Results 22,301-22,320 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. It is important to underline the point that the national development plan is not a comprehensive list of every project that will happen over the coming ten years. It is fundamentally a high-level document that sets out the overall strategic priorities for the Government and the financial framework available to support capital investment over the period. The fact an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. My Department's role in public private partnerships is to maintain and develop the general policy framework, including, where necessary, the legal framework, within which PPPs operate. It also provides central guidance to other Departments and State authorities in that context. My Department has no direct involvement in the procurement or delivery...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. It is important to say that the PPP method should only be used where value for money can be demonstrated. It is one option in terms of the possible financing of a range of projects. There are currently 11 higher education projects in the pipeline for delivery by way of PPP. They are split into two bundles. The Deputy probably has all the details, but I am happy to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I want to assure the Deputy that the appraisal process is rigorous. It is worth putting the figures in context. The annual cost of the unitary payment charges in respect of operational PPPs was approximately €320 million in 2020, at a time when the State's public capital investment programme was in the order of €10 billion. The contracted capital value of all PPPs in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In July, 2021, the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service. The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working for the future that can provide...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach announced a review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 (the Act) in September 2020. My Department’s comprehensive review of the Act concluded in early summer 2021 and the Government approved the preparation of the heads of a General Scheme to amend the Act in July. The Heads are close to finalisation and will be brought to Government for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: At the outset it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in coordinating the NDP Review, does not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and Agencies. With that point noted, I would be glad to give a summary of the NSO 8 which seeks the Transition to a Climate-Neutral and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Delivering greater value for money in the expenditure of public funds is a key element of all public investment policy. The update of the Public Spending Code in 2019 combined with lessons learned from domestic projects and international best practice highlighted the need for more structured scrutiny of major public investment projects, particularly in the areas of planned delivery,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department has already introduced a range of measures which consider the climate and environmental impact of public capital projects at key points in the development of those projects. The recent NDP Review included an assessment of the impact that each of the Exchequer-funded measures contained in the NDP is likely to have on climate and environmental outcomes. The Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 102 together. Again at the outset it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in coordinating the NDP Review, does not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and Agencies. With that point noted, I would be glad to give the Deputy an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I would like to thank the Deputy for his interest in this important topic and for allowing me this opportunity to update the House on the progress of my Department's review of the Freedom of Information Act. In recent weeks I have published a roadmap for the review, setting out the various steps and timeframes for the process. In brief, this includes a public consultation on the scope of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: At the outset it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in coordinating the NDP Review, does not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and Agencies. However I am glad to give the Deputy an overview of the NSO 10: Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In July, 2021, the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service. The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working for the future that can provide...

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

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table at the link below. I note that the Deputy's office confirmed that this information was being sought in respect of the ten Votes in the D/PER Vote Group. The Deputy should note that the 2022 estimate figures are subject to change in the Revised Estimates. ">Outturn

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 101 together. As part of the review of the National Development Plan my Department carried out work to examine the likely impact of the investment on employment, output and productivity. A summary of this work can be found in chapter two of the new NDP which is titled “Benefits of Investment”. Using the Economic and Social...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Budgets (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: For the purposes of answering this question, I presume the Deputy is referring to the capital carryover mechanism, which is given statutory provision under Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004. Nineteen votes have made a request to carryover capital from their 2021 allocations into 2022. Capital carryover is in place to assist Departments with the management of their capital spend...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The publication of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 is accompanied by a continued focus on improving the delivery of investment under Project Ireland 2040. This will mean increasing the efficiency with which investment is delivered and achieving greater value for money within the available budget. It is important to acknowledge that the majority of public investment projects are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: At the outset it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in coordinating the NDP Review, does not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and Agencies. In the case of NSO 4 this would be the Minister for Transport. However I would be happy to give an overview of this NSO which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The publication of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 is accompanied by a continued focus on improving the delivery of investment under Project Ireland 2040. This will mean increasing the efficiency with which investment is delivered and achieving greater value for money within the available budget. It is important to acknowledge that the majority of public investment projects...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Again at the outset it should be noted that my Department, in carrying out its role in coordinating the NDP Review, does not consider the merit of individual projects or sectoral policy strategies as this is primarily a matter for individual Departments and Agencies. With that point noted, I would be glad to give the Deputy an overview of the NSO 7 which is the delivery of Enhanced...