Results 61-80 of 9,549 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is important we are clear on the budgetary context for budget 2026. Many of my Government colleagues have many priorities in their respective Departments and policy areas which they will commence negotiation on at the end of July and through August. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has been clear that affordability for students is an important priority for him as part of his negotiation for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy knows, in last year's budget, we set out a number of measures of a one-off and temporary nature. The reduction that was made on a one-year basis was reflected in that cost-of-living package. We said, as an incoming Government, that the decisions we would take in the context of budget 2026 would be taken on a permanent and sustained basis. It is on that basis that every...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: What I have been very clear about is that this issue will be part of the broader discussion on budget 2026. That is how annualised budgeting works in this economy and many other economies around the world. That is what we are seeking to do. We will set out an envelope in the coming weeks and each Minister will have to prioritise within that his or her overall expenditure demands. Of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The economic position our country is in cannot just be dismissed. We must approach budget 2026 with caution. We know if we strip away the windfall nature of many of our tax receipts, there is a potential risk around a deficit position in our economy, which we cannot ignore and the Deputy should not ignore as a finance spokesperson for the main Opposition party. It is in this context...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: This will form the basis of our discussion with all Ministers on what changes we can make for budget 2026.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: That is a normal part of the budgetary process that this Government is committed to advancing.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I will set out the backdrop to this in the context of the measures that the Government has taken over recent years to make permanent and sustained reductions and interventions that are affordable for many students. If you look at the measures that have been taken, more students than ever are benefiting from financial support through the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant support...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together. Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. Specifically, EU rules require tenderers to be compliant with relevant employment law in order to participate in a public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285, 286, 287 and 288 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of these Parliamentary Questions, in line with Standing Order 52(1)(b).

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: In March 2023, my Department published Circular 05/2023: Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement. The circular highlights the positive measures that contracting authorities can take to promote SME participation in public sector procurement, including an increase to the threshold at which all contracts for goods and services must be advertised on eTenders from €25,000 to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: Budget 2025, introduced in October 2024, announced investment of €105.4 billion to deliver continued improvements in our infrastructure and enhance our existing public services to build for a stronger future. This represented an overall increase of almost €7 billion in voted expenditure over the 2024 starting position set out in the 2024 Summer Economic Statement, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The total public service pay bill figure (inclusive of Local Authorities) for 2025 is estimated to be €30.2 billion. This includes all elements of pay, including basic pay, allowances, overtime, premia, and employer PRSI. The estimated cost of a 10% pay increase for public service workers earning less than €100,000 would be approx. €2.8 billion.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Government's assessment is that, in general, and consistent with the approach adopted since FOI first came into effect in 1998 commercial state bodies should not be subject to FOI requirements. The rationale for this approach is the risk of the uneven competitive market environment that would be created in circumstances that commercial state bodies operating in a competitive market were...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Pensions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: From the details supplied by the Deputy, it would appear that the individual concerned was initially employed by a public service body in the 1970s, before leaving that employment. The individual re-entered public service employment in 2018. The Single Public Service Pension Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. It was established on 1 January...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Priorities (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: In line with the commitments made in the Programme for Government, earlier this year I announced a series of actions to accelerate the provision of strategic infrastructure in Ireland, including the creation of a new Infrastructure Division in my Department. This Division is focusing on how infrastructure development can be accelerated, particularly in the electricity, water and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has comprehensive legislation to protect workers who raise concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace. The Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014. This legislation was further enhanced by the Protected Disclosures Amendment Act 2022 (the 2022 Act). The 2022 Act broadens the scope of those who can...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Rail Network (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Review of the National Development Plan (NDP) will allocate funding to update capital expenditure ceilings out to 2035. Sectoral capital allocations will be published in the Review document in July, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. In total, around €97 billion in capital funding will be allocated until 2030, which reflects an almost €20 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I would like to reassure the Deputy that my Department did act in 2022 with the specific purpose of ensuring compliance with regulations and mitigating the risk of legal challenges and the delays associated with such challenges. The details behind these actions and the current status of the project are set out below. The Deputy will be aware that the timeline for the examination of this...