Written Answers Nos 154-171
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the applications submitted to the Office of Public Works by a local authority (details supplied) in each of the past three years to address flooding problems under the minor works flood relief fund; if it is open to the local authority to submit minor works applications for areas included in the CFRAM reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12579/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the Flood Risk Management Plans under the CFRAM Programme which are due to be submitted shortly to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval include a number of proposed projects which fall within the financial threshold of the Minor Works scheme, that is, up to an estimated cost of €750,000. On approval of the Plans by the Minister, these minor projects can be progressed by the Local Authorities with full funding from the OPW. If there are other localised minor works identified by Local Authorities within the areas covered by the CFRAM Plans then I am advised that it is open to the Local Authorities to submit applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme for those works. All applications will be considered within the criteria of the scheme.
Please see listed in tabular form the applications submitted under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme by Mayo County Council in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to date.
|
Project Location |
Project Details |
Approved Funding |
Year of Approval/Application |
|
Salmon Leap Cottage, Belclare |
Divert flood waters away from house back into main channel |
€9,000 |
2016 |
|
Crossmolina Car Park |
To remove existing railing, construct wall and flood barrier and associated works |
€95,220 |
2016 |
|
Crossmolina Walkway |
To remove existing shrubbery, construct walls, supply and install flood gate & associated works |
€64,350 |
2016 |
|
Crossmolina Chapel Street |
To re point/repair existing stone wall |
€29,700 |
2016 |
|
Copper Beach, Straide |
Raise embankment at site- 35m embankment 5600 high with slopes 1:1 |
€5,490 |
2016 |
|
Carrowbeg River, Westport |
Study |
Awaiting outcome of CFRAM |
|
|
Seasonmaster, Straide |
175m long raised embankment at site perimeter. Raise road surface above adjacent watercourse |
€28,575 |
2016 |
|
Bachelor's Walk, Ballina |
Construction of land bank |
Awaiting outcome of CFRAM |
|
|
Green Road, Foxford |
Provide demountable flood barriers |
under consideration |
Further information requested by OPW -2016 |
|
Blacksod Harbour, Belmullet |
Coastal erosion risk management study |
under consideration |
Further information requested by OPW- 2016 |
|
Bunafolly, Doohoma |
Coastal erosion risk management study |
under consideration |
Further information requested by OPW -2016 |
|
Portacloy Beach, Belmullet (coastal) |
Coastal erosion risk management study |
under consideration |
Further information requested by OPW - 2016 |
|
Rinroe, Kilgalligan, Carrowteigue (coastal) |
Coastal erosion risk management study |
under consideration |
Further information requested by OPW - 2016 |
|
Shore Road, School Road, Belmullet (coastal) |
Coastal flooding risk management study |
under consideration |
Further information requested by OPW - 2016 |
|
Ballyhankeen |
Deepen existing & excavate new open drains and upgrade culverts |
€56,765 |
2017 |
|
Bunnadober |
Deepen, widen and extend the existing road side open drain. Extend the road side embankment. Construct a culvert and install an opening (new gates, series of pipes) |
€138,079 |
2017 |
|
Crossmolina, Chapel Street |
To re point/repair existing stone wall |
€12,207 |
2017 |
|
Cong and Drumsheel |
Undertake structural assessment of existing river wall and road. Remove the super structure from Cong weir and install/improve safety fencing. Upgrade river wall and install an emergency overflow/storm pump and 3 flood gates |
€324,819 |
2017 |
|
Neale/Cross Flood Relief Scheme |
.Study for pre-feasibility study, feasibility study and preferred options. |
Under consideration |
2018 |
156. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if flood alleviation funding will be made available for flood prevention works in Ballybay, County Monaghan; when the work will commence; if planning has been commenced, completed or approved for the works; when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12659/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans.
The CFRAM Programme is focussing on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas, mainly in urban locations nationwide, designated in 2012 as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. The flood risk for each of these areas has been assessed, through detailed engineering techniques to assess their risk and impact from flooding. This risk and the proposed feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, identified to manage that risk are outlined in the Flood Risk Management Plans.
Ballybay is being assessed as part of the North Western – Neagh Bann CFRAM Study. The proposed measure outlined in the Flood Risk Management Plan for Ballybay consists of a series of flood embankments and walls. These hard defences will extend for a total length of 2.5km with an average height of 1.6m.
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 now submitting the Flood Risk Management Plans to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval.
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 €100m 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.
157. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of homeowners who have applied for the VHR scheme by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12660/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn April 11 2017, the Government agreed the administrative arrangements for a once-off Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded between, or as a result of flooding between 4 December, 2015 and 13 January, 2016. This is a national scheme of humanitarian assistance, targeting aid at those worst affected properties, for which there are no alternative feasible measures.
The Government decision confirmed that a homeowner had to meet a number of conditions to be eligible for assistance under this scheme, including:
- That floodwater entered and damaged the building during the relevant dates such as to render it uninhabitable.
- That the property was the homeowner’s primary residence at the time of the floods.
- That the affected property must have a significant probability of the recurrence of the flood depth, duration or frequency on a scale that could cause further serious and similar damage to the home.
- That the property is not due to or may not benefit from a planned or possible future major, minor or individual flood defence scheme.
- That the property may not be protected adequately from being flooded in the future, at an economically feasible cost, through other flood mitigation works including minor works, individual property protection or other possible measures that can be considered at this time.
- That the homeowner is unable to obtain flood risk insurance.
Homeowners have had the opportunity to express an interest in the Scheme directly with the Office of Public Works. Those homes that meet the criteria are invited to an individual information meeting with the OPW.
The numbers of homes within the process are changing weekly as the process evolves and as assessments are carried out. The current position is as follows:
- The OPW has met with 22 homeowners to date.
- A further 12 homeowners have confirmed attendance at information meetings scheduled with the OPW over the coming weeks.
Those homeowners deemed to merit further consideration under the scheme, following the information meeting, will be invited to apply for a site inspection of their home. This assessment will consider the primary residence against the criteria for the scheme, including if there is a possible engineering solution.
The overall number of homes currently under consideration for the Scheme is relatively low which presents a risk that individual homeowners could be identified by providing data on a County level.
158. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an overview of the Labour Employer Economic Forum since it was established; the annual running cost in each year since it was established; the number of full and part-time staff in his Department that work on forum related matters; and the number of meetings since it has been established in tabular form. [12742/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government established the Labour Employer Economic Forum in July 2016 as a formal structure for dialogue with representatives of employers and of labour on economic and social policies as they affect employment and the workplace.
The Forum is sponsored by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation.
The LEEF meets on a quarterly basis with a format that includes a standing item on Brexit and a further discussion on a topical issue.
No external costs have been incurred in the running of the LEEF as administrative supports are provided by officials of sponsoring Departments.
A full breakdown of issues discussed is provided as follows:
|
Date of Meeting |
Topics Covered |
|
05 October 2016 |
Terms of Reference for the Forum. Brexit Economic and fiscal outlook for Budget 2017 including latest growth projections and risks. |
|
28 February 2017 |
Dedicated discussion on Brexit and its potential impacts on employer and labour interests in the Irish economy. |
|
11 May 2017 |
Brexit Broad overview on Pensions Reform Plans and on issues with Defined Benefit (DB) Occupational Pension Schemes. |
|
04 September 2017 |
Brexit Housing Market Conditions and update on Rebuilding Ireland. |
|
22 February 2018 |
Brexit "Project Ireland 2040" |
159. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Government Procurement was involved with the procurement process for a company (details supplied) in regard to the strategic communications unit; the specific requirements provided to the Office of Government Procurement in terms of deciding the best option; if a tendering process was completed; the cost of each tender received; the reason given for choosing the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12760/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Government Procurement had no involvement in the procurement process for the named company in relation to the Strategic Communications Unit.
160. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the performance review for Secretaries General and assistant secretaries general which was set to be implemented by January 2016 under the Civil Service Renewal Plan; when the first round of performance reviews will take place; if these reviews will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12761/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 12 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan committed to “Design and implement a robust performance review process for Secretaries General and Assistant Secretaries”.
Roll out of a revised performance review process across the Civil Service for those at Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Second Secretary levels, commenced in January, 2016. The first round of reviews related to the period from January to December 2016.
Key elements of the new process include:
- Setting goals that emphasise leadership and collaboration as well as business goals.
- An emphasis on development - development objectives are set each year with discussion around development and performance at the end of the year, and on an ongoing basis;
- A 360 feedback process to support development; and
- Movement away from numeric ratings to a two point assessment of ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’, as is the case in the PMDS process for other grades.
With regard to the proposed introduction of a performance review process for Secretary General level, the process began in 2016 and the initial stages of the process, including the setting of objectives and mid-year reviews took place. However, in light of the change of Government and Ministerial functions following the General Election and the development of a new Programme for Government, it was agreed that the steps taken in 2016 would be used to inform the finalisation of the performance review system for full implementation in 2017. The first full year of the process commenced in January 2017 covering the period from January to December 2017. The end-year review process in respect of 2017 took place during January and February, 2018.
The new process provides that individual Secretary General reviews are conducted by members of the Performance Review Group. This group is comprised of the Secretaries General of my Department and the Department of the Taoiseach and an external member of the Civil Service Accountability Board, currently Ms Bernie Gray. In accordance with normal practice, it is not envisaged that individual performance reviews will be made public. However, the Performance Review Group is tasked with the preparation of a report to the Civil Service Accountability Board on the review process as a whole.
161. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to upgrade the monument building and surrounding grounds at the Casino in Marino, Dublin 9; if Dublin City Council owns the green space immediately opposite Casino Park in view of the fact that this area is not part of the fenced off demesne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12782/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Casino Marino is closed for an extensive programme of safety upgrade works which is underway at present.
There is an area of land to the North West of the Casino Park which is in the ownership of Dublin City Council. I presume that this is the area referred to by the Deputy.
162. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 which come under his Department's remit or bodies under its aegis; and the estimated completion dates for each project in tabular form. [12995/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table lists the projects mentioned in the National Development Plan related to my Department or the bodies under its aegis:
|
Public Body |
Project |
Completion Date |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Office of Government Procurement - Investment in e-Tenders platform |
Ongoing investment over the lifetime of the NDP 2018-2027 |
|
Office of the Government Chief Information Officer - Public Service ICT Strategy |
2021 |
|
|
Bodies under the aegis: |
||
|
Special EU Programmes Body |
PEACE IV 2014-2020 |
2023 |
|
INTERREG VA 2014-2020 |
2023 |
|
|
National Shared Service Office |
Investment in the establishment of a Financial Management Shared Service |
2022 |
|
Office of Public Works |
||
|
Estate Management |
Hawkins House |
Q4 2024 (completion date TBC) |
|
Leeson Lane |
Q4 2021 |
|
|
Tom Johnson House |
Q4 2023 |
|
|
Leinster House |
Q4 2018 |
|
|
Garda Programme |
Athlone |
Q3 2020 |
|
Bailieborough |
Site acquired March 2018 - completion date TBC |
|
|
Flood Risk Management* |
SCHEMES |
|
|
Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme |
2025 |
|
|
Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme |
2019 |
|
|
Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme |
TBC following planning process |
|
|
Bandon Flood Relief Scheme |
2019 |
|
|
Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme |
2020 |
|
|
Claregalway Flood Relief Scheme |
2019 |
|
|
Athlone Flood Relief Scheme |
2021 |
|
|
LARGE SCHEMES |
||
|
Limerick City and Environs |
To be confirmed* |
|
|
Tralee |
To be confirmed* |
|
|
Dundalk |
To be confirmed* |
|
|
Carlingford and Greenore |
To be confirmed* |
|
|
Drogheda |
To be confirmed* |
* These schemes arise from the CFRAM Programme and will not be advanced until approval of the Plans by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
The delivery of flood defence projects is dependent on a range of factors and variables, which can impact on timescales for implementation and any dates provided are subject to uncertainty in this regard.
163. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts made by his Department to ensure that there will be the required number of construction workers to enable the Rebuilding Ireland programme to be a success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11758/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a range of new and expanding programmes in place to meet skills demands in the construction industry. These include programmes identified following engagement between education and training providers and construction employers through the 9 Regional Skills Fora.
Construction related apprentice registrations increased from 1,713 in 2015 to 2,314 in 2016 which represents an increase of 35%. This trend continued in 2017 with a further increase of 28% on the 2016 figure bringing the total number of construction related registrations to 2,963.
Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of construction related apprentices being registered is determined by employers within the construction sector. My Department and SOLAS are committed to supporting the registration of apprentices in the construction sector. Registrations on craft apprenticeships are forecast to increase further up to 2020.
As the Deputy is aware, we are currently expanding the range of apprenticeships on offer to meet the identified skill needs of industry. Arising from our first call for apprenticeship proposals in 2015 an apprenticeship in Engineering Services Management, with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as industry lead, is currently being developed into a national apprenticeship programme. In addition, we recently announced 26 new programmes, arising from last year’s second call for proposals, to be further developed into national apprenticeships, including a scaffolding apprenticeship, again with the CIF as industry lead and a senior quantity surveyor apprenticeship with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland as industry lead. These new programmes, once developed, will add to and complement the range of apprenticeships currently on offer in developing the skill needs identified by the sector.
In addition to apprenticeship provision, almost 7,000 beneficiaries participated in SOLAS-funded construction related further education and training (FET) programmes provided by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) under the ‘Built Environment’ skills cluster during 2017. Examples of these programmes include programmes in concreting, ground work, scaffolding and sustainable construction.
Separately, following a series of discussions with the CIF, SOLAS identified the following semi-skilled occupations as priority areas for the ETBs;
- Form worker
- Steel-fixer
- Curtain waller (installing glass and plaque tiles on the outside of building replacing brickwork)
Programmes have been put in place to produce approximately 100 form workers, 100 steel-fixers and 50 curtain wallers per year. SOLAS will continue to engage with the ETBs to expand provision to meet needs in these areas.
164. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the numbers of the seven settlements made by the State Claims Agency to date as part of the ex gratia scheme set up following a judgment (details supplied) that were as a result of physical abuse only. [11904/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn PQ 8152/18, I explained to the Deputy that because the type of abuse suffered by an individual is personal to that individual, the information can not be disclosed by any State body or organization holding that data.
165. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Garda vetting clearance for a person (details supplied) can be transferable between schools similar to the arrangement in place for teachers and substitute teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12146/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2016, the Minister for Justice and Equality commenced the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 (the Vetting Act) which put in place statutory requirements for the Garda vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable persons. The Vetting Act applies not just to schools but to any relevant organisation that employs, contracts, permits or places a person in relevant work with children or vulnerable persons. The vetting legislation and the vetting procedures operated by the National Vetting Bureau fall within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality.
When the vetting requirements were commenced in April 2016, my Department issued circular 0031/2016 which set out the statutory vetting requirements applicable to schools along with the practical arrangements in place to support the vetting procedures.
At the same time, I commenced the vetting related provisions of the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act, 2015 which, inter alia, enabled the Teaching Council to put in place a streamlined mechanism for school employers to meet the statutory vetting requirements in respect of registered teachers. The existence of the Teaching Council, as a statutory body with a statutory role in the registration of registered teachers, has enabled my Department to bring forward the relevant legislative provisions under the Teaching Council Amendment Act 2015 which have allowed for such a streamlined mechanism to be put in place in the case of registered teachers. However, it is not possible for my Department to put in place similar legislative arrangements in respect of non-teaching staff.
The Vetting Act provides that a relevant organisation must, other than in certain limited circumstances, obtain a vetting disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau prior to commencing the employment of an employee to undertake relevant work with children or vulnerable adults. The Vetting Act allows for some limited exemptions to this requirement, including certain exemptions that are applicable in the case of recurring substitute employments such as a recurring substitute SNA employment. The Act’s exemptions in respect of substitute employments are set out in section 5.3 of my Department’s circular.
Under the new statutory vetting procedures, the vetting of SNAs and other non-teaching staff continues to be conducted via the relevant diocesan office or school management body as the relevant conduit organisation for the vetting of SNAs and other non-teaching staff employed by schools. In the case of ETB schools the relevant ETB is the relevant organisation for such vetting.
166. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of employed persons aged 16 years of age and over in training related to professional activity here, according to the latest EUROSTAT data; the equivalent data for each EU country; and the EU average figure in tabular form. [12729/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
Participation rate in education and training of employed (last 4 weeks) by type, sex, age (15-64, %)
|
SEX |
Total |
Males |
Females |
|
GEO/TIME |
2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
|
European Union (current composition) |
14.3 |
12.6 |
16.2 |
|
European Union (15 countries) |
16.4 |
14.6 |
18.6 |
|
Euro area (19 countries) |
14.6 |
13.1 |
16.3 |
|
Belgium |
7.7 |
6.9 |
8.5 |
|
Bulgaria |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.8 |
|
Czech Republic |
10.5 |
9.5 |
11.7 |
|
Denmark |
34.9 |
30.2 |
40.2 |
|
Germany (until 1990 former territory of the FRG) |
12.9 |
12.6 |
13.3 |
|
Estonia |
19.7 |
15.8 |
23.8 |
|
Ireland |
7.6 |
6.9 |
8.5 |
|
Greece |
4.7 |
4 |
5.5 |
|
Spain |
10.4 |
9 |
12 |
|
France |
22.9 |
20.3 |
25.6 |
|
Croatia |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
|
Italy |
9.4 |
8.2 |
11 |
|
Cyprus |
7.9 |
7.2 |
8.7 |
|
Latvia |
9.4 |
7.5 |
11.2 |
|
Lithuania |
9.2 |
8.2 |
10 |
|
Luxembourg |
20.5 |
19.3 |
22.1 |
|
Hungary |
8.1 |
6.6 |
9.8 |
|
Malta |
10.6 |
8.5 |
13.9 |
|
Netherlands |
28.8 |
26.6 |
31.3 |
|
Austria |
19.8 |
17.8 |
22 |
|
Poland |
5.8 |
5 |
6.9 |
|
Portugal |
10.9 |
10.3 |
11.5 |
|
Romania |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.5 |
|
Slovenia |
15.6 |
13.2 |
18.5 |
|
Slovakia |
3.5 |
2.9 |
4.3 |
|
Finland |
31 |
26.2 |
36 |
|
Sweden |
31.1 |
23.2 |
39.5 |
|
United Kingdom |
19.3 |
17.1 |
21.8 |
Formal and non-formal education and training
167. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [11735/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of commercial bank accounts and one investment account in respect of the National Training Fund which is held in the Central Bank. Negative interest rates apply in respect of each of these accounts. The total cost of negative interest rates on deposits held by my Department in 2017 was €70,966.
The Department makes every effort to minimise costs arising from the operation of negative interest rates. The Department funds its commercial bank accounts on a just-in-time basis and seeks to keep the balance of monies at a minimum in those accounts. In respect of the National Training Fund investment account, procedures have been put in place to invest surplus funds in NTMA Exchequer Notes.
My Department does not centrally hold information on negative interest rates on deposits held by bodies under the aegis of the Department.
168. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe to end the pay inequality for teachers in view of the publication of the pay review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11752/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the full restoration of pay equality for primary teachers who entered the profession post 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11776/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a report (details supplied) on the costings of pay equality will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra184. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [11949/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra244. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for restoration of pay and pension entitlements for newly qualified teachers; the status of the talks on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12416/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 170, 171, 184 and 244 together. The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, negotiated a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. The agreements to date have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver convergence of the pay scales at later points in the scale.
As a result of these changes, the current starting salary of a new teacher is €35,958 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692. If full equalisation was achieved the starting salary for a post-primary teacher from 1 October 2020 would be €43,879 and for a primary teacher would be €41,511.
To have gone further than the pay increases that have been negotiated for 2018 would mean I would have had less money available to hire over 1,000 extra SNAs and over 1,000 extra teachers.
Differential pay scales were introduced by the then Government in 2010. It must be borne in mind that the pay reduction for post-2011 entrants applied to all public servants and not just teachers, and that any restoration of these measures in respect of teachers would be expected to be applied elsewhere across the public service.
In accordance with the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform recently laid before the Oireachtas a report on the matter of the pay of new entrants to the public service. The report assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that during the financial crisis there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education). Addressing any issues arising from changes which are not specifically detailed in the report would give rise to additional costs over and above the foregoing figures.
Any further negotiation on new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector. The Government also supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform’s report will inform discussion on remaining salary scale issues with the parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 in accordance with the commitment in the Agreement to consider the issue of newly qualified pay. That process commenced with a first meeting on 12 October 2017. The three teacher unions attended that first meeting.
169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [11765/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detail of my Department’s expenditure on all advertising for the period 1 January 2017 - 28 February 2018 is outlined in the table.
My Department did not incur any expenditure on external public relations or communications advice in 2017 or to date in 2018.
Advertising 2017
|
Supplier |
Month |
Brief description (campaign/event/project etc.) |
Amount |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
30-Jan-17 |
Recruitment for Junior Cycle for Teachers |
€845.05 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
30-Jan-17 |
Recruitment for Junior Cycle for Teachers |
€657.26 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
30-Jan-17 |
Recruitment for Junior Cycle for Teachers |
€6,069.14 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
30-Jan-17 |
Recruitment for Junior Cycle for Teachers |
€4,720.43 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
07-Feb-17 |
Iris Advertisement for S.I. No. 8/2017 - European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 |
€53.00 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
16-Mar-17 |
Iris Advertisement for the appointment of Student Representative to NCAD Board |
€20.00 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
06-Apr-17 |
Recruitment for Director of Kilkenny Eduction Centre |
€250.39 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
06-Apr-17 |
Paper Adverts for external supervisors re Industrial Dispute |
€5,228.65 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
06-Apr-17 |
Recruitment for Director of Kilkenny Education Centre |
€1,798.26 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
11-Apr-17 |
Adverts for Professional Masters in Education in Training Colleges |
€4,720.44 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
19-Apr-17 |
Iris Advertisement for the appointment of Chairperson of GMIT |
€20.00 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
20-Apr-17 |
Publication of Statutory Instrument Student Support Act 2011 - Student Grant Scheme 2017 |
€40.00 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
29-Jun-17 |
Recruitment for Professional Development Service for Teachers |
€8,066.55 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
25-Jul-17 |
Iris Advertisement for the appointment of Chairperson of WIT |
€20.00 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
27-Jul-17 |
Publication of notice of S.I. No. 309/2017 |
€31.00 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
03-Aug-17 |
Admission to Schools Bill 2016 (as amended at Committee Stage in June 2017) - School Gov |
€28.42 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
08-Aug-17 |
Publication of notices of statutory Instruments 333/334 |
€40.00 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
31-Aug-17 |
Publication of notices of statutory Instruments 17/379 |
€20.00 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
14-Sep-17 |
Adverts for Masters Ed in Training Colleges |
€657.26 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
14-Sep-17 |
Recruitment for Professional Development Service for Teachers |
€1,173.88 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
14-Sep-17 |
Recruitment for Professional Development Service for teachers/National Induction Programme for Teachers/Junior Cycle for Teachers |
€8,429.16 |
|
CIT Students Union |
05-Oct-17 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund which is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€984.00 |
|
UCC Students Union |
05-Oct-17 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund which is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€375.00 |
|
St Angela's College Students Union |
10-Oct-17 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund which is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€250.00 |
|
Public Appointments Service |
25-Oct-17 |
Advertising payment post head ICT service delivery |
€522.75 |
|
OPW Iris Oifigiúil |
27-Oct-17 |
Publication of Statutory Instrument Student Support Act 2011 (Prescribed Persons) Regulations 2017 |
€20.00 |
|
GMIT Students Union |
31-Oct-17 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund which is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€300.00 |
|
GMIT Students Union |
31-Oct-17 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund which is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€300.00 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
07-Nov-17 |
Recruitment for Teacher Education Section Support Service |
€718.89 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
07-Nov-17 |
Recruitment for Director Of Monaghan Education Centre |
€2,052.82 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
07-Nov-17 |
Recruitment for Professional Development Service for Teachers |
€3,067.43 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
09-Nov-17 |
Advert for Creative Schools Secondment posts |
€4,385.20 |
|
IT Carlow Students Union |
12-Dec-17 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund which is co- financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€300.00 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
20-Dec-17 |
Recruitment for Professional Development Service for Teachers |
€703.91 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
20-Dec-17 |
Recruitment for Professional Development service for Teachers |
€5,057.91 |
|
Supplier |
Month |
Brief description (campaign/event/project etc. |
Amount |
|
OPW/Iris Oifigiúil |
15-Jan-18 |
Iris Advertisement for S.I. No. 17/542 |
€31.00 |
Advertising 2018
|
Supplier |
Month |
Brief description (campaign/event/project etc.) |
Amount |
|
OPW/Iris Oifigiúil |
15-Jan-18 |
Iris Advertisement for S.I. No. 17/542 |
€31.00 |
