scheme but rather approval to proceed to the next stages of design. These next stages involve further detailed engineering and environmental assessment, design, public consultation and review of costs and benefits.
The National Development Plan 2018-2027 commits to almost €1 billion in funding for flood relief schemes, with annual Capital funding for the OPW doubling to €100 m by 2021. This funding will support continued investment in schemes at construction and design. Once the Plans are approved, I intend to announce a prioritised initial tranche of schemes proposed by the Plans to progress to detailed project level assessment and that provide greatest return for Government investment.
134. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if temporary contractors within the Civil Service will be paid for work hours missed during Storm Emma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12205/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Protection of Employees (Fixed-term Work Act) 2003, a fixed-term employee cannot, in respect of his or her conditions of employment, be treated in a less favourable manner than a comparable permanent employee. A fixed-term employee can not be treated less favourably than a comparable permanent employee only because of the fixed-term worker’s status. The Act of 2003 applies to payment of staff during Storm Emma in the same way it applies to other conditions of employment.
Civil servants were paid during Storm Emma. Where a public office or service is closed by the employer on the basis that the risk is too great to the safety of the workforce and/or customers, staff cannot come to work.
In addition, there were certain areas of the Civil Service where staff were required to be in work. Also, in instances where facilities were available, many staff worked from home on the days that offices were closed.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date in respect of drainage and flood prevention works associated with the Morrell River, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Lower Morell River Flood Management Scheme is being progressed by Kildare County Council (KCC) as the Contracting Authority for the scheme with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Lower Morell Scheme was submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval in September 2017 and was put on display in Kildare County Council offices. It is not possible to indicate when exactly works can commence until the scheme has advanced through the planning process but a decision is expected from An Bord Pleanála in April 2018.
Should approval for the scheme be given, and depending on constraints applied by An Bord Pleanála, it is hoped that construction works would commence this summer and will be carried out over the next three years. Works will be completed by OPW’s own workforce, as a directly managed scheme. The Lower Morell Scheme remains a priority and the OPW has included provision for the cost of the proposed works in its financial profiles in the period up to 2020.
Previously, a programme of flood relief works were carried out on the Morell River by Kildare County Council in 2002 and 2003 under the Local Authority’s powers and were also funded by OPW with construction works completed by OPW direct labour working as agents for the Council.
A flood relief scheme to protect Johnstown Village was also completed by OPW and KCC on the Morell River in 2012, which included works on the Annagall Stream, the Tobenavoher Stream and the Hartwell River.
136. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the flood protection works that the Office of Public Works will undertake to protect homes and businesses flooded in August 2017 at a location (details supplied) in County Donegal. [12233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address, and local authorities may carry out flood mitigation works using their own resources. The OPW operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. Full details are on our website: www.opw.ie .
I understand that discussions recently took place between Donegal County Council and the OPW, following which the Council is expected to submit an application under the Minor Works scheme in relation to Quigley's Point. I am advised that no applications are currently in hand in the OPW for the locations mentioned in this question.
