Results 21,841-21,860 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Vaccination Programme (15 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: Firstly, I encourage as many people as possible to take up their COVID-19 vaccinations when offered. It will not necessarily be known to employers if an employee has availed, or opted out, of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, however there may be situations where employers need to know if an employee has been vaccinated, having regard to the specific work context. Employers will need...

Estimates for Public Services 2021 (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move the following Revised Estimates for Public Services 2021: Vote 1 — President’s Establishment (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €4,511,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2021, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Secretary General to the President,...

Estimates for Public Service 2021: Motion (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 215 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business or the Resolution of the Dáil of 16th December, 2020, the following Further Revised Estimate for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2021, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 16th June, 2021, being a date later than that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Circulars (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: In reply to your previous question on this matter, I advised that my Department is considering the matter and will be developing a process for reviewing and re-drafting the guidance. This remains the position at this point. My officials will revert to you when the process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The proposed new Government Data Centre will be a purpose-built facility owned and operated by Government. It will be built on state land and will be operated and managed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on behalf of the state. The new Government Data Centre will be developed at the Government’s Backweston Laboratory Campus in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government, has committed, in the Programme for Government, to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working in 2021. In this context, My Department is, as a matter of priority, working with employers across the Civil Service to develop the longer term approach to remote working in the sector. My Department is also working closely with the wider public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government, has committed, in the Programme for Government, to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working in 2021. In this context, my Department is now, as a matter of priority, working with employers across the Civil Service to develop the longer term approach to remote working in the sector. Different working models are possible, one of which is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Election Expenditure (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The total remuneration that Returning Officers and staff received for carrying out their duties in the Referendum and European Parliament and Local Elections in 2019 and the General Election in 2020 are set out in the table below. The remuneration information is laid out by Returning Officer rather than by constituency. The Deputy is aware that a number of Returning Officers such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the reductions in counsel fees over the period of 2009-2011 were underpinned by Government decisions and formed part of a broader Government need to reduce costs across the public service. I fully acknowledge and appreciate the very important work undertaken by barristers who prosecute criminal work on behalf of the State and my Department has engaged...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I refer to the Deputy’s question in respect of matters related to the remuneration of members of the Defence Forces. In this regard I wish to refer to the new public service agreement, Building Momentum, and Commission on the Defence Forces. In December 2020 negotiations concluded on a new public service pay agreement entitled ‘Building Momentum’, which will apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The proposed new Government Data Centre will be a purpose-built facility owned and operated by Government. It will be built on state land and will be operated and managed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on behalf of the state. The new Government Data Centre will be developed at the Government’s Backweston Laboratory Campus in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Electric Vehicles (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not own or lease any vehicles.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for the question. The total level of capital expenditure, along with the sectoral allocations for areas such as housing, is currently under consideration as part of the ongoing review of the national development plan. That process has yet to be completed and I do not want to pre-empt any decisions that will be made in the coming weeks on foot of that review being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. The funding we are providing in the current year is sufficient to deliver the direct build of 9,500 new social homes in our country. When we compare that to the last year for which we have full figures in the pre-Covid context, 2019, that figure was less than 6,000 units actually built. This year, the funding is provided for local authorities and approved housing bodies...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government's commitment is backed up by its actions. We are investing a record amount in public house-building. That is appropriate. When this country was much poorer, our local authorities and councils had a strong track record of building public housing and we need to get back to doing that again. In 2019, fewer than 6,000 public houses were built. This year, funding has been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. A key focus of the review of the national development plan, NDP, is on the capability and capacity of the public service to deliver the ambitious targets for investment that are set out in the plan. Building on recent reforms such as the update of the public spending code, this Government has initiated a suite of reforms to strengthen the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I agree that the focus needs to be on delivery. To be fair to the public sector, the independent report funded by the European Commission found many examples of excellence. It found many examples of the wider public sector having the capacity to deliver major capital projects. That includes Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which has a good track record of delivering road projects and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: There will be an impact from the shutdown of the construction sector for the first four months of the year. That has impacted on the delivery of projects and spending so some timelines will be impacted. In the last crisis, capital investment was cut by about 60% from peak to trough. We are maintaining and building on an elevated level of capital expenditure. We believe that it will be at...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I know is of particular interest to him. I acknowledge the work that he and others have done in assisting patients in his constituency to avail of the services of the cross-border directive. While the policy matter is one for the Minister for Health, I am happy to answer the question as best I can. Since the start of this year, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Minister for Health is developing the general scheme of legislation to provide for the continuation of a scheme that is tantamount or equivalent to the cross-border directive in order that the services can continue to be availed of. I want to finish the point on the cataracts and I acknowledge that it is not the only issue. In addition to the enhanced facilities at the South...