Results 23,641-23,660 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The new 2021-27 PEACEPLUS cross-border EU programme has a total funding package of some €1.1bn. I am very pleased to note that this represents an unprecedented financial investment in support of shared peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland – double the combined value of the outgoing 2014-20 INTERREG and PEACE programmes. The draft PEACEPLUS programme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2023 (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: In my speech on 27thSeptember, I acknowledged that not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Arts, Sports, Gaeltacht and the Community and Voluntary sector, are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are also very vulnerable to the severe impact of increased energy bills. For that reason, I am making €60 million available in 2022 to ease the pressures...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and to ensure that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. The responsibility for the management and delivery of investment projects, within the agreed allocations and within the national frameworks such as the Public Spending Code,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Transport (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not taken any domestic flights for work purposes since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in June 2020.The details of any such travel by my predecessor as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the period 2019 to June 2020 will be included in the response to this Parliamentary Question provided by the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s mission as laid out in the Statement of Strategy 2021- 2023 is to serve the public interest through sound governance of public expenditure and by leading and enabling reform across the Civil and Public Service. To date a number of strategies have been published to carry out the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 132 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that my Department has no direct or subcontracted contracts in place with the named supplier. This is also the case for the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in my Department. The Deputy may wish to note that the OGP have advised me that the named supplier is on the OGP’s Multi Supplier...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (5 Oct 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 full-time basis. The Blended Working Application process requires staff to indicate the proposed location for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Appointments Service (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent, statutory body that provides professional recruitment and selection services to the civil service. PAS has undertaken 482 campaigns in 2021 and 308 campaigns by the end of August 2022. Once a client has supplied PAS with all of the documentation needed to run a campaign, PAS will agree a plan for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Appointments Service (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) has a statutory mandate to recruit quality staff to the civil and public service, and support and facilitate the ongoing implementation of the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. Its role is to source the highest quality candidates for positions in the Civil and Public Service; and to manage the attraction and assessment of candidates for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, a claim by SIPTU in respect of staff employed under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance has been under consideration at the conciliation service of the Workplace Relations Commission. The staff in question are employed in the Houses of the Oireachtas by individual TDs and Senators. It was agreed to appoint a third party to conduct an independent review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cost of Living Issues (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The expenditure side measures announced as part of the €4.1 billion winter cost of living package amount to €2.4 billion. Tax side measures make up the remaining €1.7 billion. This €2.4 billion expenditure figure comprises a package of €2.2 billion in measures to support households, which is set out in Table 5 of the Expenditure Report, and €0.2...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2023 (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Supplementary Estimates are expected to be required following Budget 2023 announcements for a number of Votes: - Some €0.7 billion was held in reserve in Budget 2023 for the 2022 costs of the proposed extension to Building Momentum, including related pension impact. If the extension is ratified, funding will be provided through Supplementary Estimates where it cannot be met within...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (6 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below. The Deputy will note that the Office of the Ombudsman comprises of five separate statutory bodies and a separate table has been provided setting out the information requested in each of the component offices. Year established Number of employees Payscale details of CEO or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no direct or subcontracted contracts in place with the named supplier. This is also the case for the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in my Department. The Deputy may wish to note that the OGP have advised me that the named supplier is on the OGP’s Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of Security Services.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (6 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware there are currently panels in place for Irish posts at CO, EO and HEO levels and these panels will be drawn from as requests are received from Departments and Offices. The CO panel is due to expire on 30thJune 2023, the EO panel is due to expire on 29thFebruary 2024 and the HEO panel on 31stDecember 2023. New competitions will be considered closer to the expiry...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no direct or subcontracted contracts in place with the named supplier. This is also the case for the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in my Department. The Deputy may wish to note that the OGP have advised me that the named supplier is on the OGP’s Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of Security Services.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I am conscious that funerals are taking place again for three of the victims of last Friday's terrible tragedy in Creeslough. I want to convey my personal and deepest sympathies to all of those who have been bereaved and to the wider community. I know the funeral of James O’Flaherty is taking place at this moment and this afternoon funeral mass will be held for Catherine O'Donnell...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The reality is seen when we look at this in the round. Bill pay customers have that three-month period in which there cannot be a disconnection for non-payment. For vulnerable customers, that has been increased to six months. I have outlined a whole series of interventions that have been made to assist pay-as-you-go customers. We acknowledge they are in a different and more vulnerable...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I start by assuring the Deputy the Government is not sweeping anything under the carpet. We regard the revelations that have emerged as being of the utmost seriousness. That is why the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has acted decisively and it is why the Government is acting. The Minister has obtained Government approval for an action plan for An Bord Pleanála, outlining a series...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: First, An Bord Pleanála is independent in its functions, but of course that does not put it beyond the reach of accountability. It has to be accountable. I cannot give the Deputy a figure on the number of planning permissions that might be overturned in the Irish courts, nor would it be possible for anyone to estimate that. Of course, any overturning of a planning decision by a court...