Results 541-560 of 3,222 for speaker:James O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: 325. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new ASD classes due to come on stream in Waterford for the next academic year; the locations of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29404/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (9 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: 734. To ask the Minister for Health if funding has been approved for a charity (details supplied); if so, when it will receive the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29384/24]

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: I welcome all the witnesses before the committee this morning. The first thing I wish to touch on is the fact that there is now a deficit of €3.6 million. Getting to understand why that occurred is important. It is also notable that between the 2021 figures and the 2022 figures, there was a substantial jump in expenditure. When I was going through the document before today’s...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Does that correspond with what we have for 2022? In the figure for 2022, Waterways Ireland had 306 employees.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: This was costing Waterways Ireland €27 million in total for 306 people.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: The 2021 figure of 306 full-time employees cost €27 million. Is that right or wrong?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Between 2021 and 2022, there was an increase from €27 million in costings to €32 million in staffing costs. I wish to get an insight as to why there was a €5 million jump in the space of 12 months. As I said at the start of my contribution, Waterways Ireland now has a €3.6 million deficit in the year we are examining, which is 2022.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Note No. 13, which we received, indicates that Waterways Ireland total revisions at the end of 2022, around contingent liability and provisions, were at about €11 million. That was an increase then again of €3.45 million on the provision of €7.56 million at the end of 2021. The increase equates to an additional provision of about €3.9 million. What was the...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Please give us some details about some of the claims taken against Waterways Ireland. Without identifying individuals, were they accidents that occurred on the canals? Were they workplace-related accidents involving staff?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: So it is €9.2 million.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: What are these claims in respect of? Are they related to accidents? Are they related to injuries that occurred along the canals? Please give an insight into why the number of claims is such a large figure.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: How much does that cost?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Yes. That is an incredible amount.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Yes, I understand. What has Waterways Ireland done to mitigating the risk again claims?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: I want to discuss houseboats and the significant increase in fees to berth around the Grand Canal Dock area. On the one hand, we are looking at an organisation that is running a deficit. On the other hand, we have residents involved and people who are passionate about what they do. Looking at what has been proposed, there has been an increase of €578 annually which increases the fee...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: On the point made about affordability being a key consideration, Waterways Ireland has been accused of increasing the fees by approximately 700%.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: I know, and I appreciate Mr. McDonagh’s point on governance. Governance is important and a key part of any organisation. Those affected are looking at the €5 million jump in staffing costs over a 12-month period and a significant jump in the liabilities that have to be paid out. In fairness, accidents happen and claims are made. Unfortunately, we know there is a cultural...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: Waterways Ireland was not contacted in any way by officials from the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman’s Department or his office, including advisers? No one made direct contact with Waterways Ireland.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Waterways Ireland (4 Jul 2024)

James O'Connor: When did Waterways Ireland reach its decision? What was the process involved? Who did Waterways Ireland consult on the erecting of the fencing?