Written Answers Nos. 341-360
343. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the capital funding allocated to OPW capital works projects in the National Development Plan for the period 2026 to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51114/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW has been allocated €1.845bn in capital funding for the period 2026 - 2030 under the National Development Plan.
The relevant allocation, by year, is detailed below:
|
€m |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
2026-2030 |
|
Total |
365 |
360 |
360 |
380 |
380 |
1,845 |
344. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the position regarding the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme interventions the OPW plans to take in relation to mitigating flooding risks in Bettystown and Mornington in East Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51248/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management CFRAM Programme proposed a further flood relief scheme for Mornington. These works would have complemented the existing flood scheme already completed. The hard defences would protect against a 1% AEP fluvial flood event and against a 0.5% AEP coastal flood event.
After the August and October 2023 flood events in the Mornington/Bettystown area a senior level group involving the OPW and Meath County Council was established to review the event and any additional measures in the Mornington/Bettystown area that may be required.
The OPW instructed consultants RPS to investigate both the cause and magnitude of the flooding events in Mornington/Bettystown in August and October of 2023. This investigation will inform any appropriate short term measures that can be taken to manage the flood risk in this area and in the longer term will inform the design of any further proposed flood defences. This work is now complete and the final report is with the OPW and Meath County Council for consideration. The appropriate planning and design development route for these works is also currently under consideration.
The senior group with representatives from the OPW and Meath County Council are also engaged in the development of current works for the Mornington/Bettystown area. There are a number of projects in this area that are currently underway in addition to the CFRAM proposals. These are the installation of a permanent pumping station in the Dunes estate and a culvert upgrade required for the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme. It is intended that the pumping station will be completed next year and the culvert upgrade will be completed this year.
Annual maintenance by Meath County Council on the drainage district channels adjacent to the Village estate is also due to take place ahead of the winter months and OPW are also undertaking annual maintenance on the Mornington Flood Relief Scheme. The OPW will also undertake annual maintenance of the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme on behalf of Meath County Council.
Mornington Flood Relief Scheme
The Mornington Flood Relief Scheme (FRS), consented to under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, was substantially completed in 2013, providing protection to 162 properties. This flood relief scheme has a design standard of 0.5% AEP coastal flood event and 1% AEP fluvial flood event. The OPW directly managed the construction and funded the development of the flood defences. The Mornington FRS is maintained annually by the OPW East Region Drainage Maintenance Section. Maintenance involves silt and vegetation removal from circa 3km of channel, and vegetation management on circa 5km of embankment. Maintenance is generally carried out in Q4 of each year.
Northlands Flood Relief Scheme
The Northlands Flood Relief Scheme commenced in November, 2016. Construction of this scheme, consisted of in-situ reinforced concrete walls and precast concrete “U-channels”, and was carried out by the OPW (direct works) on behalf of Meath County Council, and was substantially completed in Q1 of 2018.
A Steering Group with representatives from the Office of Public Works, Meath County Council and the design consultant was established to progress a design for a culvert upgrade as an extension to the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme.
345. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he and his Department will consider the small piece of land behind Lusk Garda Station for a community building which could house community groups (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51249/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW) that the Garda station at Lusk Co. Dublin is an operational Garda station and the Office of Public Works has not been advised by An Garda Síochána that the property is surplus to their requirements.
The OPW is therefore not in a position to engage with any community groups to make the site available for community use.
346. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he and his Department have identified a site for a driving test centre in North County Dublin which would cater for the growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51250/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a request from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) the Office of Public Works (OPW) undertook a market trawl to identify potential sites for a new Driving Test Centre in the Swords area. The OPW and the RSA are assessing the sites identified with a view to identifying a preferred option. Given that the site selection process is at a commercially sensitive stage we cannot provide any further information at this time.
347. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No. 430 of 10 June 2025, regarding OPW properties lost to adverse possession, to provide further clarification (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51297/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No.430 of 10 June 2025. Following the completion of a review of Office of Public Works (OPW) records for the additional period 2015 to 2019 the OPW can confirm that no further successful adverse possession claims against the OPW were identified.
To clarify my earlier reply. To divulge the full address of these properties would make their owners identifiable and the address was therefore personal data in this case, which the OPW as data controller must process in accordance with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
I am advised that whilst a “property address” does not enjoy GDPR protections, the individual identifiable through the property’s address does. The GDPR states that personal data is also information that makes somebody ‘identifiable’ where you don’t know somebody’s identity, but could find out using context and/or additional information such as the address and knowledge of the fact that possession was achieved through adverse possession.
348. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No.194 of 3 July 2025, if there is an update on this matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51351/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously noted in the response to PQ 36777 dated on the 3rd July 2025, OPW officials made contact with the property owner by phone on 17th June 2025 and had arranged to meet with him on site at Leacanabuaile, National Monument No. 414 on Thursday 19th June 2025. Unfortunately, Mr. O'Connor could not attend in the end but OPW officials completed a site assessment on that date.
The OPW remains open to identifying possible solutions to the issues highlighted and OPW officials have arranged to meet Mr. O'Connor on the 23rd October next.
349. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount expended on cloud storage solutions in the past five years and to date in 2025; and if he will provide the data storage supplier, in tabular form. [51369/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find related partial figures in answer to this question around cloud storage solutions costs. My Department is in the process of collating and finalizing these figures which will be made available to the deputy in due course. These are incurred by the Office of Government Chief Information Officer in delivering digital public services such as gov.ie.
|
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 to date |
|
Supplier |
AWS |
TBC |
TBC |
$765.33 |
$158,188.65 |
$105,154.70 |
|
|
€ |
|
|
€707.57 |
€146,263.96 |
€94,170.89 |
350. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he has updated public procurement guidelines in the context of public bodies purchasing goods and/or services produced and or developed by Israeli companies. [51425/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Procurement is governed by EU legislation and national rules/guidelines. EU Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement (goods, services and works) has been transposed into Irish Law in the form of corresponding Regulations - S.I. No. 284/2016 - European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts). My Department has published the Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services to provide a comprehensive interpretation of this legal code, to serve as national rules, and to improve consistency and promote best practice in the application of these rules.
The question raised by the Deputy concerns matters of international trade. Trade policy with any nation that is not an EU member state or part of the EEA is an exclusive EU competence under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and settled case law. As the Deputy is aware, my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, has responsibility in this area on a national level.
351. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation given that the Freedom of Information Model Publication Scheme Guidance (2016) issued by his Department under Section 8 of the FOI Act specifies that ‘payments or purchase orders for goods and services’ should be published on a quarterly basis for amounts above €20,000, but with a higher €100,000 threshold applying to the HSE, if his Department will review this threshold in light of the planned introduction of the HSE integrated financial management system, which will enable more comprehensive reporting; and if consideration has been given to aligning the HSE with the €20,000 publication threshold now applied to other FOI bodies, so as to enhance transparency and ensure consistency across the public sector. [51657/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation published the Model Publication Scheme in 2016. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014, it sets out requirements for the publication of information by FOI bodies routinely outside of the FOI process. As Deputy Dolan has stated, this includes the quarterly publication of payments and purchase orders for goods and services of more than €20,000 or in the case of the HSE a threshold of €100,000, or in the case of commercial bodies details published by category with a total value of more than €20,000.
The publication of the Model Publication Scheme document was subject to several consultations. An initial draft of the Model Publication Scheme was issued to public bodies and over 60 responses were received. Two FOI Network meetings were also held prior to its publication. During this process, the HSE noted that as the largest non-commercial state agency in Ireland, a significant administrative burden would be placed on the organisation if it were required to provide details on a quarterly basis of all payments or purchase orders for goods and services to the value of €20,000 or more. This observation by the HSE was subsequently reviewed by my department and it was determined that in the case of the HSE only, the threshold should be set at €100,000 as opposed to €20,000, owing to the size and the structure of the organisation.
Whilst the Integrated Financial Management System is now live on all statutory sites across the six HSE health regions, these sites cover approximately 80% of health expenditure. The remaining 20% of health spending occurs across the voluntary sector and is not yet processed through IFMS. This will form part of the next phase of the IFMS rollout and will be subject to separate sanction following a thorough review of the associated business case, benefits and costs.
To align the HSE with the €20,000 publication threshold, it would be imperative in the first instance for my department to engage with the HSE to assess the feasibility of this amendment following the full implementation of IFMS. A technical amendment would then have to be made to the Model Publication Scheme to align the publication requirements. Section 8(8) of the 2014 Act requires the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation’s approval of any revision to the Scheme and its publication in Iris Oifigiúil.
As such, it is not proposed at this current time to amend the Model Publication Scheme and its associated guidelines.
352. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of WTE window fabricator and fitter who are employed by the OPW in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if he will provide a schedule of the number of apprentice trades taken on by OPW in the past five years to date by trade; and the number of fully qualified tradespersons, by trade, in the OPW. [51842/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOPW does not employ window fabricators or fitters. There are currently two qualified glaziers employed by OPW.
The table below outlines the number of apprentices onboarded in the various trades over the last 5 years. There was no recruitment of apprentices in 2020.
|
Apprenticeship |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Carpentry & Joinery |
1 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
|
Stonecutting & Stonemasonry |
4 |
|
|
7 |
1 |
|
Construction Plant Fitter |
|
|
4 |
1 |
|
|
Wood Manufacturing & Finishing |
|
|
3 |
|
1 |
|
Arborist |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
Painting & Decorating |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
Commis Chef |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
Totals |
5 |
5 |
14 |
15 |
4 |
The table below outlines the number of fully qualified tradespersons by trade employed by OPW in tabular form:
|
Job Trade Description |
Number in Role |
|
Bricklayer |
1 |
|
Cabinet Maker |
2 |
|
Carpenter |
47 |
|
Electrician |
14 |
|
Fitter |
9 |
|
Stonecutter/Mason |
72 |
|
French Polisher |
2 |
|
Gardener |
78 |
|
Glazier |
2 |
|
Painter |
13 |
|
Plasterer |
6 |
|
Plumber |
8 |
|
Thatcher |
1 |
|
Upholsterer |
1 |
|
Wood Manufacturer and Finisher |
2 |
|
Welder |
1 |
|
Total |
259 |
353. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the date he will publish the promised sectoral investment plan related to the recently updated National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48989/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025 was published in July and is the largest ever capital injection in our economy in the history of the State. The Review sets out a total public capital investment of €275.4bn over the period to 2035.
This comprises €202.4bn in Exchequer Voted capital expenditure from 2026 to 2035. Of this, €102.4bn is being allocated for the next five years – an additional €23.9bn on what was previously allocated in the NDP. A further €10bn in equity and fund releases is being provided for megaprojects in water, energy and transport. This brings the total additional capital investment to €33.9bn for the period to 2030.
For 2026, there will be a provision of €19.1 billion in Exchequer funding made available as set out in the
NDP Review for Budget 2026 capital priorities. The Budget day documentation of October 7th 2025 will set out the priority projects and programmes that will be delivered across 2026 from this increased level of capital funding. Subsequently, the more detailed sectoral plans will set out the medium-term five-year capital priorities by sector.
Government Ministers and their officials are currently developing their sectoral plans of capital projects and programmes to be prioritised over the next five years, according to the agreed sectoral capital allocations for 2026 to 2030, with a clear focus on value for money and delivery. It is anticipated that the sectoral plans will be published in November 2025.
354. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he intends to extend the current retirement age for uniformed personnel such as firefighters in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51969/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe retirement age policy in respect of firefighters is the remit of the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage. In August 2024, the mandatory retirement age for firefighters was extended to age 62.
The retirement age policy in respect of members of An Garda Síochána and prison officers is the remit of the Minister for Justice, and for members of the Defence Forces, this is the remit of the Minister for Defence. In 2024, the mandatory retirement age for these cohorts was similarly extended to age 62.
355. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will support an increase in Budget 2025 to the Irish language and Gaeltacht from 0.17% of State spending to 0.4% over a 5 year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52051/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year as part of the budgetary process my Department sets the overall expenditure ceilings for each Ministerial Vote Group approved by Government. These are laid out at Vote level in the Budget day Expenditure Report published in October with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published in December.
Following the allocation of each Ministerial Expenditure Ceiling, it will be a matter in the first instance for each Minister to prioritise funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and the agencies under their remit taking into account the demands for services in different areas and regions, having regard to demographics and other relevant factors.
356. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the methodology and calculations used by his Department in assessing a professional added years application, submitted by a public sector employer on behalf of an employee, where such employee is classified as a "new entrant" per Government Circular 8/2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52055/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraProfessional Added Years (PAY) schemes apply to certain members of pre-existing public service pension schemes recruited by way of open competition to professional, technical or specialist permanent posts in the civil/public service.
The ‘New Entrant Scheme’ was introduced under Circular 8/2005 and applies to persons appointed to established professional, technical or specialist posts from a competition advertised on or after 1 April 2005, who are New Entrants in accordance with the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.
An award of PAY may be made where a permanent, pensionable employee was recruited to a professional, technical or specialist post by way of open competition and:
(i) (a) minimum professional, technical or specialist qualifications and/or a minimum number of years essential experience were required for entry; or
(b) the minimum entry age specified in the competition was over 25;
and
(ii) by reason of those entry requirements it is not possible for the individual to secure 40 years' service by the age of 65 years (or the age specified in the PAY scheme rules).
The maximum gross PAY award available is 5 years under the New Entrant Scheme. A PAY award may also be limited based on an individual’s actual service and is subject to the individual’s total reckonable service not exceeding 40 years.
As is typical with PAY schemes, any gross award of PAY will be reduced in accordance with the scheme rules governing abatement in respect of:
1. Previous service with the body: where the employee has service with the body at any time prior to obtaining the added years post. (However, relevant non-transferable experience in other employment (e.g. private sector) may be used to off-set such abatement).
2. Transferred/transferable service: where the employee has previous service in another organisation which has been, or could be, transferred to the current employment. (However, relevant non-transferable experience in other employment (e.g. private sector) may be used to off-set such abatement).
3. Retained benefits: where the employee has retained superannuation benefits, (e. g. has a preserved pension entitlement or other superannuation benefit or is receiving a pension from previous employment). Abatement in respect of compulsory refunds of superannuation contributions will not apply in certain cases.
4. Awards will be abated pro-rata in the case of career breaks/unpaid leave and work-sharing.
5. Retirement/resignation before age 60: awards (abated on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the provisions of the Circular, paragraph 13 refers) may be granted in the case of employees retiring before age 60 or resigning before age 60 with preserved benefits.
357. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the new process for determining the pay of chief executives in commercial State companies following the review carried out by the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52071/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra358. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the commercial State companies for which new pay bands for chief executives have been communicated by his Department to line Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52072/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra359. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he has received any correspondence or representations from the boards of any State companies and/or line Departments since 31 March 2025 regarding the pay of their chief executives; if so, to provide details of the companies concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52073/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 357, 358 and 359 together.
The Senior Posts Remuneration Committee (SPRC) was established by Government in March 2024. The SPRC was requested to perform a review of the remuneration arrangements for the CEOs of Commercial State Bodies (CSBs).
The SPRC made a number of findings and 17 recommendations. The report outlines the importance of fair and appropriate remuneration as a key element in the recruitment and retention of CEOs of CSBs who are critical to the State's future development and economic performance. Overall, the SPRC found that there is a requirement for a transparent framework for the regular review of CEO remuneration.
Having considered the SPRC report, the Government agreed to implement a more structured approach to the remuneration across CEOs in CSBs. The SPRC report was published on 29 April 2025. A banded salary structure was agreed by Government and has been implemented for CEOs, which ranges from their current salary to the market median of the relevant band.
Proposals for changes to salaries for CEOs of CSBs within this framework agreed by Government may be made by the relevant Board and are subject to approval by the relevant Minister and, subsequently, my consent.
360. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will outline the years in which Office of Public Works has signed a measured term maintenance contract, and the duration of such; the number of tenders received in each instance; the successful tender; the estimated value of works to be carried out in each per the tender; the outturn in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52088/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled by the OPW and will issue directly to the Deputy.
