21 Iúil 2011, 11:57
The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission today published its 2010 Annual Report.
21 July 2011
The report is primarily in respect of 2010 but also covers the pre and post election period in early 2011. As well as providing details of parliamentary activity during this period, the report also accounts for the public money spent in running the National Parliament in 2010.
Some of the facts highlighted in the annual report include:
The Cost of running Parliament
A 9 per cent saving was delivered for 2010. This means that the 2011 spend is now comparable to 2006 levels or, in real terms, closer to 2002/2003 levels. Nevertheless, services to Members and the Houses have been maintained or increased.
The total budget allocated for Houses of the Oireachtas in 2010 was €117.8 million. However, by introducing savings and doing more with less, the Oireachtas managed to achieve savings of €10.6 million, meaning its actual expenditure was €107.2 million; representing the 9% saving.
These cost savings were achieved by:
Decreases in TDs and Senators pay by €2.3m (10%)
Reductions in TDs and Senators allowances by €1.2m (8.7%)
Decreases in staff salaries by €2.2 m (8.5%)
Reducing IT, communications and printing costs by €4.1m (30%)
A fall in civil service staff numbers from 435 to 387
The Houses of the Oireachtas’ Croke Park action plan targets further savings of €7.5 million in 2011/12.
The Sittings and Business of Parliament
The Report also contains information on the sittings and quantitative details on the business of Parliament. It finds that in total there were:
- 100 Dáil sittings (843 hours)
- 97 Seanad sittings (613 hours)
- 623 Committee meetings (1,065 hours)
- 1,435 Witnesses contributed at Committee Meetings
- 82 Published Committee Reports
- 61 Bills published as initiated
- 4,782 Amendments tabled to Bills
- 44,943 Parliamentary Questions processed (90% of which were submitted electronically)
Comparative Benchmarking of Parliaments
The report includes results from the internally commissioned Report on Comparative Benchmarking of Parliaments study which compared the performance of the Oireachtas against other Parliaments.
The Oireachtas performs well when benchmarked against other national parliaments surveyed in terms of total sitting days and sitting hours, recording third place with a total of 197 sitting days and second place with a total of 1,456 sitting hours for both Houses.
When comparing the number of recess weeks out of ten Parliaments surveyed, Dáil Éireann finishes in joint third place with the UK.
The Irish figure of 44,943 parliamentary questions tabled registered second highest out of twelve Parliaments surveyed. This is almost two and a half times the average number of questions tabled.
In terms of costs per Member of Parliament we have the second lowest overall cost. We also have on average less overall staff (including political and administrative staff) per member.
Elections 2011
Following the General Elections, 44% of the members returned to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad are new members.
The report contains details of some of the activities undertaken by The Service to ensure a seamless transition for all returning and newly elected members. This includes the allocation and re-allocation of accommodation for Members and their staff, An Election Handbook for members regarding dissolution guidelines, Post-Election Induction for new Members and the publication of an Information Handbook for new Members.
Key Developments and Activities highlighted in the report
A new system for members’ allowances replaced the previous series of allowances. Considering the significant levels of change associated with the new arrangements, a review is scheduled to be carried out in 2011.
The two all-Party Working Groups (one in the Houses of the Oireachtas chaired by the Ceann Comhairle, and the other in the Northern Ireland Assembly chaired by the Speaker) continued to take forward discussions on the establishment of a North-South Parliamentary Forum, as envisaged under the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and the St.Andrew’s Agreement of 2006. A North-South Parliamentary Forum Conference was held in Newcastle, Co. Down in October 2010.
The Commission approved a new Travel Policy for foreign and domestic travel for members and staff. This new policy will minimize travel costs and ensure value for money is achieved while also setting out clear procedures in relation to travel management.
A memorandum of understanding between The Service and An Garda Siochana is being developed with the focus on the roles for all security staff and the required reactions in relation to specific relevant events.
An analysis of contributions in the 30th Dáil and to date in the 31st Dáil has shown a substantial increase in the use of the Irish language by members. Use of the Irish language has increased from 12% in the last Dáil to 20% in the new one.
The Library and Research Service responded to 2,550 on-demand information and research queries from individual members and other users during 2010. That is a 19% increase on the number of queries received during the first year of this service in 2007.
Click here for full report in English and Irish
ENDS
Cáit Hayes
Houses of the Oireachtas
Communications Unit
P: 01 618 3883
M: 087 9190300
E: cait.hayes@oireachtas.ie