Results 3,621-3,640 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision referred to by the Deputy allocated total funding of up to €19.6m for the repair of existing coastal protection and flood defences damaged in the severe weather in late 2013 and early 2014 based on submissions made by the relevant local authorities to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The local authorities submitted to the Office...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: On 21 May 2007 a 99 year full repair and insure lease on Durrow Abbey House was agreed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Arts for Peace Foundation at a peppercorn rate (€10 annual rent). This requires the Foundation, as lessee, to carry out all internal and external repairs/maintenance to the fabric of Durrow Abbey. The development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The flood mitigation works at Woodlawn, Ballinasloe referred to in the Question were carried out by Galway County Council (GCC) with the aid of funding of €13,500 provided by the Office of Public Works ( OPW), representing 90% of the estimated cost of the works of €15,000. The funding was provided to GCC on foot of an application it made under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I understand that the Office of Public Works have been engaging locally with interested parties in order to progress the matter. The Commissioners recently requested a review of the conveyancing proposal in terms of the specific boundary issues to be resolved and in relation to establishing a valuation of the transactions involved in the proposal. The Commissioners will respond to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: There is no change in the position as outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 240 of 2 December 2014. While Castleisland is within the River Maine catchment which is maintained as part of the arterial drainage responsibilities of the Office of Public Works, the public road bridge at Barrack Street, Castleisland, is the responsibility of the Local Authority and the sewer pipe...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The bridge in question was constructed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as part of the Corrib-Mask-Robe Arterial Drainage Scheme under the powers given to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland by the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. There was no requirement for any agreement to be signed by the relevant landowners, and the OPW is not aware of any signed agreement in this case. I...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: As indicated in my replies to previous Questions on this subject, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has submitted the proposals for the Clare River (Claregalway) scheme for statutory approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts. In order to comply with the requirements of SI 469 and SI 470 of 2012, the Department of Public...

Leaders' Questions (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The Taoiseach does not need any help.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Properties (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The following table schedules the 390 leases currently held by the Commissioners of Public Works across 337 buildings, to provide office accommodation for the various Government Departments and agencies. The Commissioners acquired these properties based on a brief of accommodation requirements provided by the relevant Department or Agency at time of acquisition. The occupancy of the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman and committee for having me here today. In budget 2015, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform set out a programme of Exchequer capital investment of €11 billion out to 2017. This significant level of investment will address critical infrastructure deficits, aid economic growth and job creation and provide much needed social infrastructure. It is the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The money must be spent in the same Department but it can be moved to a different subhead if a project does not go ahead. I will ask the line Department to come back to the Deputy with a note on the Irish Land Commission and Haulbowline. I will also get the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to contact the Deputy with the specific information on the swimming pools. With regard to...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I did.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I will be delighted to facilitate Deputy Fleming with a note. It is with regard to peatlands conservation measures, including the cessation of the turf cutting compensation scheme, to meet obligations arising from the EU habitats and birds directives. I will ask the Department to write to the Deputy.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I am happy to give that undertaking. We will collect the information and revert to the committee in a composite reply.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The total underspend on capital last year after the carryover was €2.5 million.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I will try to assist. Total capital expenditure in 2014 amounted to €3.47 billion, including Supplementary Estimates. With regard to the capital carryover from 2014 to 2015, the total provisional outturn for capital was €3.55 billion. The total underspend on capital after Supplementary Estimates are accounted for is approximately €2.5 million, or 0.1%.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: The figures I have relate to Departments with carryover and amount to €2.5 million. I will come back to the Deputy with information on this.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2015: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: We will have to come back to the Deputy.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Fleming for his amendment. I am approaching committee stage here in the same way I approach committee stage in the Seanad whereby if there are issues to be teased out we will endeavour to tease them out and I will be constructive in my responses. I think Deputy Fleming will know that from my responses to some of his amendments during the course of this debate. I am not in...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (4 Mar 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Fleming for the amendment. The primary purpose of this Bill is to accelerate the National Revaluation Programme. There has been much criticism of the pace at which it is proceeding and predictions that it will take until 2013 are predictions that I have heard in various debates in the Dáil. This is not the case and the figures show that the revaluation programme has now...