Results 3,521-3,540 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (10 Feb 2015)

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. Of this sum of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair of existing coastal protection and flood defences based on...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works' disposal policy with regard to non-operational or vacant Garda stations is first to identify if the property is required or suitable for alternate State use by both Departments or the wider public sector. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the OPW will then consider disposing of it on the open market, if and when conditions prevail, to...

Other Questions: Garda Stations (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The proceeds from the sale of these former Garda stations went into general Exchequer funds. However, we have made a number available to community groups. There are not any problems with regard to titles of which I am aware but I will forward a note to the Deputy on that matter. I will also send him further details on the guardianship situation. For the Deputy's information, there are 139...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Decentralisation Programme Data (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: At present, there are three decentralised locations in Portlaoise leased for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Portlaoise. The National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA) is also accommodated in Portlaoise. These leases are set out in the following tables. Name and address of Building Annual Rent Unit 11 Clonminham Industrial Estate, Portlaoise (primarily...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Offices (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: A site was acquired in Portlaoise for the provision of a building for the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine under the decentralisation programme. As the Deputy will be aware this building was not constructed due to the Government decision not to proceed with further decentralisation. To accommodate the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine staff, OPW took seven leases...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The River Suck, which is the main tributary of the River Shannon, forms part of the River Suck Joint Drainage District. Responsibility for maintenance of the channel rests jointly with Galway County Council and Roscommon County Council. The Councils have heretofore discharged their responsibility through the River Suck Joint Drainage District Committee. The most recent formal report submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Kilmainham Gaol is a National Monument site in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and is - with 328,886 visitors in 2014 - one of the most popular and heavily-visited tourist sites in Ireland. Visitor numbers have been increasing year on year and have now reached a point where the Monument cannot accommodate increased demand with the existing entrance / layout arrangements....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The July 2012 Report of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Shannon flooding dealt with and included recommendations on a number of issues across a range of Government Departments and State Bodies. The Office of Public Works responded to the Committee by way of a written reply in September 2012, in relation to the specific matters within the OPW's area of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Funding (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Mayo County Council did not apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2013 for any funding for the purposes of coastal defences and addressing coastal erosion. With regard to 2014, the Government Decision of 11 February 2014 that allocated funding for repair of public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 included a sum of up to €19.6m...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. The information requested in relation to the visitor admissions for each site in OPW care where Guide services are provided is shown below. It should be noted that the 2014 figures have not been fully audited as yet and are therefore provisional. Site Name Provisional 2014 2013 Difference % Altamont 58,023 53,541 4,482 8.37%...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to be here. From the Office of Public Works I am joined by Ms Clare McGrath, chairman; Mr. Tony Smyth, director of engineering; and Mr. Michael Long, accountant. As Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, I am pleased to set out some of the priority programmes of work to be funded from the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Deputy Sean Fleming very efficiently ran through the entire activities of the Office of Public Works. He touched on a large number of areas.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: That is correct. There is a great deal of work going on in that regard and I am aware that the select sub-committee discussed the matter in detail. On the issue of maintenance budgets, a problem does not arise. As I believe I stated in my opening remarks, since 2013 the maintenance budget has been transferred to the OPW. That is an important point.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I am extremely happy to try to debunk the myth about State art. Frankly, matters in this regard have become silly. There is no view within the OPW that anybody went off with a load of paintings in the back of his or her car. Let us be very clear on that point. However, there are lessons that need to be learned about the inventory of State art. We have adopted the necessary procedures....

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I can speed up a little if committee members wish.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I wish to address the questions on Intreo, the National Convention Centre and Portlaoise. That is what I have left. The question on Portlaoise is important. I will be brief.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: A target of 61 Intreo centres were to be in place in cities and towns throughout Ireland by the end of 2014. The first ten Intreo offices were delivered in May 2012 and a further 35 offices were handed over in 2013 and 2014. The remainder are targeted for delivery in 2015. In a number of towns Intreo has been delivered across two locations. The Intreo programme is estimated to cost in...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: My apologies.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I did not.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I will try to be as quick as I can in answering all the questions. Deputy McDonald is correct on the issue of flood insurance. My predecessor established a memorandum of understanding between Insurance Ireland and the Office of Public Works. The understanding was that the Office of Public Works would make available all details of flood mitigation works carried out by it. In turn,...