Results 23,561-23,580 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy may wish to be aware that my Department has recently completed a review of Motor Travel Rates in conjunction with Staff Side representatives. The outcome of the review is that revised rates were introduced with effect from 1stSeptember 2022. The revised rates are set out in Circular 16/2022: Revised Motor Travel Rates. Motor Travel Rates This Circular sets out the rates which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted on 22 December last. It underpins a key Programme for Government commitment and it is notable that this coincides with Irish having become a full working language of the EU Institutions since January. From submissions made to the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, the previous Government approved the current pension increase policy as part of its commitments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). Under this policy, which applied for the duration of the PSSA, pay increases granted to serving staff over the course of the PSSA were passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, the previous Government approved the current pension increase policy as part of its commitments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). Under this policy, which applied for the duration of the PSSA, pay increases granted to serving staff over the course of the PSSA were passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: A Blended Working Policy for Staff in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was published on 31 August 2022. This Blended Working Policy provides for staff to apply to work remotely for up to 2 days per week. There is no provision in the policy for remote working on a 5 day per week basis. The communication with this policy explained to staff that applications for blended...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The following material has been submitted to me by the Regulator of the National Lottery for use in answering this question. ORNL Materials Advertising Budget Under the terms of the Licence to operate the National Lottery, the Operator is required to advertise and promote the National Lottery in two respects: A. Base Marketing: The operator is required to undertake “base...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The total amount of spending by the Operator of the National Lottery on advertising per annum is the confidential and commercially sensitive information of the Operator, within the meaning of Clause 20.6 of the Licence to operate the National Lottery, and therefore is not provided to me, the Minister, and cannot be disclosed by the Regulator to the Minister without the Operator’s...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The following material has been submitted to me by the Regulator of the National Lottery for use in answering this question. The 90% and 10% figures used in the National Lottery advertisement are taken from the most recent audited accounts of the Operator – 2021 – (to be laid before the Oireachtas shortly). These are the most recent figures available. When one looks back over...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery has confirmed: There are numerous safety factors built into the National Lottery to discourage addiction. 1. The National Lottery gaming system only sells tickets between the hours of 7am to 11pm. 2. The types of games that the National Lottery may sell are strictly limited. 3. Every new game or change to an existing game must be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. 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 the case of the Civil Service, remote working will be facilitated into the future on a blended basis, with the aim of achieving the goal in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, and the rules of the An Post Pension Scheme, pension increases or alterations to the schemes are subject to the authorisation of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications given with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. An Post formally sought Ministerial approval on 4 May...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland and across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs. The National Lottery Fund transferred €289m to the Exchequer in 2021 which represents a significant 14% increase on 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Living Wage (15 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The suggested Living Wage at €12.17 per hour based on the Civil Service 35 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of approximately €22,226. The suggested Living Wage at €12.90 per hour based on the Civil Service 35 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of €23,559. Detailed data on civil service staff indicates that only 0.1%...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (15 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: 103 members of staff within my Department received special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to and including 30 June 2022, including 8 members of staff who availed of this special leave in excess of 14 days. In addition, 1 member of staff availed of this special leave for an extended period of 12 weeks or more. 13 members of staff have availed of this special leave since 01 July 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (15 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, and the rules of the An Post Pension Scheme, pension increases or alterations to the schemes are subject to the authorisation of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications given with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. An Post formally sought Ministerial approval on 4 May...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (20 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: S.I. No. 134/1966 - Pensions Declarations Rules, 1966 prescribed who was eligible to witness a pension declaration. The 1966 rules were revoked in 2003 and replaced with S.I. No. 171/2003 - Pensions Declarations (Amendment) Rules 2003. The 2003 amendments did not alter the list of persons eligible to witness a pensions declaration made outside the State. Section 4(1)(b) of Si 171/2003...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Transport (20 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not own or lease any vehicles. With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the case for the bodies under the aegis of my Department. The OPW have informed me that they continue to review the market to assess the options for replacing diesel-powered fleet items with feasible electric or hybrid alternatives....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Issues (20 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: There is not currently any plan for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to issue a circular to all government departments and public bodies in relation to obligations under the Public Sector Equality & Human Rights Duty under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission Act of 2014. Obligations and duties under the Act are the responsibility of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (20 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The tables below outline the studies, reviews and research being conducted at present by my Department, including the Office of Government Procurement which is part of my Department. Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Purpose of review / research / study Expected completion date The development of guidance for Departments preparing action plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: OGP fully supports the Government’s stated goals in relation to the digitalisation of Public Services. In this regard OGP has published a detailed ‘Cloud Services Procurement Guidance Note’ to assist Public Service Bodies (PSBs) in their procurement of cloud services. In addition, OGP provides support to individual PSBs in the procurement of their strategic cloud based...