Written Answers Nos 1-20
14. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the recent report on salary scale issues in respect of post-January 2011 recruits insofar as it relates to the Defence Forces intake in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20388/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra18. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the content of the report on pay equalisation as specified in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017; the actions he will take from the report; his plans for process to pay and equalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21712/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra25. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made in negotiations with the relevant parties regarding the salary scale for post-2011 entrants to the public service under the terms of the public service stability agreement, PSSA; and the roadmap and timeframe towards pay equalisation in the public sector. [21511/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 18 and 25 together.
The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), provided that an examination of remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades would be undertaken within 12 months of the commencement of the Agreement.
Additionally, as the Deputy is aware, this Government accepted an amendment at Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, that within 3 months of the passing of the Act, I would prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.
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 measure.
In accordance with the legislation I submitted a report to the Oireachtas on 16 March.
This report estimated the overall cost of a two point increment adjustment at €200m for the 60,500 staff identified as new entrants. Of this, approximately €3m is associated with new entrants in the Department of Defence. Work has continued to improve the accuracy of this estimate and as a result of new data submitted it is likely that the estimated cost in the Department of Defence will increase slightly. It is not expected that this additional data will impact the overall estimated cost of approximately €200m per annum.
Discussion on this issue with Unions, which commenced in October of last year, are ongoing with the last meeting taking place on 27 April. Further engagement is being arranged for early June.
15. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Government Procurement has statutory or other authority to advise, consult or manage local authority procurement processes; the policies in place to ensure fairness and consistent public procurement processes are used by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21672/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has responsibility for developing and setting out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland. In this regard, the OGP has developed the National Public Procurement Policy Framework which consists of 5 strands:
- Legislation (Directives, Regulations)
- Government Policy (Circulars, etc.)
- Capital Works Management Framework for Public Works
- General Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services
- More detailed technical guidelines, template documentation and information notes as issued periodically by the OGP
This framework enables a more consistent approach to public procurement across the public sector by setting out the procurement procedures to be followed by public bodies. The framework supports contracting authorities, including the OGP, the four key sectors (Health, Education, Local Government and Defence), individual Departments, Offices, commercial and non-commercial State bodies, and entities which are subsidised 50% or more by a public body, when awarding contracts for works, goods and services. It enables public bodies to adopt procedures to meet their Public Procurement requirements and facilitates compliance with EU and National Procurement Rules.
I should point out that Local Authorities like all Contracting Authorities are responsible for adhering to the procurement policy framework and for the individual procurement decisions they make. In terms of adopting a consistent approach to public procurement, I understand that the Local Government Management Agency provides advice and assistance to Local Authorities regarding national and EU procurement regulations and contract management issues affecting their activities and monitors legislative and case law developments to ensure its processes remain current in light of these developments and other best practice initiatives.
I would add that, last July, my colleague, Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan, launched new Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services. This comprehensive interpretation of the public procurement directives has been designed to improve consistency and promote best practice in the application of the public procurement rules.
However, it is worth noting that while the OGP guidelines facilitate and enable compliance with public procurement rules, it is the responsibility of each Contracting Authority, including the Local Authority Sector, to ensure they adhere to these rules.
The OGP supports compliance by putting in place compliant procurement solutions, publishing guidelines and template documentation and proactive engagement with our sourcing partners in the Health, Education, Defence and Local Government Sectors through the Procurement Executive. The solutions provided by the OGP include a broad range of Framework Agreements from which public bodies can draw down goods or service, and include areas as diverse as uniforms, food, legal services, IT, and electricity.
Furthermore, the OGP's Key Account Managers are in regular contact with Procurement Officers in Government Departments and State Bodies, including the Local Authority Sector to assist, support and remind them of their obligations in relation to public procurement.
Finally, National rules and EU Directives are clear that individual contracting authorities are responsible for establishing arrangements for ensuring the proper conduct of their affairs, including conformance to standards of good governance and accountability with regard to procurement. In this regard, the Local Government Audit Service (LGAS) audits the accounts and provides independent scrutiny of the financial stewardship of local authorities and other local bodies.
16. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which public expenditure trends remain in line with original budgetary projections; if corrective measures are required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21674/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraManaging the delivery of public services within allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department. There are important measures in place to ensure that our budgetary targets are being met and my Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. Expenditure profiles are published for each month, and the drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is monitored throughout the year and reported on against profile on a monthly basis in the Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance.
As set out in the most recent Fiscal Monitor, total gross Voted Expenditure at end-April 2018 was €19,216 million. This is €74 million, or 0.4%, below profile and an increase of €1,367 million, or 7.7%, on the same period in 2017.
Of the total €19,216 million, gross voted current expenditure accounts for €18,084 million, which is €192 million, or 1.1% ahead of profile, and an increase of €1,177 million, or 7.0% on the same period in 2017. This level of year-on-year increase is partly due to timing issues relating to Child Benefit and Garda Pension payments, profiled for May, which were brought forward to April. As outlined in the April Fiscal Monitor, this arose as the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) system was closed on the first of May. These timing issues will reverse in May.
Gross voted capital expenditure accounts for €1,132 million, which is €266 million, or 19% below profile and an increase of €190 million, or 20.1% on April 2017. Capital expenditure in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Vote Group is running €158m or 43% behind profile. This is largely due to a delay in drawing down payments to Irish Water. It is anticipated that these drawdowns will be completed in the coming months bringing expenditure back in line with profile.
As at the end of April, 13 of 17 Vote Groups are either at or on profile. My Department will continue to engage with all other Departments and Offices throughout the year in relation to expenditure management.
17. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the management of the River Shannon as part of the Managing Flood Risk in Ireland report; the timelines of the projects announced in the report; the annual funding allocation until 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21670/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State and covered 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk. The CFRAM programme culminated with the launch by me in Athlone on 3 May, 2018 of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans which proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
I was delighted to be able to launch the Plans with the Taoiseach and to announce a major 10 year €1billion programme of investment in flood relief measures. I also said on the day of the launch that it would not be possible to implement all of the capital projects in one go and that a phased approach was necessary. In that regard I also announced funding of €257 million for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country which would be progressed to detailed design and construction, including the 5 largest schemes identified in the Plans among them Limerick city and Tralee and 31 small or minor projects under €1 million which will be progressed directly by the local authorities.
The OPW is working closely with the local authorities to commence the progression of the projects. Details on the arrangements for the advancement of the five largest schemes, each with a value of between €15m and €40m, and 14 schemes costing between €1m and €15m, will be agreed with the relevant local authorities in the near future.
The allocation of almost €1billion by the Government in the National Development Plan up to 2027 for flood risk management will allow the annual allocation for flood risk measures increase from almost €70m in 2018 to €100m per annum by 2021 and thereafter.
There are ten projects directly on the River Shannon from Limerick City upstream to Leitrim Village which are to be implemented over the course of the next ten years. One scheme from the existing Capital Programme is already underway in Athlone and will be completed over the next two years. Another five schemes will be advanced as part of the first tranche of new projects. Another four projects will be part of the second tranche to be implemented. The total investment in these projects will be approximately €90m.
Over the whole of the River Shannon River Basin District (RBD) 34 areas will have new flood relief schemes implemented over the course of this 10 year programme to 2027, which will provide flood protection to over 3,200 properties.
In addition to the capital projects, the Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan also sets out a broad range of non-structural measures to manage flood risk in the Shannon catchment including maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and Drainage Districts, ongoing Operation and Maintenance of Infrastructure Associated with Hydro-Power Generation on the River Shannon, improving Long-Range Forecasting on the river Shannon to Optimise Operation of Water Level Management Infrastructure and the continued coordination of water level management by all relevant agencies on the Shannon to assist in reducing flood risk. The latter measure, in particular, is one of the key objectives of the River Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group established by the Government in January 2016. This is a solutions focussed group that added value to the Shannon CFRAM Study by ensuring the best possible level of co-ordination between all statutory bodies involved in flood risk management of the Shannon River Basin.
The Group is trialling the lowering of the lake levels on Lough Allen since 2016. It is examining a plan for strategic maintenance, to help reduce further deterioration of the River Shannon, and is also examining the development of viable flood risk reduction measures in the Shannon Callows.
20. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made with the Public Service Pay Commission regarding recruitment and retention issues in particular areas of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21669/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020, includes a commitment to examine the issue of recruitment and retention in the public service.
The Public Service Pay Commission addressed the issue of recruitment and retention across the public service in their initial report published in May 2017. While high level evidence collected by the Commission in their first report indicated that there are no significant recruitment difficulties across the main public service vocational streams, it found evidence of some recruitment and retention issues in certain specific areas . These include certain areas of the Health sector and the Defence Forces, as well as senior executive and professional posts in the civil service.
The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 included a commitment to request the Public Service Pay Commission to undertake a more comprehensive examination of recruitment and retention issues in those sectors and employment streams where difficulties are evident.
In accordance with this provision, the Commission commenced its examination late last year and is expected to complete its task by end 2018. The Commission is adopting a modular approach to its work with the first module, currently being progressed, comprising an examination of the health sector grades of nurses, consultants and doctors. This will provide the evidence base as to the nature and extent of any recruitment and retention issues and the causal factors contributing to them.
The Commission have been asked to present a range of options for resolving any specific issues identified having full regard to the fiscal constraints and requirements on Government to manage the Exchequer pay bill in a sustainable way over the medium and long-term.
