Carol Nolan
Ceist:
113. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the number of redundancies, or so called ‘exit-packages’, that have been paid to staff or personnel at any level of seniority in his Department, or in any agency or body under the aegis of his Department, from 2018 to date; the value of each and the total value, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10989/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
Exit packages are not something which have been paid to serving civil servants in my Department from 2019 to date. Any staff member who retired from my Department during this period received pensions and lump sum payments in line with the terms and conditions of the pensions schemes of which they were members. In relation to the State bodies under the aegis of my Department, all severance scheme proposals (voluntary redundancy and voluntary early retirement schemes) are now required to be submitted to both my Department and subsequently to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) for Ministerial approval prior to the circulation of terms to staff or representatives following the update of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies in June 2021. The Code also requires that State bodies, in their financial statements, ‘should disclose details of payments and agreements with an aggregate value in excess of €10,000 made in the reporting period. This includes severance/ termination payments, granting of added years for pension purposes or early retirement without normal actuarial reductions’.
During the period in question, there was one severance payment made in respect of An Bord Pleanála (ABP). The severance terms were in compliance with the relevant circular (i.e. DPENDR Circular 09/2018) and were sanctioned by DPENDR.
ABP are currently finalising their 2023 accounts and annual report which are due for submission by 30 June 2024.
Any disclosures required to be made for the year 2023 will be made within that reporting framework in the first instance and after the 2023 accounts have been audited and certified by the Auditor and Comptroller General.
In respect of Ervia-GNI, in accordance with section 16 of the Gas Act 1976 (as amended), the remuneration and allowances for expenses payable to Ervia's staff and Gas Networks Ireland's staff is an operational matter for Ervia and Gas Networks Ireland, respectively, with the exception of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
In respect of Uisce Éireann, in accordance with section 27 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (as amended), the remuneration and allowances for expenses payable to Uisce Éireann's staff is an operational matter for Uisce Éireann, with the exception of the Chief Executive Officer.
In respect of the other bodies under the aegis of my Department, it is my understanding that there were no other severance and or redundancy packages during the period in question.
