Written Answers Nos. 433-454
436. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total allocation of funding to each State agency under his Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each agency, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30794/26]
View answerThe Bodies under the Aegis of my Department have provided the following information:
Tax Appeals Commission (TAC)
TAC is a Body under the Aegis of the Department of Finance with its own vote (Vote 10) and is allocated funding through the Revised Estimates. Details of funding allocations for TAC, including the breakdown of current and capital funding to State agencies, are provided in the Revised Estimates Volumes, available online at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/the-revised-estimates-volumes-for-the-public-service/.
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
|
Year |
V09 – Revenue Commissioners Allocation of Funding Total (€’000) |
|
2026 |
610,728 |
|
2025 |
562,269 |
|
2024 |
532,136 |
|
2023 |
526,204 |
|
2022 |
441,102 |
|
2021 |
441,727 |
|
2020 |
411,794 |
|
2019 |
382,684 |
|
2018 |
356,879 |
|
2017 |
341,141 |
|
2016 |
331,113 |
|
2015 |
329,481 |
|
2014 |
320,463 |
|
2013 |
322,705 |
|
2012 |
311,978 |
|
2011 |
325,172 |
Central Bank (CBI)
The Central Bank of Ireland is an independent body self-funded through a diversified funding model. The Central Bank generates revenue through multiple sources, including seigniorage from banknote issuance, investment returns from its portfolio of assets, banking services provided to the Government and other financial institutions, and an annual funding levy collected from regulated financial firms. By law, the Central Bank retains up to 20 per cent of its annual profits to support its operations and build financial reserves, whilst the remaining 80 per cent is returned to the Government to benefit the Irish public.
The Minister for Finance gave the Central Bank responsibility to establish and operate the Ireland Safe-Deposit Box, Bank & Payments Accounts Register (ISBAR) and the Department of Finance has provided funding to cover the establishment costs, ongoing operational costs incurred by the Central Bank, and any costs arising from changes.
This funding model is one where costs incurred by the Central Bank are recovered in arrears from the Department of Finance, so it is a reimbursement of costs incurred rather than an allocation of funds. An ECB opinion sets out that Anti Money Laundering (AML) registers are a Government mandate and therefore are an atypical mandate for a Central Bank. The opinion sets out that costs incurred by the Central Bank on such activities must be fully reimbursed.
The Central Bank has also received funding from the Department of Finance in respect of the BORIS project, which will connect the three beneficial ownership registers to a European interconnection mechanism.
The aggregated funding received by the Central Bank in respect of these two projects is detailed in the table below.
|
- |
2020 (€s) |
2021 (€s) |
2022 (€s) |
2023 (€s) |
2024 (€s) |
2025 (€s) |
Total (€s) |
|
Total ISBAR |
181,106 |
799,399 |
986,862 |
978,390 |
452,336 |
374,105 |
3,772,198 |
|
Total BORIS |
0 |
0 |
512,202 |
391,907 |
6,437 |
6,518 |
917,064 |
|
AML Registers - Central Fund Total |
181,106 |
799,399 |
1,499,064 |
1,370,297 |
458,773 |
380,623 |
4,689,262 |
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)
The FSPO was established on 01 January 2018 to resolve complaints from consumers, including small businesses and other organisations, against financial service providers or pension providers. The FSPO annual budget is funded through two distinct sources; the financial services complaints are funded by a levy on the financial services industry and the pensions complaints are funded by the Exchequer, through the Department of Finance. The Exchequer allocation of funding is detailed below.
|
- |
Allocation of Funding (€’s) Total |
|
2026 – to date |
916,000 |
|
2025 |
849,274 |
|
2024 |
525,000 |
|
2023 |
479,267 |
|
2022 |
490,596 |
|
2021 |
482,586 |
|
2020 |
768,000 |
|
2019 |
691,889 |
|
2018 |
950,000 |
|
2017 |
N/A |
|
2016 |
N/A |
|
2015 |
N/A |
|
2014 |
N/A |
|
2013 |
N/A |
|
2012 |
N/A |
|
2011 |
N/A |
Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC)
IFAC was established on a statutory basis with the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2012*.? Under the FRA 2012, the Fiscal Council’s annual funding ceiling was set at €800,000 for the year after its enactment and indexed annually according to HICP thereafter (table below refers).? It is funded directly from the Central Fund.
|
- |
Allocation of Funding (€’s) Total |
|
2026 |
1,004,535 |
|
2025 |
983,873 |
|
2024 |
971,247 |
|
2023 |
923,239 |
|
2022 |
854,060 |
|
2021 |
834,043 |
|
2020 |
838,234 |
|
2019 |
829,114 |
|
2018 |
822,534 |
|
2017 |
820,892 |
|
2016 |
822,537 |
|
2015 |
823,360 |
|
2014 |
820,080 |
|
2013 |
*800,000 |
|
2012 |
N/A |
|
2011 |
N/A |
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG)
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is part of the Finance group of Votes. The total gross allocation of funding, as approved in the Revised Estimates for Public Services, for each of the past 15 years is as follows.
|
- |
Allocation of Funding (€’s) Total |
|
2026 – to date |
20,363,000 |
|
2025 |
19,028,000 |
|
2024 |
18,156,000 |
|
2023 |
17,226,000 |
|
2022 |
16,050,000 |
|
2021 |
15,506,000 |
|
2020 |
15,147,000 |
|
2019 |
14,638,000 |
|
2018 |
13,977,000 |
|
2017 |
12,642,000 |
|
2016 |
12,520,000 |
|
2015 |
12,557,000 |
|
2014 |
11,797,000 |
|
2013 |
11,852,000 |
|
2012 |
12,466,000 |
|
2011 |
12,910,000 |
The Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo)
ReBo was established on 1 January 2013 to implement a national restructuring programme for the credit union sector, as recommended by the Commission on Credit Unions. ReBo completed 82 restructuring projects involving 156 credit unions across 24 counties, with combined assets of approximately €6bn. ReBo ceased operations on 31 March 2017 and is awaiting formal dissolution.
While ReBo was in operation, between 2013 and 2017, it was required to make regulations for a levy payable by credit unions equivalent to half the total expenditure ReBo incurred annually. The total recouped via this levy in those years was €11,032,025.
|
- |
Allocation of Funding (€’s) Total |
|
2026 – to date |
0 |
|
2025 |
10,073 |
|
2024 |
21,142 |
|
2023 |
11,147 |
|
2022 |
18,627 |
|
2021 |
14,700 |
|
2020 |
3,984 |
|
2019 |
3,919 |
|
2018 |
1,332 |
|
2017 |
2,635,354 |
|
2016 |
13,475,582 |
|
2015 |
3,445,898 |
|
2014 |
2,452,847 |
|
2013 |
693,102 |
|
2012 |
N/A |
|
2011 |
N/A |
Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI)
The Minister for Finance has provided funding to the SBCI as detailed in the below table.
|
- |
Allocation of Funding (€’s) Total |
|
2026 – to date |
N/A |
|
2025 |
N/A |
|
2024 |
N/A |
|
2023 |
N/A |
|
2022 |
N/A |
|
2021 |
N/A |
|
2020 |
€50 million (share capital) |
|
2019 |
N/A |
|
2018 |
N/A |
|
2017 |
€25 million (share capital) |
|
2016 |
N/A |
|
2015 |
N/A |
|
2014 |
€10 million (equity) |
|
2013 |
N/A |
|
2012 |
N/A |
|
2011 |
N/A |
The SBCI operates loan schemes on behalf of other Departments, for example the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme is operated on behalf of Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and Department of Agriculture Fisheries and the Marine. There are operational costs associated with these loan schemes. These are remunerated to the SBCI by the relevant Departments.
The Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA)
|
- |
Allocation of Funding (€’s) Total |
|
2026 – to date |
67,073 |
|
2025 |
216,483 |
|
2024 |
322,295 |
|
2023 |
81,360 |
|
2022 |
79,166 |
|
2021 |
311,967 |
|
2020 |
289,232 |
|
2019 |
315,410 |
|
2018 |
301,633 |
|
2017 |
276,530 |
|
2016 |
319,539 |
|
2015 |
327,460 |
|
2014 |
289,235 |
|
2013 |
351,890 |
|
2012 |
331,582 |
|
2011 |
325,543 |
The remaining Bodies under the Aegis of my Department provided a nil return.
437. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total spend on consultancy firms by each State agency under his Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each named consultancy firm, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30812/26]
View answerPlease find attached response to the total spend on consultancy firms by the Bodies under the Aegis of my Department.
441. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the solution he plans for the potential VAT liability that exists with drivers (details supplied); and if he will ensure that a fair and reasonable repayment schedule is created to ensure that drivers can still afford to work and that the supply of taxi drivers does not fall off a cliff. [30870/26]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that VAT is subject to the requirements of the EU VAT Directive with which Irish VAT law is obliged to comply.
Irish VAT legislation, in compliance with EU VAT law, provides that taxable persons who are receiving services from outside the State, in the course of their business, are accountable and liable to pay VAT on the reverse charge basis. If the business receiving the services from abroad is normally VAT exempt, then it will be required to register for VAT in order that it can properly account for Irish VAT on the received services. These arrangements apply to businesses across all sectors, including taxi drivers, who receive services from abroad, irrespective of their value.
Accordingly, where a services platform is located outside the State and providing services to taxi drivers in the State, the reverse charge rules apply. This means the Irish taxi drivers who are customers of that platform are obliged to self-account for the VAT in the State on the supply of the services they have received. Often taxi drivers may not already be registered for VAT, because the provision of passenger road transport services is VAT exempt in Ireland; in such case, the taxi driver is required to register so that they can account for Irish VAT on the received services.
Revenue operates a self-assessment system for VAT and therefore the application of VAT on services is primarily a matter for the company or person who is accountable for the VAT.
I am assured that Revenue is mindful of the challenges businesses are experiencing in the current economic climate. I am further advised by Revenue that its clear preference is always to work with taxpayers experiencing payment difficulties and to identify and agree mutually acceptable payment solutions where possible. They have a proven track record of successfully working with individuals and businesses in agreeing flexible Phased Payment Arrangements to allow for the repayment of debt over a period of time. Revenue encourages taxpayers to engage early when payment difficulties arise and will work proactively with businesses experiencing temporary cash flow difficulties.
442. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) will receive their tax refund in respect of medical expenses they have incurred; the amount due in respect of the most recent application by them; the amount due in respect of the previous application pre-2020; the reason neither sum has been paid to the person to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30934/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, taxpayers are required to complete a PAYE Income Tax Return in order for Revenue to confirm the final tax position and issue a Statement of Liability (SOL).
A Return of Income is a declaration by a taxpayer that they have included all their income sources and claimed for any additional credits and reliefs that they may be entitled to, such as health expenses.
Revenue has advised me that while the person concerned has submitted receipts for health expenses for a number of years, they have not completed PAYE Income Tax Returns to date.
Revenue further advises, claims for tax relief on qualifying health expenses can be made retrospectively within four years, after the year in which they are incurred, by completing a PAYE Income Tax Return.
The final taxation position for the person concerned can only be quantified when their annual PAYE Income Tax Returns is submitted via myAccount. Once their returns are submitted, the final taxation position will be confirmed and in the majority of cases, the SOL and any repayments due will issue within 3 to 5 working days.
Finally, I can advise that Revenue will contact the person concerned directly and provide any assistance necessary to resolve the matter.
444. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total tobacco products tax revenue collected from cigarette sales in each year from 2019 to 2025, inclusive; the total volume and retail value of the cigarette sales to generate this revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30972/26]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the table below sets out the Tobacco Products Tax (TPT) receipts collected from cigarettes in each year from 2019 to 2025. The table also provides the declared cigarette volumes released for consumption in each year and an estimate of their retail value.
|
Year |
TPT €m |
Volume* |
Estimated Value €bn |
|
2025** |
862.1 |
1,581,425 |
1.38 |
|
2024 |
840.1 |
1,666,948 |
1.34 |
|
2023 |
851.3 |
1,795,450 |
1.37 |
|
2022 |
991.6 |
2,204,131 |
1.58 |
|
2021 |
1,136.6 |
2,662,613 |
1.79 |
|
2020 |
1,039.8 |
2,510,795 |
1.59 |
|
2019 |
1,010.9 |
2,768,745 |
1.67 |
* Cigarette Volume '000s
**Provisional
I am further advised by Revenue that a breakdown of receipts and volumes by year, up to 2024, is published on the Revenue website at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/index.aspx
445. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the projected yield from a windfall tax on energy profits, modelled on the same basis as the temporary solidarity contribution in 2022 and 2023, if applied to profits in 2025 and projected profits in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30974/26]
View answer446. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the projected yield from a windfall tax on energy profits for 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively, if the corporation tax rate were increased to either 25% or 50%; the estimated yield, if a 25% levy were placed on those profits instead, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30975/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together.
I am advised by Revenue that the latest available year for statistical information on company profits, as reported on CT1 tax returns, is 2023. As such, it does not have information currently available upon which it can base an estimated policy costing involving 2025 profits. Statistical information on profits in relation to 2025 CT1 returns will not be available for analysis until 2027. Revenue holds no information in respect of projected profits in 2026. Furthermore, while my Department prepares forecasts of Corporation Tax for future years, including 2026, these are based on macroeconomic data and do not incorporate company-specific projections.
It may be of assistance to the Deputy to note that the Temporary Solidarity Contribution (TSC) collected €167.2 million in 2023 and €104.1 million in 2024, as can be seen in the Department of Finance’s Fiscal Monitor December 2024 which is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/publications/fiscal-monitor-december-2024/
The TSC was a temporary and time-limited emergency intervention, arising out of the increase in energy prices at the commencement of the war in Ukraine. It was introduced in line with Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 to tackle windfall gains being made in the energy sector at the time. Specifically, the TSC was levied on fossil fuel producers and applied at a rate of 75 per cent on a measure of surplus taxable profits in both fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
It is important to note that, while the TSC was administered by the Revenue Commissioners, it was not a tax measure; it was a solidarity contribution arising from an energy Regulation agreed at EU level. As such, the TSC formed part of a co-ordinated European response, reflecting the highly interconnected nature of EU energy markets and a view that an emergency intervention to mitigate the effects of high energy prices at the time could not be sufficiently achieved by Member States individually.
The European Commission have produced a communication, AccelerateEU, which addresses the EU’s rising energy costs on volatile fossil fuel markets and aims to accelerate the clean energy transition and strengthen EU energy resilience. The communication outlines several policy initiatives to address the current energy situation.
The Government is conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In response, the Government has introduced temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses, with additional supports for key sectors of the Irish economy. This includes the reduction of excise on petrol and diesel, extending the fuel allowance season by a further four weeks, and targeted relief to haulage and bus passenger operators. Measures have also been taken to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East underlines, once again, why we must accelerate the deployment of renewables across all sectors, continue to invest in our grid, and continue to invest in retrofitting of homes and businesses across the country.
447. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the legal and policy basis on which full compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies is not required for non-statutory bodies in receipt of public funding; and whether this approach is applied uniformly across Government. [29857/26]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies only to commercial and non-commercial organisations under the aegis of Government Departments. However, there are other types of State or public bodies that are covered by different corporate governance codes.
For instance, the 18 Central Government Departments and the 27 other Vote funded Offices of Government are required to follow the Corporate Governance Standard for the Civil Service introduced by my Department as a key part of its public service reform mandate. Likewise, the 31 Local Authorities follow the Local Government Code of Governance published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Central Statistics Office in its Register of Public Bodies includes many non-statutory public bodies that are deemed to be under public control for statistical accounting purposes. However, many of these bodies are not owned by the State even if they are providing public services on behalf of Government Departments. These public bodies, as defined by the CSO include voluntary sector agencies that are often formed as companies limited by guarantee. Such incorporated public bodies formed in this manner can be legally independent of Government, but for the most part depend on the State for most of their funding needs. Many of these companies classified as public bodies by the CSO have been registered as charities by the Charities Regulator and, consequently, are required in their annual report to indicate compliance with the Charities Governance Code.
It is vital that all public bodies adhere to the best practice in corporate governance and comply with the relevant corporate governance code for their organisation type.
448. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total amount of revenue generated by the carbon tax since its introduction in 2010, broken down on an annual basis; to provide a detailed breakdown of how this revenue has been allocated and spent in each year since its introduction; the amounts directed towards social protection measures, retrofitting programmes, agri-environment schemes and any other expenditure headings; to clarify whether all carbon tax revenues are being fully ring-fenced, as committed to under Government policy; if not, the reasons for any shortfall; and where the remaining funds have been allocated, in light of suggestions that only 61% went to the targeted areas in 2025, as set out by Government policy. [30910/26]
View answerCarbon tax receipts are used to fund a balanced package of measures, including targeted social protection, agri-environment schemes and large scale home retrofitting. These interventions are designed to prevent fuel poverty, support a just transition, and ensure that households and communities – particularly those on lower incomes – are supported as decarbonisation takes place.
I am advised by the Department of Finance, based on information provided by the Revenue Commissioners, that the receipts collected in respect of Fuel Taxes in each of the past ten years up to 2024 are published on the Revenue website at:
www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/receipts-volume-and-price/excise-receipts-commodity.aspx
The provisional receipts for carbon tax for 2025 are estimated €1.176 billion.
Prior to 2020, receipts from carbon tax were remitted to the Exchequer and funded Government expenditure generally, rather than being allocated to any specific purpose. As such, the detailed breakdown of allocations for those years is not available in the format the Deputy has requested.
In line with the Government’s commitment to allocate funding over this decade to support climate action measures and to ensure the most vulnerable are protected from unintended impacts of the carbon tax increase, between Budget 2020 and Budget 2026, over €4.2 billion in additional Carbon Tax revenues has been allocated to programmes to support a range of social protection, decarbonisation and agri-environment measures.
This total includes over €2 billion to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment to support Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) residential and community energy efficiency upgrade schemes, including the Warmer Homes Scheme, the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, the Better Energy Homes Scheme, the Community Energy Grant scheme and the Solar PV Scheme.
It also includes €539 million funded from increases in the carbon tax to part-fund the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and to continue prior commitments on green agriculture pilot projects, to support farmers as they undertake a range of actions which will result in improved outcomes on biodiversity, climate, air and water quality.
From Budget 2020 to date, €140 million of carbon tax revenue has been allocated to the Department of Transport to support sustainable transport measures such as greenways and electric vehicles. In addition, €35 million has been allocated to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to fund peatlands rehabilitation, which delivers a range of climate and ecosystem benefits, as well as €42 million allocated to the Just Transition Fund to support the areas most affected by the transition to climate neutrality, to help ensure that no one is left behind.
A breakdown on the annual allocations to key areas is set out below:
|
Programme |
Department |
2020 €m |
2021 €m |
2022 €m |
2023 €m |
2024 €m |
2025 €m |
2026 €m |
|
Retrofitting & Community Energy Efficiency |
DCEE |
13 |
113 |
202 |
291 |
380 |
469 |
558 |
|
ODA - Green Climate Fund |
DCEE |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Just Transition Fund |
DCEE |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and green agriculture pilots |
DAFM |
3 |
23 |
3 |
81 |
113 |
143 |
173 |
|
Sustainable Transport Measures |
D/Transport |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
Peatlands Rehabilitation |
DHLGH |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Once-off Pilot Housing Regeneration Programme |
DHLGH |
20 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Targeted Social Protection Interventions |
DSP |
21 |
69 |
174 |
218 |
262 |
306 |
350 |
|
Total |
|
90 |
238 |
412 |
623 |
788 |
951 |
1,114 |
As the Deputy may be aware, in 2024 the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General published its Report to the Dail on the results of the examination of the 2023 Accounts of Government Departments and Offices. Chapter 18 of the report on the administration of carbon tax receipts included a finding that, of the €1.36 billion carbon tax revenues allocated over the period 2020-2023, 61% was verified as being spent in year as recorded through carbon tax-specific subheads.
Of the remaining 39%, 17% was allocated to the Department of Social Protection and spent in year but not recorded in carbon tax-specific subheads. In those years, carbon tax funding was provided to part-fund key priorities such as the Working Family Payment, Qualified Child Increase, Fuel Allowance, and the Living Alone Allowance schemes.
Although from an audit perspective the funding had not been accounted for in carbon tax-specific subheads, the funding was clearly allocated and the expenditure accounted for through normal Vote and Accounting Officer frameworks that apply to the use of the public resources, and there were not any significant underspends in the expenditure provided to the schemes in those years.
As is standard practice for monies voted by the Oireachtas, unspent Departmental funding during the year that is not carried over via formal deferred surrender of unspent capital arrangements is liability for Exchequer surrender at year-end, with the C&AG finding that 19% of the funding in that period was surrendered, with the remainder deferred and spent in the following year in accordance with these arrangements. Underspends, while ultimately the responsibility of the relevant Accounting Officer, should be viewed in the context of relating challenges at the time such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on supply chains from the Ukraine war.
My Department issues an annual publication on Budget Day titled The Use of Carbon Tax Funds, which contains further detail on carbon tax allocations, and includes information on the programmes funded from these amounts. All previous versions are available on the Department’s website.
449. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will give approval to a proposal submitted by EirGrid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29566/26]
View answer455. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he has reached a decision on the approval and progression of EirGrid's proposal concerning pension increases for retired and deferred members of EirGrid (details supplied); if he accepts that progressing this proposal would represent an important step toward fairness and would help ensure that these individuals are not disproportionately disadvantaged; when a decision will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30030/26]
View answer465. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to approve a request from EirGrid to implement pension increases that would include retired and deferred members; the steps he will take to ensure the preservation of the value of deferred pension entitlements among former EirGrid workers who have not yet reached retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30669/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 449, 455 and 465 together.
In line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the Regulations of the EirGrid Pension Fund, pension increases for defined benefit pension schemes operating under the EirGrid Pension Fund require the approval of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and my consent.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment confirmed the approval of the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment on 19 March 2026 and sought my consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions under the EirGrid Pension Fund, effective from 1 April 2023.
I have provided my consent for this 4% pension increase and this was communicated to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment on 23 April 2026. The payment of the pension increase is a matter for EirGrid and the trustees of the EirGrid Pension Fund.
450. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the timelines and funding for the delivery of the proposed new Garda station in Sligo, noting that a site was purchased with public funds in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29578/26]
View answerThe prioritisation of An Garda Síochána capital projects is a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in line with the current Justice Sectoral Investment Plan and An Garda Síochána's current Capital Plan.
In accordance with the Infrastructure Guidelines, the Approving Authority for An Garda Síochána capital projects is Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and An Garda Síochána is the Sponsoring Agency. When capital projects are approved, the Office of Public works fulfils the role of Contracting Authority.
Funding for An Garda Síochána's Capital Plan is provided by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
An initial Business Case seeking an expanded Divisional Garda Headquarters in Sligo is being prepared by An Garda Síochána. This Business Case will be subject to approval by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. This approval will include timelines for the delivery of the project.
The Office of Public works is providing technical inputs to this initial Business Case, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, to support an options appraisal process which will identify a preferred option for a new Garda Station in Sligo. Until this process is concluded, timelines for the delivery of the project cannot be confirmed.
451. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of open cases currently with the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information; the average time for cases to be decided; the number of cases currently with the office for two years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29588/26]
View answerOffice of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (OCEI)
|
No of cases currently on hand |
Average time for cases to be decided |
No of cases currently on hands for 2 years or more |
|
435 |
The majority of cases are over 12 months old before a decision issues.* |
210 |
*Unfortunately OCEI is not able to provide a more accurate average closure timeframe at the moment. OCEI is, however, putting in place a new case management system which may allow it to provide this information in future.
The Commissioner for Environmental Information is a statutorily independent Office Holder. The OCEI publishes an Annual Review of its activities for the year in which detailed information and commentary is provided on OCEI casework. You may wish to note that in Chapter 2 of OCEI’s Annual Review for 2024 (www.ocei.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.ocei.ie/media/278521/4426fe9c-e742-4ca4-97ab-be8e19187c81.pdf#page=null), OCEI set out some of the issues which impact on the timeliness of its decision-making.
452. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Government has assessed the risks arising where administrative processes identified as requiring review continue to be relied upon in determining the outcome of such disclosures (details supplied); and whether any interim safeguards are in place to ensure that reporting persons are not exposed to ongoing harm in circumstances where the operation of the whistleblower framework itself is under examination at national or EU level. [29625/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).
453. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the nature of refurbishment works that are scheduled to be carried out at Kilkenny Castle during 2026, in tabular form. [30014/26]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is responsible for the conservation, care and presentation of Kilkenny Castle and parkland. In 2025, there were approximately 437,000 ticketed and events visitors to Kilkenny Castle and 723,000 to the parklands.
As indicated in previous replies, the OPW delivers an annual programme of maintenance and conservation at the Castle including planned and reactive maintenance works. The OPW is also developing a larger capital works project to deal with universal access and fabric repairs to the Picture Gallery wing.
The table below provides an overview of refurbishment and related works scheduled to be carried out or progressed in 2026.
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Name of project |
Nature of project |
|
Combined package of maintenance works |
This programme of maintenance and conservation and refurbishment works was undertaken and completed in January this year. It included floor restoration, carpet replacement, specialist cleaning of historic furnishings, deep cleaning work, painting and decorating, room reconfigurations with addition of new exhibition items. |
|
Expansion of gardener's compound and car park |
This project to improve and extend the gardener's compound and associated car park will improve facilities and better provide for health and safety. Preliminary works have commenced and the required consents for further works are now in process. These works will also provide for the install of charging facilities for OPW electric vehicles to facilitate the transition to lower and zero emissions vehicles within our fleet. |
|
Picture Gallery Fabric Repair, Accessibility, landscape and facility upgrade works. |
This planned fabric conservation and facilities upgrade project includes archaeological works, roof restoration and fabric repair work to the picture gallery at the Castle. The project includes repair and replacement of elements of the roof to address issues of water ingress. Universal access measures include a lift to the picture gallery and universal access improvement to the formal garden. The project will also deliver improved toilet facilities and a Changing Places bathroom facility. Associated archaeological works, including works to uncover the remains of the original William Marshall defensive gate tower, will significantly augment the medieval element of the castle’s history. Subject to the necessary consents, it is anticipated that a tender will issue for these works late in 2026. |
|
Temporary Ticket Desk |
A new temporary ticket desk will be installed to facilitate efficient admission, improved visitor experience and reduce queuing time for tickets during busy periods. It is hoped to have the new facility in place this year subject to obtaining the necessary consents. |
|
Playground Upgrade works |
Some of the playground equipment will be upgraded or replaced this year with a Castle Castello system. This is scheduled to take place in Autumn once the busy summer season for the Playground has concluded. |
454. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if an individual protection plan or any financial assistance could be granted towards the significant flood defence costs for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30017/26]
View answerEngineering and Environmental consultants were appointed in May of 2022 to deliver a flood relief scheme for Kenmare. The Kenmare Flood Relief Scheme will protect 235 properties. As part of the optioneering process, the consultant has carried out options assessment and has identified 6 fluvial options and 3 coastal options. Emerging design options will be brought to the public for their views in the coming months and the preferred scheme is scheduled to be submitted for planning consent in Q4 2027.
The design standard of protection for the scheme will be 1% AEP fluvial event (1 in 100 year) and 0.5% AEP tidal event (1 in 200 year).
I saw first-hand the property you refer to when I visited in November, 2025 shortly after the flood event that had occurred. At the time, the property owner advised that they had made many endeavours over the years to remediate against flood damage.
In advance of the Kenmare Flood Relief Scheme riverbank erosion works were carried out and this work has proven to be successful in preventing further erosion in that area.
Pending the completion of the Kenmare Flood Relief Scheme, it is open to the local authority to provide interim measures to mitigate flood risk. The Council can use their own resources or can apply to the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for funding for these works. The criteria for this scheme are available on the OPW's website. I will shortly be announcing an expansion to the scope of this scheme's criteria, including increasing the threshold from €750,000 to €2m.
