Tuesday, 24 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 26 - 50

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (26)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

26. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach his Department's spending on travel and subsistence expenses in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34221/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The total expenditure incurred on travel and subsistence by my Department in 2017 was €618,421. The spend to date in 2018 on travel and subsistence is €295,516.

The figures above include expenditure on items such as flights, hotel accommodation, rail tickets, bus and taxi fares, ground transport and subsistence payments. The amount provided for the 2018 spend is provisional because not all invoices have been received and it may also be subject to revision once credit notes/refunds are processed in a small number of cases.

My Department routinely publishes details of foreign travel costs on its website (www.taoiseach.gov.ie).

When travelling every effort is made by the Department to keep costs at minimum.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (27)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

27. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach his Department's expenditure on photography and other promotional services including the creation of social media content in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34238/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department spent a total of €10,968.96 on photography in 2017. To date in 2018, a total of €1,164.33 has been spent on photography.

In 2017 and 2018, my Department incurred expenditure relating to promotional services, including content creation, for cross-governmental information campaigns such as Project Ireland 2040, This is Ireland and Healthy Ireland.

Details of this expenditure is contained in the following table.

Type of Expenditure	2017	2018
Production Costs - Video, Graphics, etc.	€29,956.65	€396,152.25
Production Costs - Radio Content	Nil	€17,336.85
Promotional Services - Twitter	Nil	€26,344
Promotional Services - Facebook	Nil	€73,986
Promotional Services - Other	Nil	€686,328.64

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (28)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

28. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach his Department's expenditure on public relations in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34255/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The following table provides details of public relations companies engaged by my Department in 2017 and to date in 2018.

Year	Company	Purpose	Cost
2017	Q4 Public Relations	PR and Communications services for the Data Summit June 2017	€30,750

My Department ensures that it gets best value for money in the procurement of all goods and services and keeps to a minimum the engagement of public relations firms.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (29)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

29. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach his Department's expenditure on external consultancy in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34272/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department had no expenditure on external consultancy in 2017 and to date in 2018.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (30)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

30. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach the detail of each non-Civil Service appointment that has been made in his Department; the pay grade of each appointment; and the qualifications required for each of those positions. [34289/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

No. of non-civil service appointments	Relevant Civil Service Grade	Relevant Public Appointments Service Competency Framework
1	Higher Executive Officer	Higher Executive Officer Level Competencies
1	Assistant Principal	Assistant Principal Officer Level Competencies
1	Assistant Secretary	Top Level Appointments Commission Competencies

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (31)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

31. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach his Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers and other media content, such as print, digital and other forms in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34306/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The following tables provide details of my Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers, online newspaper subscriptions, magazines and other journal and digital subscriptions in 2017 and to date in 2018:

2017	Expenditure
Newspapers	€59,224.52
Online newspaper subscriptions	€12,268.43
Magazines	€5,083.38
Other journals /online subscriptions	€9,784.12
TOTAL	€86,360.45

2018 (to date)	Expenditure
Newspapers	€32,099.23
Online newspaper subscriptions	€6,761.93
Magazines	€3,561.28
Other journals /online subscriptions	€18,591.31
TOTAL	€61,013.75

My Department liaises closely with the Office of Government Procurement on all matters related to public procurement and monitors all areas of expenditure, including on print media, on an ongoing basis to ensure that value for money is being achieved.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (32)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

32. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach the number of full-time equivalent press officers employed by his Department and him personally. [34323/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department employs three unestablished civil servants in the roles of Government Press Secretary, Deputy Government Press Secretary and Assistant Government Press Secretary. Five established civil servants are currently seconded to my Department in the role of Press Officer. However, this number will reduce to four in the coming weeks when a secondment arrangement ceases.

Departmental Contracts Data

Ceisteanna (33)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

33. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach the contracts awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) in each of the past three years; and the value of these contracts. [34367/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department has not awarded any contracts to the company in question in the past three years.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (34)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

34. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach the number of unfilled vacancies in his Department; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; the number of unfilled vacancies in each agency under his remit; and the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies. [34689/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

With the exception of politically appointed staff such as Special Advisers, all staff assignments, appointments and recruitment in my Department are the responsibility of the Secretary General and the senior management of the Department.

My Department uses workforce planning and succession planning to ensure that there are sufficient staffing resources in place to deliver the Department's strategic goals.

The number of vacancies in my Department fluctuates on an ongoing basis due to staff retirements, promotions and staff availing of mobility opportunities and career breaks.

Where possible, my Department's Human Resources Unit plans in advance for such vacancies and replacement staff are recruited.

Details of the current vacancies in my Department are as follows:

Department of the Taoiseach

Vacancy	Approximate date when vacancy arose
Clerical Officer	July 2018
Clerical Officer	July 2018
Clerical Officer	July 2018
Administrative Officer (or equivalent)	July 2018

It is intended that the above vacancies will be filled using Public Appointments Service panels.

There are currently no vacancies in the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of my Department.

EU Directives

Ceisteanna (35)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

35. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach the details of the EU directives that fall under his remit not yet transposed into law; the deadline imposed by the EU for the transposition of same; and the estimated date for the transposition of those directives into law. [34717/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

There are no EU directives that fall under the remit of my Department that have yet to be transposed into law.

Question No. 36 answered with Question No. 10.

State Visits

Ceisteanna (37)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

37. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the status of plans for the forthcoming visit of Pope Francis to Dublin and Knock. [35088/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

Work is at an advanced stage for the forthcoming visit of Pope Francis to Ireland on 25th and 26th August 2018.

Officials in my Department are working in conjunction with Protocol staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Event Management Unit at the Office of Public Works and with civil authorities and various agencies on all elements of the visit including the Phoenix Park and Knock.

Further information is available on www.gov.ie/popeinireland.

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Ceisteanna (38)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

38. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach the details of proposals (details supplied) over the 2011 to 2018 period on an annual basis in tabular form. [35149/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

In 2013, my Department published the Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill. This proposal did not undergo a Regulatory Impact Assessment. In all other years in question, there were no legislative proposals published by my Department.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (39, 40)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

39. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the budget for the promotion of Government initiatives; and the amount spent to date in 2018, for each promotion. [35223/18]

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

40. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the amount spent to date in 2018 on social media advertising; the amount spent commissioning collateral material including videos and graphics; the amount spent by campaign and provider; and his plans for further advertising for the remainder of 2018. [35224/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.

There is no specific budget for the promotion of Government initiatives.

In 2018, my Department incurred expenditure relating to cross-governmental information campaigns such as Project Ireland 2040, This is Ireland and Healthy Ireland. Details of the spend on these information campaigns are shown in the table.

Details of spend on Twitter/Facebook:

FACEBOOK                                                      Campaign	Cost	Reach	Demographics Targeted
Healthy Ireland	€ 3,000	361,000	Adults/Ireland
Irish Aid	€ 1,000	344,000	Adults/Ireland
Self Employed	€ 1,100	143,000	Adults/Ireland
Education Action Plan	€ 500	79,800	Adults/Ireland
Opening of Cloud Computing Building	€ 250	108,000	Adults/Ireland
Project Ireland (Long)	€ 2,777	454,000	Adults/Ireland
Project Ireland (Short)	€ 5,173	730,000	Adults/Ireland
This is Ireland	€ 57,936	3,367,000	Adults Ireland/UK/US
Disability Rights	€ 500	282,000	Adults/Ireland
Government Health Measures	€ 750	177,000	Adults/Ireland
€4 billion Project Ireland 2040 Funds Launched	€ 1,000	120,600	Adults/Ireland
Total	€ 73,986	6,166,400

TWITTER                                                                         Campaign	Cost	Reach	Demographics Targeted
Healthy Ireland	€ 2,000	1,325,027	Adults/Ireland
Irish Aid	€ 750	378,456	Adults/Ireland
Self Employed Benefits	642	371,703	Adults/Ireland
Education Action Plan	€ 348	208,212	Adults/Ireland
Opening of Cloud Computing Building	€ 125	111,258	Adults/Ireland
Project Ireland (Long)	€ 4,550	2,015,708	Adults/Ireland
Project Ireland (Short)	€ 2,450	3,893,628	Adults/Ireland
This is Ireland	€ 14,229	5,062,900	Adults Ireland/UK/US
Disability Rights	€ 500	554,509	Adults/Ireland
Government Health Measures	€ 250	158,250	Adults/Ireland
€4 billion Project Ireland 2040 Funds Launched	€ 500	301,179	Adults/Ireland
Total	€ 26,344	14,380,830

Other spend on Information Programmes:

Campaign	Media Partnership	Other Digital Promotion (Youtube, Search)	Cinema Ad	Radio Ad	Pitchside Ad at Tickenham
Healthy Ireland	€96,492.60	€1,799.69	n/a	invoice not finalised	n/a
Irish Aid	n/a	€190.87	n/a	n/a	n/a
Self Employed	n/a	€248.09	n/a	€56,132.14	n/a
Education Action Plan	€8,016	€71.04	n/a	n/a	n/a
Opening of Cloud Computing Building	n/a	€101.12	n/a	n/a	n/a
Project Ireland 2040	€218,195.90	46,346.32	€78,841.87	n/a	n/a
This is Ireland (national and international promotion)	n/a	128,293	n/a	n/a	€51,102
Disability Rights	n/a	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
Government Health Measures	n/a	0	n/a	n/a	n/a
€4 billion Project Ireland 2040 Funds Launched	n/a	€498	n/a	n/a	n/a
Total Spend	€322,704.50	€177,548.13	€78,841.87	€56,132.14	€51,102	€686,328.64

Spend on content creation

To date in 2018, €413,489.10 has been spent on creating video content, radio advertisements and graphics, primarily for the cross-departmental information campaigns - Project Ireland 2040, This is Ireland and Healthy Ireland.

Amounts above represent amounts incurred to date and do not include invoices that have not yet been processed.

Departmental Contracts Data

Ceisteanna (41)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if an audit of all external workplace investigations conducted by companies (details supplied) will be provided; the outcome regarding complaints against his Department; when the investigation will commence relating to an allegation against an employee, that is, the number of occasions on which a complaint was upheld against his Department by the investigators; and the number of occasions on which an investigation against an employee found grounds for disciplinary action. [35375/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department has not engaged with the companies in question.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (42)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the amount paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; and the hourly rates that applied to each company. [35388/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The total amount paid for consultancy services by my Department in each of the years 2012 to 2017 is set out in the following table.

My Department has taken steps to reduce expenditure on consultancy services and as a result there was no expenditure on consultancy services by my Department in 2016 and 2017.

Any decision by my Department to engage consultants in the future would, like any other planned expenditure, be based on a carefully identified business need, with a firm focus on ensuring value for money.

My Department also undertakes competitive tendering for contracts in collaboration with the Office of Government Procurement.

Year	Name	Details	Amount paid per Year
2012	QTS LIMITED	Annual Safety Review to include Risk Assessment Nov/Dec 2011 & Full Review & Update of Safety Statement 2012	€1,270.50
	CAROLINE ERSKINE	EU Communication Advisory Service	€25,830.00
2013	CAROLINE ERSKINE	EU Communication Advisory Service	€30,553.20
	Q4 PUBLIC RELATIONS	PR support for the Convention on the Constitution	€18,500.95
2014	Q4 PUBLIC RELATIONS	PR support for the Convention on the Constitution Plenary meetings	€8,408.29
	QTS LIMITED	PEEP Assessment and disabled access review	€2,091.00
	RA CONSULTING	Design & Implementation of a Staff Consultation Initiative	€9,298.80
	UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN	Leadership Development Programme	€3,567.00
2015	RA CONSULTING	Design & Implementation of a Staff Consultation Initiative	€9,298.80

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (43)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

43. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the amount paid for external legal services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; and the hourly rates that applied to each company. [35403/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department incurred no expenditure for external legal services in the years 2012 to 2017.

Defence Forces Strength

Ceisteanna (44)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

44. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he or his officials have met recently to discuss the large exodus from the Defence Forces; and his plans to address these issues. [35090/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

As Minister with Responsibility for Defence, I meet regularly with senior civil and military management to be appraised of, among other matters, the manpower requirements of the Permanent Defence Force and recruitment and development plans. The Permanent Defence Force has a higher level of turnover than other areas of the Public Service and this is a feature of military organisations. This is not a new development, although there are recruitment and retention challenges, particularly with regard to certain specialists. Under my direction, these issues have been raised with the Public Service Pay Commission, which is currently further examining these matters.

There are significant recruitment opportunities available in the Defence Forces, at both enlisted and officer level, for eligible individuals who wishes to have a rewarding and positive career in service to the State. A general service recruitment campaign, the 2018 officer cadetships competition, a competition for Air Corps apprentices and the 2018 RDF recruitment campaigns all closed recently and the applications are being progressed. A second general service recruitment campaign is scheduled for September.

There is also an ongoing programme of HR development within the Defence Forces, of which part is aimed at ensuring that there is an appropriate work-life balance. The Chief of Staff is actively addressing matters to this end. I am also bringing forward measures to allow former members of the Permanent Defence Force with specialist skills, to re-enter the PDF and I have requested proposals for the greater use of direct entry for specialised posts.

The measures I have set out address a range of factors and are aimed at ensuring that the Permanent Defence Force remains a career of choice, and to ensuring that the Defence Forces retain the capabilities to undertake the roles assigned by Government, both at home and overseas.

Defence Forces Retirements

Ceisteanna (45)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

45. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a green discharge book will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if the request will be expedited. [32463/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I have been advised by the military authorities that on Tuesday 10th July last, the retired member of the Defence Forces referred to by the Deputy collected and signed for his LA 89 (Discharge Book) at Stephens' Barracks, Kilkenny. 

Defence Forces Reports

Ceisteanna (46)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

46. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will request the Defence Forces to review under the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 if the development of an incinerator in Ringaskiddy and the lower Cork Harbour poses a threat to national security. [32510/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

No issues affecting national security were identified by the Defence Organisation in relation to the development of the incinerator at Ringaskiddy. 

The Defence Organisation will continue to assess and manage security risks and will keep developments in this area under review.

Departmental Legal Costs

Ceisteanna (47)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

47. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the expenditure incurred by his Department in respect of legal fees in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32523/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of legal fees in each of the past three years is as follows:

Year	Amount
2017	€1,596,213
2016	€1,562,699
2015	€1,508,512

Departmental Legal Services

Ceisteanna (48)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

48. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department has contracted the legal services of a company (details supplied) at any point over each of the past six years; if so, the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32638/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

My Department has not contracted the legal services of the company in question at any point over the past six years.

Military Medals

Ceisteanna (49)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

49. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will revisit the decision of 15 December 2017 not to issue a 1916 centenary commemorative medal to veterans medal to former members of the Defence Forces (details supplied); and the reason the proposal was rejected in the past. [32678/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government provided for the award of a commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.

There are no plans to award this medal to former members of the Defence Forces.  Since the foundation of the State many thousands of personnel have served in the Defence Forces.  It would not be administratively possible within the resources of my Department to identify and contact all of these persons, decide on eligibility and, in the case of infirm or deceased former members, resolve who should get the medal on their behalf.

As I advised the Deputy on 22nd May 2018, at my request discussions took place between the Department and the Veterans Associations; the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), and the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO), to explore alternative means of recognition of the contribution of veterans to the centenary commemorative events in 2016.

Following these discussions it was agreed that a single presentation of a framed medal with an accompanying citation would be made to each of the Veterans Associations, in recognition of the significant contribution of members of the three organisations to the 1916 centenary commemorative events and their service to the State. The medal has a bar with the term Veteran inscribed on it.  I agreed that a plaque would be given to each of IUNVA’s 21 Posts and to each of O.N.E.’s 41 Branches.  I presented one plaque to each of the three Veterans Associations at last year's Defence Forces Veterans Day which took place in the Defence Forces Training Centre, the Curragh, on Sunday 8 October 2017. The other plaques were presented separately.

Military Medals

Ceisteanna (50)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

50. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider sanctioning the award of the centenary commemorative medal to members of an organisation (details supplied) and to other veterans who might apply for the award. [32683/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government provided for the award of a commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.

There are no plans to award this medal to former members of the Defence Forces.  Since the foundation of the State many thousands of personnel have served in the Defence Forces.  It would not be administratively possible within the resources of my Department to identify and contact all of these persons, decide on eligibility and, in the case of infirm or deceased former members, resolve who should get the medal on their behalf.

At my request however, discussions took place between the Department and the Veterans Associations; the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), and the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO), to explore alternative means of recognition of the contribution of veterans to the centenary commemorative events in 2016.

Following these discussions it was agreed that a single presentation of a framed medal with an accompanying citation would be made to each of the Veterans Associations, in recognition of the significant contribution of members of the three organisations to the 1916 centenary commemorative events and their service to the State. The medal has a bar with the term Veteran inscribed on it.  I agreed that a plaque would be given to each of IUNVA’s 21 Posts and to each of O.N.E.’s 41 Branches.  I presented one plaque to each of the three Veterans Associations at last year's Defence Forces Veterans Day which took place in the Defence Forces Training Centre, the Curragh, on Sunday 8 October 2017. The other plaques were presented separately.