Results 21,741-21,760 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will recognise the success achieved over the term of the present Government in meeting its key fiscal targets each year.  As a result Ireland is on course to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure at the end of 2015 with a forecast General Government Deficit of 2.1% for the year.  In implementing the expenditure reductions required to return...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Staffing levels in the Public Service are increasing, and have been since December 2013. There are more nurses, teachers, gardaí, and special needs assistants now than at any time since the onset of the economic and fiscal crisis. Public service staff numbers have increased by just under 5,000 in the first nine months of 2015 alone, on foot of Budget decisions taken last year, which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Assessment of the appropriate level of investment in the economy depends on a number of factors, including: - the need to  maintain sustainable rates of growth in the economy;  - securing economic and fiscal stability as a key enabler of the level of private investment in the economy; and - ensuring that the Exchequer component of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In relation to pension schemes for public service employees or for employees in the wider public sector, schemes are in general provided for under legislation relating to the body or sector and subject to the oversight of the relevant line Minister.  The Occupational Pension Schemes (Funding Standard) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which were signed by the Minister for Social...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As stated in my response to PQ 40614/15, there are important issues relating to differences in the composition of public expenditure in different jurisdictions affected by such factors as, for example, the age profile of the population, the level of defence spending and the mix between public and private provision of particular services that need to be taken into account in seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Expenditure Reviews (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has introduced a number of significant reforms to ensure that taxpayer money is allocated to the maximum benefit of society.  Public service reform remains at the heart of this Government's agenda to ensure efficiency and improved outcomes for citizens. In this regard, the wide-ranging reforms to the budgetary architecture introduced by this Government support the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Remit (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contained a commitment to extend Freedom of Information (FOI) to the administrative side of An Garda Síochána, subject to security exceptions.  The Government has honoured that commitment by providing that Freedom of Information Act should apply to the force's administrative records relating to human resources, finance and...

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

Brendan Howlin: 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. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I can assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of the recent Judgement of the European Court of Justice in the case to which her question refers. This, and other relevant jurisprudence of the Court, will be taken into full consideration during the detailed legal drafting of the Data Sharing and Governance Bill, which my Department intends to undertake shortly in conjunction with Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that appropriate processes are in place for monitoring implementation of the Government's capital investment plans consistent with the accountability framework in place relating to public expenditure.  While my Department is responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments, the management and delivery of individual...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The issue of pensions provision for the former employees of Waterford Crystal who were not of pensionable age at the time of the wind up of the company pension schemes in March 2009 is a matter for the Department of Social Protection and I understand that Department is providing an answer to a similar question today.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 78, 80 to 82, inclusive, and 84 and 85 together. The broad programme of measures delivered in the area of public expenditure and public sector reform has and undoubtedly will continue to support sustainable economic growth and improved competitiveness. For example, creating the necessary conditions to encourage growth in employment has been a key...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Provision (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is important to note that any funding that might be available using the mechanisms referred to in the Deputy's question would not meet the criteria necessary to potentially qualify as 'off balance sheet' in General Government terms.  As such it would not provide any additional funding capacity for further Exchequer expenditure without equivalent...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Procurement Reform Programme has been successful in establishing new structures for procurement across the State and bringing increased levels of collaboration and consistency to public service procurement.  There are now teams in place dedicated to sourcing goods and services at a whole-of-government level in key expenditure areas such as facilities management, legal services, ICT,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am satisfied that the Croke Park Agreement delivered on its objectives by facilitating significant cost savings amounting to €1.8 billion over its lifetime, with the vast majority of commitments around reform being delivered.  This was a view shared by the Implementation Body in their final report. As part of the measures required to repair the Government finances and meet...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In the initial stages of the capital review process, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform consulted with each individual Department  requesting submission documents outlining capital pressures over the next 6/7 years. On foot of this, Departments and agencies with sectoral responsibilities conducted their own detailed assessments of demand requirements to inform their...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In my Expenditure Statement for2015, I announced that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the civil service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills consistent with the maintenance of strict control over public service number and pay budgets. This programme commenced in late 2014, is continuing in 2015 and includes a number...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question Numbers 23828, 23829 and 23830 of 16th June regarding the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 to 2016 where I undertook to have my Department compile relevant data and write to you in relation to same. The relevant data was forwarded to the Deputy by way of letter on the 20th of July 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I explained during the debates at Committee and Report Stages of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 the Government will adhere in full to its commitments under the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road Agreements. Therefore the issue of additional reductions in pay, and changes to working terms and conditions for public service workers does not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Grades (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan recognises the clear need to continue to increase female participation at senior levels in the Civil Service.  To this end, the Renewal Plan contains a commitment to improve gender balance at each level by reviewing supports and policies to ensure these are impactful and measurable.  This work has commenced and is now a key project under the Plan....