EDUCATION and SKILLS Costing Request Full year First year Cost of every one point increase in Capitation Grant for primary schools €1 scenario (€0.6m) 1% scenario (€1m) €1 scenario (€0.6m) 1% scenario (€1m) on projected enrolments for 2018 and on increase with effect from 1/1/18 at primary level. Cost of increasing the Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance by €50 per child See Q39 in DESP The cost of restoring the Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to its 2011 provisions. See Q40 in DESP Cost of reducing the student contribution charge by €100/€200/€300/€400/€500 €100 = €7.51m €200 = €14.91m €300 = €22.42m €400 = €29.83m €500 = €37.33m €100 = €1.45m €200 = €2.81m €300 = €4.26m €400 = €5.61m €500 = €7.07m Assumptions: 1. Calculations are based on student numbers for the academic year 2016/17 with no adjustment for future demographics. 2. Under tranching arrangements with institutions, 85% of Student Contribution is payable prior to Christmas 2017. 3. Additional cost to free fees schemes are estimated at 50% payment in 2018 and full amount for 2019. Cost of increasing funding to the school meals programme by 10%/20%/30%40% See Q41 in DESP Cost to Increase Student Assistance Fund by 20% €1.82m €1.82m The costing is based on the 2017 allocation. No difference between first year and full year cost. Support Scheme for Students with Disabilities by 20% €1.92m €1.92m The costing is on the 2017 allocation. No difference between first year and full year cost. Cost of ensuring that all DEIS schools have access to school meals programme See Q42 in DESP Cost to provide additional classroom accommodation in to reduce primary school class sizes per each point reduction The capital requirements impact arising from a reduction in class size is difficult to predict at individual school level. A change in the staffing schedule may not always give rise to the appointment of an additional teacher and therefore the provision of new classroom build. In areas of stable or falling pupil
cost with tuition fees paid by the state of €0.635m (Capitation grant of €7193 plus 1st year tuition fees of €5,500 x 50 Students) and 2nd Year cost €0.36m (Capitation grant of €7193 x 50 Students). 41 The estimated full year cost of making Jobseekers Transitional payment and the SUSI grant payable to lone parents regardless of the age of the youngest child or whether the family is in receipt of Rent Supplement We give scenario of student over the age of 23 (independent) when commencing study, living over 45kms from college, no other income than qualifying social welfare payment, who meets nationality, residency all other criteria of the scheme including attending approved college and course. Student also qualifies under the Free Fees Imitative. Then the that student would be eligible for would be: Maintenance €5,915 and Student Contribution payable to college on his/her behalf of €3,000.
annual P&A) the annual P&A cost per unit for first year only plus an AHB start-up of 1.5% of capital claimed The cost per year of the payment and availability agreement attached to delivering an additional 100 units by Approved Housing Bodies. Current cost €949,300 plus monitoring of €9,493 (1% of annual P&A) Current cost €791 per month per unit plus fees of 7.5% of the annual P&A cost per unit for first year only Based on average AHB P&A on 31/12/16, which includes units owned by AHBs supported using CALF and units lease by AHBs from private owners. First year current cost dependent on timing of unit delivery. The net all in cost of delivering 100 additional social homes €26m Dublin Region - €19m Outside Dublin €26m Dublin Region - €19m Outside Dublin The cost of delivering 100 additional social is largly dependent on a range of key variables, such as the location and size of social housing – costs vary across the country and across the type of developments. Also central the calculation is the method of delivery; the capital cost of building new social housing by local authorities is different than that developed by AHBs who raise some of the finance themselves with a of exchequer capital funding. The cost of delivering 100 additional social homes, for example, in the Dublin area through local authority-led construction projects, is estimated at €26m and outside of Dublin €19m. 8 The revenue raised by introducing the vacant site levy in 2018 at each of 5% We are unable to estimate the revenue that might be raised by the possible early introduction of the vacant site levy in 2018. The legislation was specifically designed to have the levy applied by planning authorities annually commencing on 1 January 2019 based on vacant sites included in their local vacant site registers in respect of the year
Based on the forgoing it would not be possible for the Department to provide a costing for site development (ie site works outside the curtilage of the property) for 100 social houses. 19 The cost of site development (ie site works outside the curtilage of the property) for the 49 Ó Cuallann affordable houses on the Dublin City Council site in Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin The cost of the enabling for the Co-Op site at Poppintree, Ballymun was €1.522m 20 The average cost of providing 100 traveller specific accommodation funded via the Local Authority Traveller Accommodation Programme Given that Traveller-specific accommodation is so diverse - from Group Housing Schemes, to Group Schemes with adjacent bays for caravans, to Halting Sites with – also, depending on the site(s) to be developed, preparation and surrounding works can vary. Therefore it is not possible to provide an average cost for the delivery of 100 units. 3. Health specific
Costing Request Full year cost First year cost Cost of employing 10 community physios/hospital physios at entry level; 10 community physios/hospital physios at the level of 5 years' experience and at 10 years' of experience. Physio - entry level €0.39m Physio - 5 years experience €0.462m Physio - 10 years experience €0.519m Based on 1st point/5th point/10th point of April 2017 payscales The cost of expanding GP training intake to 200 See note In year 1 and year 2 of training, GP trainees are in acute hospitals and fill vacancies at Senior House Officer (SHO) level. The cost for the 1st and 2nd years of training when trainees are based in hospitals is approximately €100,000 per trainee per annum. The cost for the 3rd and 4th years of training when trainees are based in the GP practices in the community is approximately €110,000 per trainee per annum. The overall cost of expanding GP training by a further 200 places would also depend on the cost of various training inputs required - i.e. if additional trainers were required, as each additional one to one GP trainer costs €15,000 per head. The cost of employing a GP, inclusive of salary and PRSI costs. See note This information is not available. GPs are private practitioners and currently there is no approved salary scale in the public service for this post. The cost and breakdown of providing practice nurses to work with 25 GPs, including cost of their training and pay for work for that period See note Assuming that the GP has the maximum panel of 1,200 + patients, the cost of the subsidy for 25 Practice Nurses would range between €774,000 and €946,000 depending on the experience of the nurse. There is no provision under the terms of the current GMS contract to pay a subsidy for the training of Practice Nurses, or to pay for locum nurses to cover any period of training.
The cost and breakdown of providing medical secretaries to work with 25 GPs, including cost of their training and pay for work for that period See note Assumptions as per 2 – the cost of the subsidy for 25 medical secretaries would range between €516,000 and €602,000 depending on the experience of the secretary. There is no provision under the terms of the current GMS contract to pay a subsidy for the training of medical secretaries, or to pay for locum nurses to cover any period of training. The cost of increasing the number of midwives by 100. €5.244m on mid-point of April 2017 payscales The cost of increasing the number of nurses by 100. €5.116m Based on mid-point of April 2017 payscales The cost of increasing the number of obstetricians/gynaecologists employed by 47. €8.001m on mid-point of April 2017 payscales The cost of providing 500 additional hospital beds Running costs: €153m Not applicable Few beds can be added to existing infrastructure at this point, capital investment takes time to deliver, therefore 2017 costings are not applicable 10 The capital costs of providing 500 additional hospital beds Running costs: €153m €500m (€1m per bed) 11 The cost of increasing the number of hospital beds in use in the system by 500, including the capital cost and please identify the number of beds that could be brought on stream before incurring a capital cost. Annual cost per bed: €306,000 = €153m for 500 beds Daily costs per bed: €839 This figure represents all costs to the hospital, including clinical staff, theatres, laboratories, non-clinical staffing, cleaning, maintenance and ancillary running costs. 12 The fully absorbed cost of a hospital bed, the fully absorbed cost of a hospital bed including staff, ancillary services and running costs, the cost per bed per day and what the total is per year. Total cost in first year of provision is €500m+€153m = €653m Capital cost €500m, annual running cost €153m It is currently not possible to identify the precise number of beds that could be brought on stream before incurring a capital cost. However, it is vital to note that the existing built infrastructure in our hospital system could not accommodate an additional 500 beds
13 The cost of reducing the medical card prescription charge by 50cent, assuming the retention of the monthly cap and assuming a proportionate reduction to the monthly cap respectively. €12.6m 14 The cost of lowering the drugs payment scheme monthly threshold to €132, €100, and €85, in tabular form. Monthly Threshold €132 - cost €5.1m. Monthly Threshold €100 - cost €21m. Monthly Threshold €85 - cost €31m. Estimated figures on most recent data 15 The estimated cost of introducing a six monthly scale and polish entitlement under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme and the expenditure on same in 2009. See Q43 in DSP 16 The estimated cost of introducing extended gum cleaning entitlement under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme and the expenditure on same in 2009. See Q44 in DSP 17 The cost of including annual scale and polish under Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme See Q45 in DSP 18 The cost of increasing the number of dentists by 10 and by 40, in tabular form. 10 Dentists €1.55m 40 Dentists €6.2m 10 Dentists €0.5m 40 Dentists €2.1m Estimated for dental/orthodontic teams does not include capital costs of providing/equipping a surgery for the team. Based on mid-point of General Dental Surgeon scale + 10% Employers PRSI. Includes dental nursing support i.e. (1.5 dental nurses per dentist to make a functioning dental team) and approximate cost for travel €3k per team of 10 dentists and 15 Dental Nurses and approximate overhead costs at 20%.
The costs associated with the training of the reserve members Is considered part of the Garda trainers’ normal duty and is therefore not identifiable. 8 The total number of Garda Reserves to complete their Templemore training in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The target for Reserves is 300 to be identified by end 2017 and the total number to be brought to 2,000 by 2021. There are no Reserves in training at present. 9 The projected total number of Garda Reserve in the force by the end of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The target for Garda Reserves is 300 to be identified by end 2017 and the total number to be brought to 2,000 by 2021. The current number is 613. 10 What is the number of recruitment of sufficient Garda Reserves in 2018 to meet the 2,000 target in the Programme for Government. The current number is 613, which means total recruitment of 1,387 by 2021 which does not account for further resignations. 11 The cost of recruiting 100/200/300/400/500/600/700/800/900/1000 additional Civilans into the Gardai in 2018, including all costs associated with training the additional Civilian staff See below The cost of recruiting civilian is presented in the table as below for the quantum of 100/200/300/400/500/600/700/800/900/1000 is presented in the table as below in 2018. This is based on the average cost a civilian member being set at €43,000.
Any amount over €150,000 30% 10 The saving if TD salaries were capped at €75,000. €2,364,470 Based on current rate 11 The saving if Senators pay was capped at €60,000. €318,660 Based on current rate 12 The saving if the allowances (portion of salary which excludes TD salary) paid to Department Ministers, Ministers of State and an Taoiseach were reduced by 50%. 885,150 Based on current rate 13 The saving if all Oireachtas Officeholders’ allowances were withdrawn. 1,956,993 on current rate 14 The saving if party leaders’ allowances were reduced by 10%. 863,069 Based on amounts currently payable 15 The saving if committee chairpersons’ allowances were withdrawn. 156,590 on current rates and Committees 16 The saving if Houses of the Oireachtas Commission allowance was withdrawn. 68,835 Based on current rate 17 The saving if the Junior Minister allowance was withdrawn. 32,574 Based on current rate 18 The saving if all Ministers’ Special Advisor’s salaries were capped at point of Principal Officer Grade (€75,647). There are currently 37 Special Advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State. As per Guidelines issued in May 2016 Special Advisers to Ministers are to be paid at the PO standard scale 1st April 2017 rate - PO – 1st point = €77,849 Non PPC and €81,767 PPC The total cost if all Special Advisers were on the 1st point Non PPC - €77,849 is €2,880,413 a saving of €365,925 The total cost if all Special Advisers were on the 1st point PPC €81,767 is €3,025,379 a saving of €220,959 19 The saving if the mobile phone allowance for TDs and Senators was withdrawn. approximately €30,000 Based on the year 2016
12 The cost of an additional 2,000 places on the CE Scheme The full year cost of an additional 4,000 places on the Community Employment scheme in 2016 is estimated at €31.6 million in or €10.9 million net of qualifying social welfare payments. The first year costs would depend on how quickly the additional places would roll out. 13 The cost of an additional 1,000 places on EmployAbility The full year cost of an additional 1,000 places on EmployAbility service in 2018 is estimated at €2.65 million. The first year costs would depend on how quickly the additional places would roll out.
current half rate weekly rate of €14.90) for all social welfare families with dependent children over the age of 12 will likely be in excess of €45 million in a full year. 31 The cost of relaxing the Jobseekers Benefit and allowance criteria of actively seeking and being available for work for farmers otherwise eligible for the payment It is not possible to estimate how many farmers are excluded from entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit due to the genuinely seeking full-time work and being available for work eligibility criteria. It is therefore not possible to provide a costing for these measures. In recognition of the role of farmers and the fact that they would not be able to satisfy the availability and genuinely seeking employment criteria while they continued to farm, the Department operate the Farm Assist scheme. This is a weekly means-tested payment for low income farmers. There are only three eligibility conditions for Farm Assist: the recipient must be aged between 18 and 66 years; be engaged in farming and satisfy a means test. There is no genuinely seeking work or availability for work condition in Farm Assist, and as such, it is the most appropriate payment for a low income farmer who is not actively seeking and available for other work. There are currently some 7,400 farmers on this scheme at end July 2017, with a provision of €82.8 million for 2017. 32 The cost of increasing all weekly social welfare payments in line with inflation in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 as per inflation rates set out in the 2017 Summer Economic Statement. The cost of increasing all weekly social welfare payments by the HICP forecasts, as set out in the 2017 Summer Economic Statement, is estimated to cost €182.2 million in 2018. It should be noted that this costing includes proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where applicable. It does not include increases for qualified children, the Living Alone Allowance, the Over 80 Allowance or supplements such as the Fuel Allowance.
46 The estimated full year cost of the full payment of €193 for those aged under 26 in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Back to Education Allowance The cost of increasing the age-related reduced rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance from €102.70 per week and €147.80 per week to €193 per week is estimated at €97.6 million in 2018 and a full year. It should be noted that the former €160 per week rate paid to young jobseekers who were on age-related reduced rates and participated in the Back to Education Allowance no longer applies. Budget 2017 provided that the maximum rate (€193 per week) would apply to these young jobseekers from September 2017. 47 The estimated full year cost of exiting the JobPath contract The Department considers the information requested to be confidential and commercially sensitive and is therefore not in a position to release same. A decision by the Minister to terminate the contracts early would require six months’ notice to be given to the contractors. 48 The estimated full year cost of an increase in funding required by Employment Service to facilitate a referral increase of 5% The Local Employment Service is delivered by 22 private contractors on behalf of the Department. Contracts may be offered following a bid being made by the contractors and being accepted by the Department. The bid process for 2018 will commence in October. Until that process is complete the Department is not in a position to advise of the total contract value for 2018. The overall value of the contracts entered into for 2017 was €20 million. It should be noted that following the bid process, the Department fully funds the provision of the service on a cost incurred basis. Funding for the provision of the Local Employment Service is therefore not linked to the number of jobseekers referred to the service / availing of the service. 49 The estimated full year cost of an additional 4,000, 5,000, and 10,000 Community Employment places The estimated gross costs of 4,000, 5,000 and 10,000 additional CE places, for a full year’s participation, would be approximately €64 million, €80 million and €161 million
16 To additional cost of completing the 36 flood relief schemes currently under construction or in planning i.e. Costs that have not already been factored into Governments capital spending projections, i.e. Impact on net fiscal space The flood relief programme falls under the remit of the Office of Public Works. See Q31 D/CH&G 17 The cost of Ireland hosting the Homeless world cup in the as Scotland did in 2016. €3m The tournament costs approximately between €2-3m to stage. The tournament also relies on sponsors, football clubs (who may sponsor individual teams) and governing bodies such as UEFA for support. 18 To ask the cost of increasing the allocation of funding for upgrade and maintenance to regional airports by 10% “The four regional airports submit their project proposals for capital grants annually each year in the Spring. The Department has had sufficient funding in recent years not to have to decline any capital grant requests for reason of lack of funding. While the Department is not seeking any increase in the existing capital allocation for 2018 for the four airports, a 10% increase would cost an additional €385,000.” Children & Youth Costing Request Full year cost First year cost