Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicExpenditureandReform
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
'Some 100 schemes' under way to tackle flooding, Dáil told
The Government has restated its commitment to tackling the threat of flooding by investing in "prevention, protection and preparedness". Speaking during Dáil Statements on Flood Relief, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Kevin 'Boxer' Moran said that the OPW had identified communities at risk by undertaking the largest ever programme of its kind in 2018. That research concluded that the vast majority of those communities could be protected, if an "ambitious", "robust approach" which "met regulatory requirements" was undertaken. There are "some 100" schemes under way, with projects either completed or being carried out to protect "80% of at-risk properties". "To date, the OPW has €570 million in 55 flood relief schemes protecting 13,500 properties with an estimated economic benefit" of €2 billion, the minister said. Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell acknowledged the significant increase in OPW funding to address this matter, but said that this was never "predominantly a financial issue". She accepted that flood relief schemes "are complex and multi-annual projects", and do require local input. However she warned: "It does take far too long to go from the initial stages to completion at the moment." Labour TD Ged Nash asked why delivering a flood relief scheme, which has five stages, can get stuck on the first stage, citing examples from his constituency in Co Louth. Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said that "rivers need to be cleaned out", and called on the minister to ensure that this happens, but reassured that he was not "having a go" at the minister who he said is "a hard-working man".
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Union ballots school secretaries on strike action over exclusion from pension scheme
More than 2,300 secretaries in Irish primary and secondary schools may go on indefinite strike over a pensions' dispute, a trade union has warned. Fórsa said a ballot of its members is now under way as part of an ongoing campaign to secure access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for school secretaries across the country. While the union was successful following a long-running dispute with the Department of Education in bringing an end to a two-tier pay system for school secretaries, this agreement did not include access to the public service pension scheme. The ballot for indefinite strike action was said to reflect the level of frustration members feel about being excluded from the pension scheme, despite the regularisation of other arrangements two years ago. Andy Pike, Fórsa's head of education, said the 2023 agreement successfully standardised pay and conditions to end years of disparity in pay, contracts and job security but left a 'significant gap in the effort to achieve full equality'. 'Fórsa has consistently argued that pension justice is an essential and inseparable part of the process of regularising school secretaries into Department of Education employment. Like every other grade overseen by the department, they must now be afforded the same pension entitlements as other public service workers.' Mr Pike said that school secretaries are highly skilled, dedicated workers who play a central role in the daily operations of schools right around the country. He said to exclude them from key pension entitlements available to others 'undermines the progress already made'. He urged the departments of education and public expenditure to re-engage with the union meaningfully on the matter. 'A fair and equitable resolution must be reached. School secretaries deserve to be treated in the same way as other public service workers under the department's remit,' Mr Pike added. The ballot is set to conclude on June 11 after which indefinite strike action may follow. Speaking earlier this month, education minister Helen McEntee indicated that discussions were ongoing regarding this pension ask from unions. 'That is engagement that will have to happen as part of an overall engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,' she said. 'They are an integral part of our schools and it is really important that we support them in every way we can.' The Department of Education was contacted for comment. Read More Kevin Callinan: Working from home is a real political issue
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Senior civil servants may be set for 2.5pc pay boost under special clause in public sector wage deal
The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants has lodged two pay claims on behalf of its 4,000 members. They still must be agreed at talks with officials at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In an update to members, the union said there may be productivity or reform requirements in return. An emergency motion on the pay claims for principal officers who work in the civil service is set to be discussed by delegates at the union's annual conference in Portlaoise today. The motion asks delegates to endorse two local bargaining claims submitted by the union. The first is a claim to double a 1pc pay increase under an old deal, as well as improvements to the pay scales of assistant principal and principal officer grades. Their wages rise in increments each year, or over a number of years. The latest civil service circular shows an assistant principal officer's pay starts at €80,668 and rises in increments to €100,530. Pay for a principal officer on a higher scale starts at €112,974, and increases gradually to €139,320 when they reach the top of the payscale. In an update to members on May 6 , the union said two 'significant' claims are a part of efforts to secure fair, strategic, and impactful improvements to pay and progression structures. It said a claim submitted to double a 1pc increase under a Programme for Competitiveness and Work deal to 2pc is due to growth in its members' responsibilities. The second claim for assistant principal and principal officer grades aims to address 'pay progression bottlenecks, retention challenges and evolving job demands'. This claim would involve the removal of the first wage increment on the pay scales for both grades – so they would start on higher pay. It would also reduce a three year wait for a final increment to one year, and there would be a 2.5pc increase in the maximum increment on both payscales, and a higher pay scale. The union said this measure aimed to retain leadership talent and support career progression. ADVERTISEMENT Ciaran Rohan, general secretary of the AHCPS, said the pay claims are modest and balanced. Meanwhile, the conference will focus on new AI guidelines for the public sector that were unveiled this week. The union has warned that the position of human decision making must be safeguarded. Motions put forward by delegates will call for greater management of AI in the workplace and raise concerns about its impact on jobs and accountability. Delegates will also call on the union to strongly defend blended working practices. 'We welcome the publication by government this week of guidelines for the use of AI in the public sector,' said Mr Rohan. 'It's something our members have been looking for. ' He said AI is already playing a positive role in the civil and public sector, but it is critical that there continues to be strong guidelines and guidance in place. 'Not only are there issues of confidentiality, bias and transparency to consider, but we would also have concerns about any reliance on algorithms to inform decision making,' he said.
RTÉ News
27-04-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Tusla unable to secure special care for three children in danger
Child and Family Agency Tusla has said it is currently unable to meet its statutory obligation to provide secure special care for three children in danger. Special care is an intervention of last resort, which involves placing young people in a secure facility, and depriving them of their freedom, as a short-term therapeutic intervention. It only takes place on foot of an order by the High Court, and when the young people meet certain eligibility criteria. Earlier this week, the High Court was told that the State has no special care place available for a teenage girl who was threatened with being shot if she does not cooperate with a drug gang seeking to exploit her. Tusla told RTÉ's This Week that the agency has seen a marked increase in the number of children presenting with highly complex needs, including mental health, substance misuse, disabilities, exploitation and behaviours linked to criminality. It said: "As of the 25th of April 2025, three young people are the subject of a High Court Order and are awaiting a placement in Special Care. "For these young people, we are currently unable to fully meet our statutory obligations regarding Special Care, and we share the concerns this causes for the High Court, for professionals involved in the care of these young people, and most importantly for the young people themselves and their families." It said the young people involved are being placed in alternative care settings, and each child is allocated a key worker, and an active care plan is in place. There is currently only enough staff to operate 15 places in Special Care units. If fully staffed the units could accommodate up to 26 young people. Tusla said it has faced challenges recruiting and retaining staff. Child protection experts say the pay scales for staff in the Special Care units have been inadequate. Former special rapporteur for child protection Dr Conor O'Mahony of University College Cork said that the pay grade in place up to now "was not attractive enough to keep staff working in that area". The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform says that a new enhanced pay grade for Special Care has now been sanctioned. Tusla said this new grade, along with a targeted recruitment campaign, will allow for another place to open in Special Care next month. However, Dr O'Mahony said it is unclear whether the new grade will be enough to bring the system up to full capacity. "The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had to be dragged kicking and screaming into consenting to this after resisting it for quite some time… I very much hope it will prove to be successful but it is early days… whether it is going to be enough, or too little too late remains to be seen."
