Results 20,941-20,960 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Rates (14 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a national 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: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the total amount of expenditure on consultancy in my Department since it was established in July 2011. Year Company Amount 2011 Deloitte €65,915 Accenture €80,465 Total €146,380 2012 Davy Corporate Finance €285,051 Accenture €30,750 Deloitte €87,330 IVI €30,750 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (14 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has no role in relation to the management of the sluices at Athlone Weir. I understand that this is a matter for Waterways Ireland and the ESB.  Waterways Ireland is responsible for navigation on the inland waterways system. On the Shannon Navigation and the southern portion of the Shannon-Erne Waterway, Waterways Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (14 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: Exchequer Deficit (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The table below shows net voted expenditure and the Exchequer deficit for the period January to April 2011 and for the period January to April 2015. This information was published in the end April 2011 and end April 2015 Exchequer returns. Expenditure and deficit position: January to April 2011 compared with January to April 2015 JanApril 2011€m JanApril 2015 €m Change...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting.  The French system of dividing up tenders to provide small and medium enterprise a better chance of being successful when...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Haddington Road Agreement Review (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The Haddington Road Agreement provided for savings arising from the implementation of various measures, including overtime rate changes and increment deferrals. Both of these  measures are currently being implemented across the public service at Departmental and Agency level within the reduced pay allocations provided in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free payment to employees with children, paid directly by the Department of Social Protection to the employee subject to qualification criteria based not only on salary, but also on the personal circumstances of the claimant, in particular family size. Qualification for payment is a matter directly between the employee concerned and the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Minimum Wage (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Low Pay Commission was officially launched on 26 February 2015.  This independent body is now beginning its work on advising the Government on the appropriate rate of the National Minimum Wage. It is expected to submit its first report to Government by the middle of July and the  Commission will examine the rate of the minimum wage on an annual basis from now on. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Based on estimates of current PRD yield the data sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Increase in PRD Threshold Estimated Cost €17,500 €20m €20,000 €40m €22,500 €118m €25,000 €196m €27,000 €257m

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: A number of measures have been introduced in recent years which impact on public service pensions in payment.  The Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), commencing 1 January 2011, imposed reductions on annual public service pensions in payment in excess of €12,000, using a progressively tiered set of bands and rates with a top rate of 12% on any public service pension amount...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Costs (19 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question there has been no expenditure on legal fees in my Department appealing decisions taken by the High Court.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 331 together. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established as key element of the Procurement Reform Programme to drive a more professional and joined up approach to procurement and to achieve better value for money for the taxpayer on goods and services purchased by Public Sector Bodies (PSBs). The OGP's mission is to deliver sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Question No: 18370 of 12 May last. The public service pay discussions between Public Service employers and unions and associations representing Public Service employees including the Civil and Public Services Staff Union are continuing.  

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: European Stability Programmes (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: For 2016, the Spring Economic Statement (SES) has outlined that a budgetary package of €1.2 billion to €1.5 billion will deliver compliance with the Expenditure Benchmark. Based on this package being split evenly between tax and expenditure, we are envisaging an increase in expenditure of between €600 million and €750 million in 2016 which will be used to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Retirements (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Information on the numbers of public servants retiring each year is not held centrally but the information available to my department indicates that the total number of public service pensioners increased by just over 4,500 in 2014. This is a net number; the change to pensioner numbers is increased by the number claiming pension benefits (retiring, preserved pensioners,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Recruitment (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table provides information on the numbers of staff recruited in my Department and the bodies under my aegis during 2014.  Numbers of staff Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 342 The Valuation Office 9 Institute of Public Administration 4 Public Appointments Service 10 State Laboratory 2 Office of the Ombudsman 15 Special EU...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Redeployment (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table provides information on the numbers of staff who were seconded from my Department and the bodies under my aegis during 2014. Total numbers of staff seconded during 2014 Number of staff who were seconded abroad Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 12 3 The Valuation Office 1 Institute of Public Administration 2 Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 327 and 328 together. The reform of the public procurement infrastructure is a key element of the reform programme for the public service. This reform enables public service organisations deliver much needed services within the tighter budgets that they must now operate. The Government acknowledges, however, the significant role that SMEs play in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together. It is the responsibility of individual contracting authorities to publish tender notices and contract award notices. In 2013, public service and semi-state bodies published 5,826 tender notices. This process is facilitated through the national eProcurement portal . This portal is the Irish Government's public platform for...