Written Answers Nos. 94-106
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Written Answers Nos. 94-106
94. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he continues to remain in contact with each Department to ensure supervision in respect of public expenditure and reform with a view to ensuring the best outcome for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18267/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified possible overspending or non-compliance with reforms throughout various Departments or their subsidiary bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18269/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the various mechanisms available to his Department to adequately monitor public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for reforms to ensure the ability of his Department in determining potential over-expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18271/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 96 to 98, inclusive, together.
Managing expenditure within the overall fiscal parameters has been a key factor in ensuring that our fiscal targets have been achieved. A key responsibility of each Minister and Department is delivering public services efficiently and effectively within their budgetary allocations. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed in line with not only Departmental allocations but also within the overall fiscal parameters. Each month, the drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is reported on against published expenditure profiles in the Fiscal Monitor, published by the Department of Finance.
As set out in the most recent Fiscal Monitor, published by the Department of Finance, total gross voted expenditure at end-March 2019 was €15,039 million. This is €343 million, or 2.2% below profile. Gross voted current expenditure of €14,167 million, is €245 million, or 1.7% below profile. Of the 17 Ministerial Vote groups, 14 are below profile on current expenditure for end-March. Gross voted capital expenditure of €872 million, is €98 million, or 10.1% below profile.
Given the scale of Government expenditure, €66.6 billion in aggregate for gross voted expenditure in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) 2019, and the cash basis of Government accounting, the need for Supplementary Estimates can arise for a number of reasons, including policy decisions, timing issues, and overspends. At this early stage of the year, the key requirement for all Departments is to have credible plans to manage within the allocations voted by Dáil Éireann last week.
To assist in this process, a range of reforms have been put in place over the last number of years with the aim of focusing attention on achieving value for money. For example, the Performance Budgeting initiative seeks to shift focus away from simply looking at the quantum of spend towards examining what is being delivered through public expenditure. As part of this initiative, the third Public Service Performance Report will be published in the coming weeks and will provide outturn performance information for 2018 as well as trend data for the previous two years.
My Department is also currently in year three of the Spending Review process. The Spending Review aims to place evidence at the centre of policy development, through the examination of existing policies and programmes to assess their efficiency and effectiveness. This systematic examination of existing expenditure can support the re-allocation of funding to meet expenditure priorities.
95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and location of overspends in various Departments which has been brought to his attention in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18268/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which Departments or their subordinate bodies have disregarded public expenditure requirements over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18272/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 99 together.
Due to the scale of Government expenditure and the cash basis of Government accounting, the need for Supplementary Estimates can arise for a number of reasons, including policy decisions, timing issues and overspends. Supplementary Estimates are an important element of our expenditure management toolkit, allowing for the proper alignment of resources with allocations.
The tables following set the Supplementary Estimates by Vote for each year from 2016 to 2018 and reflect the Vote structure that was in place in that year. There is an amount included for each year from 2016 to 2018 in respect of the net amount appropriated. This corresponds to net voted expenditure for each year and reflects the amount included in the Appropriation Act of that year.
2016
|
|
Votes |
Net Supplementary |
|
|
|
€000 |
|
20 |
Garda Síochána |
10,000 |
|
22 |
Courts Service |
2,000 |
|
26 |
Education and Skills |
136,000 |
|
28 |
Foreign Affairs and Trade |
1 |
|
30 |
Agriculture Food and Marine |
1 |
|
31 |
Transport, Tourism and Sport |
96,100 |
|
32 |
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
35,000 |
|
35 |
Army Pensions |
11,000 |
|
36 |
Defence |
1 |
|
37 |
Social Protection |
109,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Amount Appropriated for Year Ending 31/12/2016 |
44,552,956 |
2017
|
|
Votes |
Net Supplementary |
|
|
|
€000 |
|
5 |
Director of Public Prosecutions |
418 |
|
12 |
Superannuation and Retired Allowances |
6,500 |
|
17 |
Public Appointments Service |
664 |
|
20 |
Garda Síochána |
44,200 |
|
26 |
Education and Skills |
124,000 |
|
30 |
Agriculture, Food and Marine |
1 |
|
31 |
Transport, Tourism and Sport |
1 |
|
32 |
Business, Enterprise and Innovation |
1 |
|
34 |
Housing, Planning and Local Government |
100,000 |
|
35 |
Army Pensions |
10,700 |
|
37 |
Employment Affairs and Social Protection |
10,000 |
|
38 |
Health |
195,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Amount Appropriated for Year Ending 31/12/2017 |
46,753,653 |
2018
|
|
Votes |
Net Supplementary |
|
|
|
€000 |
|
12 |
Superannuation and Retired Allowance |
1 |
|
13 |
Office of Public Works |
20,000 |
|
20 |
Garda Síochána |
59,000 |
|
21 |
Prisons |
10,000 |
|
22 |
Courts Service |
1 |
|
24 |
Justice and Equality |
8,000 |
|
26 |
Education and Skills |
181,700 |
|
27 |
International Co-operation |
15,350 |
|
30 |
Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
1 |
|
31 |
Transport, Tourism and Sport |
43,500 |
|
32 |
Business, Enterprise and Innovation |
1 |
|
34 |
Housing, Planning and Local Government |
130,000 |
|
35 |
Army Pensions |
3,500 |
|
37 |
Employment Affairs and Social Protection |
139,000 |
|
38 |
Health |
655,000 |
|
40 |
Children and Youth Affairs |
23,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Amount Appropriated for Year Ending 31/12/2018 |
50,922,732 |
100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which public procurement procedures are being observed in full by all State bodies and agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18273/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Procurement and Remedies Directives govern the way public authorities purchase goods, works and services. The rules are transposed into Irish law and apply to tenders for public contracts whose monetary value exceeds certain thresholds. It is a matter for individual contracting authorities to ensure that their public procurement function is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures. Under Section 19 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993, each Accounting Officer is personally responsible for the safeguarding of public funds and property under his or her control; for the regularity and propriety of all the transactions in each Appropriation Account bearing his or her signature; and for the efficiency and economy of administration in his or her Department. Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, and the Local Government Reform Act 2014.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has responsibility for developing and setting out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland. In this regard, the OGP has progressed the National Public Procurement Policy Framework which enables a more consistent approach to public procurement across the public sector by setting out the procurement procedures to be followed by public bodies. The framework supports contracting authorities when awarding contracts for works, goods and services, enables public bodies to adopt procedures to meet their public procurement requirements, and facilitates compliance with EU and National procurement rules.
The OGP’s Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services, launched in 2018 and updated in 2019, are a comprehensive interpretation of the public procurement directives designed to improve consistency and promote best practice in the application of the public procurement rules. However, as set out above, while the guidelines facilitate and enable compliance with public procurement rules, it is the responsibility of each contracting authority to ensure they adhere to these rules.
101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of circumstances in which non-compliance with public procurement policies have been identified in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18274/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Procurement and Remedies Directives govern the way public authorities purchase goods, works and services. The rules are transposed into Irish law and apply to tenders for public contracts whose monetary value exceeds certain thresholds. It is a matter for individual contracting authorities to ensure that their public procurement function is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures. Under Section 19 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993, each Accounting Officer is personally responsible for the safeguarding of public funds and property under his or her control; for the regularity and propriety of all the transactions in each Appropriation Account bearing his or her signature; and for the efficiency and economy of administration in his or her Department. Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, and the Local Government Reform Act 2014.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has responsibility for developing and setting out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland. In this regard, the OGP has progressed the National Public Procurement Policy Framework which enables a more consistent approach to public procurement across the public sector by setting out the procurement procedures to be followed by public bodies. The framework supports contracting authorities when awarding contracts for works, goods and services, enables public bodies to adopt procedures to meet their public procurement requirements, and facilitates compliance with EU and National procurement rules.
The OGP’s Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services, launched in 2018 and updated in 2019, are a comprehensive interpretation of the public procurement directives designed to improve consistency and promote best practice in the application of the public procurement rules. However, as set out above, while the guidelines facilitate and enable compliance with public procurement rules, it is the responsibility of each contracting authority to ensure they adhere to these rules.
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which a change of emphasis is required throughout the public sector with the onset of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18276/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, EU leaders met in Brussels on 10 April 2019 and agreed to an extension of the Article 50 process until 31 October 2019, following a request by Prime Minister May. This extension includes giving the UK flexibility to leave before that date if the UK Parliament ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement.
While the decision of the European Council has reduced the risk of a no deal Brexit, the ongoing political uncertainty in London means that the risk cannot be completely eliminated. We will continue, therefore, to prepare for all scenarios and we will continue to encourage businesses and citizens to do the same.
Across the public service preparations for Brexit have been underway since even before the UK referendum on EU membership in 2016. The Government’s Contingency Action Plan, published at the end of last year and updated at the end of January, sets out the comprehensive, cross-Government preparations for Brexit. All Departments have sector-specific plans in place identifying key challenges associated with Brexit and associated mitigation approaches. We have also taken important steps to prepare our economy, including the Action Plan for Jobs 2018, our Trade and Investment Strategy and Project Ireland 2040, while dedicated measures to prepare for Brexit were announced in Budgets 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Significant reforms have been made to the work of the public service in recent years. Our Public Service 2020, which became operational during 2018, is a new policy framework designed to build on these previous reforms while expanding the scope of reform to focus more on collaboration, innovation and evaluation. A Public Service Leadership Board comprising Secretary General and CEO level participants from across the civil and public service has been established to drive the new reform agenda and lead on its implementation and it has already met on five occasions. This approach will support and enable public servants and their organisations to perform at their best and to work together to deliver high-quality, value-for-money outcomes that will benefit the economy and meet the many challenges we face, including Brexit.
103. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons employed at each level of the Civil Service from Secretary General to cleaner each year since 2016; the number of those at each level that are female in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18356/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details requested by the Deputy are outlined in the following tables.
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
2017 |
2017 |
2017 |
|
Female |
Male |
Total |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary Level * |
3 |
6 |
9 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
|
Principal Officer |
15 |
17 |
32 |
14 |
18 |
32 |
|
Assistant Principal |
45 |
55 |
100 |
52 |
63 |
115 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
37 |
42 |
79 |
50 |
40 |
90 |
|
Administrative Officer |
27 |
33 |
60 |
33 |
38 |
71 |
|
Executive Officer |
17 |
12 |
29 |
29 |
17 |
46 |
|
Clerical Officer |
32 |
6 |
38 |
27 |
6 |
33 |
|
Total |
176 |
172 |
348 |
209 |
189 |
398 |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
2018 |
2018 |
2018 |
2019 |
2019 |
2019 |
|
Female |
Male |
Total |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary Level * |
3 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
|
Principal Officer |
18 |
20 |
38 |
18 |
20 |
38 |
|
Assistant Principal |
64 |
68 |
132 |
65 |
67 |
132 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
54 |
45 |
99 |
54 |
43 |
97 |
|
Administrative Officer |
28 |
37 |
65 |
28 |
40 |
68 |
|
Executive Officer |
31 |
19 |
50 |
31 |
20 |
51 |
|
Clerical Officer |
31 |
9 |
40 |
29 |
9 |
38 |
|
Total |
229 |
205 |
434 |
228 |
206 |
434 |
* Assistant Secretary Level - Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Information Officer, Director.
|
Office of Government Procurement |
2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
2017 |
2017 |
2017 |
|
Female |
Male |
Total |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
|
Assistant Secretary Level * |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Principal Officer |
4 |
5 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
|
Assistant Principal |
20 |
25 |
45 |
22 |
29 |
51 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
34 |
35 |
69 |
28 |
39 |
67 |
|
Administrative Officer |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Executive Officer |
15 |
24 |
39 |
6 |
22 |
28 |
|
Clerical Officer |
13 |
15 |
28 |
16 |
15 |
31 |
|
Total |
86 |
108 |
194 |
80 |
113 |
193 |
|
Office of Government Procurement |
2018 |
2018 |
2018 |
2019 |
2019 |
2019 |
|
Female |
Male |
Total |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
|
Assistant Secretary Level * |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Principal Officer |
7 |
7 |
14 |
6 |
9 |
15 |
|
Assistant Principal |
22 |
32 |
54 |
21 |
30 |
51 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
33 |
43 |
76 |
30 |
43 |
73 |
|
Administrative Officer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
21 |
29 |
50 |
22 |
29 |
51 |
|
Clerical Officer |
13 |
17 |
30 |
11 |
19 |
30 |
|
Total |
96 |
130 |
226 |
91 |
132 |
223 |
* Assistant Secretary Level - Assistant Secretary, Director.
My Department is fully committed to achieving gender equality at all staffing levels within this Department and across the civil service.
104. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the outcome of a pilot programme on the provision of specialised therapists for schools and preschools announced in May 2018. [18085/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services has been introduced for the 2018/19 school year.
The demonstration project has been developed by a Working Group which includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The project is being managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education with clinical support also being provided by two HSE Therapy Managers which have been assigned to the project.
The purpose of the project is to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports that allows for early intervention in terms of providing speech and language and occupational therapy within ‘educational settings’. This innovative pilot will complement existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.
The project is taking place in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 Region of South West Dublin, Kildare, and West Wicklow.
This region has been selected to ensure that the pre-school and in-school therapy model can be tested in both urban and rural locations and with a suitable mix of various types of schools and pre-schools.
75 schools, including a representative sample of primary, post primary, and special schools are taking part in the project.
75 Pre-school settings associated with primary schools participating in the project are being included in order to provide for therapy interventions to be made at the earliest possible time and to create linkages between pre-school and primary school provision.
In total, 150 settings are participating in the demonstration project.
The list of the participating schools and pre-schools has been published on my Departments website.
The model is designed to provide for a clinical Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy service delivery model of Specialist, Targeted and Universal supports in line with best practice for pupils which will see them receiving supports along a continuum of provision depending on the extent or severity of needs of the child/pupil.
The project has been taking place over the course of the 2018/19 school year and is on going.
The project is being evaluated over the course of the 2018/19 school year and this evaluation will be completed as soon as possible.
The evaluation will inform considerations regarding any possible extensions of the service to other areas or regions.
The Deputy will be aware, however, that I also recently announced the trialing of a School Inclusion Model – a new model of support for students with special educational and additional care needs over the course of the 2019/20 school year.
This will build on the one-year in school therapy pilot which was commenced in September 2018. The model will be considerably expanded on this initial pilot, and will be offered to the 75 schools that participated in this initial work.
As part of the School Inclusion Model, it is therefore intended to also continue to develop in school therapy project over the course of the 2019/20 school year.
105. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacancies within the NCSE by area in March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18086/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of referrals to the NCSE by county to date in 2019. [18088/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra108. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appointments carried out by the NCSE by county to date in 2019. [18089/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 107 and 108 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the NCSE Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities.
The NCSE employs SENOs to provide a nationwide system of local services. Each SENO has responsibility for specific schools, primary, post primary and special, within their area. In general, the role of the SENO ensures that a child with special educational needs receives the supports they are entitled to.
SENOs are available to advise parents in relation to supports which may be available to support children with special educational needs. The local SENO contact details are available on the NCSE’s website at: http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
In 2017, the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behavioural Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Children who are Blind/Visually Impaired (VTHVI) transferred from my Department to the NCSE and joined with the services already being provided by NCSE’s SENOs and administrative staff to form a new NCSE Support Service. This new service, which significantly increases the NCSE's support service by over 100, not only expanded the supports NCSE provide in terms of additional teaching and behavioural supports to schools and families but NCSE now provides professional development opportunities to teachers and schools to build their capacity to support students with special educational needs.
The aim of this new Support Service to develop schools’ capacity to include students with special educational needs and to promote a continuum of educational provision which is inclusive and responsive.
The matter raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of referrals to the NCSE, number of appointments carried out by the NCSE and number of vacancies within the NCSE by area have been referred to the NCSE for direct reply.
106. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the consideration undertaken of history by the NCCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18087/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince arriving in the Department, I have spoken publicly about how vital it is that young people learn from the past in order that they can plan for the future. At a national, European and international level, it has never been more important for people to understand the lessons of history. As we face the very difficult challenges of Brexit, while also addressing the impact of the first World War, the War of Independence and the Civil War, the Decade of Commemorations will demonstrate on our island the importance of understanding the historical context.
Prior to the introduction of the framework for the junior cycle, history was a core subject in voluntary secondary schools, which make up 52% of schools. However, it is important to note that currently 90% of students across all school types choose to study history.
The new junior cycle programme has greatly enlivened subjects, with a new emphasis on projects and self-directed learning. As part of the roll-out of the new framework for the junior cycle, the new history specification was introduced to schools in September 2018. The minimum time allocated for the teaching of history is 200 hours over the three years of the junior cycle programme, which is the equivalent of three 40-minute periods per week. I understand that for many schools this will lead to increased time provision for the teaching of history.
I have met officials of the NCCA and asked that a review of the optional nature of history under the new framework for the junior cycle be carried out. I expect to receive that report from the NCCA shortly.
