Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his answer on diverse communities. It is positive that information should be given to people from these communities who are interested in coming into the public service. I did not hear the Minister refer to African or Asian non-governmental organisations, NGOs. Obviously, there is a large African population in Ireland, as well as significant populations from different countries in Asia.

The previous Government moved the quota for employing people with a disability in the public service from 4% to 6%. How much progress has been made in that regard? I welcome overall the Minister's comments on that.

I have not read the recently published national plan in great detail, so I am open to correction. My understanding is that the Department has essentially removed the 10% cap, agreed by the previous Government, on public private partnerships, PPPs. The reliance on PPPs arose in the context of the country not being able to borrow money. People are aware that many PPPs are ultimately more expensive than direct State borrowing, particularly when interest rates are low. We have also moved into a different stage of the economy. Will the Minister confirm that the cap on investment in PPPs for the national plan has been removed? If so, why? What is the Minister's targeted percentage for PPP finance?

I tabled a series of parliamentary questions to all Departments on the amounts committed to PPPs. I am still waiting for an answer on discount rates and interest rates. Working out the financial cost of a PPP is extremely difficult. The two companies which feature largely in PPPs are Capita and Carillion. The latter is in a state of collapse. From reading a recent commentary in the Financial Timesas to how Capita runs its own business, it is far from organised and is run in an appalling way. In the context of the Carillion collapse and Capita's enormous difficulties, why would the Minister outsource internal audit services in a variety of Departments to Capita? Why do that when one could use public service recruitment for the Comptroller and Auditor General's office? The contracts are not large. Why do particular services such as internal audit need to be outsourced? I would have thought many people would be willing to work in the public service. Is it the case that there is now a difficulty with recruiting people into the public service?

There is a slick putting together of the information and maps in the national development plan. Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, however, are not on the main map for national development. That surprised me and I am sure it surprised the Chairman even more. Kerry is also not on the main map. The south east and south west are significant places. The maps are glitzy and look fantastic. I welcome that Waterford is included. Why are the other counties in the south east blacked out, as well as Kerry? Will the Minister give us a more detailed explanation as to why that is the case?

I was the Minister for Social Protection when the public services card was initiated. One of the reasons for developing the card was to provide a decent, respectful and humane service to people like pensioners who use public transport. In recent times, there has been much criticism of the public services card. However, for pensioners who use public transport, they can get on the bus with an identity card which they can use like a Leap card and with dignity and privacy. In terms of public service delivery, that is a big gain.

When dealing with many people in retirement or in their 80s or 90s, one has to allow flexibility. If they have a difficulty with some kind of a request from some unknown bureaucracy, they may find it difficult to respond. Departments must be quite flexible in acknowledging that, as we do this transition, it is necessary to recognise people's human rights, individuality and where they are at.