Results 21,221-21,240 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department does not compile a list of the State funding that is awarded to foreign private companies or to indigenous private companies. Grant funding of this nature is managed through relevant departments and their agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Road Projects Status (14 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has led a review of the public capital investment needs of the State for the five year period 2016-2020.  The outcome of this review will be set out in the Medium Term Capital Investment Framework Report which will outline the Government's decisions in relation to the capital allocations for Departments for the period to 2020.  We now expect to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (14 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The 2014 sick leave statistics present the first information available on the impact of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, introduced on 31 March 2014 for the majority of public servants and on 1 September 2014 for the Education Sector. While the revised scheme was not in operation for the full twelve month period, the statistics illustrate that the new arrangements have made a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Requests (14 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together. I am not aware of the details of specific cases to which the Deputy's question refers.   In light of the objectives of the FOI reform legislation, it would clearly be a matter of concern if the circumstances set out by the Deputy pertained in practice in relation to any FOI request.  However, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Lobbying Activities (14 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 sets out arrangements for bringing transparency to lobbying activities through a web-based register. The Act does apply to lobbying activities which take place within the State even though the lobbyist is based abroad. Foreign lobbyists who run a lobbying campaign aimed at Irish officials within the State cannot assume that their activities are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the current average age of staff in my Department and the bodies under my aegis including variations from 2008 and 2011.  2008 2011 2015 Department of Public Expenditure and Reform * 47.1 43.48 The State Laboratory 44 45 45 Institute of Public Administration 48.17 44.41 48.56 The Public Appointments Service 38 44...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Pensions (15 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: While it has been possible to apply proportionate reductions to existing pensions, as has been done to date under the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest legislation, account must be taken of the fact that pension benefits are viewed as vested property rights, which limits the action that can be taken. I am advised that legislation cannot selectively...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (15 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 318 and 331 of 14 July 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I indicated in my reply of 14 July to PQ 29165/15, No. 322, the Valuation Act 2001 provides in Schedule 3, paragraphs 1(a) and (b) that all buildings and lands used for any purpose including constructions affixed thereto are rateable. The basic premise under the Act is that all interests (including buildings) and all developed land are rateable unless expressly exempted under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Gross voted expenditure was reduced from €62.4bn in 2008 to €54bn in 2014. Budget 2015 marked the first time since the onset of the crisis when reductions in overall voted expenditure were not required to meet our fiscal targets. In the period between 2008 and 2014, gross voted current expenditure was reduced by €2.9bn with voted capital expenditure reduced by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Priorities (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question my priorities for the remainder of my term in office are consistent with the priorities outlined previously in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016. In the area of responsible and sustainable management of the public finances, in addition to working towards maintaining the current stable economic environment, my Department will ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The National Lottery provides funds for "Good Causes" in accordance with the National Lottery Act 2013.  The areas to be funded are set out under section 41 (1) of the National Lottery Act as follows: - sport and recreation; - national culture and heritage (including the Irish language); - the arts (within the meaning of the Arts Act 2003); - health of the community; -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Instruments (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The measures contained in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2013 (FEMPI) continue in force, and continue to make a significant contribution to meeting our international fiscal obligations including bringing the general government deficit below 3 per cent of GDP. However, the measures provided under the legislation should...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Based on a survey of public service employers conducted in March 2015, there are an estimated 25,000 members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to my response to PQ No 20026 of 6 May 2014.  The position has not changed.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The framework member (who supplies stationary to "Group 4" customers under the Office Supplies Framework has given notice of termination to the Office of Government Procurement. The Office of Government Procurement are currently engaged in a competitive process to select an alternative supplier from the panel of suppliers on the Framework. This process is expected to be complete by the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Acts 2001-2015 provide in Schedule 4, paragraph 12A that property, being a building or part of a building, land or a waterway or a harbour directly occupied by any Department or Office of State is property that is not rateable. The Commissioner of Valuation, who is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Acts, has accordingly deemed that Social Welfare offices,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the figure for the amount of investment from capital spending my Department has made to County Kildare since 2011 is not available. In comparison with other Departments my capital budget spend is relatively small which is nearly all invested in Information Technology infrastructure across the Civil Service to enable delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Recruitment to the Civil Service is regulated by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Act established the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as the centralised recruitment body for the Civil and Public Service. The Act also established the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) as the regulator of civil service recruitment. The CPSA publishes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table below details the total cost of public advertising in 2013 and 2014 for my Department and those bodies under my aegis. 2013 2014 Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - €23,748.51 Institute of Public Administration (IPA) €35,432.81 €56,086.24 Public Appointments Services (PAS) €294,832 €341,323 The...