Results 3,401-3,420 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: Sorry to interrupt, but we never used to have a debate on this Bill and did not have it when Fianna Fáil was in government.

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I reject the assertion that the Minister, Deputy Howlin, is hostile in regard to the provision of information. He has done a lot to ensure there is more information available than there was, including in regard to freedom of information and has rowed back on the curtailment introduced by Fianna Fáil. He has enhanced the legislation to ensure there is more openness in regard to...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I cannot let the assertion of bluffing go unchallenged. I could make pointed comments but I will not, given the limited time available. The Deputy should not try to drag me into a row that he has been trying to keep going for well over a week. The Haddington Road agreement reached with the public sector unions was clear-cut in how it went about its business. It made it clear where the...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: In opposing the section the Deputy misses the point; this is the section that will ensure public servants, pensioners and those in receipt of disability and jobseeker's allowance are paid. The Deputy has picked the wrong part of the Bill to oppose because while he can take comfort from the fact that he will be paid from the Central Fund in January, all of the people I have mentioned -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: It is matter for Fingal County Council (FCC) in the first instance to investigate and address flooding issues in the County. It is understood that the recent flooding in the Howth and Sutton areas was due primarily to the inability of the local surface water drainage infrastructure to deal with the very intense rainfall that occurred. Any flooding resulting from inadequate storm water...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coast Guard Services (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: Subject to confirmation of funding from the Irish Coastguard Service, it is expected that a contract for works at Waterville Coastguard Station will be placed early in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for approximately 11,500 km of arterial drainage channels nationally, with about 2,200 km of these being subject to routine maintenance each year across the country as part of an ongoing programme of arterial drainage maintenance of schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for approximately 11,500 km of arterial drainage channels nationally, with about 2,200 km of these being subject to routine maintenance each year across the country as part of an ongoing programme of arterial drainage maintenance of schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision of 11 February 2014 allocated total funding of up to €69.5 million for clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 based on submissions and cost estimates made by the local authorities concerned to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The OPW has conducted a review of State owned sites in the area to identify any suitable sites for the development of a new Garda Station in Bailieborough.  As no suitable State owned site is available, it is intended that a notice will shortly be placed in local and national media seeking offers of suitable sites. The Office of Public Works advances the provision of facilities for An...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The Bill was not amended.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to introduce the Appropriation Bill 2014. This Bill serves two primary purposes. In the first place, the Appropriation Bill is necessary to authorise in law all of the expenditure that has been undertaken in 2014 on the basis of the Estimates that have already been voted on by the Dáil during the year. The amounts included in section 1 and Schedule 1 to the Bill, to be...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Byrne for his engagement on the Bill. Obviously I disagree fundamentally with the way he has set out the position, but I do not intend to get caught up in a debate on other legislation that is before the House and will be coming back before the House later this afternoon. I think it is extremely important that we pass the Appropriation Bill 2014 to ensure that on 1 and 2...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works is responsible for the management of Kilmacurragh House and Gardens which are in the ownership of the Minister of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The entire property was acquired by the State for the purpose of preserving the arboretum, which was of significant heritage status, and on condition that the House would not be restored. The OPW is considering options...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Road Improvement Schemes (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The Commissioners of Public Works have submitted the proposals for the scheme to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for statutory approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with the requirements of the Arterial Drainage Acts. Advance works including the construction of an additional flood eye at Claregalway Bridge and replacement of Crusheeny...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking extensive vegetation maintenance works on OPW flood defences on the lower reaches of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme (CDS). This involves removing all excessive vegetation using mechanical mulchers attached to 360 degree excavators. The works are required to allow the execution of a full condition assessment and level...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Decentralisation Programme Office Accommodation (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: Under the Government Decentralised Programme announced in 2003 the Office of Public Works entered into a number of leases to provide office accommodation to house both temporary advance parties and long term permanent office requirements. Many of the short term leases (5 years or under) have been surrendered on completion of permanent office facilities; others have been extended at a reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Roads Maintenance (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The road that the Deputy refers to, between the R561 and a local property, is a public road and its upkeep and maintenance is the responsibility of Kerry County Council in the first instance.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ferry Services Provision (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: Boatmen who were previously in receipt of Permits from the Office of Public Works to land passengers on Skellig Michael will be contacted, as normal, by letter in the next few weeks inviting them to apply for Permits for the 2015 season.Boatmen who do not respond will be deemed not to be interested in availing of 2015 Permits. As indicated during 2014, the OPW also proposes to hold a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Transfers (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The Commissioners of Public Works have confirmed to Kilgarvan Tidy Towns Association that they are prepared to licence the former Garda station in Kilgarvan for community use. The Chief State Solicitor's Office are currently engaged on the legal formalities with the Solicitor representing the Association. The matter will be concluded as soon as these formalities have been completed.