Results 20,921-20,940 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State on a rating authority area basis. The purpose of revaluation is to bring more equity, fairness and transparency into the local authority rating system and to distribute the commercial rates liability more equitably between ratepayers....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to the Report on the Implementation of the Agency Rationalisation Programme which is published on my Department's web site.  The Report provides information on what has been achieved in reducing the number of state bodies as set out in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan, including savings. The Report  based on information provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Remit (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government committed to extending Freedom of Information, and the Ombudsman Act, to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered.  Following the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 and on the basis of the enactment of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act, 2012, this is now being achieved....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Records (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments focused on delivering greater Civil Service accountability including that of keeping a record of Ministerial involvement with an issue and resulting decisions.    The Civil Service Renewal Plan, which integrated the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan was published in October last year. There are 25 major actions in this three year Plan which is focused on building on the strengths of the Civil Service and ensuring that the capacity and capability is enhanced to meet future challenges and to deliver excellent service. Since the publication of the Renewal Plan, the focus has been on ensuring that the six...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that currently the state boards and agencies under my remit have quorate and active boards.  I am not aware of any boards or agencies presently unable to function because they do not have sufficient members appointed for a quorum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The World Economic Forum's Global Competiveness Report referred to by the Deputy is an interesting document that contains a number of comparative indices including the 'Overall Quality of Infrastructure'.  This shows Ireland's ranking as on par with other highly developed economies.  Based on this index, Ireland ranks well above average and has improved significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that Wexford County Council recently announced that Duncannon Fort has been temporarily closed due to health and safety issues. I note that the Deputy asked my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht a similar question in relation to Duncannon Fort recently.  She explained that while part of the site is under her guardianship under the National...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Party Allowances Expenditure (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, details of payments to all Members of the Oireachtas under the Parliamentary Standard Allowance are published on the Houses of the Oireachtas website. Deputy Thomas Pringle receives an allowance as Chairperson of the Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann for which the current rate is €8,740 per annum.  The amounts paid to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I understand the Deputy's question to refer to the impact on the pensions of certain retired public servants of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which was imposed as one of the pay and pension retrenchments in the public service under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation. I have invited the Public Services Committee of ICTU to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies Mergers (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to the Report on the Implementation of the Agency Rationalisation Programme which is published on my Department's website.  The Report provides information on what has been achieved in reducing the number of state bodies as set out in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan, including savings, and can be found at . The Report based on information...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established as a key element of the Public Service Reform agenda to reduce costs and achieve better value for money through reform of public procurement. The OGP's mission is to deliver sustainable procurement savings for the tax payer by optimising value for money across the public service. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP)...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Government Expenditure (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 to 315, inclusive, and 321 and 324 together. When Ireland was subject to an EU-IMF programme, this Government faced the challenge of restoring stability to our public finances and creating the environment to support sustainable economic growth and job creation.  The recent publication of the Spring Economic Statement and the Stability...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Haddington Road Agreement is comprised of measures which have been implemented through the enactment of legislation and other central measures, and sector specific measures, which are set out in the relevant sectoral agreements. The central measures under the Agreement were, for the most part, fully implemented from 1 July 2013.  In addition to delivering on monetary...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The reform of the procurement system across the public service is a key element of the reform programme for the public service.  The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service have enabled suppliers to charge different public service bodies different prices for the same goods and services. Public Procurement savings are necessary to enable public service organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: At Budget time last October, I  announced an end to the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotion in the Public Service, with new delegated management arrangements to be phased in during 2015. These delegated arrangements are designed to give Public Service managers the means to respond to service needs as they arise, including considerable...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There is no central mailing list in existence but a notifications feature exists on the national eTenders procurement portal. It is the responsibility of individual contracting authorities to publish tender notices with an estimated value of more than €25,000. This process is facilitated through the national eProcurement portal .  This portal is the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Prior to this Government taking office, Aer Lingus was partially privatised in 2006 via an Initial Public Offering on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges. The partial sale yielded €241m for the Exchequer. Under the State Assets Disposal Programme announced by this Government in February 2012, there have been three further asset disposals: -ESB...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, retirement is a normal feature of human resource management in all organisations, and so too on occasion is voluntary redundancy.  As part of the Government's response to the crisis in the public finances, both incentived retirement and voluntary redundancy featured among a range of measures which were introduced to address...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Public Service Reform was a key element of the Government's response to the crisis and continues to be essential as part of our strategy for recovery.  The reforms we have implemented have enabled us to maintain and improve public services in the face of the necessary reduction in staff numbers and budgets, at a time of increased demand for public services.  ...