Written answers
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Departmental Staff Remuneration
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will publish details of all allowances paid to staff in his Department; the business case made by his Department in respect of these allowances to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the cost of each individual allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41412/12]
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The information sought in the question in respect of staff in my Department is set out in a table. In general these allowances are common to many Government Departments and Offices.
| Allowance | Rate | Comments | No. of Beneficiaries on 31/12/11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Allowance | €2.16 per week per child | Payable to officers serving on 31 December 1978 in former marriage differentiated grades | 28 |
| Franking Machine | €34.29 per week PPC rate or €32.60 per week modified rate | 9 | |
| Paper Keeper Allowance | €54.58 per week PPC or €51.84 per week modified rate | 3 | |
| Driving Allowance | €52.21 per week PPC or €49.58 per week modified rate | ½ rate paid in Department as officer not on full time driving duties | 1 |
| Duplicating Room Allowance | €63.37 per week PPC or €54.36 per week modified rate | 2 | |
| Keyholders Allowance | €33.91 per week PPC or €36.29 modified rate | 14 | |
| Office Accommodation Allowance | €19.96 per week Rate A €12.77 per week Rate B | 12 | |
| Allowance Personal to Holder (APTH) – applicable to certain former Revenue staff only | Rates vary dependant on grade, salary point etc. In 2011 payments ranged from €469 - €6,105. | 13 | |
| Switchboard allowance | €34.29 per week (PPC) €32.60 per week (modified) | 1 | |
| Shift Allowance (Met Éireann) | Paid at rates from 13% to 27% of salary | 168 | |
| Public Holiday Allowance (Met Éireann) | Variable depending if staff rostered on/off on Public Holiday. Triple time to double time | 98 staff eligible | |
| Footwear Allowance | €65 per annum | 21 | |
| Higher Duties Allowance | Rates vary depending on grades, point on scale etc. | 6 | |
| Eating on site Allowance | €1.90 per day | 2 | |
| Private Secretary to Secretary General | €10,951 (PPC) per annum €10,405 (Modified) per annum | Private secretaries appointed prior to January 31st 2012 may maintain a reduced rate allowance after they have finished these duties. | 1 |
| Private Secretary to Minister or Minister of State | €20,685.49 (PPC) per annum €19,652.47 (Modified) per annum | Private secretaries appointed prior to January 31st 2012 may maintain a reduced rate allowance after they have finished these duties. | 3 current. 6 former. |
| PCW 1% | Is currently paid to a number of staff in the form of either a fixed allowance or as an upgrade to a higher scale. €8,727 paid in total to end September 2012. Amounts paid to individual officers vary. | 8 | |
| Station Manager Allowance (Met Éireann) | €3,932 per annum | 2 | |
| Foreign Delegates Allowance | €84,014 to date in 2012. | Allowance abolished following D/PER review of allowances | Variable |
| Travel to work | Individual amounts vary. To date the approx total cost of payments to all beneficiaries is €7,500. | 5 |
In addition to the above the Department also pays vouched expenses for dry cleaning costs of Services Officers’ uniforms subject to an agreed schedule of maximum number of claims. The uniforms themselves are provided through OPW at an approximate annual cost of €130 per Services Officer.
In addition to the allowances listed above there are a number of staff of my Department who are assigned to positions in the Permanent Representation in Brussels. These posts attract allowances payable in respect of foreign postings which are set by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These include Cost of Living Allowance, Local Post Allowance, Child Foreign Allowance and School Fees and are paid through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade payroll.
The business cases made by my Department to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of that Department’s review of allowances can be viewed on that Department’s website, under the heading ECLG - http://per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/ECLG-Business-Cases.pdf
The main expenditure on allowances in my Department is in respect of Met Éireann where shift allowance and public holiday allowances are paid on account of the 24/7, year round nature of operations. The other allowances in my Department are generally common to many Departments.
All allowances in my Department were subject to review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of an overall review of allowances in the Public Sector. The outcome of this review was published on 18 September 2012.
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