Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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77. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual saving to his Department if spending on education and training was reduced by 2.5%, 5% and 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26920/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Department invests heavily in its people to be the best and to represent Ireland both in Europe and internationally. The Project management Office and Tax Division in conjunction with the Learing and Development Unit now run both a Diploma in Taxation and a Diploma in Project Management for staff, which is a recognised level 8 Special award on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland. Both these training initiatives along with other training resulted in the Department being shortlisted and receiving an "Outstanding Achievement award 2014/2015" in the category for small and medium organisations from the Irish Institute of Training and Development. The Learning and Development unit continues to invest in its people to be the best that we can be and to become a high performing organisation.

In 2014 the budget was reduced to €302,950 and the budget for 2015 stands at  €277,500.

Below is the result of cutting the 2015 Learning and Development budget by 2.5%, 5% and 10%. 

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual saving to his Department if spending on professional fees, including but not limited to legal, IT-related, accountancy and other advisory and consultancy, was reduced by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26949/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The total amount of professional fees paid by my Department in 2014 was €1,745,878.41 (inclusive of VAT).

A reduction of 10% would have produced a saving of €174,587.84.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual saving to the Exchequer if the Minister's special adviser's salary was capped at the first point of the principal officer grade, that is €75,647; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26963/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that I have two Special Advisors in my Department.

If the salaries of my two Special Advisors were capped at the first point of the Principal Officer grade, the total gross salary payable would reduce from €168,934 to €151,294. The annual saving to the Exchequer would be impacted further by a reduction in statutory deductions.  Special Advisors progress through the salary steps on the relevant payscale subject to satisfactory performance. The salaries of my Special Advisor's are in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the appointment of Ministerial staff.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual saving to his Department and bodies under its aegis if all the fees for all State agency, non-commercial State sponsored bodies and commercial semi-State board members were reduced by 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26978/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In answer to the Deputy's question I have been provided with the following information regarding the effect of a 25% decrease in fees for all State agency, non-commercial State sponsored bodies and commercial semi-State board members under the Aegis of the Department of Finance.

Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

There are five members of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC), including the Chairman, all of whom are employed on a part-time basis.  The annual fee for the Chairman's role is €20,520, the fee for each of the members is €11,970 per annum.

A reduction of 25% in the annual fees payable to IFAC members would result in a total annual saving of €17,100 to the Department of Finance.

Credit Union Advisory Committee.

There are three members on the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) including the Chairman. The annual fee for the Chairman's role is €3,750, the fee for each of the members is €2,470.

A reduction of 25% in the annual fees payable to CUAC members would result in a total annual saving of €8,690 to the Department of Finance.

Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo)

In respect of the bodies listed below the potential savings would accrue to the body in question.

Central Bank of Ireland

A 25% decrease in fees would result in a saving to the Central Bank of €14,936 as follows:

Financial Services Ombudsman's Council

There are 7 members of the Council including the Chairman, all of whom are employed on a part-time basis.  The annual fee for the Chairman's role is €21,600, the fee for each of the members is €12,600 per annum.

A reduction of 25% in the annual fees payable to Council members would result in a total annual saving of €24,300 to the Bureau.

Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal

IFSAT a 25% reduction would mean a saving of €1,752 to the Central Bank.

National Asset Management Agency

Based on the Board Fees for NAMA in 2014 which were €388,033 a 25% reduction would result in total fees of €291,024.75 which would amount to a saving of €97,008.25.

National Treasury Management

The members of the National Treasury Management Agency receive the following remuneration:

Chairperson: €45,000 per annum (the Chairperson of the Agency Mr Willie Walsh has waived his remuneration)

Ordinary member €30,000 per annum (there are 5 ordinary Members)

Ex-officio members do not receive remuneration.

Under the NTMA (Amendment) Act 2014 the Agency is required to establish an ISIF Investment Committee. The Committee consists of 5 members. Two members of the Committee are members of the Agency and do not receive additional remuneration in respect of their membership of the Committee. Another member of the Committee does not receive remuneration as she is employed by another State Body. The remaining two members of the Investment Committee receive remuneration of €20,000 per annum.

The savings that would be made if Agency and committee members' remuneration was reduced by 25% is €47,500.

Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland

The directors' fees are funded by the SBCI and not by the Department of Finance. If the board members of the SBCI who are compensated for their duties took a 25% cut to their fees, the savings to the SBCI would be €23,625 per annum.