Written answers
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Department of Rural and Community Development
Departmental Staff
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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238. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to clarify the number of redundancies, or so called ‘exit-packages’, that have been paid to staff or personnel at any level of seniority in her Department, or in any agency or body under the aegis of her Department, from 2018 to date; the value of each and the total value, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10992/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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With regard to my Department, I can confirm that between the years 2018 and 2024, no exit payments were made, with the exception of severance payments to two Ministerial advisers in 2020. These were made at the end of their contracts, following a change of Government, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines.
With regard to agencies of the Department, there are four organisations under the aegis of the Department. The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and Pobal. The details required for the period in question are set out in the following table.
| Agency | Year | Number of Redundancies / Exit Packages | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Charities Regulatory Authority | 2018 - 2024 | Nil | Nil |
| The Western Development Commission | 2018 -2024 | Nil | Nil |
| Water Safety Ireland | 2018,2019,2020,2021,2023,2024 | Nil | Nil |
| Water Safety Ireland | 2022 | €95,665 | Following a mediation process and agreement to the termination of the employment of a member of staff Water Safety Ireland, sanction was received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). Information relating to this payment is presented in the 2022 Financial Statement of the agency, which was subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. |
| Pobal | 2018,2019,2021,2022,2023,2024 | Nil | |
| Pobal | 2020 | €121,748 | Redundancy payment was made as a result of restructuring and the abolition of an individual’s role. The redundancy payment complied with the relevant circular (i.e. DPER Circular 09/2018). and was sanctioned by DPER. Information relating to this payment is presented in the 2020 Financial Statement of the agency, which was subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General |
Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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239. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by her Department, and bodies under her aegis, and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €200,000 and above in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will provide the amount of same, body, name and year. [11021/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that between the years 2019 and 2024 no exit, severance or redundancy packages were paid by my Department, with the exception of severance payments to two Ministerial advisers in 2020. These were made at the end of their contracts, following a change of Government, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines. Neither of these payments were €200,000 or above.
With regard to agencies of the Department, there are four organisations under the aegis of my Department. The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and Pobal. No staff from these agencies received an exit, severance or redundancy payment of €200,000 or above for the years in question.
Given the remit of my Department, it provides grant aid to many community organisations and programmes across the country. It does not have a role in their operational matters.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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240. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to list all staff/management exit packages for staff/management in their Departments that they sanctioned since 2016 (details supplied). [11166/24]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. I can confirm that between the years 2017 and 2024, no staff members of my department received any exit payments. However, in 2020, two Ministerial advisers in my Department were paid severance payments. These were made at the end of their contracts, following a change of Government, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines. They also received redundancy payments as provided for under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967- 2014.
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