Billy Kelleher
Ceist:156. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of proposals (details supplied). [22477/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraVAT Yield
Ceisteanna (156)
Freagraí scríofa
Section 56 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 provides for the zero-rating of supplies of qualifying goods and services, of intra-Community acquisitions and of imports from outside the European Union by certain accountable persons. Accountable persons who qualify are those with a turnover from zero-rated intra-Community supplies of goods, exports of goods outside the European Union and supplies of certain contract work exceeding, or likely to exceed, 75% of their total annual turnover. A revision of the scope of the current scheme would require consultation with the EU VAT Committee and EU approval.
It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate on the cash flow cost to the Exchequer of this proposal, as information available to the Revenue Commissioners does not require traders to separately identify the portion of their turnover that relates to intra-Community supplies, exports, domestic sales, inter company transactions and specific types of contract work. Qualifying businesses are required to register for this scheme and confirm eligibility on registration.
Tax Yield
Ceisteanna (157)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:157. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of changing the limits in operation for capital gains tax, CGT, reliefs over a full calendar year between assets transferred to children and persons (details supplied). [22478/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I assume the Deputy is referring to retirement relief from Capital Gains Tax on the sale or transfer of assets used in a business or farm.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that it is not possible to accurately estimate the potential Exchequer cost from changing the age limits and relief thresholds in respect of retirement relief as it would depend on future transfers of assets and businesses. From Capital Gains Tax returns for 2016, which is the most recent year available, the number of individuals with claims in respect of retirement relief in excess of €3 million, irrespective of the age of the individual, was less than ten.
Financial Services Sector
Ceisteanna (158)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:158. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance the role his departmental officials had with the new strategy on the IFSC. [22296/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2015 the Government launched "A Strategy for Ireland's International Financial Services Sector 2015-2020"(IFS2020). The Strategy was a whole of government approach to the continued development of our international financial services sector and was developed to address the increasingly competitive and ever changing nature of international financial services.
IFS2020 is currently led by Minister of State Michael D’Arcy TD with the aim to create 10,000 net new jobs across the Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland portfolios in international financial services over five years from 2015 – 2020. The vision of IFS2020 is for Ireland to be the location of choice for specialist international financial services, building on our strengths in talent, technology, innovation and excellent client services, while focusing on capturing new opportunities in a changing market and embracing the highest forms of governance.
To date the IFS2020 Strategy has created approximately 7,000 net new jobs in the sector placing us on target to create 10,000 by 2020. The IFS sector now employs almost 42,000 people across Ireland with 30% of those employed in the sector located outside Dublin.
The IFS2020 Strategy was devised after a series of consultations with stakeholders and with input from the relevant Government departments and agencies including the Department of Finance. The secretariat for the strategy was originally based in the Department of the Taoiseach. It moved to the Department of Finance in 2016 in tandem with the announcement of the new role of Minister of State for Financial Services.
IFS2020 is due to expire in 2019. Minister D’Arcy and officials from my department have begun to consider the development of a successor to IFS2020 and this will continue over the coming months through consultation with relevant stakeholders across both the public and private sector.
Part of the success of the current Strategy is the public-private consultation and engagement on the Strategy and annual Action Plans. A series of targeted and focussed consultation on the content of the strategy will take place as part of the drafting of a new strategy.
Cycle to Work Scheme Administration
Ceisteanna (159)
Robert Troy
Ceist:159. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the cycle to work scheme. [22512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Cycle To Work Scheme is essentially an environmental measure. It was introduced on that basis to help lower carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion, encourage more employees to cycle to work and to help improve health and fitness levels.
The current limit of €1000 covers a wide range of bicycles, including electric bicycles, and is therefore sufficient to cover many models suitable for those wishing to cycle to work.
Also, an employer may of course purchase an eligible bicycle and safety equipment which costs more than €1,000 but the excess would be treated as a benefit-in-kind for taxation purposes, full details are available on the Revenue website.
Finally, the expansion of any scheme does of course create a cost and that cost must be recovered elsewhere. For that reason, while the scheme is kept under review by officials, there are no plans at present to increase the limits.
Tax Yield
Ceisteanna (160)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised by reducing the research and development tax credit to each of 20%, 15% and 10%, respectively. [22549/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The RandD Tax Credit is a very important feature of the Irish Corporation Tax system. The central purpose of the R&D Tax Credit is to encourage companies to undertake high-value added RandD activity in Ireland, thereby supporting jobs and investment here.
I am informed by Revenue that it is not possible to accurately estimate the potential revenue that would be raised by reducing the R&D Tax Credit to each of 20%, 15% and 10% as the yield would depend on future expenditure on RandD and also the possible negative impact on expenditure from the introduction of the reduced credits.
However, on the basis of information on Corporation Tax returns for 2016, which is the latest year available, and on a straightforward mathematical basis, reducing the 25% rate to 20% could have yielded €135 million. This includes the impact on repayable credits from earlier years. Further reductions to 15% and 10% can be estimated broadly on a pro-rata basis.
I would highlight that the comprehensive review of the R&D Tax Credit, undertaken by my department in 2016, found that the R&D tax credit is responsible for 60% of the RandD being conducted here, which represents a reasonable level of additionality. Furthermore, for every €1 in foregone tax revenue, more than €2.40 in additional RandD is being conducted. My officials and I are conscious of the need for regularly evaluating this tax credit. However, it is important to recognise that while this is a generous tax credit, it is one of the few corporation tax credits that we have in Ireland, when compared with other jurisdictions. In this respect, we are mindful of the need to maintain a competitive corporation tax offering.
Tax Yield
Ceisteanna (161)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:161. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of corporation tax received in each of the years 2014 to 2017, by sector, including the financial sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22551/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am informed by Revenue that the amount of Corporation Tax by sector is available on the Revenue website up to 2016 at:
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/receipts/receipts-sector.aspx.
Sectoral analysis of 2017 receipts is currently being finalised and will be available at that link in the coming weeks.
Tax Code
Ceisteanna (162)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:162. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the legal and regulatory basis of the transfer pricing regime used by multinationals here; his plans for changes in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22559/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland’s transfer pricing rules are set out in Part 35A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The rules apply the arm’s length principle to trading transactions between companies within a multinational group. The arm’s length principle is the international transfer pricing standard that OECD member countries have agreed should be used for tax purposes by multinational groups and tax administrations. For Irish tax purposes, ‘arm’s length’ is to be construed as far as practicable in accordance with the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations (July 2010).
Under the arm’s length principle, the amount charged by one related party to another for a product or service must be the same as would be charged between unrelated parties. If, for example, an expense incurred by an Irish subsidiary company of a multinational group in dealings with a foreign member of that group is greater than the arm’s length price, or receipts are less than the arm’s length amount, the company’s profits will be understated for Irish tax purposes. The transfer pricing rules require this understatement of profits to be reversed so that the full arm’s length profits will be taxed.
The transfer pricing rules apply to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011 in relation to arrangements the terms of which were agreed on or after 1 July 2010. The rules do not apply to Small or Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”), being enterprises that, on a group basis, have less than 250 employees and either a turnover of less than €50m or assets of less than €43m. SMEs are however subject to general tax principles which can also operate to guard against abusive transfer pricing practices.
Companies are required to have documentation available for inspection by Revenue in relation to their transfer pricing policies in order to demonstrate compliance with the legislation. Revenue carries out risk-based transfer pricing compliance interventions.
In his Review of Ireland’s Corporation Tax Code, Mr. Seamus Coffey made a number of recommendations in relation to the Irish tax code, including the following recommendations in relation to transfer pricing:
1. Irish legislation should provide for the application of the 2017 update of the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, incorporating Actions 8, 9 and 10 from the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) project.
2. Transfer pricing legislation should be applied to arrangements the terms of which were agreed before 1 July 2010.
3. Consideration should be given to extending transfer pricing rules to SMEs and also to non-trading and capital transactions.
4. In order to ensure implementation of BEPS Action 13 (Transfer Pricing Documentation and Country-by-Country Reporting), there should be a specific obligation on Irish taxpayers who are subject to domestic transfer pricing legislation to have available the transfer pricing documentation outlined in the OECD 2017 Transfer Pricing Guidelines.
In his review, Mr. Coffey recommended that if it is decided to implement any or all of these recommendations, this should take place no later than end-2020, being the year to which the OECD and G20 have agreed to extend their cooperation on BEPS.
Mr. Coffey also recommended that, in order to ensure certainty of our regime, there should be detailed consultation with relevant stakeholders in relation to his recommendations. Therefore, in October 2017, I launched a public consultation on the implementation of the Coffey recommendations. The consultation ran up to 30 January 2018 and over 20 submissions were received, many of which were detailed technical submissions. My Department is currently reviewing the responses received and these will inform my decisions on the development of future legislative change in the area of transfer pricing.
Motor Insurance Data
Ceisteanna (163)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:163. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the most recent, actual or estimated average and total cost of whiplash claims; the most recent, actual or estimated typical premiums for drivers by age, in particular for young drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22595/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the outset, it is important to understand that as Minister for Finance, my Department does not collect the information that the Deputy is seeking.
The only general guidance available on award levels for whiplash injuries is the Book of Quantum. In that Book, the most common type of neck injury is called a “whiplash” injury which is described as an over extension or sprain often suffered in a motor vehicle accident or high impact slip/trip/fall type of accidents. It states that whiplash injuries can involve a very minor sprain that heals within days or weeks or they can in extreme cases cause long lasting pain and permanent disability. It is therefore difficult to provide an average cost for such types of injuries as there is such a range of injuries linked to “whiplash”.
In this respect, the Book of Quantum differentiates between the awards that may be considered for such injuries, ranging from €15,700 to €77,900. While the recently published Second Motor Key Information Report provides average costs for lower value or capped motor third party injury claims, it does not provide specific values with regard to whiplash claims. Costs associated with whiplash claims may form a part of these claims costs, however I would not interpret the data within the report in such a way to state that the values represent the average cost for “whiplash” claims.
The Deputy should note that when talking about the cost of whiplash claims, the costs will also include costs linked to motor third party claims such as legal, medical and other costs. In this regard, the Department of Finance’s First Key Information Report, published in July 2017, contained data that suggested such costs can account for approximately 40% of the award level provided in cases involving litigation.
With respect to actual or estimated typical premiums for drivers by age in particular for younger drivers, it is not possible to provide this information. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) collects data on the price of motor insurance premiums as part of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each month. To ensure the soundness of the index, the CSO uses a variety of detailed profiles (including car age, car model, driver experience, driver history) sent directly each month to motor insurance companies that represent a substantial portion of the market share. The profiles each company receives remain consistent each month so that the CSO can use a continuous "like with like" comparison in the best way possible and in this regard each company is sent a representative set of profiles for their consumer base. The risks vary based on the detail contained in each of the profiles in order to get a larger spread of the realistic market. It should be noted that the publication of the price index in this regard is consistent with how national statistics authorities produce such indices in other jurisdictions like the UK.
Finally, I would note that in the UK, private sector operators provide additional premium price information broken down by other factors such as age, in the fashion requested by the Deputy. My officials have examined these indices however they have found that each of these indices produce very different results, depending on the methodology used. The value of producing such information is therefore highly questionable and may not assist consumers in the long run.
Public Sector Pensions Data
Ceisteanna (164)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:164. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance the number of public and civil servants making additional voluntary contributions to their public and Civil Service pension schemes at the latest available date by the average contribution and by gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22596/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials are engaging with the National Shared Services Office, who administer the payroll for staff in the Department of Finance, to compile this information in relation to the staff of the Department of Finance and I will revert to the Deputy within the next two weeks, on the matter.
Tax Data
Ceisteanna (165)
Joan Burton
Ceist:165. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the details of rental income in years (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22661/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by Revenue that tax returns up to and including the 2015 tax year did not require rental income to be returned in a manner that separately identified income from residential property lettings and that from other types of property, for example commercial rental property. It is therefore not possible to provide the total value of residential rental income in the manner requested by the Deputy for the years 2010-2015.
Revenue have informed me that tax returns from the 2016 tax year onwards have separate data fields for residential property rental income and non-residential property rental income. The data from these returns is currently being processed and the relevant information will become available for 2016 in the coming months.
Flood Relief Schemes Status
Ceisteanna (166)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Ceist:166. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood relief works in the Ouvane River in Ballylickey, Bantry, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22274/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Ouvane Catchment Drainage Scheme was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. Extensive maintenance works on the channels in the catchment were undertaken by the OPW in the latter half of 2016 and a recent inspection of the area found the channels in proper repair and effective condition.
An application received from Cork County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for this location did not meet the scheme criteria.
Flood Relief Schemes Status
Ceisteanna (167)
Bobby Aylward
Ceist:167. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the estimated timeline and associated costs for completion of the flood relief proposals recently announced for the Freshford area of County Kilkenny; the steps he will take to ensure that the commitments made in respect of the estimated timeline and costs will be met accordingly; the steps he will take to ensure that appropriate public consultation and engagement with local residents and land owners in respect of the proposals take place in a considered and timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22591/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 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). As it is not possible to progress all 118 proposed new schemes at once, funding of €257 million for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country was also announced which would be progressed to detailed design and construction, including the five largest schemes identified in the Plans and 31 small or minor projects under €1 million which will be progressed directly by local authorities. Aside from the 5 largest schemes and the 31 small or minor projects, the remaining projects in the initial phase of implementation were selected on the basis of those projects which would provide the greatest benefit in terms of the greatest number of properties protected on a regionally balanced basis.
The proposed flood relief scheme at Freshford, Co. Kilkenny has been identified by the CFRAM programme to be progressed at a projected cost of €3.8 million. This proposed scheme involves a combination of flow diversion and improved channel conveyance and will protect 93 properties when completed. The proposed scheme is not in the first tranche of projects to be progressed but the OPW and the local authority will work closely to ensure that it will be commenced in the coming years and within the 10 year timeframe for the programme of investment.
Once consultants are appointed to progress the scheme, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies as well as the general public takes place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the scheme.
Flood Relief Schemes Status
Ceisteanna (168)
Bobby Aylward
Ceist:168. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the estimated timeline and associated costs for completion of the flood relief proposals recently announced for the Ballyhale area of County Kilkenny; the steps he will take to ensure that the commitments made in respect of the estimated timeline and costs will be met accordingly; the steps he will take to ensure that appropriate public consultation and engagement with local residents and land owners in respect of the proposals take place in a considered and timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22592/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 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). In that regard funding of €257 million for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country was also announced which would be progressed to detailed design and construction, including the five largest schemes identified in the Plans and 31 small or minor projects under €1 million which will be progressed directly by local authorities.
The proposed flood relief scheme at Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny with an estimated cost of €430,000 is included in the 31 small or minor projects under €1 million, and is expected to be progressed directly by Kilkenny County Council with full funding from the OPW. The work will involve the construction of an embankment and flow diversion from the Ballyhale watercourse to the Little Arrigle River and will protect 25 properties when completed.
OPW has set up frameworks of consultants which the local authorities can also use to progress the design of each project and which will help to speed up the process to construction. It will be a matter for the Council to advance the scheme but it is hoped that its progression can commence soon. Once consultants are appointed to progress the scheme, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies as well as the general public takes place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the scheme.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (169)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:169. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the training and development and incidental expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22145/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A breakdown of expenditure by my Department in 2017 in the category of training and development and incidental expenses is set out in the following tables - the first table for Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) and the second table for Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement).
|
Training and Development and Incidental Expenses - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Vote 11 |
|
Training and Development |
|
|
- Courses, conferences and seminars for staff (including refund of academic fees) |
€490,170.56 |
|
Training & Development Total |
€490,170.56 |
|
Official & State Entertainment |
€5,146.84 |
|
Official & State Entertainment Total |
€5,146.84 |
|
Library & Information Services |
|
|
- Publications / Periodicals |
€43,767.44 |
|
- Translations |
€2,249.18 |
|
Library & Information Services Total |
€46,016.62 |
|
Advertising, Photography, etc. |
|
|
- Advertising / Printing |
€9,524.69 |
|
Advertising, Photography, etc. Total |
€9,524.69 |
|
Administrative Expenses |
|
|
- Professional / Corporate Subscriptions |
€51,243.63 |
|
- Penalty Interest |
€1,376.70 |
|
- Couriers |
€2,359.14 |
|
- Peoplepoint Service Charge |
€66,938.77 |
|
- Refreshments (Tea / Coffee / Water) |
€23,362.29 |
|
- Drinking Water Charges |
€11,595.54 |
|
- Security |
€14,474.80 |
|
- Cleaning Services, Corporate Support Expenditure and other Facilities Services |
€227,769.79 |
|
Administrative Expenses Total |
€399,120.66 |
|
Bank Charges & Fees |
|
|
- Bank Charges |
€658.87 |
|
Bank Charges & Fees Total |
€658.87 |
|
Other Expenses |
|
|
- Chief Medical Officer's Supplies |
€23,883.85 |
|
- European Institute of Public Administration |
€55,000.00 |
|
Other Expenses Total |
€78,883.85 |
|
Total expenditure in 2017 on Training and Development and Incidental Expenses for DPER |
€1,029,522.09 |
|
Training and Development and Incidental Expenses - Office of Government Procurement |
Vote 39 |
|
Training and Development |
|
|
- Courses, conferences and seminars for staff (including refund of academic fees) |
€392,666.60 |
|
Training & Development Total |
€392,666.60 |
|
Library & Information Services |
|
|
- Publications / Periodicals |
€87,182.09 |
|
Library & Information Services Total |
€87,182.09 |
|
Advertising, Photography, etc. |
|
|
- Advertising / Printing |
€3,574.38 |
|
Advertising, Photography, etc. Total |
€3,574.38 |
|
Administrative Expenses |
|
|
- Professional / Corporate Subscriptions |
€7,515.65 |
|
- Penalty Interest |
€82.75 |
|
- Couriers |
€5,957.78 |
|
- Peoplepoint Service Charge |
€33,383.78 |
|
- Refreshments (Tea / Coffee / Water) |
€20,356.19 |
|
- Drinking Water Charges |
€1,116.00 |
|
- Security |
€1,086.99 |
|
- Administrative / Cleaning services support |
€31,115.22 |
|
Administrative Expenses Total |
€100,614.36 |
|
Bank Charges & Fees |
|
|
- Bank Charges |
€84.85 |
|
Bank Charges & Fees Total |
€84.85 |
|
Miscellaneous Expenses |
|
|
- Dept Misc Expenses |
€1,113.00 |
|
Miscellaneous Expenses Total |
€1,113.00 |
|
Total expenditure in 2017 on Training and Development and Incidental Expenses for the OGP |
€585,235.28 |
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (170)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:170. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the travel and subsistence expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22161/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A breakdown of travel and subsistence expenditure by my Department in 2017 is set out in the following two tables - the first table for Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) and the second table for Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement).
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - (Vote 11) |
|
|
Domestic Travel |
€111,995.05 |
|
EU Travel |
€87,595.34 |
|
Non-EU Travel |
€65,662.40 |
|
Total expenditure on Travel in 2017 |
€265,252.79 |
|
Office of Government Procurement - (Vote 39) |
|
|
Domestic Travel |
€168,429.10 |
|
EU Travel |
€33,960.07 |
|
Non-EU Travel |
- |
|
Total expenditure on Travel in 2017 |
€202,389.17 |
Departmental Contracts Data
Ceisteanna (171)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of contracts that have been arranged through a grant arrangement instead of a public procurement process for services by his Department in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The following table sets out the grant payments which the Department has made from its Vote (Vote 11) in the period in question. In these instances, it is considered that a grant is the most effective means of supporting the purposes set out in the table. This position is kept under review.
|
Grantee |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Purpose of grant |
|
Benefacts |
- |
- |
350,000 |
650,000 |
950,000 |
To provide access to more transparent data on the not-for-profit sector which has been collated and processed by Benefacts |
|
Transparency International Ireland |
- |
- |
- |
300,000 |
220,000 |
To provide an independent legal advice service to potential whistleblowers through supporting the Transparency Legal Advice Centre, as well as supporting the “Speak Up” helpline |
The Department also grants funds to a number of public bodies such as the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Institute of Public Administration, the Special EU Programmes Body and regional assemblies.
State Properties
Ceisteanna (172)
Noel Rock
Ceist:172. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if plans have been made to open the Dublin Castle courtyard on 26 May 2018; and if not, if same will be examined. [22262/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The upper and lower yards of Dublin Castle will be open as usual on May 26 2018 between the hours of 6.30am and 7.30pm.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (173)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding issued to a group (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of contracts his Department has entered into with the group; if his Department is covering a shortfall in funding for the group by virtue of a third party exiting from the funding stream to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22266/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provided grants to Benefacts amounting to €350,000 in 2015, €650,000 in 2016 and €950,000 in 2017 as per the terms of a three year funding agreement. The Department has provided grants amounting to €407,000 to date in 2018 and expects to issue grants to a total of €950,000 in 2018, as per its current three year funding agreement with Benefacts. This grant was included in the 2018 Estimate for my Department, which was discussed at the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on 22 February and will be voted on by the House in the coming weeks.
Benefacts is a non-profit social enterprise. It was established in 2014 with co-funding by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Atlantic Philanthropies, and the Ireland Funds, to make the work and funding of the non-profit sector in Ireland more transparent.
The loss of funds from Atlantic Philanthropies has necessitated an increase in public funds to support the organisation in providing its online database, www.benefacts.ie. This provides free public access to regulatory, financial and governance data about a sector that employs almost 150,000 people, and received in excess of €5.5bn in 2016 in Government funding on a total annual turnover of nearly €12.1bn. The 19,000 organisations in the Benefacts database include all registered charities and thousands of other NGOs, including education institutions, social enterprises and sports and professional bodies.
The grant is provided to Benefacts to support the implementation of their Strategy and Business Plan 2018-2020. In summary, the activities envisaged in that are:
1. Increase the scope and size of the database.
Potentially doubling the size of the database from 20,000 to 40,000 by including locally based non-profits in partnership with local authorities and assigning these Unique Business Identifiers. Also including political parties in partnership with the Clerk of the Dail and meeting various other requests from public bodies to include non-profits that they deal with.
2. Enhance the quality of the data disclosed and held on the database
Some public bodies have identified additional administrative data that they would like included in the database.
3. Provide the public website, data services and reports
Activities in this area include:
- Maintain, review and develop the website to double its traffic by 2020
- The provision of Open Datasets
- Continue to meet data requests from public bodies and generate small amounts of revenue from non-government sources
- Provide a restricted version of Benefacts Analytics to non-government users and generate small levels of income
- Produce the Benefacts’ Sector Analysis Report annually.
4. Support the Government’s ICT policies
Activities here relate principally to the roll-out of Benefacts Analytics, a new web-based service to provide grant makers with governance, risk and compliance information more efficiently, supporting the National Data Infrastructure project by assigning Unique Business Identifiers and potentially developing an online financial data filing platform.
I understand that other Departments are assessing the potential to provide funding on a smaller scale in 2018. This would include payments to deliver potential pilot data projects and local customisation of ‘Benefacts Analytics’. These grant amounts would be subject to the agreement of a business case and the application of public procurement rules for each public body.
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (174)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:174. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a decision will be made regarding a Civil Service pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22326/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am informed by the National Shared Services Office that the query raised in relation to the civil service pension for the person in question is being processed and that the individual has been contacted directly to progress this matter.