Results 6,841-6,860 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: What about the challenge of homelessness?
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Too much talking.
- Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcast Advertising Standards Regulation (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: 180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which State advertising is regulated in view of the disbanding of the strategic communications unit; the mechanisms and criteria used in selecting publications for same; the body charged with monitoring State and political advertising; and his plans to introduce regulation of political online advertising....
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Can I just clarify that point? Does the surplus go back to the Department?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: I have a couple of questions but I want to follow up on the management charge and the surpluses in order that I can better understand what is involved. It is stated on page 27 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report that €11.2 million was the accumulated closing balance surplus for 2015. What is it currently? I know it went back to the Department for the first time this...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: The closing balance surplus for 2015 was €11.2 million and now it is €6.7 million. The surplus has decreased. Do we know how that occurred? Is it possible to obtain some indication in that regard? The reason I ask is because it was €8.1 million in 2011 and every year thereafter the closing balance surplus was increasing-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Can it be provided to the committee?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: A decision has been taken that any unused surplus will go back to the Department every year and will not be held on account by Bus Éireann. Is that correct?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: For the past number of years, the unused surplus was held by Bus Éireann. I presume there is interest accruing on that because it is held in a bank account somewhere. Is that included in the unused surplus?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Would that have included the interest that had accrued in recent years?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: How does Mr. Delaney mean that there was no interest accruing on it?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Let me get this straight. Every year there is a surplus. In 2011, the surplus was €8.1 million. I presume that was held in a bank account somewhere. Where is the surplus held? Perhaps the Comptroller and Auditor General can assist me.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Okay, If I have a surplus of €8.9 million at the end of the year, I will be keeping it somewhere. It is not mine but, with the agreement of the Department, I can use it to offset some costs. If I am holding it somewhere, surely interest is accruing on it. Perhaps the Comptroller and Auditor General can help me with this point. The figure increases every year, but are we being told...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Where is-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Would that be normal?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: There was no agreement.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: Is it possible to work out how much potential revenue in terms of interest accrued the State has lost as a result of this agreement?
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: That is interesting. Regarding running costs, page 54 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report contains a copy of the 1975 agreement. I am seeking clarification ahead of some of my questions. The report provides a breakdown of the running costs - maintenance, servicing, accident repairs, periodic overhauls, lubricants, tyres, fuel, etc. - as well as tax paid on the buses. Do these...
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: In the case of a contractor, I presume that it is not the only use of his or her vehicle.
- Public Accounts Committee: Comptroller and Auditor General Special Report 98: Provision of School Transport (13 Dec 2018)
Jonathan O'Brien: The contractor is free to use it in other instances as well. Is it correct to assume the taxes paid on that vehicle form part of the contract? We pay for the vehicle's tyres and servicing, but the contractor can use it for more than school transport.