Results 6,601-6,620 of 10,591 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, who had to step out of the Chamber. I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 28 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the current public sector pay agreement, the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, will expire at the end of the year. The agreement was passed into law by the House in the Public Service Pay and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I draw the Deputy's attention to the second part of the sentence he quoted, where I stated proceeding with the payment was also a "demonstration of our commitment to collective agreements." We committed to that in the programme for Government and no timeframe has yet been laid out within which the Minister will enter into negotiations with unions. He has committed to the House that he...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Employer Economic Forum (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, was established to bring together representatives of employers and trade unions with Ministers to exchange views on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market and which are of mutual concern. The Government has not been prescriptive about what organisations have a seat at the LEEF but has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Employer Economic Forum (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. I will communicate his point to the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. I know it is a commitment by this Government, as it was with the previous Government, that SMEs would have access. I know the former Minister with responsibility for enterprise, Deputy Heather Humphreys, facilitated access and the current Tánaiste is doing so as well. My old role which involved...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Heritage Sites (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for his question. As he states, the Office of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance and operation of a defined list of approximately 700 sites in the State. Some of these include properties like Newgrange, Kilmainham Gaol and Dublin Castle, which are well known and visited by significant numbers of international tourists every year. However, most of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Heritage Sites (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy can forward to me any correspondence he has on this because it will be of help to us. If we have a role in this, we want to be clear with the Deputy and the Dáil, but the wider question he has raised is something I am already attuned to, which is the ownership of the monuments versus those who manage, protect and oversee them. There is an issue in that respect that I would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. I have a very short reply but if he asks a supplementary question it might improve matters. The provision of walkways and cycleways is a matter for local authorities and the OPW does not have any function in the role. The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of embankments that form part of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I totally agree with Deputy Griffin. A commitment I will make is to explore this further. It is accepted that the existing and the older defences, which would be the traditional ones we are all used to seeing throughout the country, might not have the capability to have any sort of walking or cycling infrastructure placed on top of them. However, in terms of some of the newer ones, this is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Projects (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy knows, because an element of this is that we both have had the lashes on our backs on occasion in regard to the development of greenways, greenways and cycleways are often dependent on the goodwill and the permissive access of landowners. Any changes to the way the Office of Public Works would go about the design and roll-out of any kind of flood embankment would have to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera flood relief scheme is currently at outline design stage. The preferred options of the scheme are now nearing finalisation. My Office is aware of the ‘high’ water quality status of the respective water body in the area around Baile Mhic Ire and Baile Bhuirne. The Project Team is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: Clare County Council (CCC) is the contracting authority in relation to the proposed flood relief scheme in Springfield/Clonlara, with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The current position is as follows: The engineering design consultants have finalised the Stage I options report and updated the planning report for the scheme in light of updated survey information and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: The proposed flood relief scheme for Crossmolina, Co. Mayo is progressing broadly in line with the current programme. Some delay has been experienced in recent months due to the consultants being unable to carry out the final environmental surveys during the nationwide Covid-19 shutdown. To minimise these delays, the project team worked to progress all other tasks that could be safely...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Enniscorthy (River Slaney) flood defence scheme is being progressed by Wexford County Council on behalf of the Commissioners of Public Works as a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. This is a significant scheme within the Office of Public Works €1 billion flood relief investment programme, and on completion will protect 236 properties in the town. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: Monkstown Castle is a National Monument in the ownership of the State and under the management of the Office of Public Works. Located in south County Dublin, it is considered that the structure is in good condition. Maintenance is undertaken by the direct workforce from the Trim National Monuments Depot. Apart from conservation works that might be required from time to time at sites,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: There is currently in place a joint Kilkenny County Council and OPW steering group for delivery of all flood relief schemes in County Kilkenny. Consultants were appointed in March, 2020 to identify a flood relief scheme that is technically, socially, environmentally and economically acceptable, to alleviate the risk of flooding to the Community of Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am advised that the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme has been submitted by the Office of Public Works, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS), to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation. Arising from of the European Union (Environmental Impact...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Kildare County Council (KCC) are working together in progressing the Lower Morell Flood Management Scheme with KCC acting as the Contracting Authority for the project with funding provided by the OPW. The proposed Scheme along with an Environmental Impact Assessment Report was submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) by the Council on 15th September,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Traffic Management (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2018, the Office of Public Works commissioned a strategic review and draft plan for the future enhancement of the visitor experience at the Phoenix Park. The draft review document was on display at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre for ten weeks in 2019 and members of the public and stakeholders were invited to submit their observations on the document to OPW. This draft document did not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: OPW Response: Year 2018 €m 2019 €m 2020 €m Capital Allocation 177,049 179,049 204,049

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: The ESB manages the weirs, sluices and other works that are part of the Shannon Scheme, and the water levels on Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg. The levels in between the lakes are managed by Waterways Ireland for navigation purposes. The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in January, 2016 by the Government to enhance the ongoing co-operation...