Results 6,621-6,640 of 10,591 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (21 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can confirm that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking or planning refurbishment works to Garda Stations in south Co Kildare and to Portarlington Garda Station in Co Laois as detailed in the table below. In addition, to the works listed the OPW continues to provide ongoing maintenance to all the Garda Stations in Co Kildare as required. Station ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (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 Scheme...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works did not undertake or commission a study on the effects of the closure of the peripheral gates of the Phoenix Park on traffic volumes in the surrounding areas. Dublin City Council has administrative responsibility for these areas. OPW is committed to engaging in a consultation process on the Phoenix Park Traffic and Mobility Strategy, involving all stakeholders, to...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: The decision to re-open the gates on Friday 10th July was based on an increase in the volume of traffic in the neighbouring areas surrounding the Park to which the gate closures have in part contributed and because a further increase in traffic volume in the coming weeks and months with the escalation of the returning workforce within the City and the re-opening of schools might be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (22 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: Barryscourt Castle is located near the village of Carrigtwohill in Cork and is owned by the State, with the exception of a Dower House property there which is still retained by the Barryscourt Trust, the original owners of the property. The Castle was discovered in recent years to have significant problems with damp penetration which caused the internal electricity system to become...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (22 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...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €42,745,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for certain services...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will try to respond briefly to the questions from both of the Sinn Féin Deputies.

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: This is Sinn Féin's time.

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will try to answer both sets of questions because the Deputies are from the same party. First of all, as I said out at the outset, I apologise for the fact that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, is not available. There is a Cabinet meeting on the July stimulus which he had to attend. Deputy Farrell referred to a lack of detail in the Revised Estimates. We are fully prepared to...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am trying to be-----

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am trying to be respectful to the Deputy's party and answer the questions asked by the previous Sinn Féin speaker, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, as well as those asked by Deputy Doherty. She deserves answers to the very important questions she raised. On the issue of capital expenditure within my Department, Deputy Farrell raised a very interesting issue in the context of Covid in...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I point out to Deputy Doherty that I do not come to the House to waffle. If he does not like the answers I give, that is fine, but he should not try to insult people. I am present and I am answerable to the House. I provide answers to the questions I am asked. If he does not like the answers, that is fine. He should try to show a bit of respect.

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: Through the Chair, there is a way to take that issue up without insulting somebody who is here trying to answer questions. On the issue of King's Island, as Deputy Quinlivan is aware, it is at design and planning stage. The current level of expenditure is approximately €4.18 million. The expenditure for 2019 is €452,000. I have an interest in this issue because it affects...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will try to answer as quickly as I can. Some of them are no longer my brief, although they were until the transition. The construction innovation fund is a concept that was developed during my time in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform around the area of building information modelling technology so that we could use best practice in the private sector to ensure that when...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: I think I answered it. People take responsibility based on the demands that society as a whole puts on us as a Government. If people have additional responsibilities and are expected to be able to relay those to the House, I think their salaries should reflect the responsibilities of everyone else sitting at the Cabinet table.

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I already told Deputy Shortall, the rationale for increasing the number sitting at Cabinet was laid out by the three party leaders when the Government was formed. There are increasing demands on all of us. There was a suggestion of Departments being abolished or being merged in advance of the programme for Government, which some interest groups, lobbies and Deputies opposed. There were...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: In response to the Deputy's earlier contribution, I meant to acknowledged the support he has given to the temporary wage subsidy scheme and to the pandemic unemployment payment. We are in the situation with this Estimate where four fifths of our spending has already been reached. We need to ensure that this Estimate is passed for the very people the Deputy talks about, namely, nurses and...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: Do I have time to respond to the Fianna Fáil Deputies?

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Patrick O'Donovan: Much of what Deputy Flaherty referred to is covered in the national development plan under a number of different agencies, including Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Irish Water and the councils. With regard to Deputy Crowe's comments, I do not have responsibility for water in the sewerage system. This is under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy...