Written Answers Nos. 336-350
339. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund that is invested in fossil fuel distribution companies; and the companies in which it is invested. [37106/23]
View answerIt was not possible for the National Treasury Management Agency of which the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund is a business unit, to respond to this information request in the time available and therefore I will make arrangements to provide a response in line with Standing Order 42A
340. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the engagements his Department has had with the OECD in relation to cross-Border remote workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/23]
View answer341. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the engagement that his Department has had with British government officials in relation to progressing a bilateral agreement to provide for smoother and less complicated working arrangements for cross-Border workers, North and South of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37137/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the issue of cross-Border workers and the availability of remote working options has potential tax implications not only for this country but also on an international level, given the increase in the extent of remote working as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a very complex matter and the State cannot move unilaterally. Discussions in relation to global mobility and the tax policy implications for cross-Border workers have already started at both the EU and the OECD. My Department is fully engaging with all the relevant stakeholders and is contributing to the policy discussions on the issue.
To support work in this area, the following three issues are actively being pursued:
Obtain Better Data – there is a general acceptance that data in relation to the nature and extent of cross-border working could be improved. The ESRI has been commissioned to undertake a research project in this area. It is understood that this work is in progress by the ESRI.
Minimise Administrative Burden – Revenue are currently looking at ways to minimise and simplify the administrative burden insofar as possible.
International Discussions – the Department of Finance is actively engaging in any international discussions on the policy implications of cross-border working. The Department will also engage bilaterally with other jurisdictions as appropriate to the circumstances. In this regard, over the course of 2022 officials from my Department had two meetings to facilitate an exchange of information on the issue of cross-border working with representatives of HM Treasury.
342. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35671/23]
View answerTemplemore Flood Relief scheme is currently at an advanced construction stage, with the day to day management of the scheme being undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW has engaged with all landowners and property owners affected by the scheme in a constructive and courteous manner at all times. In the case in question the OPW has met with the person concerned on a number of occasions to discuss and address his concerns. The OPW will continue to engage in a constructive and courteous manner, to address any further concerns should they arise in the future.
343. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update as to when work will be carried out in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35672/23]
View answerAs part of the Templemore Flood Relief Scheme works at the location concerned are planned upon completion of the works within Templemore Town Park.
Due to delays beyond the OPW's control and the ongoing poor weather it now seems unlikely that these works will be completed in 2023, as originally planned.
The OPW's current programme is to have works at the location concerned complete and the lands ready for hand back by end of Q2 2024.
344. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will supply funding to Tipperary County Council to carry out works to address flooding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35673/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes and flood relief schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. The location concerned does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the OPW.
Local flooding is, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. The OPW operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme and applications for funding from Local Authorities are considered for flood relief and erosion protection measures costing up to €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.floodinfo.ie/
No application for funding regarding works at the location concerned has been received by the OPW. Should a Minor Works application be submitted by Tipperary County Council, it will be assessed by the OPW having regard to the criteria outlined above.
345. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the levels of capital expenditure which will be allocated for infrastructure projects for County Cork for 2024; the timeframe for these allocations; the projects for which funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35699/23]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP), rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case. Expenditure is therefore allocated and monitored on a Departmental basis and not a geographic basis.
The Government has committed €165 billion funding for capital investment, as set out in the NDP published in October 2021. The NDP includes indicative Exchequer allocations for each Department for a five year period (2021 to 2025) and the overall capital expenditure ceilings out to 2030. This expenditure was considered and agreed in order to support those sectors that would be key in delivering the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF). The NDP contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which have been determined by the relevant Departments as central to the delivery of the National Planning Framework vision.
In 2023, over €12 billion will be made available from the Exchequer for investment in public capital projects, which will provide more schools, homes, hospitals and other pieces of vital infrastructure. This level of expenditure will be pivotal in consolidating the progress already made, supporting balanced regional development and, most importantly, delivering the necessary infrastructure to support our future climate change obligations as well as our social and economic requirements.
The Government will continue to detail the delivery of the NDP at regular intervals into the future to allow for full transparency on the implementation of Project Ireland 2040. This will be achieved through regular updates of the Project Ireland 2040 capital investment tracker and map as well as the publication of annual reports and regional reports highlighting Project Ireland 2040 achievements and giving a detailed overview of the public investments which have been made throughout the country, including in County Cork.
The capital investment tracker provides a composite update on the progress of all major investments with an estimated cost of greater than €20 million. Accompanying the tracker, the myProjectIreland interactive map details projects across the country and provides information on specific projects by county, including County Cork and lists smaller investments such as schools and social housing projects. 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 three Regional Assembly areas have been published for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, with an update for 2022 scheduled to be published in the coming weeks. The reports set out the regional projects and programmes, which are being planned and delivered in the Southern Region, including in County Cork, as part of the public investment detailed in Project Ireland 2040. While the reports do not provide an exhaustive list of all public capital expenditure, they serve to highlight the diverse range of investments being made by the State under Project Ireland 2040 in the region.
The Project Ireland 2040 Regional Reports, capital investment tracker and myProjectIreland interactive map are all available on gov.ie/2040.
346. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how many people were directly employed in the public sector recruitment agency from 2018 to date, in tabular form. [35768/23]
View answerI am informed by the Public Appointment Service that the number of people directly employed in the body from 2018 to date is as set out in the table below.
As staff numbers change throughout the year, the numbers provided are end year for each year aside from 2023, which represents staff as at July 17th.
|
|
Headcount |
FTE |
|
2018 |
192 |
181.00 |
|
2019 |
211 |
199.33 |
|
2020 |
223 |
211.63 |
|
2021 |
236 |
224.08 |
|
2022 |
283 |
272.00 |
|
Present |
299 |
289.40 |
347. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has received the 2022 annual report from the OPW; and if so, when the report will be published. [35798/23]
View answerI am informed by the Office of Public Works that a draft 2022 Annual Report is being finalised and will be submitted to Minister of State with responsibility for Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan TD in the coming weeks. It will then be submitted to my Department for approval by Government, translation into Irish and laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
348. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide mapping details and a report detailing the state of completion of works undertaken as a result of a €22,500 grant the OPW provided to Meath County Council in 2011 which was designed to remove and relocate existing pipes and ancillary works at Eastham Stream, Bettystown, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35817/23]
View answerMeath County Council were allocated funding of €22,500 in 2011 under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to remove and relocate existing pipes and ancillary works at Eastham Stream, Bettystown, Co. Meath.
My officials in the Office of Public Works have requested that Meath County Council forward the information required directly to the Deputy.
349. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the action his Department has taken to honour the programme for Government pledge to ensure that Government Departments and public bodies take positive steps, including the use of correct pronouns and, where possible, making improvements on official forms, to assist non-binary people. [35834/23]
View answerMy Department’s equality and diversity goals are articulated in a number of key strategies and initiatives to which the Department has committed, including the Programme for Government.
An example of where this commitment is detailed is in the Civil Service Renewal Strategy 2030, which acknowledges that Ireland has a growing and increasingly diverse population and sets out our goal of ensuring that our policy and service responses are focused on equality, inclusivity and accessibility. In line within the aims of this strategy, within my own Department, we are committed to nurturing a workforce for the future by bringing equality and inclusivity to the fore of our organisational design. We are dedicated to fostering an organisation which works to attract, engage and nurture a diverse and inclusive workforce in order to best serve and reflect Irish society and to empower our staff to continue thriving.
More recently, our Better Public Services strategy outlined our vision of delivering inclusive, high quality and integrated Public Service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland.
Although DPENDR is not a directly public-facing department, and therefore does not issue official forms for use by the public, we are committed to reflecting the values of inclusion and diversity in all of our publications.
Our Department also actively promotes and encourages an organisational culture where every individual treats one another with respect, all contributions are valued, all individuals can feel safe, that they belong and can achieve their full potential.
These commitments include recognising and supporting all employees’ gender identity and gender expression in our approach to policy development to further develop a positive, accepting and supportive work environment where every employee is treated with dignity and respect.
350. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date, by report, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35979/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department from 2020 to date is set out in the table below.
|
Service Provider |
Title of Report |
Completion / Publication Date |
Cost |
|
RSM Ireland |
Review of Strategic Workforce Planning Practices within the Public Service |
December 2020 |
€29,939 |
|
Great Place to Work |
Great Place to Work Action Planning Report for the Office of Government Procurement |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in February 2020 |
€23,526 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Organisation Review of the Office of Government Procurement |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in November 2020 |
€145,845 |
|
KOSI Corporation |
Covid-19: Provision of Expert Advice and Assistance in relation to Financial and Economic Standing Assessment |
November 2020 |
€13,125 |
|
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors |
External Quality Assessment |
December 2020 |
€9,875 |
|
KOSI Corporation |
Spot Buy – Logistics – Financial and Economic Assessment of Tenderers |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in December 2020 |
€5,250 |
|
Deloitte |
Public Sector Reform Delivery of Workshops & Summary Report |
December 2021 |
€5,535 |
|
PWC |
Organisational Culture Review: Review and Next Steps |
April 2021 |
€248,658 |
|
Mazars |
eCohesion Information Security Audit |
December 2021 |
€13,591 |
|
Gerry Finn |
Moderators Report on Complementaries and Synergies Across EU Funds |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in June 2021 |
€1,000 |
|
EY Ireland |
Supporting Excellence: Capital Project and Programme Review Delivery |
March 2021 |
Nil* |
|
CAAS |
River Bride EIAR and AA Review |
March 2021 |
€27,528 |
|
CAAS |
River Glashaboy EIAR and AA Review |
January 2021 |
€24,866 |
|
Great Place to Work |
Great Place to Work Action Planning Report for the Office of Government Procurement |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in February 2021 |
€22,441 |
|
Indecon International Consultants |
Research and Report Writing Services for the production and issue of written report to the Office of Government Procurement on the operation of the roles of the Standing Conciliator and the Project Board |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in December 2021 |
€159,008 |
|
BearingPoint |
Internal Analysis to determine Cloud Demand and the feasibility of developing a Cloud Services Category Strategy |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in February 2022 |
€32,287 |
|
Behaviour & Attitudes |
Civil Service Business Customer Satisfaction Survey |
June 2022 |
€26,260 |
|
RED C Marketing & Research |
Digital Public Services Research |
December 2022 |
€15,867 |
|
Connect the Dots |
Consultation Phase for the Open Data Strategy 2022-2027 Town Hall Summary Report |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in August 2022 |
€28,044 |
|
Davis Business Consultants |
Departmental Operating Model Review |
July 2022 |
€22,221 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Independent Hours Body Review |
April 2022 |
€4,243 |
|
Gerry Finn |
Moderators Report on Second Complementarities Workshop |
January 2022 |
€2,250 |
|
Enviroguide Consulting |
River Deel EIAR and AA Review |
May 2022 |
€16,913 |
|
CAAS |
River Slaney EIAR and AA Review |
March 2022 |
€26,599 |
|
Great Place to Work |
Great Place to Work Action Planning Report for the Office of Government Procurement |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in February 2022 |
€20,878 |
|
Storm Technology |
External Assessment of eDocs Solution |
Not published as for internal use only – completed in August 2022 |
€30,000 |
|
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Review of the Distribution and Utilisation of National Lottery Funding |
December 2022 |
€135,054 |
|
OECD |
Procurement for better value – A case study of Ireland, Measuring the impact of centralised purchasing |
July 2023 |
€50,000 |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Review of the 2016 Consultation Principles and Guidance |
Ongoing - projected completion date is Q4 2023 |
€19,650 |
|
The Brave Lab |
Draft Output report from the 4th Open Government Workshops |
Not yet published |
€18,112 |
|
Tangent |
Design-led Principles Consultation workshop series and report |
Ongoing |
€23,700 |
|
Deloitte |
Human Centred Design in the Public Service |
Ongoing |
€15,000 |
|
Mazars |
eCohesion Information Security Follow Up Audit |
January 23 |
€6,150 |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Guidance for the preparation of action plans to address the recommendations of an Organisational Capability Review |
Not yet published |
€15,300 |
|
OECD |
Strengthening environmental consideration in public investment in Ireland |
July 2023 |
Nil * |
|
OECD |
Integrating climate change in infrastructure project appraisal |
July 2023 |
Nil * |
|
ESRI |
An independent mid-term review of investment priorities and capacity of the NDP |
Ongoing |
No payments to-date |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Climate Action Capacity in the Public Service |
Ongoing |
€15,000 in 2022 in part-payment for the review, with balance to be paid in 2023 on completion of the project |
|
EY Ireland |
Economic Advices in Respect of Construction Contracts’ Price Variation Clauses |
Ongoing |
€262,233 (to-date) |
*No cost to the Exchequer - applied through the EU Technical Support Instrument
