Results 15,001-15,020 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 77 together. In relation to the immediate short-term works for the town of Mountmellick, the Office of Public Works’ representatives on the steering group have advised Laois County Council that there is the option to apply for minor works funding for interim defences. As I have previously stated, Laois County Council have confirmed that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Foireann Roinne (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Mar fhreagra ar cheist an Teachta Dála, dearbhaím go bhfuil cúigear ball foirne i mo Roinn atá inniúil chun seirbhís a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Is é seo a haon fán gcéad (1%) d’fhoireann na Roinne. I mo Roinn, ag glacadh le cinéal dá fheidhmeanna agus a chuid oibre, níl léibhéal ard do...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 89 together. An issue which has been the subject of discussion by the Community Sector High Level Forum relates to community employment supervisors and assistant supervisorswho have been seeking, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding for the provision of a pension scheme. At the April 2017 meeting of the Forum, my...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes Status (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: There are a number of watercourses including the River Erne that flow between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has a long-standing working relationship with the Department of Infrastructure, Rivers (Dfl Rivers) which is the competent authority for the implementation of the ‘EU Floods Directive’ in Northern Ireland. In 2009, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: On 3rd May, 2018, I was delighted to launch 29 Flood Risk Management Plans and €1bn investment in flood risk over the coming decade. These Plans are the output from the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State. The Plans set out the measures proposed to address the flood risk nationally, and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The flood relief scheme at Ballybofey and Stranorlar was not included in the initial phase of 50 flood relief projects, throughout the country, that was announced on the 3rdMay 2018. The proposed scheme is included in the second tranche of these schemes, to be progressed at a later date and within the 10 year investment timeframe announced on 3rd May. However, in order to alleviate the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Living Wage Implementation (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 88 together. The actual number of employees working in the public sector with salaries below the living wage would require individual level data on the position of staff on each salary scale across the public service and details of the standard working hours per week for each individual grade. This data is not available to the Department. However, an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Commissioners of Public Works have accepted the recommendation, in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Report on the Analysis of OPW Spending on State Rents that, further research / analysis is carried out into the balance between capital and current expenditure. I am informed by my officials that discussions will commence with the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Foireann Roinne (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Is é An tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (SCP), comhlacht reachtúil neamhspleách don Státseirbhís, oifig faoi choimirce mo Roinn. Chuireann an SCP comórtais seirbhisí ginearálta i bhfeidhm agus ina lán cásanna sruthanna Gaeilge a bhunú ins na comórtaisí sin. Tá eolas maidir le líon na dtascanna ón...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not aware of any published evidence that links recent construction company insolvencies and liquidations directly with the public works contracts. Insolvency statistics published for Q1 2018 indicate the construction industry recorded 42 insolvencies (22% of the total number of insolvencies), a 17% increase on Q1 2017. Published analysis points to legacy issues related to the property...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 83 and 90 together. The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018, which was published on 9 July, provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age to 70, for the majority of public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. These public servants generally have a compulsory retirement age of 65 at present, which is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: A supplementary pension scheme has been in place since 1995 for those public servants recruited between 1995 and 2012, whose public service pension is integrated with the Contributory State Pension (CSP). This integration with the CSP means that the public service pension paid to them is based on the assumption that they will also receive the CSP at the maximum personal rate on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Construction Contracts (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Legislation has already been introduced to address poor payment practices in the construction sector. The Construction Contracts Act was first introduced by Senator Feargal Quinn and enacted with Government Support in 2013.Commenced by Statutory Instrument in July 2016, it applies to all construction contracts (as defined in the Act), public or private sector, whether they are written or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Managing expenditure within the overall fiscal parameters has been a key factor in ensuring that our fiscal targets have been achieved. A key responsibility of each Minister and Department is delivering public services efficiently and effectively within their budgetary allocations. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The river and areas referred to by the Deputy, are designated Drainage Districts and Cavan County Council is statutorily responsible for their ongoing maintenance. Funding in 2019 for these maintenance works is allocated to the Council by the Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government. Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), which was negotiated last year, it was agreed by all parties that there would be an examination of remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades. This examination was informed by the Report to the Houses of the Oireachtas submitted by me as Minister, in accordance with Section 11 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Planned capital expenditure can be delayed for a variety of reasons. Because of this, Departments are permitted to carry over unspent capital up to a maximum of 10 per cent of their Voted capital allocation from the current year into the next financial year. Statutory provision for capital carryover by way of "deferred surrender" to the Exchequer was made in Section 91 of the Finance Act...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As I am sure the Deputy will agree, the EU-funded INTERREG and PEACE programmes continue to act as important drivers of regional development for the border region of Ireland and for Northern Ireland. The current INTERREG Programme has a total value of €282 million and is aimed at promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion. The current PEACE Programme has a total value of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the Baile Mhúirne and Ballymakeera Flood Relief scheme is currently at outline design stage, and the preferred options for the scheme are in the process of being finalised. The River Sullane has a history of freshwater pearl mussels, which have protected status as an Annex II listed species under the EU Habitats Directive. An...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Budgets (24 Oct 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Summer Economic Statement (SES) 2018, set out a General Government deficit of 0.2 per cent of GDP, or €780 million, for 2018. As outlined in Budget 2019, this General Government deficit target is now projected to be over-achieved, with the forecast General Government deficit for this year being 0.1 per cent of GDP or €315 million. As outlined in Expenditure Report 2019,...