Results 1,921-1,940 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is not a question that we have got too rich. Over a three year period we have put in €1.8 billion which is an extraordinarily large commitment. While that is not the figure we want to reach, this country is contributing huge amounts of money and rightly so and in the consultation process we have to take account of what is happening in the European Union.

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Obviously the Government has two years to run and we have to try to achieve as much as possible. In many areas we have already achieved our commitments in full while in others we have not. On the issue of beds, a further 200 are being put in place. We are using also an enormous amount of private beds which are already built. That is not what we had envisaged but it is a more effective way of...

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In an honest and transparent way every year we carry out an analysis of every decision and provide an update on the position. Many of the commitments have been implemented. For example, we have far more in employment than we envisaged, we have more in third level education than envisaged and we have done far more in the schools building programme than envisaged. In terms of houses, many more...

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The figure relates to what could be generated. The Deputy will recall only a few years ago it was suggested we were doing the wrong thing and should not have given over so much good agricultural land to forestry. There were criticisms at the time of the number of incentives I negotiated in an effort to develop forestry. The Government is not the only influence. We have surpassed our targets...

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In answer to the Deputy, that is precisely across the range. Without going into detail, the question of the consultants' contract is the central issue. In terms of staff, resources, capital, the professions, nobody in the House can argue against the significant funding increases the Government has invested in those areas. There are 5,000 or 6,000 extra nurses. The Deputy referred to the...

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Eight of the 14 units are in existence and six are being developed. There have been significant achievements in those areas.

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: It is very expensive which is the reason an additional €1 billion is being given to the health service this year. Most of that money will be expended on staff. A recent survey showed that nine out of every ten additional health service staff are in front line positions, dealing directly or indirectly with patients. Those commitments are being honoured.

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I often disagree with my colleagues but not on policy issues and not today anyway.

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, together. The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs has met once since I last reported to the House on its work. At the meeting of 27 April, the team's discussion focused mainly on the progress report, which will be laid before the House this week. This report provides an overview of progress during 2004 within the main...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to the first question on PPPs, any PPP project must be able to show it is more efficient and more cost effective. The Department of Finance has a process for approval of projects. The Department of Finance takes the view that in the majority of cases, the capital programme is a better way, which is the reason it has increased the capital envelope significantly in recent years. There...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: On housing, the 10,000 sites were not discussed at the recent meeting, but I reported and answered questions here on the matter since then. The 10,000 sites have been identified. In some cases housing is under construction and in many others planning arrangements need to be considered. Land swaps are also being considered because it is believed that some very good deals can be effectively...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: There are houses in some cases. Some of the land swap deals that have not gone through are going through now. While I do not have the information today, I recently gave the list of ones that are being considered for land swaps and are under construction. There are a number of them in Inchicore and Finglas. I know that planning permission is being sought for the Gormanstown lands, which should...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In Finglas.

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Land swaps have taken place on the——

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, although not many admittedly.

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: Is the Deputy asking about the ones that are in progress?

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy knows, the education project is finished. I do not believe there are any additional ones in the education area. A number of PPP projects are envisaged to deal with waste water, including those in Dublin and Cork, which are completed. These involved local authorities and the Department and it is intended to do a number of others in which the State will put in substantial money....

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: That is exactly what has happened. At the start of the capital programme there was a view that the private sector would wish to be involved in many of the infrastructure projects. In many cases private partners did not become involved and in those cases where they did so, while I do not agree with their case, they argued that if they tender for a project and lose out, the cost of tendering,...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: In reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin I again make the point, as I have done several times, that 10,000 sites were available. Most developers will tell one that the process takes six years and it was never the intention to make the sites available and to build in the same year. However, the sites are now available, and there are people to get on with it. The quicker they do so, the better. Some of...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Bertie Ahern: The land is there and I hope they get on with it. In reply to Deputy Kenny, we spent much time discussing this issue, and there are many reasons for increases in costs. Let us take the National Roads Authority. Several lessons have been highlighted, and the NRA has taken them on board. I am not saying that everything is perfect, and many of the comparisons are nonsensical. It has appointed a...