Results 4,141-4,160 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: It certainly is a wonderful beach. It is a real gem in west Cork. I am happy to work with Deputy O'Sullivan and the elected members of Cork County Council to advance the project because it would be hugely exciting if we were in a position to develop a safe pedestrian and cycling access between Clonakilty and Inchydoney. The returns that are made by local authorities are available, so we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cost of Living Issues (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for the question. Budget 2023 contained significant responsive measures to support households, public and community services and businesses, with spending measures of €4.5 billion. As part of this budget, a winter cost-of-living package for households, costing €2.2 billion, was announced by the Government. It included the following: a double payment of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cost of Living Issues (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. Just today, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and I announced the details of the four lump-sum payments to be made this week, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. These payments are: the fuel allowance lump sum; the disability grant lump sum; the living-alone allowance lump sum; and the payment to low-income working families in the form of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cost of Living Issues (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: In response to Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, we have committed that any additional revenues we raise, whether from a windfall tax, a solidarity contribution from companies in the renewables sector, which companies have done very well owing to how energy is priced, and also from fossil fuel companies, will be provided by way of additional supports to communities, households and businesses....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for his question. He may be interested to know that the salary scale of Secretaries General and equivalent grades is a matter of public record and is disclosed in replies to parliamentary questions. Also, circulars detailing the salaries applicable to each civil servant grade, including the Secretary General grade, are published and are publicly available on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The specific question raised by the Deputy relates to the salaries paid to Secretaries General across Government Departments. In my initial reply, I outlined that the salary scales and grades of every Secretary General are a matter of public record and are published in a whole range of ways, including through parliamentary questions that are answered here on the record. Information is also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I reiterate that the salary associated with each grade of Secretary General is a matter of public record and is published. Information is published in the relevant appropriation accounts. As the Deputy is aware, those accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and come before the Committee of Public Accounts for further scrutiny when the reports become available. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The level of employment in Ireland reached over 2.55 million people in the second quarter of this year, the highest level ever. Increased labour force participation has been a key factor behind the strong employment recovery. Despite some expected softening in the labour market over the next year or so, tight conditions and skills shortages for some sectors are likely to persist in the labour...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Voluntary Sector (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important work carried out by staff in these organisations and the vital contribution of the Community and Voluntary (C&V) sector. By way of general information, the Deputy may be aware that employees in these organisations are not Public Servants and do not fall under the remit of my Department. The relevant legislation is clear on the range...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have responsibility for public procurement policy, including the work of the Office of Government Procurement within my Department. There are two main sources for the significant and sustained increases in the price of a broad range of commonly used materials in the construction sector since Q2 of 2021. The first arises from the pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: In May of this year the Department of Transport established an inter-departmental working group to consider how the transfer could be supported across Government, as the Department of Transport itself has no mechanism to fund financial support to Shannon Heritage or the local authorities. My Department was represented on the Group along with the Department of Housing, Local Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The reason for the different disclosure requirements is due to the different evolution of the rules in which Voted entities and non-Voted public bodies and companies report their accounts and the fact that the standard Secretary General salary scales, along with scales for other Civil Service grades, are regularly published on Gov.ie whereas the remuneration of CEO positions in non-Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cost of Living Issues (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2023 set out a responsive approach to fiscal policy investing in the future of our public services and economy while addressing the challenges faced today. Budget 2023 contained significant measures, of c. €4.5 billion, to support households, public and community services and businesses. As part of this budget, a winter cost of living package for households was announced by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and seeks to ensure that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. The responsibility for the management and delivery of investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP),...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and to ensure that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. The responsibility for the management and delivery of investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP), rests with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 127 together. Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The review of the Freedom of Information Act is now at an advanced stage. As outlined in the roadmap document, it took the form of an open and collaborative process, taking in the views of a diverse range of stakeholders. Almost 1,300 submissions were received from individuals and organisations in the course of my Department's consultations in the review, which took place in two phases: an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: A series of successive external shocks are having an impact on our society, economy and fiscal position, challenges that will carry through into 2023. Budget 2023 set out the Government response to support investment in public services, facilitate continued responses to externally driven challenges; alongside substantial measures to alleviate the cost of living pressures being experienced by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ethics in Public Office (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I am happy to inform the Deputy that a draft report of my Department’s review of our statutory framework for ethics is at the point of being completed. My Department is now engaging with major stakeholders across the public service to finalise the report. I will then consider the final report and bring it to Government for its approval and publication. It is intended that Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language (15 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 227 together. Some of the actions that my Department and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) are taking to increase the number of fluent Irish speakers in the civil service include: 1. Dedicated recruitment and promotion competitions targeted at Irish language speakers: PAS has held general civil service competitions for individuals with...