Results 24,961-24,980 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: European Fund for Strategic Investments (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I presume the Deputy's question relates to funding provided under the European Fund for Strategic Investments, or EFSI, which is the joint initiative of the EIB Group and the European Commission aimed at mobilising private financing for strategic investments, mainly through loan funding. In Ireland's case, the main potential beneficiaries of EFSI are likely to be commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Grades Review (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The matter of the amalgamation of the Civil Service Staff Officer grade with the Executive Officer grade is currently under deliberation between the management and union side parties concerned. As this deliberative process has yet to be concluded it is considered that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances to comment on any issues that may arise between the parties...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question PQ Ref: 3273/17 on 26 January 2017.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: May I confirm that Question No. 18 relates to the capital review?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I will answer on the capital review. The capital plan Building on Recovery is being reviewed to ensure capital spending is strictly aligned with national economic and social priorities, consistent with the programme for partnership Government objectives. A key goal for the review is to focus available capital resources on investment that can best underpin sustainable medium term economic...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I anticipate we will begin public consultation in a few weeks and local authorities are welcome to make their views known. I have had a role with the European Commission relating to the classification of capital expenditure but the responsibility for what the Deputy seeks sits with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, in the division of responsibilities between the two Departments. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I expect all of the PPP commitments we have under the capital plan we have up to 2022 will be met. With regard to those who are due to land across 2017, there is a bundle of primary schools - school bundle No. 5 - due in the education sector. In the transport sector we will see the M17 and M18 Gort to Tuam road. The other significant project is the Dublin City Council waste-to-energy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The investment in our local and regional road network was increased by 11% this year.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy made the charge that we allowed our capital infrastructure to go to rack and ruin. The Deputy clearly has not seen the Luas cross-city project now being built.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I made reference to the Gort to Tuam road a moment ago. It is a magnificent transport project.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Of course we acknowledge that there are capital needs to be met but this is the reason we are reviewing the capital plan. It is the reason for the additional resources that will be available to the State, assuming a moderate degree of economic growth over the coming years. We have prioritised capital expenditure to benefit from that. We can consider what has been done in housing alone,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This matter has been ongoing since 2008, the reason for which is the principle I have just outlined to the Deputy. The Deputy and I are talking here about principles but both us recognise that there are individuals who worked in this sector who are affected by this matter and are hoping to benefit. I acknowledge this matter has caused a great deal of anxiety and worry but the challenge I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy is overstating the case a little to say that I am keeping a close eye on everything that he does. He works hard to represent the people of Waterford effectively, but they also deserve consistency from their public representatives. They deserve and need to know how, when he calls for particular matters to be addressed, those issues will be paid for. The Deputy referred to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy well knows that any change in respect of new entrants' pay or those who are at the start of a wage curve has consequences for everyone else. We cannot change wage curves for people who are joining the Civil Service, teaching or any other part of the public service without there being profound knock-on consequences for the entire wage bill. For this reason, the issues of retention...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is the position that the community sector high level forum or working group, previously the informal forum, was convened in 2015 and 2016 to examine certain issues pertaining to the CE sector, having regard to the implications for costs and precedent. The issue includes community and employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who have been seeking, through their union...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The forum will meet under the chairmanship of an official from my Department. I expect the meeting to take place in the first quarter of this year, so it is imminent. 3 o’clock The Deputy outlined the distinction of the case I have made but I would like to reiterate it. The State was not the employer of those raising this case. Their employer was the project in receipt of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Departmental Information (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I listened to the Deputy state I have not answered the question to his satisfaction, but we should agree I should answer questions in such a way that reflects the interest of the taxpayers. I was very clear in the answer I gave to Deputy Calleary, that with regard to approaching cases, the State will robustly defend itself. The Deputy is asking me to come in here and identify a potential...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Departmental Information (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad to hear the Deputy acknowledge the dangers of his earlier line of approach, because he was asking me to comment on the magnitude of a cost the State does not believe it should incur. We will deal with the matter in court and make very clear, and in the strongest manner possible make known, the views of the Government on the contract for consultants and with regard to payments which...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Departmental Information (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: To answer that particular question, if the office is established in 2017, and I hope it will be, I believe the money will come out of the Oireachtas Vote. This is funded. With regard to the issues raised by the Deputies regarding the number of potential cases and what might happen in the coming period, I am willing to supply this information to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. They...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not going away, but neither is the need for improved public services. I will read out to Deputy Cullinane the number of expenditure requests he has articulated in recent weeks. He has called for increased investment in University Hospital Waterford, increased investment for services for people with disabilities in his county, additional classrooms for a school in his constituency, the...