Ministers face tough grilling following Garda deal

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe are to be grilled by furious ministers over the Garda deal, which could cause chaos for the budgets of other departments.

A number of ministers are livid that gardaí received such a generous package, which staved off strike action last week, as they believe it may now lead to many other public sector groups demanding pay increases.

A senior Government source said ministers were angered that the Garda package would have a “significant knock-on effect for everybody else” and will be raising major concerns at today’s cabinet meeting.

Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland are already involved in industrial action over pay and conditions while doctors and nurses are said to be unhappy and could potentially ballot for similar action.

While public sector pay and the recent strikes are likely to dictate much of today’s cabinet meeting, Mr Donohoe is also expected to bring forward proposals around guidelines on public consultations.

Meanwhile, ministers will also be updated on flood prevention measures already under way and an action plan for the future.

Sean Canney, minister of state for the OPW, is due to bring an inter-departmental report on flooding to Cabinet for approval. Mr Canney received the initial report over the summer but had asked officials to redraft it as he was unhappy with a lack of detail over future planning.

It is understood a relocation grant to cover the cost of buying or building a new home is among the proposals covered in the report.

The Independent Alliance TD previously suggested he would be in favour of such a measure. However, it is understood this would be a targeted grant and would be limited to people living in specific areas where it would not be cost effective to build flood defences. Details around emergency planning, flood relief measures and flood insurance are also contained in the report.

Transport Minister Shane Ross will also bring a detailed document which will call for significant rail funding increases in order to prevent the closure of rural lines. The report, by the National Transport Authority, will state that Irish Rail needs €600m over the next five years in order for existing services to survive.

If this does not happen rural lines may have to close, with a worst-case scenario potentially involving just the Dart, Dublin and Cork commuter lines, and inter-city lines between Dublin, Cork, Belfast, and Limerick surviving.

It is understood Mr Ross has made no decision, and is seeking Cabinet approval to put a number of options out for public consultation over the coming weeks on how to address the matter.

Separately, Housing Minister Simon Coveney yesterday published measure to speed up the planning process for housing developments.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 will introduce temporary fast-track planning arrangements, to allow planning applications for large-scale housing developments of more than 100 units, and student accommodation developments to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála and determined within a specified time-frame.

The bill will come before the Seanad next week and is expected to be debated in the Dáil in the first week of December. This bill aims to rapidly increase housing supply and also reinforces rental protections for both tenants and landlords.