Results 321-340 of 31,221 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of time and will cut straight to the matter. On 17 January of this year, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications wrote to my Department confirming the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to a pension increase of 4%. On 30 January, officials in my Department agreed to this and I wrote back to the Department of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The ESB most certainly does have its act together. In fairness to it and other bodies, the pay agreement was only made a couple of weeks ago, with the knock-on impact that it has for all of the other issues in this regard. As I said, the Department wrote to my own Department in the middle of the year and we responded very quickly. This payment will be backdated. I am confident that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council made that observation regarding its view on the deficit of capital funding in the time ahead. This is the same organisation that is making the case for the implementation of the 5% spending rule. On the one hand, it is arguing, understandably and I agree with it, that we need to move back to the 5% spending rule. On the other hand, it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Foley, is making the case very strongly for funding that will allow projects such as that relating to the school in Ballinrobe to which the Deputy referred to go ahead. She is also making the case for people to focus on the issues the Deputy mentioned. Understandably, I am not aware of the specifics of the school in question. Overall, the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is probably aware, the ESRI report notes higher than expected population growth and planning permissions in the eastern and midland region between 2016 and 2020. However, but it puts forward a caveat in this regard by acknowledging that the NDP is still in its early stage of development relative to the 2040 targets. However, this is an area of concern for myself and my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I completely agree. The Deputy is dead right. That is why a strength of what we have tried to do so far is to integrate our capital plans and expenditure into the national framework and try to run both together. On the Deputy's point about the need for more forward planning and the need to be more predictable, this is the reason why we have set out capital expenditure ceilings for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Absolutely. I fully appreciate the sensitivity of these concerns to communities, which are looking to get protection and to see the risk of flooding mitigated. The scheme has already been subject to judicial review and demonstrates clearly the sensitivity and legal care that needs to be taken in these matters. I find myself in the position of speaking while my Department has a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Of course.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Point taken. For the purposes of complete precision, I recognise the Deputy’s full recognition of, respect for and understanding of the independent processes. What he is justifiably doing as an Oireachtas Member representing this community is making the case for urgency and for the scheme to be moved forward through the independent processes as quickly as possible. I speak on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I asked the ESRI to give me an assessment of the implementation of the national development plan and the kinds of issue that I believed should be considered in its future. The ESRI is an abundantly authoritative organisation that is well capable of choosing what issues it wants to consider in replying to the mandate I gave it and the piece of work I asked it to do. It is not fully fair to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy and recognise that this has not become a political matter, as I said in my opening remarks, in recognition of the concerns local communities have about this. I fully understand the desire of both Deputies and of Deputy Calleary to see this matter brought to a conclusion. I am, in effect, representing the final planning authority with regard to this scheme. For that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I will give a short answer to the Deputy's question, but will hopefully cover all of the key points to facilitate an exchange of views on it. I have covered this matter in questions from other Deputies this morning, I will give a broad answer as to the steps we are taking with regard to the availability of data and information. I highlight three, which I believe can make a difference. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: If any economist thinks their science is an exact science they are probably worth upsetting. The amount of uncertainty and change that has happened in the economy in the past number of years means predictions and forecasts about what will happen have to be humble and acknowledge the degree of uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and the effect it can have in Ireland. We do our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State would absolutely agree. His ambition for the mid west is unbounded, as I am sure is the Deputy's.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: More and more. I agree with Deputy Leddin's point. I speak as a representative from the heart of Dublin. I am clear that development of the region the Deputy has just made the case for is absolutely consistent with, and a really important part of, our national economic development. It is not about looking to pit or divide different parts of our country against each other. It is about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I will again give some brief background on the planning environment relating to this. This scheme was submitted for confirmation by the OPW in August 2018 under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. In early 2021, the scheme received ministerial confirmation under section 7 of the regulations. It was then subject to judicial review, during which a stay was also granted on works being carried out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 107 together. I refer to the previous updates on this matter I have given to the House regarding the consent process for the Crossmolina flood relief scheme, the most recent of which was on 30 January. As the Minister for public expenditure, I am the consenting authority for flood relief schemes submitted under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputies. I absolutely acknowledge the huge anxiety that the status of this project is causing to the communities both of them represent. It is only fair that I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, has also raised this issue on a number of occasions in the same way and tone they have. The length of my answer and the references I made to the many...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am familiar with the Dungloe to Glenties road and can really imagine the benefit that will be brought to commuters and communities when that project is delivered. I will have to follow up with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, about the further extension that Deputy Pringle has referred to. I know the benefit that a change like that would bring to Killybegs and can see how it would be consistent...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not have any such plans. For such a change to be made, there would need to be clear evidence to underpin a very broad change in how we audit a very broad and significant part of the State. As I said in my answer to the Deputy, there are many organisations that are operating in the commercial environment. It is therefore appropriate, as they are operating in the commercial environment,...