Results 30,041-30,060 of 33,280 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (3 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department engages regularly with the Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery on all aspects of the National Lottery. Part of the Regulator’s remit relates to monitoring the operation of the National Lottery and enforcing compliance with the National Lottery Act 2013 and the Licence to operate the National Lottery, currently held by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI). The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Inflationary pressures are generally dealt with as part of the normal budgetary process. This places the onus on Departments to manage expenditure, achieve efficiency dividends and value for money on a year by year basis. However, there is a limit to this approach. The escalation in inflationary pressures in 2022, with inflation reaching 8.1 per cent, was significantly above the assumed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (3 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 131, inclusive, together. As the three questions relate to pension abatement, I am addressing them together. As the Deputy is aware, abatement is provided for under Section 52(1)-(5) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Section 52(4) of the Act provides for Ministerial discretion to grant a waiver of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials from my Department do not currently use the application to conduct official business. If/when the application’s use is being considered it will be discussed and a risk assessment conducted as appropriate. The Department has employed AI powered security tools as part of its overall security posture. The use of AI, as with all enabling technologies, will be considered on a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Details of the environmental impact assessments carried out by the OPW in relation to the River Deel Flood Relief Scheme can be found on the floodinfo.ie website. The scheme has been submitted to my Department seeking consent for these works under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995 as amended. An initial round of public consultation was held beginning on the 1st...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Reviews (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of reviews of Acts which have been carried out by my Department in line with the provisions of that Act since the Department was established in 2011 is set out in the table below. Reviews of Acts carried out in line with the provisions of the Act since 2011 Summary of any substantive amendments of the Act that occurred...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, on 11 April 2018 the Government agreed the General Scheme and Heads of Bill to amend the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956-2005 and the Public Service Management Act, 1997. Pre-legislative scrutiny was held on 28 June 2018. The policy intention of this Bill remains as was approved in 2018. The main purpose is to amend the Civil Service Regulation Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer to the Deputy’s question regarding pension increases in relation to retired civil servants outstanding under the Building Momentum Agreement. I am advised by the NSSO that it is currently working to deliver the pension increases for our pensioners. This task is complex due to the period of retrospection applying and the broad range of categories where arrears are due....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the NSSO that it is currently awaiting OPW pay scales reflecting 1 March 2023 increases under Building Momentum directly from OPW. On receipt of these, the scales will be uploaded and increases will be applied to relevant pensions in accordance with the scales. In regard to pensions on off-points of scale, a project is currently being undertaken to review these for increases...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I would like to thank the Deputy for this timely question. Officials in my Department are currently finalising a roadmap for digital inclusion which Government plans to publish this summer. Government is conscious that, in an increasingly digital society, those who are unable to avail of digital opportunities for whatever reason, risk being excluded from society.Accordingly, the roadmap...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (9 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Careful management of our economy and public finances over the past number of years has allowed Government to do the following:Firstly, provide increased resources for core public services, investing in quality of life in Ireland to support a strong, fair and equal society into the future, Secondly, deliver significant and essential infrastructural projects through our National Development...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (11 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Allocations to each Vote are decided as part of the Estimates process each year. Following publication of the Summer Economic Statement, the Secretary General of my Department writes to all other Departments requesting proposals for the upcoming Budget, including where they consider additional funding is required. These requests are then assessed as part of preparations for the Budget....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (11 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 21, 48, 128 and 149 together. I propose to take PQs 21383, 22077, 22089, 22273 and 22368 together. In 2022, the OPW was asked by Government to develop a pilot programme of an initial 500 rapid build homes on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). That number was subsequently increased to 700 late last...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Interest Rates (11 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: In recognition of the impact of high energy prices and the rising costs of living on individuals, households and businesses, Government has provided significant supports over the period since Budget 2022. Most recently, Government announced a €1.3 billion package of measures in February this year. €800 million in taxation measures provided for the extension of the temporary...