Results 3,321-3,340 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (10 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Having visited the Shannon callows last year and met those affected by flooding in the area, I am conscious of the serious impact of the flooding on farming and on the environment in the area. Due to exceptionally heavy rainfall, the problem in 2008 was more severe than the normal summer flooding in the callows. The extremely flat gradient of the river, together with the environmentally...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (10 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The commencement of projects under the Garda building programme will depend on the availability of resources and the priority accorded to the project by the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Kilfinane Garda station is not currently prioritised.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (11 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works is undertaking a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, as required by the EU Flood Directive, which will identify at a national level areas where there is potential significant risk from flooding. The OPW has also commenced a programme of Flood Risk Assessment and Management studies that will map the areas of the country potentially at risk and will produce for each...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (11 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: There are restrictions due to budgetary considerations on opening arrangements at visitor sites under the management of the Office of Public Works for 2009. Many seasonal sites opened early in mid-March 2008, solely due to the contiguousness of St. Patrick's Day and the Easter Holiday period. These sites will revert to April openings at Easter in 2009. Furthermore, closing times at the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (12 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Pending a full assessment and determination of future Garda needs in respect of the Garda Station property at Bangor Erris, County Mayo, by the Office of Public Works, including the resolution of certain property issues pertaining to the property, which have recently come to light, it would be premature for me to meet with any interested group or party.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (24 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The total annual allocation to the Garda station building programme since 2002, including the provision in the Revised Estimates, is as follows: Year Allocation €m 2002 17,738 2003 12,000 2004 19,887 2005 30,632 2006 27,820 2007 46,440 2008 57,020 2009 27,748 Additional monies would have been expended on a variety of other Garda related works but it is not possible in the time...

Written Answers — Earth Hour Initiative: Earth Hour Initiative (24 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Individual Government Departments have responsibility and control over the lighting of their buildings. The Office of Public Works is participating in the Earth Hour initiative, where practicable, in respect of buildings under its direct management and control, including a number of famous heritage sites around the country. The Office of Public Works will provide technical and other...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works (OPW) commenced operations in the OPW advance office in Claremorris in September 2007, and this office has a current staffing compliment of 30. OPW has also acquired the site for their permanent decentralised office in Claremorris. It is planned to progress the Claremorris decentralisation project on a phased basis. Phase One will provide an office for 104 posts,...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (24 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The prioritisation of new build projects in the Garda Building Programme is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Garda management in the first instance. Taking into account the current budgetary constraints, Garda management has not placed the construction of the new Wexford Garda Station on the priority list of projects to commence construction in 2009....

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The cost to the Exchequer in the year 2009 of rents payable by the Commissioners of Public Works, in the categories of offices, warehouses, Garda accommodation and Driving Test Centres is €121,488,378.57. This amount is exclusive of VAT applicable to some rents, service charges payable on Leases, car-park Leases / Licences fees and ground rents, (i.e. rents under €10,000 per annum). A...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: There is general agreement on the depth of the economic and financial crisis facing the country and the necessity of taking further action now to, to the greatest extent possible, lift some of the uncertainty. There is no merit in half measures. The unprecedented global downturn forms the backdrop to the problems we face and has no doubt massively compounded them. The differing analysis...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Government, on the recommendation of the Taoiseach, decides on the number and role of Ministers of State. There is no doubt that the demands on Government and on its members have grown hugely over the past 40 years and that there is much value in cross-departmental co-ordination but we are also living at a time when the overhead costs of running the State have to be cut back. I was the...

Tax Code. (25 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am all in favour of two-way traffic. I would like to address the question of our engagement with Northern Ireland and the UK. The Minister for Finance engages on a regular basis with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his Northern Ireland counterpart in respect of European and North-South bilateral issues. Taxation strategies, in general, reflect the political choices made by governments...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (25 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 96 together. The provision of accommodation for An Garda Síochána at Macroom has recently been re-prioritised by An Garda Síochána. OPW will quickly assess all the options, including the site referred to by the Deputy. Assuming that a suitable property is identified, OPW will progress this, subject to the availability of funding.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I visited the Shannon Callows last year and met with those affected by the flooding. I am conscious of the very serious impact on both farming and the environment in the area. Due to exceptionally heavy rainfall, the problem in 2008 was more severe than the normal summer flooding in the Callows. The extremely flat gradient of the river, together with the environmentally protected status of...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The property referred to by the Deputy was purchased a number of years ago with a view to utilising it as a Probation and Welfare Office. Following objections to it being used for this purpose, it was then decided to seek planning permission for it to be converted for use as a Driving Test Centre. Planning permission for such use was granted in May 2008. However, in the current financial...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works (OPW) assumed responsibility for the management of coastal erosion and coastal flood risk in January this year. OPW will continue the policy of working with Local Authorities to deal with these issues. and in particular of supporting the Authorities to undertake measures to deal with erosion where these are environmentally, socially and economically justifiable. I...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: A number of key projects were identified as priority elements of the decentralisation programme in the Government announcement of 14 October 2008. The construction of a new headquarters building in Mullingar for the Department of Education and Science, in conjunction with a new headquarters for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Portlaoise and a new decentralised office for...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: In recent decades we have positioned ourselves as a flexible and open economy, deeply integrated into the globalised trading environment. This economic strategy has served us well in recent years, leading to a period of unprecedented economic growth as our living standards moved into line with those of our European partners. This point is perhaps most strikingly highlighted by the fact that...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I thank the Senators for their contributions to a very good debate. Deputy Michael D. Higgins and I, in the course of a debate in the Dáil last night on reform, the number of Ministers of State and so forth, took the opportunity to strongly vindicate the value of the Seanad and that value has certainly been shown today. I apologise for being absent for some of the debate but the French...