Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Phil Hogan.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
The legal proceedings in relation to the Priory Hall complex are continuing.
Departmental Agencies
464. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and
Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only four members
at present of An Bord Pleanála, when there should be nine, and as few as two members may
make a decision which means that major projects as well as individual persons planning issues
could potentially be dealt with by only two persons; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [8261/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan): The
statutory process of filling a number of the current vacancies on the Board is now underway and
I expect to be in a position to make appointments shortly. When appointing new Board
members I will be taking account of the balance of skill sets and expertise required for the
effective discharge of An Bord Pleanála’s complex and wide ranging functions. Under section
108 of the Planning and Development Acts 2010, the reduced quorum of two Board members
may not adjudicate on strategic infrastructure cases.
Departmental Staff
465. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and
Local Government if any remuneration, stipend, expense facility, financial facility or similar
payment is being made from the Exchequer to any senior public servant who has retired from
his Department beyond any accrued pension entitlements; if any such payment has been sanctioned
for current senior public servants who are about to retire from his Department; if he
will list the name, positions and details of any relevant moneys paid or scheduled to be paid of
any person in receipt of or sanctioned to receive such a payment; and if he will make a statement
on the matter. [8271/12]
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan): No
such payments are being made by my Department to any former public servant who has retired
from my Department and no such payments are anticipated to be made to any officials due to
retire in the near future.
In 2010 eleven retired civil servants in receipt of civil service pensions were re-engaged by
my Department on a fee basis at a total cost of €55,415. The abatement principle, which ensures
that the fee paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if
he/she had continued service in their former post, applied to all such payments made. The tasks
carried out included time bound tasks or projects such as membership of expert groups,
occasional service on interview boards, value for money reviews and process audits.
Information relating to 2011 will be available following the finalisation of the Appropriation
Accounts which are currently being compiled. Any re-engagement of former civil servants by
my Department would have been on the same basis as outlined above.
Question No. 466 answered with Question No. 445.
Water Services
467. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government if he has made a case for Ireland, within the two months as requested, as to the
continued exemption of entirely private water sources in rural Ireland such as wells and rain-
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