Results 9,761-9,780 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works will respond to you directly within the next ten days in accordance with Standing Order 42A.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards Data (13 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Board of the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the only State Board under the aegis of my Department. I am informed by the PAS that one applicant declared that they were a former TD when the vacancies were last advertised in 2014.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the summer economic statement. It outlines the broad parameters that will underpin discussions of economic and fiscal policy over the medium term and the main pillars of this approach. In the short term, it sets the framework for discussions on budget 2018 over the coming months. Turning first to the economic situation,...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The summer economic statement made clear the issue of water charging and its funding would be dealt with later on in the year. The Taoiseach has now outlined, in the context of this, that the Goverment wants to deliver a full refund, which we will do. The cost of the refunding of charges is €171 million. The full cost of this includes an administrative charge of €5 million....

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It was €171 million.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is €280 million to €300 million.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: We are looking at that figure.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The €322 million figure.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I referred to the total underspend and gave the figure of between €280 million and €300 million. It is approximately that amount. That is where I expect that figure to be as we move through the year. I cannot tell the Deputy what the division of that will be until later in the year.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is possible that capital underspends could deliver it, but I cannot confirm that now. What could drive capital underspends being used for it is projects we are committed to not happening in the timeframe expected because of changes to procurement, the granting of planning permission and so forth.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I did not say that.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy has turned that possibility into a decision.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am sorry, I did not hear that part of the Deputy's statement. I said that we will have to deal with that later in the year. However, the overall level of underspend is where the resources will be to deal with this matter. If we have said that the cost of delivering clean water and maintaining that infrastructure in the country will be paid out of general Government expenditure and the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, there would have been.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: What I will say is-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I was about to answer the question before the Deputy interrupted. If the Deputy lets me answer each question he puts to me I will be happy to answer further questions after that. Yes, we see underspends each year at this point in the year. I will be happy to give an analysis of how this year compares with previous years. However, the gross figure I referred to for the level of underspend...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is definitely the case that as we move through the year the gap between actual expenditure and profile begins to change, but the magnitude of the figure at present gives me confidence that we can deal with refunding in the way I have outlined.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I have already issued a directive to Government Departments telling them to stick with the plans we drew up at budget time when we agreed a set of policy initiatives for each Department. Some of those policy initiatives are now happening later in the year and others are not costing as much as was expected. That is delivering the figure. I am not planning at this point to deliver a...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I will provide that information. I want to make a point about sensible budgeting. If we had done something when we were putting together the budget which indicated that the deliberations on water charges would have a particular outcome, we would have been accused of predetermining the work being done by the Oireachtas. I am now responding to the decision that was made by the Oireachtas in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I know the Deputy is familiar with it but I felt that given the line of questioning it was worth highlighting.