Results 21,041-21,060 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Preparations (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Ireland continues to support the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the UK. Nevertheless we recognise that, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations on the future relationship, the UK will leave the Single Market and the Customs Union on 1 January 2021. This will have significant implications for us. As the Deputy will be aware, a whole of Government approach...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 141 and 144 together. In his pre-Budget letter to the Minister for Finance, Governor Makhlouf sets out three key areas on which policy should focus. These are: - Supporting the productive capacity of the economy; - Eventually setting a path to a lower and more sustainable debt and deficit ratios; and - Building resilience to future shocks. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent, statutory body which provides professional recruitment and selection services for appointments to the Civil Service. Irish language usage is a core Government policy objective as stated in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and its associated 5-Year Action Plan for the period 2018 to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not confused. The Living Wage has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement. It currently stands at €12.30 per hour according to the Living Wage Technical Group document 2020. The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently no requests to increase staffing levels in my own Department or in the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department. Decisions regarding 2021 Voted Expenditure will be made in the context of the overall budgetary strategy that has been adopted by the Government. The table below outlines the position with regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: With a view to increasing transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue around key elements of the Budget, over the last number of years, a range of reforms have been implemented in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. Adopting a ‘whole-of-year’...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Ireland’s allocation of European Regional Development Funds have in the past, and will continue in the future, to support projects in all parts of Ireland. Moreover, in accordance with the EU Regulatory requirement, stakeholders at local, regional and national level will continue to have a key role in the planning, monitoring and delivery of these programmes. A decision will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Through the Public Service ICT Strategy, the eGovernment Strategy and the Public Service Data Strategy, Government has set out its ambition to accelerate the delivery of digital public services. These strategies outline Government plans to deploy digital technologies and shared approaches for more efficient, effective, and joined-up services for citizens and businesses. COVID-19 has had a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware the Office of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of embankments that form part of arterial drainage schemes it completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. These embankments are not in State ownership but are on lands that are for the most part privately owned. I am advised that these embankments were not designed or constructed to cater for cycleways or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being advanced by Clare County Council, with advice and funding as appropriate from the Office of Public Works. Ryan Hanley are the engineering consultants and the construction contract is being progressed by Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. Construction of the works is under way with 3 discrete elements being...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy will be aware that the matter of community employment schemes falls withihn the policy remit of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection. I have however a strong appreciation of the role of Community Employment Schemes in communities right across the country and I know this role could not be fulfilled without the leadership of the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The appointment of Special Advisers are subject to Section 11 of the Public Services Management Act 1997. The appointment of Special Advisers to the Ministers of State in question, that the Deputy refers to, was considered by my colleagues and I at the Government meeting of 22 September last with specific regard to the scale and complexity of portfolio, budgetary responsibility and Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The response to the Covid-19 crisis was swift, with many Civil and Public Servants transitioning to working from home at short notice. This was an unprecedented event, but was necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of staff across the system was protected, while maintaining quality and continuity in the provision of public services. No additional expenditure allocations have been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Regional Assemblies (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: A decision will be made shortly regarding the role of Managing Authorities for the 2021 - 2027 European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) Operational Programmes.  In the meantime, the three Regional Assemblies are playing a very active role in the process of programming for the next round of ERDF, in conjunction and cooperation with the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) represents the tools that a public body must use to procure and manage the external resources necessary to deliver a public works project that is to be delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the National Development Plan. A review of the policies and practices deployed in the procurement of public works projects was commenced in March...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: On a no-policy change basis, a deficit in the range of -4½ to -5½ per cent of GDP is projected for next year. These figures remains a work-in-progress, with significant moving parts in relation to both revenue and expenditure still being considered in the context of the upcoming Budget 2021.  Excluding Covid-19 related expenditure, it is estimated that for core current...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The recently published Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan for Living with COVID-19 sets out five levels of a Framework for Restrictive Measures. The Framework provides for home working to continue where possible across the five levels.  Civil Service Departments and Offices will continue with this arrangement where possible, and having regard to the differing requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: My Department developed guidance for civil service organisations - Working from Home during COVID-19 Guidance for Civil Service Organisations - in response to the requirement by Government for employees to work from home where possible during COVID. The purpose of this guidance, which issued to civil service employers in June, was to support the health and wellbeing of employees; to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reviews (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: My Department is not carrying out a review of a company (details supplied). The Department of Transport is currently carrying out a review of the company with the assistance of NewERA and I understand the Minister for Transport will consider the findings once the report is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: My Department developed guidance for civil service organisations - Working from Home during COVID-19 Guidance for Civil Service Organisations - in response to the requirement by Government for employees to work from home where possible during COVID. The purpose of this guidance, which issued to civil service employers in June, was to support the health and well-being of employees; to ensure...