Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

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[Deputy Brendan Howlin.] Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers The general programme priorities in Ireland are the promotion and encouragement of innovation, the knowledge economy, enterprise, research and development, upskilling the workforce and increasing the participation of groups outside the workforce. It is expected that the overall objectives of each programme will be achieved and that Ireland will drawdown the funding we have been allocated. Following the informal European Council meeting on 30 January, EU Commission President Barroso has launched a special initiative to boost growth and tackle the problem of youth unemployment. The Commission will work with the eight Member States with the highest youth unemployment rates to develop a plan which could use unallocated structural funds to strengthen national programmes. The Commission will be promoting a plan in each Member State with measures to deal with youth employment and strengthen support schemes for SMEs. President Barroso envisages that the funding would come from existing unallocated EU funds and from any available national funding, from either public or private sources. At present, Ireland has no unallocated Structural Funds. Recent Commission figures show that Ireland has the highest Cohesion absorption rate in the EU at 48% for the current 2007- 2013 Structural and Cohesion funding round and it is estimated that the remaining 52% allocated to Ireland will be drawn down. I strongly welcome President Barroso’s initiative. I and other members of the Government will be working closely with the EU Commission. As there are no unused Structural and Cohesion funds available for Ireland at present, we will, in the first instance, be looking at whether employment programmes might be re-focused to better effect. If, at a later stage, additional EU funding becomes available, Ireland will make the necessary application. Dealing with unemployment is the major priority for the Government and this is an initiative which must be utilized to maximum effect. Public Private Partnerships 268. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his understanding of the number of financial institutions willing to participate in public private partnerships, PPPs; his views of the operation of the marker for PPPs; and the steps he intends to take to assist a more efficient operating of the market. [8480/12] Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): It is widely acknowledged that there is limited liquidity in the European PPP market as the majority of the large international project finance banks have refocused activities on home markets. Furthermore Ireland’s fiscal and banking difficulties has meant that such international banks are additionally, for the first time in modern times, taking ‘country risk’ into account before considering funding a project in Ireland. In reality, this has led to the absence of international project finance banks in the Irish PPP market. However the European Investment Bank (EIB) continues to be a strong supporter of our PPPs and we appreciate the support and confidence shown by EIB’s continued engagement to help us meet our infrastructure needs. In addition, our domestic ‘pillar’ banks continue to give positive indications of support for our PPP projects. My Department has worked closely with the NDFA and the Department of Finance to secure funding from a mixture of EIB and domestic bank funding for the two ‘live’ PPP projects on a value for money basis for the State. 436

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers The principle rationale for pursuing projects as PPPs alongside traditionally funded exchequer projects is that they provide value for money for the State and that they are affordable. With respect to the operation of the PPP market, to date the reduction in liquidity has had limited impact on the operation of the small/ medium PPP market and it continues to operate efficiently. Recent experience of PPP tender competitions here indicate that there remains a market for well defined projects with relatively low funding requirements and with clear Government support. My Department and the National Development Finance Agency are actively engaged in identifying and incentivising additional sources of funding for our PPP’s, for example there is engagement with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) with a view to it supporting some of our capital projects in 2012 /2013 and engagement with our domestic pension funds similarly remains ongoing with a view to investing in Irish infrastructure. Furthermore we maintain close links with international best practice to ensure that there is consistency of approach across our projects in order to remain competitive in what is a very competitive international market. Departmental Staff 269. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works have taken on any employees in a permanent or temporary capacity for the western region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7556/12] Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brian Hayes): Within the last six months the Office of Public Works has employed six seasonal drainage operatives in the western region. Additional seasonal staff will be employed as the year progresses, namely, drainage operatives and guide/information officers for visitor sites. 270. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an organisational chart detailing officials and their responsibilities in his Department. [7744/12] Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): An organisational chart detailing the responsibilities of certain officials in my Department is contained in the following tables: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Management Chart February 2012 Minister’s Office Press Office Senior Staff Division Secretary General Robert Watt Assistant Secretary Deirdre Hanlon Expenditure Policy Evaluation and Management Assistant Secretary John O’Connell Health, Pension Policy and EU/NI Assistant Secretary David Moloney Labour Market and Enterprise Policy Assistant Secretary Michael Errity Remuneration and Industrial Relations Assistant Secretary Tim Duggan CMOD and eGovernment 437

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