Results 9,541-9,560 of 9,648 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: Budget 2025, introduced in October 2024, announced investment of €105.4 billion to deliver continued improvements in our infrastructure and enhance our existing public services to build for a stronger future. This represented an overall increase of almost €7 billion in voted expenditure over the 2024 starting position set out in the 2024 Summer Economic Statement, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The total public service pay bill figure (inclusive of Local Authorities) for 2025 is estimated to be €30.2 billion. This includes all elements of pay, including basic pay, allowances, overtime, premia, and employer PRSI. The estimated cost of a 10% pay increase for public service workers earning less than €100,000 would be approx. €2.8 billion.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Government's assessment is that, in general, and consistent with the approach adopted since FOI first came into effect in 1998 commercial state bodies should not be subject to FOI requirements. The rationale for this approach is the risk of the uneven competitive market environment that would be created in circumstances that commercial state bodies operating in a competitive market were...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Pensions (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: From the details supplied by the Deputy, it would appear that the individual concerned was initially employed by a public service body in the 1970s, before leaving that employment. The individual re-entered public service employment in 2018. The Single Public Service Pension Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. It was established on 1 January...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Priorities (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: In line with the commitments made in the Programme for Government, earlier this year I announced a series of actions to accelerate the provision of strategic infrastructure in Ireland, including the creation of a new Infrastructure Division in my Department. This Division is focusing on how infrastructure development can be accelerated, particularly in the electricity, water and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has comprehensive legislation to protect workers who raise concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace. The Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014. This legislation was further enhanced by the Protected Disclosures Amendment Act 2022 (the 2022 Act). The 2022 Act broadens the scope of those who can...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Rail Network (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Review of the National Development Plan (NDP) will allocate funding to update capital expenditure ceilings out to 2035. Sectoral capital allocations will be published in the Review document in July, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. In total, around €97 billion in capital funding will be allocated until 2030, which reflects an almost €20 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (1 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I would like to reassure the Deputy that my Department did act in 2022 with the specific purpose of ensuring compliance with regulations and mitigating the risk of legal challenges and the delays associated with such challenges. The details behind these actions and the current status of the project are set out below. The Deputy will be aware that the timeline for the examination of this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Artificial Intelligence (2 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: Achieving the potential for digitalisation and AI to improve the delivery of effective and inclusive public services requires the combined efforts of all government departments and public bodies, in line with the strategic direction and targets that have been agreed by Government, including those set out in Connecting Government 2030, Better Public Services, and Harnessing Digital. While...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (3 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The multi-annual capital investment framework introduced in 2004 offers Government Departments greater certainty for planning and allocating resources to meet their strategic priorities. Expenditure ceilings are set for each area over the medium term to ensure public spending remains within sustainable limits and enables Departments and their agencies to plan and manage their capital...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (9 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy may be aware, I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service occupational pension schemes payable to retired public servants. Responsibility for the administration of sectoral pension schemes resides with the relevant Government Department or public service body in the first instance, subject to the overarching policy framework set out by my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Government Reform (9 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: We have committed in our Programme for Government to “update the Ethics in Public Office legislation”. This follows on from a wide-ranging review of the statutory framework that my Department undertook during the last Government, the Report and findings of which were published in February 2023. I am now moving to consider in detail the outstanding policy issues in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. This was the only instance of the provision of training of the nature specified. Year Training Programme Training Provider Attendee grade Cost 2018 Dealing with the Media Irish Times Training HEO €98

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Budgets (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 347 together. The Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024 established the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICN Fund). The purpose of ICN Fund is to support the economy in times of exceptional need and to support Ireland’s transition to a low carbon economy through the funding of designated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out in the table below. 2015 Description/Objective Duration Media platforms Advertising Agency Cost Expressions of interest for appointments to a panel of appeal officers to review certain decisions made by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department did not use any media consultancy services during the period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: Historical Contract Notices and Contract Award Notices published on the previous eTenders platform remain available and accessible by interested parties (via irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/supplier/publictenders). The Tender documents and submissions remain the responsibility of the publishing Contracting Authority. The Deputy should note, the eTenders system is the national electronic tendering...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: The information requested by the Deputy is summarised in the table below. Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Vote 11, Vote 39 and Vote 43) 2023 Total No. POs Total Combined Value € Purchase Orders not included in publication due to value falling below the €20,000 threshold ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: Estimates of the overall cost of any increase to the current rate of the Garda Trainee allowance are a matter for the Department of Justice. The Garda Trainee Allowance is currently €354 per week. In 2023, the Department of Justice sought to increase the allowance, and an increase from €184 to €305 was agreed with my Department. Following further engagement last...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Plean Forbartha Náisiúnta (8 Jul 2025)

Jack Chambers: D’aontaigh an Rialtas tús a chur le hathbhreithniú an Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta go luath i mí Aibreáin, atá i gceannas ar mo Roinn. Is é fócas an an Léirmheas tosaíocht a thabhairt d'infheistíocht in earnálacha den gheilleagar a thacóidh lenár spriocanna tithíochta agus iomaíochais. Seo iad:...