Written Answers Nos. 228-242
228. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State boards that are under his remit; the details of each State board; the details of all the persons who are currently on each board in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33837/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy regarding the State Boards under the remit of my Department and the bodies under its aegis is set out in the table below.
229. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide all projects with a value of over €2 million in Fingal that have been approved under the Public Spending Code V in the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33879/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Spending Code sets the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing capital projects. Approval, management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks, including the Public Spending Code, are the responsibility of every Department and Minister.
For an extensive list of projects that are currently planned as part of Project Ireland 2040, the Deputy might consider the Investment Projects and Programme tracker, which was updated in May 2022. The tracker provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million, including the location of the projects where possible. The tracker includes a number of major projects directly related to Fingal. The tracker also includes a facility to search by county and user-friendly dashboards and other information to aid interpretation of the data.
Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map includes over 1,100 projects across the country and provides details on specific projects by county, including smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. By clicking on the map on gov.ie/2040, citizens will find updated information on what has been achieved and what is planned for their own local area. The latest version of the map features a dashboard with charts, allowing citizens to see the progress being made on projects at a glance. Search facilities also allow citizens to view projects in their regional area, by city, by county or by eircode.
In addition, Regional Reports on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040 in the Eastern and Midland Region have been published for 2018, 2019 and 2020, with the 2021 report to be published shortly. The reports set out the regional projects and programmes, which are being planned and delivered in the Eastern and Midland Region as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s National Planning Framework and National Development Plan. While this document does not provide an exhaustive list of all public capital expenditure in the region, it does serve to highlight the diverse range of investments being made by the State under Project Ireland 2040, including those in Fingal.
The Project Ireland 2040 Regional Reports, capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.
230. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of persons who are employed by his Department; the number who are currently working remotely; and the estimated number of persons in his Department who ordinarily worked from home prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. [33980/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were 449 people employed in my Department as of 31 May 2022.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In this context, my Department, in collaboration with Trade Unions, is currently finalising its own Blended Working Policy.
It is anticipated that this policy will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, all staff, with the exception of those deemed essential to attend the workplace on a full-time basis, e.g. staff in the CMO’s office, have the option to work remotely 2 days per week. This is pro-rated for staff who work on a part time or work share basis.
As there was no policy or framework for remote working prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have no records of any staff in my Department ordinarily working from home prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
231. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date the arbitration process in relation to the National Children Science Centre started; the date the arbitration process finished; the date a decision on the arbitration process is expected; the next steps following the arbitration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34309/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Children’s Science Centre Arbitration was initiated in January 2020 and hear evidence on seven days between July and October 2021. The Arbitrator, Mr Eoin McCullagh S.C. has issued his decision on the 25th June 2022 and found in favour of the applicant, the Irish Children’s Museum Ltd (ICML), under acting-chairman, Michael Collins S.C. Subject to clarification of planning permissions, the Arbitrator has issued an interim award of Specific Performance of the agreements requiring the construction of the centre in the northern end of the Earlsfort Terrace complex by the OPW, on behalf of the State. The determination will be reviewed, and my Office will consider the findings and engage further with the ICML, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media and all other parties involved in the process to identify the appropriate next steps.
232. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that graduate architects (details supplied) in a graduate training scheme at the Office of Public Works will receive the same pay rise as their colleagues at the same level in the same scheme in the Department of Education and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34416/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland pay graduate architects directly and set the pay scale for their graduates. The OPW reimburse the RIAI for this service. Pay increases for graduate architects are not a matter for individual Departments or Offices to negotiate as consistency across Civil Service Departments and relativities with wider pay scales are essential. The OPW will complete a full review of the Graduate Architect Scheme later this year.
233. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual savings to the Exchequer from reducing the salaries of senior civil servants, secretary general 1, 2 and 3 and deputy secretary generals, by 2%, 5%, 10% and 15%, in tabular form. [34465/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the table provided in TAB A (attached).
TAB A – Estimated Savings
The estimated annual savings from reducing the salaries of the civil service grades of Secretary General (level I, II and III) and Deputy Secretary by 2%, 5%, 10% and 15% are as set out in table below:
|
Reduction |
2% |
5% |
10% |
15% |
|
Estimated Saving |
€0.16m |
€0.39m |
€0.79m |
€1.18m |
234. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual savings to the Exchequer from reducing the salaries of the Chief Justice and Presidents of the Courts, High Court, Court of Appeal, Circuit and District Court, by 2%, 5%, 10% and 15%, in tabular form. [34466/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated annual savings from reducing the salaries of the Chief Justice and Presidents of the High Court, Court of Appeal, Circuit Court, and the District Court by 2%, 5%, 10% and 15% are as set out in the table below:
|
Reduction: |
2% |
5% |
10% |
15% |
|
Estimated Saving per annum (€ '000): |
23 |
58 |
115 |
173 |
235. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a date for the commencement of works on the national monument commemorative centre at 14-17 Moore Street; the target date for the opening of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Government, having considered all of the issues and having consulted extensively with all relevant stakeholders throughout the Moore Street Advisory Group process have now decided to proceed with a scheme of works at 14 – 17 Moore St. and have instructed the Office of Public Works (OPW) to manage the project.
Currently, the OPW are putting relevant teams in place in terms of Project Management, Architectural supervision and other professional resources to tackle the first phase which will be to perform a range of engineering works to stabilise these quite fragile buildings and create the platform for the provision of the commemorative centre within them as a second stage. Though it is the intention to commence work onsite as soon as feasible, this will depend on how quickly the necessary design and tendering stages can be achieved.
It is not possible therefore at this point to state with precision when all phases of work will be completed and the Centre opened; however, I can assure the Deputy that the project is being actively progressed by the OPW and is being treated as a Government priority.
236. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a date for when works will commence on the Intreo office on the Navan Road, Dublin 7; the target date for when the office will reopen; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the office has been closed for eight weeks and there are no visible improvements being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34492/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection is in consultation with the Office of Public Works with a view to determining the future accommodation needs of that Department over the next number of years. Works will not commence on the Navan Road Intreo Centre until this consultation has been completed.
237. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the arbitration process on the National Children’s Science Centre, which completed its work in January 2022; the reason for the delay in issuing the judgment following this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34565/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Children’s Science Centre Arbitration was initiated in January 2020 and hear evidence on seven days between July and October 2021. The Arbitrator, Mr Eoin McCullagh S.C. has issued his decision on the 25th June 2022 and found in favour of the applicant, the Irish Children’s Museum Ltd (ICML), under acting-chairman, Michael Collins S.C. Subject to clarification of planning permissions, the Arbitrator has issued an interim award of Specific Performance of the agreements requiring the construction of the centre in the northern end of the Earlsfort Terrace complex by the OPW, on behalf of the State. The determination will be reviewed, and my Office will consider the findings and engage further with the ICML, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media and all other parties involved in the process to identify the appropriate next steps.
238. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she expects the next round of the sports capital grants scheme to reopen for applications from clubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33704/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021.
The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. The assessment of all appeals is complete and the consequent allocations amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May.
The priority in the short term is to advance the 2,895 successful applications under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage which requires detailed engagement with all grantees. Now that the appeal process is complete, my Department will also undertake a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP and any recommendations arising will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round. The precise timing of this next round of the Programme will be announced once this review is complete.
239. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the State boards that are under her remit; the details of each State board; the details of all the persons who are currently on each board in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33841/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are eighteen varied and diverse State Boards under the remit of my Department. Details of each Board and current membership are set on StateBoards.ie, for the Deputies convenience I have provided the link below - membership.stateboards.per.gov.ie/department/Department%20of%20Tourism,Culture,%20Arts,%20Gaeltacht,%20Sport%20and%20Media/
240. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total number of persons who are employed by her Department; the number who are currently working remotely; and the estimated number of persons in her Department who ordinarily worked from home prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. [33984/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present there are 409 staff employed by my Department.
395 employees are currently working on a blended working pattern in line with the Department’s “Interim Blended Working Policy”, developed to facilitate transitional arrangements and blended working, following the announcement of public health measures to commence a gradual and staggered return to the office from 20 September 2021.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media was formed in September 2020 following a Transfer of Functions. Therefore, there is no data available on the number of persons working from home prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
241. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the recent works ongoing at Údarás na Gaeltachta industrial estate at Ruisín na Meanach, Carna, County Galway in tabular form; the cost of the works; the reference number of the planning permission authorising the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34236/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that the cost of the works and the reference number of the planning permission authorising the works to which the Deputy is referring in her question is outlined below:
|
Cost of Works |
Planning Reference |
|
Contract Value: €320,451.50 |
06/4611 Condition 8 |
I understand that the contract is a Design Build type contract and the works will primarily involve the replacement of existing infrastructure and the provision of a new package Waste Water Treatment Plant, pumping chamber and soil polishing filter.
242. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 24 May 2022, the alternative arrangements in place for the off-site treatment of waste from Údarás na Gaeltachta Eastát Tionscail na Tulaigh, An Tulaigh, Baile na hAbhann, Contae na Gaillimhe; the location of the alternative Údarás na Gaeltachta-owned treatment plant to which she refers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that the alternative arrangement currently in place is to collect and transport effluent by tanker from Eastát Tionscail na Tulaigh to the treatment plant at Ros an Mhíl which has ample capacity according to an tÚdarás, and which is owned by the authority.
