Results 5,321-5,340 of 26,737 for speaker:John McGuinness

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: I call Deputy Connaughton. Perhaps he can be equally brief.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: I have a number of questions and want to deal with them as quickly as I can because I must speak in the House. Deputy John Deasy raised concerns about an issue with regard to Mount Congreve in Waterford and I share his concerns. I have been following this very closely and know negotiations took place between the OPW and the Mount Congreve estate and that a conclusion was to be reached in...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Has the Office of Public Works, OPW, had any discussion since the talks collapsed?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Is the OPW the main driver or is it relying on someone else to drive the negotiations?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Will Ms McGrath forward me a note on the up-to-date position, when the last meetings were held, what is likely to happen in terms of re-opening the negotiations, if they have closed down, and the possibility of reaching a conclusion?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Deputy Deasy has expressed an interest also. I wish to raise a number of other matters. I read of the artwork missing from Leinster House in some recent media reports. There was to be a complete list of the artwork on the premises. Has that list been completed and has the missing artwork been retrieved or found?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Has the audit been completed?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Ms McGrath might inform us.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Carrisbrook House in Ballsbridge is a leased property. I saw it reported that Deputy Catherine Murphy had raised the matter. The OPW is contracted for €1.3 million per year.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: What is?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: The OPW has nothing to do with it.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: I am reading from reports, according to which the lease is for €1.3 million and will last until 2034. Where stands this matter in the OPW's negotiations on properties and withdrawing from leases? Will Ms McGrath provide the committee with a note on whether the OPW is in discussions with the owner?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: That is the only time it would happen.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: In the opening remarks, reference was made to the 400 projects funded by the OPW in 2011 through local authorities. A figure of €5.2 million was mentioned.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: When the OPW gives local authorities money for specific projects, how does it ensure value for money? Does it rely on the Local Government Audit Service, LGAS, to determine it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Having allocated, how does the OPW follow up to ensure that the funds went to certain projects and were value for money? Does the OPW have people who examine the sum provided to local authorities? The committee has encountered difficulties with the auditing of those accounts.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: Will Mr. Smyth provide the committee with one of the reports when it is concluded? It would give us an idea of how the OPW examines projects.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: As we cannot follow the money to the end, I am seeking examples of how other Departments follow their grant allocations to local authorities to the end. For the committee and the LGAS team, it is a question of value for money for taxpayers and proper accountability. Kilkenny Castle was mentioned. If people do not mind, I must visit my constituency on this issue. In terms of the promotion...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: There is a need for marketing not only of Kilkenny Castle but also, for example, of Mount Congreve. I visited Mount Congreve with Ambrose Congreve when he was alive. It will be a fantastic asset, as are the castle and many other locations, if the State can manage to reach an agreement on it. There should be an encouragement to take ownership of the asset locally. Deputy Murphy raised the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 10 - Office of Public Works (23 May 2013)

John McGuinness: I pick up on something members said about the closure of the barracks and the various buildings that are around. Do local community groups make applications to the OPW for the use of the barracks?