Results 18,361-18,380 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Value for Money Reviews (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Value for Money Reviews are key analytical tool to be utilised within each Department for the purpose of assessing programme expenditure. Responsibility for identifying specific topics to be subject to these reviews is a matter for individual Departments. In particular, Departments are required to take into account the extent to which there is a prima facie case for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I can confirm that all Departments are complying with the requirement to publish details of purchase orders over €20,000. The following table sets out where this information can be found on each Department's website: Department Location of Purchase Order Details Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Although staff are seconded from time to time from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service, there have not been any staff seconded to my Department from external companies between 2011 and 2013.   However, the Deputy may wish to note that there have been occasions when individuals from the private sector have been engaged by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), which are the bodies directly under the auspices of my Department have confirmed to the Department that they are in compliance with  public service pay policy and that no top-up payments are made outside the pay scales in use. The ESRI salary scales are not sanctioned...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The current moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was  introduced in 2009, as part of the response to the fiscal and economic crisis.    Since then, and in tandem with annual headcount targets set for each area of the public service under the Employment Control Framework, the Moratorium has been applied across the entire public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Political Reform (4 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Good progress continues to be made on the reform priorities to strengthen public governance included in the Programme for Government for which my Department is responsible.  The current position in relation to the main elements of this reform programme is summarised below. The General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying Bill was submitted for pre-legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) public works contracts include a clause on Pay and Conditions of Employment, including pension contributions, which requires all those employed on the works to be paid in accordance with all applicable law.  The following reference is made in relation to payment and conditions of employment of workers: The Contractor shall ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language Issues (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's questions the following is a list of expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years in my Department:   Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Irish Translation Costs 2011 to 2013 - - - Year Nature of Cost Amount Total Amount 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (5 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under the EU Directives on public procurement works, supplies and services the results of all public contract tenders above certain thresholds must be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the current threshold is €5.186 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 88 together. The assessment of the flooding problem at this specific location is a matter for Fingal County Council in the first instance. It is open to the Council to submit an application for funding under the Office of Public Work's Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for small scale, localised flood relief works. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In line with the previously stated Disposal Policy the Commissioners of Public Works are examining the options for 155 non-operational (vacant) Garda Stations. Forty former Garda Stations have been identified for disposal on the open market and auctioneers have been appointed to manage the sale of these stations. Eight of the forty former Garda stations will be auctioned to the public at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (6 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Ballina was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment as an area where flood risk is potentially significant. It was therefore designated as an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Western CFRAM Study is currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works, with its technical consultants...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members.  Under the new arrangements Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or location to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The new Public Spending Code, which was formally notified to Government Departments in September 2013, applies to all public expenditure programmes. The overall aim of the new Code is to improve how public money is allocated and managed, and it contains guidelines and instruction on the application of ex-ante appraisal to spending proposals, and on expenditure planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's questions the following is a list of all legal fees paid by my Department, and those under my remit, in 2013:  Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Bodies under aegis Legal fees paid in 2013 Department / Office Name of Law Firm Amount Paid Total Amount Office of Public Works A&L Goodbody €5,058.84     Arthur Cox...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Northern Ireland Issues (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have regular engagement on a range of issues of mutual interest with my Northern Ireland counterpart, the Minister for Finance and Personnel, Simon Hamilton MLA, both in the context of the North South Ministerial Council and bilaterally. Minister Hamilton has identified public service reform as one of his priorities.  This is a priority that I share and which lies...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The evaluation of the Stationery and Office Supplies competition is still in train. The Office of Government Procurement is not in a position, at this time, to give a definitive date for the award of the first sectoral contract. As soon as the first sectoral contract is signed one of my officials will contact the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Valuations (11 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is assuming for the purposes of this reply that the PQ requests information by reference to changes in "rental values". Since the revaluation is bringing about valuations based on modern rental values for the first time, it is presumed that the information sought is by reference to changes in Rates Liability. The following tables set out the position on that basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's new Public Service Reform Plan 2014-16, which I published in January, has a strong emphasis on continuing to drive reduced costs and greater efficiency, alongside an increased focus on citizen engagement and improving outcomes for service users. We will continue to examine ways to reduce the administrative burden on the public by eliminating duplication and developing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (12 Mar 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response the Deputy's question I can confirm that neither I, nor any member of staff in my Department, have met with the company concerned and/or their representatives. I did attend an event in China in 2013 at which the Chairman of the company concerned also attended in another capacity.