Answered on May 28, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the current staffing levels at the Irish Central Bank of Ireland, his Department and the Revenue Commissioners compared to five years ago.

Reply from Minister Michael Noonan: At 30 April 2008, my Department employed 623.57 Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).  At 30 April 2013, the figure was 324.76. 

I have been advised by the Central Bank that at 23 April 2013 the Central Bank employed 1,393 staff- staff numbers at end-December 2008 were 1022.5.

The Revenue Commissioners have provided me with the following table in response to the deputy’s question:

Table: Revenue serving staff (Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)) 30 April 2008 and 30 April 2013

Reply from Minister Michael Noonan: National debt is essentially the debt of the Exchequer and is a subset of general government debt. General government debt is the measure of the total debt of the State used for comparative purposes across the European Union. 

The latest forecasts available going out to 2019, have been published recently in the Stability Programme Update (SPU). The table above restates the forecast for general government debt as contained in the SPU and also contains the forecast nominal amounts for debt and interest.

Source: Department of Finance

Notes: Rounding may affect totals

Answered on May 28, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the overall current level of debt here; and if he will categorise the different debt amounts.

Reply from Minister Michael Noonan: The most recent period for which data is available on the general government debt is the last quarter of 2012. A detailed breakdown of the composition of general government debt and resultant pie chart is available on page 24 of the Irish Stability Programme April 2013 Update. The corresponding data requested by the Deputy is listed in the table above.

Source: Department of Finance, NTMA and CSO 

Note: In February 2013 the promissory note commitment was replaced by a portfolio of government bonds. The effect of this exchange (excluding costs related to the whole transaction) is to replace the promissory note debt with government bond debt, with no immediate effect on the general government debt.

Answered on May 28, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding his Department’s deliberations on the Living City Initiative in terms of maximising its uptake in Waterford and Limerick, and securing the necessary EU approvals.

Reply from Minister Michael Noonan: Finance Act 2013 includes a section on the Living City Initiative which introduces a scheme of tax incentives focusing on the regeneration of the historic centres of some of our main cities. The scheme which will be introduced by Ministerial order, will apply in the first instance on a pilot basis only to specified regeneration areas in Waterford and Limerick.

I indicated in my budget speech in December last year that I would examine proposals for a targeted incentive for already identified regeneration areas. The tax relief that will apply under this scheme will operate for five years from the date of commencement. 

However, it is my intention that before it begins, the scheme will be subject to an ex ante cost benefit analysis and, subject to a positive outcome from the analysis, I will seek EU approval under State Aid rules for this initiative to be commenced for Limerick and Waterford cities. 

Now that Finance Act 2013 is law, my department has been working on a request for tender document and I expect the tendering process for the cost benefit analysis project to begin shortly.

Answered on May 28, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the intended transfer in trust of Mount Congreve Gardens in County Waterford to the State will take place; the reason for the non completion in discussions between the Office of Public Works and the Congreve Foundation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply from Minister of State Brian Hayes: The house and gardens at Mount Congreve are currently under the care of the Mount Congreve Trust. The Mount Congreve Trust consists of three Trustees including the Commissioners of Public Works. The remaining two Trustees represent the Congreve Foundation and were appointed by Mr. Congreve. The Trust period for the gardens commenced upon the death of Mr Congreve in May 2011 and will expire in May 2032. The Mansion House will remain in the hands of the Trust until 2059. Only upon the expiration of these Trust periods will the properties revert to the ownership of the State. The Commissioners of Public Works, in their role as Trustee, have been in discussions with the other Trustees as to the future management of the Trust properties. While these discussions are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

May 22, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health in relation to the reconfiguration of Waterford Regional Hospital to university Hospital the number of specific academic posts to be allocated, as in Consultant posts and professorships, and the process being used to select the individuals to those posts.

Reply from Minister James Reilly: Following the publication of the report on hospital groups, UCC has confirmed its commitment to putting in place five academic clinical appointments including three at professional level; two at senior lecturer level and one at tutor level with associated administrative support. Discussions within the new hospital group's corporate governance structure and in turn with the Department of Health and the HSE will now commence to give effect to this. An exact time frame cannot be put on this but the appointments will be made as soon as possible. 

Tuesday, 7th May, 2013
Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the decision of the Health Service Executive to refuse funding, on economic grounds, for the drug Pirfenidone, which is the only effective treatment for lung fibrosis, a rare and extremely debilitating disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply from Minister James Reilly: The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. 

The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. 

In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of pirfenidone and concluded that, at the submitted price, pirfenidone is not cost-effective for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 

The NCPE report is an important input to assist decision making and informs further discussions between the HSE and the manufacturer of the drug. The HSE is currently in negotiations with the manufacturers of pirfenidone and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further while these negotiations are ongoing. 

The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of pirfenidone that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. The HSE understands that patients and clinicians are very anxious that a decision be made as soon as possible.

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013
Deputy John Deasy ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for reaching the fifth point on the pay scale for a primary teacher who entered at point three on the pay scale in 2010.

Reply received from Minister Ruairí Quinn: Primary Teachers appointed to permanent or fixed term positions progress up the incremental salary scale to the next incremental point having completed 365 days service. Primary Teachers appointed to casual positions progress up the incremental salary scale having completed 183 days service or 915 hours.