Results 2,081-2,100 of 10,573 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said, I do not disagree with what the Deputy said. In a roundabout way, what I get from his contribution is that the plan, the delivery board and those charged with making sure it happens need to be more flexible and adaptable, in respect of the changes in weather, climate, economics, demographics, and everything else that is out there. Nobody thought, 12 months ago, that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Summer Economic Statement (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said, the summer economic statement will be published in the coming months. It sets out the key anchor for budgetary policy each year and outlines the parameters within which discussions will take place for budget 2024. Each year, the summer economic statement sets out our plans for sustainable expenditure growth to provide for the delivery of investment in public services and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy asked the same question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I think that the most important line in the first reply I read out to the Deputy is in the last part. By the way, it was not the same reply both times because the questions were different. It is a pity they were not grouped together because it would have avoided me having to stand up a second time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Well, maybe. The most important line is that referring to independence as a pillar in the unit's contribution to evidence-based policymaking. It is almost like the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. It provides evidence and, sometimes, contrarian views but, ultimately, it is for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a determination with regard to housing policy. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In the real world, planning objections make a difference and ultimately prevent people from getting on with the job of delivering the housing we all want.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In fairness to him, the Deputy gets away with a lot of things in here but to compare the planning processes in train in Longford to those in Dublin, where the majority-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Will the Deputy let me finish? I imagine the majority of planning applications in Longford are for one-off houses or small schemes. The Deputy is comparing bananas to pineapples. There is no comparison. Let us look at the greater Dublin area, although I know the Deputy did not want to refer to this. The report states: Counties in the [greater Dublin area], and those containing large...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: We are finished.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy got four bites.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shared Services (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy very much. I am taking this question for the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth. The delivery of the financial management shared services centre and programme was approved by the Government in 2020 with an indicative timeline through 2025 and assigned a budget of €115 million. The programme plays a central role in the delivery of the Civil Service renewal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shared Services (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy asked for the names of the specific organisations that have already moved across and the timeframe in which others will move across. I will have to ask the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to respond to her on those issues. With regard to the financial envelope, the Government decision I referred to provides for a capital envelope of €115 million. Of course, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As someone who represents one of those rural counties the Deputy seems to have such a knowledge of-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The number of houses that are granted planning permission on a once-off basis is tiny, relative to what is needed. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Deputy Conway-Walsh will know what I am talking about here. The number of one-off houses in rural areas, compared with schemes of houses that are built, is minuscule. Naturally enough, the refusal rate will be smaller but the overall refusal rate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Consultations (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, who is out of the country as well. As part of the programme for Government, Ireland is committed to re-energising its Open Government Partnership, OGP, process. The OGP aims to secure concrete commitments from governments across the world to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Consultations (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In the last Government I was a Minister of State with responsibility for the OGP. In the context of the round table established in 2021, some of its members include: the Open Government Association Ireland; Digital Rights Ireland; the Kildare Public Participation Network, PPN, representing all the PPNs; the Think-tank for Action on Social Change; the Wheel; Irish Rural Link; the Change...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Consultations (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The citizens' assemblies have helped in no small way to inform change that has come about in this country in recent years. Often times people are accused of being behind the public on a number of different issues but the citizens' assemblies have informed debate and they are an important part of democracy. It is my intention as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: At least one of us is lucky.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Housing policy is written for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. IGEES staff in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform carry out research in a broad range of areas affecting expenditure. While this informs the evidence base that is provided by officials in ministerial briefings, housing policy is developed and implemented...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will get a response directly from the Minister's office to Deputy Conway-Walsh. On the scheme Deputy Cannon raised, it is my intention to go to Galway shortly to meet the county council in respect of this. I have been there a number of times already in respect of other schemes and I must say the county council is to the fore in delivering an awful lot to the schemes. On the...