Written Answers Nos. 158-175
158. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Finance when it is envisaged to terminate the pension levy in view of the fact that four years was its original timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26701/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra159. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Finance the areas to which revenue raised from the pension levy is allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26702/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.
The Pension Scheme Levy was introduced in 2011. For the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 the rate was 0.60% of the scheme assets. For the year 2014 the rate was 0.75% of the assets and for the year 2015, the final year of the levy, the rate was 0.15%. Under the legislation, the payment of the levy was treated as a necessary expense of a pension scheme and the trustees or insurer, as appropriate, were entitled where needed to adjust current or prospective benefits payable under a scheme to take account of the levy. It was up to the trustees or insurer to decide whether, when and how the levy was passed on and to what extent, given the particular circumstances of the pension schemes for which they are responsible.
The legislation also included safeguards aimed at ensuring that should the option of reducing scheme benefits be taken, it was applied in an equitable fashion across the different classes of scheme members that could include active, deferred and retired members. In no case could the reduction in an individual member's or class of member's benefits exceed the member's or class of member's share of the levy.
Where pension scheme trustees or an insurer took the decision to treat the levy as an expense of the pension scheme, they would have adjusted current or prospective benefits payable to members under that scheme. The consequence of this treatment by the trustees or insurer could be a permanent reduction in members' benefits.
The Pension Scheme Levy has ceased since 2015.
Revenues raised from the Pension Levy were not hypothecated and formed part of the Exchequer. When introduced by the previous Government, it was announced that the equivalent of the funds raised from the levy would be used to fund the tax reductions and expenditure measures introduced in the Jobs Initiative.
160. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address the issue of increasing insurance costs for community and voluntary sector organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26738/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the concerns raised by the Deputy in relation to the financial strain which the cost of insurance is placing on some community and voluntary organisations. However, the Deputy should note that as Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation and that neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products. Consequently, I am not in a position to direct insurance companies as to the pricing level or terms or conditions that they should apply in respect of particular categories of policyholders.
However, what was recognised with the establishment of the Cost of Insurance Working Group was that the environment within which insurers conduct their business can be better shaped, in order to make the Irish insurance market a more competitive one and also make it more attractive for new entrants. In this regard, the initial focus of the Working Group was the issue of rising motor insurance premiums and the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017. The second phase of the Cost of Insurance Working Group under the Chairmanship of the Minister of State for Financial Services and Insurance, Michael D’Arcy TD, published its report in relation to employer liability and public liability insurance in January 2018. This Report acknowledges that many of the difficulties being faced by business are also impacting community groups.
The Working Group’s second Report makes 15 recommendations with 29 associated actions to be carried out. The recommendations and actions are detailed in an action plan contained in the report with agreed timelines for implementation. All 29 actions are scheduled to be implemented before the end of 2019, with 26 due for completion this year. The recommendations, covering three main themes, include actions to:
- Increase Transparency: enhance levels of transparency and improve data sharing and collection processes
- Review the level of damages in personal injury cases: request that the Law Reform Commission undertake a detailed analysis of the possibility of developing constitutionally sound legislation to delimit or cap the amounts of damages which a court may award in respect of some or all categories of personal injuries and
- Improve the personal injuries litigation framework: through a number of measures, namely:
- ensuring potential defendants are notified in sufficient time that an incident has occurred in relation to which a claim is going to be made against their policy;
- tackling fraudulent or exaggerated claims; and
- ensuring suitable training and information supports are available to the judiciary to assist in the fair and consistent assessment and awarding of damages in personal injury cases.
The fifth Quarterly Progress Update on implementation was published on 11 May and is available on the website of the Department of Finance. In respect of the actions from the Report due for completion in Q1 2018, all eight deadlines have been met.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to ensuring that all of the recommendations of the Cost of Insurance Working Group are implemented fully in order to drive the reforms listed above. It is envisaged that the cumulative effect of the implementation of these recommendations, with the appropriate levels of commitment and cooperation from all relevant stakeholders, will achieve the objective of delivering fairer premiums for consumers and businesses, and will also beneficially impact community, voluntary and charitable organisations across the country.
161. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the costs incurred to date with regard to the Central Bank inquiry pursuant to Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942 in relation to a former building society (details supplied) and certain persons in its management; the cost of Central Bank staff involved in the inquiry; the estimated final cost of the inquiry; if these costs can be recouped; the date the Central Bank commenced this inquiry; when it is expected to be concluded; the possible sanctions against persons if adverse conclusions are reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26773/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act 1942 (as amended) (“the Act”), the Central Bank may hold an inquiry to determine whether or not a financial service provider is committing or has committed a suspected prescribed contravention. The Central Bank may also hold an inquiry to determine whether or not a person concerned in the management of a regulated financial service provider is participating or has participated in the commission of a suspected prescribed contravention by the financial service provider.
Part IIIC of the Act sets out the framework for how Administrative Sanctions Procedures (“ASP”) inquiries are to be carried out.
The sanctions are outlined in section 33AQ(5) of the Act:
If the Inquiry Members find that a person concerned has participated in the commission of a contravention, the Inquiry Members may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
(a) a caution or reprimand;
(b) a direction to pay to the Bank a monetary penalty not exceeding the prescribed amount;
(c) a direction disqualifying the person from being concerned in the management of a regulated financial service provider for such period as is specified in the order;
(d) if the person is found to be still participating in the commission of the contravention, a direction ordering the person to cease participating in the commission of the contravention;
(e) a direction to pay to the Bank all or a specified part of the costs incurred by the Bank in holding the inquiry and in investigating the matter to which the inquiry relates.
Section 33AQ(5)(e) of the Act provides that If the Inquiry Members find that a person concerned has participated in the commission of a contravention, they may direct the person concerned to pay to the Bank all or a specified part of the costs incurred by the Bank in holding the inquiry and in investigating the matter to which the inquiry relates.
On 19 December 2014, the Enforcement Directorate of the Central Bank referred its investigation to the Regulatory Decisions Unit (RDU) of the Central Bank to hold an Inquiry. On 9 July 2015, the RDU issued a Notice of Inquiry to the successors of INBS and to five persons concerned in the management of INBS.
The Central Bank is not currently in a position to estimate when the Inquiry is likely to conclude.
As the Inquiry is ongoing, the Central Bank is not commenting on matters related to the cost of the Inquiry at this time.
Similarly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter until the Inquiry has concluded.
162. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance his views on Ireland being branded the world's biggest corporate tax haven by academics in the United States of America and Denmark. [26554/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is alluding to report "The Missing Profits of Nations" by G. Zucman, T. Tørsløv and L. Wier, that examines attribution of profits by mutlinationals around the world.
In the first instance, I reject any assertion that Ireland is a tax haven. The report does not provide any definition of a tax haven and appears to assert that Ireland, and many other countries, are tax havens without providing a rationale for that assertion.
In the report, the authors appear to use the terms "low-tax countries" and "tax havens" interchangeably. The inference that Ireland is a tax haven simply because of our longstanding 12.5% corporate tax rate is totally out of line with the long established position that a low corporate tax rate applied to a wide tax base is good economic policy for attracting investment and supporting economic growth.
The central analysis of the paper looks at links between level of profit booked in a country and the level of wages paid in a country. This creates a totally misleading impression that corporate profits are or should be directly linked to wage levels rather than to the outputs of investment in all income generating activities such as investment in R&D, intangible assets, capital intensive machinery and investment in staff etc.
It is important to be very clear – corporation tax is paid where value is created not simply where companies have their highest wage bills. It is therefore misleading to assert that profits are being artificially shifted by focusing on the ratio of profits to wages in each country.
Ireland’s tax regime is designed to encourage the location of real, substantive and high-value adding investment in the country. We do not apologise for having a competitive tax regime because we ensure that our overall regime is fully in line with international standards for fair tax competition as agreed at the EU and the OECD.
It is clear that the only way to ensure that the right tax is paid in the right place is to ensure that all tax authorities have access to all relevant information for assessing whether they are owed any tax. This is why tax transparency and exchange of information among tax authorities is so vital.
Ireland has continuously made changes to our tax legislation to ensure we meet all international best practices for exchange of tax information. Last August, the Global Forum on Tax Transparency and Exchange of Information (an OECD led peer-review) awarded Ireland the highest international rating on tax transparency and exchange of information, one of only twenty two jurisdictions globally to be so rated following a new and enhanced peer review process.
Ireland actively contributes towards preventing aggressive tax planning through the implementation of the OECD BEPS reports and the numerous EU Directives we have agreed on tax avoidance. We continue to play our part in this ongoing work. It is widely acknowledged that difficulties in the international tax system mainly arise from asymmetries between the taxation systems of different countries. Only by acting together can we ensure that companies are taxed appropriately.
163. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a derelict building (details supplied); and if there is a timeline for such plans. [26483/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA contract has been awarded for the fit-out of the former Department of Social Protection premises in Newbridge for the Probation and Welfare Services.
164. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the public forms of construction contract criteria will be reviewed to facilitate variations that may arise from legislative enactment, that is, wage increases under sectoral employment order or significant price increases in materials such as insulation and steel (details supplied). [26264/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll public works projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the Government's capital plan must be procured in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). The CWMF is mandated by circular and was developed to assist contracting authorities in meeting their ongoing procurement requirements. It provides an integrated set of contractual provisions, guidance material, technical templates and procedures which cover all aspects of the delivery process of a public works project from inception to final project delivery and review.
The conditions of the public works contracts which are used for the delivery of the majority of building and civil engineering projects are fixed price, lump sum contracts. This requirement is key to ensuring greater cost certainty in the delivery of the public capital programme. When tendering public works contracts, contractors are expected to take account of cost increases due to inflation up to the project’s completion. On projects with long delivery programmes, an adjustment to the contract sum for inflation is possible but only after the pre-determined fixed price period has elapsed.
In order to take cost increases due to inflation into account when pricing a project it is accepted that a degree of foresight is required on the likely increases in the input costs such as labour, materials and plant over the duration of the project.
With regards to the matter of Sectoral Employment Orders (SEO) introduced by Statutory Instrument, whilst it is the case that there were no transitional arrangements introduced when the SEOs were signed into law, nonetheless there was an 11 month process leading up to the establishment of the first SEO in October 2017.
In November 2016 an application was made to the Labour Court by the Construction Industry Federation to commence the process. As a body who represents significant numbers of employers in the construction sector it must be presumed that this application was made with the knowledge of its members. An invitation for submissions by interested parties was published by the Labour Court in February 2017. This was followed by an invitation from the Labour Court to an oral hearing on 26 June 2017 to those who made submissions. Having concluded its deliberations, the Labour Court issued a recommendation to the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation on the 13 July 2017 which was published shortly thereafter. The Minister, having accepted the recommendation, submitted a draft order to both Houses of the Oireachtas and it was signed into law on 19 October 2017 after a resolution approving it had been passed by each House.
Wages in this sector have experienced increases in recent years as evidenced by average increases of 6% year on year in the biannual tender price index published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland since 2014. The foregoing would suggest that contractors should have been taking wage inflation into account when tendering for construction contracts; public or private. Indeed the SCSI tender price index would suggest that contractors have been taking wage inflation into account in pricing work.
Circular 08/2018 was issued on 24 May 2018 through the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) which sets out the amendments that have been undertaken to the CWMF to reflect the introduction of the SEOs in the construction sector. These amendments will apply to tenders and contracts that are commenced after the periods set out in the circular and do not change the fixed price nature of the contracts.
The Office of Government Procurement is commencing its engagement on the development of a Medium Term Strategy for the procurement of public works. The Strategy will incorporate a broader review of the procurement of public works projects with a view to better manage risk generally and to ensure quality outcomes. The engagement on the Strategy will involve all industry stakeholders and public bodies involved in the delivery of the public capital programme.
165. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the single public service pension scheme and proposed regulations to provide for a facility for the purchase and transfer of additional pension benefits by single scheme members; the timeframe for the changes to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26285/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my answer to PQ No. 214 (ref. 23422/18) on the 29 May 2018.
166. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a preserved pension will be paid to a person (details supplied). [26288/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from HR Shared Services, who received the application for a preserved pension from the individual concerned, that the application is being processed and that the pension lump sum will be paid shortly and the pension commenced with appropriate arrears paid.
167. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the outstanding policies of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation pertaining to pay restoration. [26317/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of unwinding financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, and restoring pay disaggregated by salary brackets. [26318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of unwinding financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, and restoring pay disaggregated by department and public role, for example, nurses or teachers and so on. [26319/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of unwinding financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, according to the current approach. [26320/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 170, inclusive, together.
The unwinding of the emergency FEMPI legislation commenced with the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018 and will be completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 -2020 (PSSA). In relation to the PSSA, the measures agreed were given legal effect through the enactment of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The PSSA also makes provision for pay increases to be made to those public servants for whom FEMPI pay measures have already been unwound.
The cost of the PSSA Agreement in the years 2018-2020 is €887m. Carry over costs of €227m associated with the final 2% pay increase in October 2020 fall in 2021. In addition a further €78m is required to complete FEMPI restoration for those public servants whose salary will not be fully restored (those on annualised remuneration greater than €70,000) through the PSSA increases. Under section 19 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act for those covered by the Agreement, these remaining amounts will be paid no later than July 2022. In total the costs associated with the agreed unwinding of remaining FEMPI measures is €1.2bn.
A breakdown of the estimated remaining costs of FEMPI unwinding post 2020 by salary band (disaggregation by profession, grade or post is not available) is detailed in the table. These do not sum to the total indicated above because of costs associated with the conversion of the existing Pension Related Deduction (PRD) into an Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) with effect from 1 January 2019 as provided for in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The costs arising from the implementation of the ASC are included in the total cost of the PSSA of €887m for the years 2018-2020.
Annual costs are disaggregated by Vote group as part of the Budget process. Work on this has not yet commenced for Budget 2019.
|
- |
Total 2018-2021 |
Completion of Pay Restoration 2020/21 |
|
0-25,000 |
30,158,438 |
|
|
25000-30000 |
35,791,621 |
|
|
30000-35000 |
117,126,361 |
|
|
35000-40000 |
107,309,297 |
|
|
40000-45000 |
134,062,442 |
|
|
45000-50000 |
104,439,509 |
|
|
50000-55000 |
80,874,158 |
|
|
55000-60000 |
101,319,483 |
|
|
60000-65000 |
76,272,935 |
|
|
65000-70000 |
47,264,376 |
|
|
70000-75000 |
34,100,376 |
7,485,778 |
|
75000-80000 |
29,807,683 |
7,935,392 |
|
80000-85000 |
16,098,744 |
4,887,532 |
|
85000-90000 |
12,268,994 |
4,132,726 |
|
90000-95000 |
6,732,760 |
2,495,108 |
|
95000-100000 |
6,291,419 |
2,464,283 |
|
100000-125000 |
11,464,723 |
5,018,794 |
|
125000-150000 |
14,247,227 |
5,725,034 |
|
150000-175000 |
14,999,765 |
19,138,330 |
|
175000+ |
5,857,360 |
11,515,444 |
|
Total |
986,487,671 |
70,798,421 |
|
PRSI |
106,047,425 |
7,610,830 |
|
Total Including PRSI |
1,092,535,096 |
78,409,251 |
171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount paid per project to a company (details supplied) since 1 January 2016 to date by year, amount and project name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26395/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the amounts paid by my Department for the services of the company named in the question from 1st January 2016 up to and including 13th June 2018.
|
YEAR |
Payment Date |
Project Name |
Amount Paid |
|
2018 |
22.03.18 |
Regulation of Lobbying Act, Appeal Officers Competition |
€1,536 |
|
|
12.06.18 |
Public Notice of Flood Defence Schemes / Plans |
€5,842 |
|
2017 |
15.08.17 |
Our Public Service 2020 Consultation Advertising Campaign |
€3,762 |
|
|
14.09.17 |
Advertising for Appointment of Disclosures Recipient under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
€2,438 |
|
|
14.09.17 |
Advertising for Public Consultation for review of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
€3,641 |
|
|
28.09.17 |
Public Notice of Flood Defence Schemes / Plans |
€634 |
|
2016 |
29.09.16 |
Open Government Partnership – National Action Plan 2 |
€5,512 |
|
|
20.10.16 |
First Review of Regulation of Lobbying Act, Appeal Officers Competition |
€3,548 |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
€26,913 |
172. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public consultations held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department; the number of replies received per consultation; and the cost of each consultation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [26466/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of all public consultations held by my Department, and the bodies under the aegis of my Department, are outlined in the following table.
Department Of Public Expenditure and Reform
|
Year |
Title of Public Consultation: |
Responses |
Cost |
|
2011 |
Regulation of Lobbying Bill |
61 |
€3,719.83 |
|
|
Comprehensive Review of Expenditure |
1,000+ |
Nil |
|
2012 |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2013 |
Review of Public Works Contracts |
12 |
Nil |
|
2014 |
Comprehensive Review of Expenditure |
62 |
Nil |
|
|
Transposition of the EU Public Procurement Directives |
43 |
€3,598.42 |
|
|
Open Government Partnership: Consultation with Civil Society Representatives and Citizens on Ireland's Participation in the Open Government Partnership |
62 |
€25,735.25 |
|
|
Consultation process on the development of a foundation document for an Open Data Strategy in 2014 |
9 |
Nil |
|
|
Statute Law Revision Bill |
42 |
Nil |
|
|
Data Sharing and Governance policy paper |
26 |
Nil |
|
|
Civil Service Accountability Consultation Process |
39 |
€6,714.75 |
|
2015 |
Government Contracts Committee on Construction Information Sessions on the forthcoming amendments to the Public Works Contracts (held in 5 locations nationwide). |
N/A – open forum for Q&As |
€10,200 |
|
|
Draft Consultation Principles / Guidance for Public Consultation |
50 submissions
|
Nil
|
|
|
Commissioning for Better Outcomes |
64 submissions |
€6,855.15 |
|
|
Freedom of Information Publication Scheme |
7 |
Nil |
|
|
Guidance for Public Bodies on the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
4 |
Nil |
|
|
Draft Corporate Governance Standards for central Government Departments |
31 |
€5,036.96 |
|
|
Statute Law Revision Bill |
0 |
Nil |
|
|
Consultation on Open Data Licencing |
9 |
Nil |
|
2016 |
Open Government Partnership
Ireland’s Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2014-2016: End-term Self-Assessment Report Open Government Partnership Ireland: Have Your Say - 2016-2018 Ireland's Draft National Action Plan 2016-2018 Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018: Implementation Review |
3 submissions 119 submissions 17 submissions 4 submissions
|
€42,922 |
|
|
First Review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 |
31 |
€3,548.14 |
|
2017 |
Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan - Consultative Forum
|
166 submissions |
€583.74 |
|
|
Employer-Exchequer Investment Mechanism to fund Higher & Further Education (Joint DPER/DES Consultation and Meeting) |
28 submissions |
€220 (DPER cost) |
|
|
Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on public works projects |
16 |
Nil |
|
|
Our Public Service 2020 |
22 |
€6,179 |
|
|
Draft national Open Data Strategy 2017-2022 |
6 |
Nil |
|
2018 |
Dialogue on Effective Prevention and Early Intervention Approaches in Human Services* |
7 March 2018 49 participants
30 May 2018 30 participants |
€577.13
€218.49 |
|
|
Public Consultation on the European Directive 2014/55/EU on electronic invoicing in public procurement |
0 |
€2,430.81 |
Public Appointments Service
|
YEAR |
Title of Public Consultation: |
Responses: |
Cost: |
|
2011 |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2012 |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2013 |
Irish Language Scheme |
7 |
€902.24 |
|
2014 |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2015 |
Brand Awareness Survey |
1007 |
€23,247 |
|
2016 |
Irish Language Scheme |
1 |
€430.50 |
|
2017 |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2018 |
None |
N/A |
N/A |
Office of Public Works
Please note that the Office of Public Works will respond directly to the Deputy.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
173. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a specific area relating to the flood relief scheme recent announcement (details supplied) will be prioritised. [26525/18]
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 on 3rd May, 2018 of 29 flood risk management plans which propose118 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). All of these projects are to be funded under the Government's 10 year flood risk investment programme of almost €1 billion under the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027.
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.
A proposed flood relief scheme at Castlemartyr has been identified by the CFRAM programme to be progressed at a projected cost of €1.4 million. This proposed scheme comprises the diversion of the Kiltha away from the village of Castlemartyr and construction of flood defence walls to protect properties to the south of the village which will protect 22 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 as soon as possible 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.
174. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the documentation he has been given relating to the Cork event centre in the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26614/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not received any documentation in relation to Cork Event Centre in the last three months. However, my Department has been made aware by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that it is in ongoing correspondence with Cork City Council in relation to the project.
175. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when it is envisaged that public sector pensioners that retired from the public sector will receive pension increases. [26625/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued circulars in December 2017 and January 2018 authorising the application to qualifying public service pensions of certain public service pay increases, and giving guidance on the implementation of those pension increases.
DPER Circular 20/2017, which issued in December 2017, authorised public service pension increases with effect from 1 September 2017, by reference to certain public service pay increases in 2016 and 2017. These pension increases are mostly confined to the pensions of persons who retired on basic salaries of up to €65,000 in the period between 1 March 2012 and either 1 April 2017 or 1 September 2017.
DPER Circular 02/2018, which issued in January 2018, authorised public service pension increases by reference to specified public service pay increases over the 2018 to 2020 period provided for in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The first and only such pay increase to date is the 1% salary increase of 1 January 2018. The pension increases arising by reference to that salary increase are also due with effect from 1 January 2018, and are mostly confined to the pensions of persons who retired in the period from 1 March 2012 to 31 December 2017.
Separate from the pension increases based on salary increases which are covered in the aforementioned circulars, public service pensions which at end-2017 stood reduced by the FEMPI-legislated “Public Service Pension Reduction” (PSPR), were entitled to an effective increase by way of lower PSPR with effect from 1 January 2018.
It is a matter for the large number of public service pension payroll managers in the diverse sectors of the public service to apply these pension increases. I understand that many pensioner groups have already been paid all such increases while in cases where this is not so, work is underway to ensure that the relevant increases are implemented as soon as possible, with calculation and payment of any arrears also being prioritised.
