Results 2,281-2,300 of 10,778 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (16 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: A breakdown by county is provided below in relation to the revenue generated through visitors' entrance fees to OPW heritage sites in 2022 and to-date 2023 in tabular form below. County 2022 2023 Clare €30,380 €5,616 Cork €487,492.00 €80,062.00 Donegal ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Summer Economic Statement (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for the question. It is going to form not only a part of the summer economic statement but more broadly a part of the national economic dialogue. Returning to what the Deputy said a while ago in respect of open government, I think he will appreciate that the national economic dialogue is yet another example of such open government and the open government partnership....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shared Services (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will address the points the Deputy raised regarding the individual waves. Eight Departments or offices were part of wave 1 and the second wave will see a further 14 clients on-boarded. On the timeframes, wave 2 Departments have started. Based on the expected timelines, it is hoped the second wave will go live in the latter part of 2024 or as soon as possible. On cost, some €73...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. As I said, I am taking these questions on behalf of the Minister. Project Ireland 2040 sets out the Government's overarching vision for the provision of infrastructure in order to better cater for the needs of the State’s existing population and to accommodate projected population increases in a balanced and sustainable way. Project Ireland 2040 includes the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy. To be honest, I do not disagree with anything he said. It goes back to the question raised by Deputy Conway-Walsh with respect to changes that have been made to the public spending code and the manner in which the gateways will change. As well as that, the Minister has made changes to the delivery of the NDP around the delivery board, which was the preserve of civil...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said, I do not disagree with what the Deputy said. In a roundabout way, what I get from his contribution is that the plan, the delivery board and those charged with making sure it happens need to be more flexible and adaptable, in respect of the changes in weather, climate, economics, demographics, and everything else that is out there. Nobody thought, 12 months ago, that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Summer Economic Statement (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said, the summer economic statement will be published in the coming months. It sets out the key anchor for budgetary policy each year and outlines the parameters within which discussions will take place for budget 2024. Each year, the summer economic statement sets out our plans for sustainable expenditure growth to provide for the delivery of investment in public services and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy asked the same question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I think that the most important line in the first reply I read out to the Deputy is in the last part. By the way, it was not the same reply both times because the questions were different. It is a pity they were not grouped together because it would have avoided me having to stand up a second time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Well, maybe. The most important line is that referring to independence as a pillar in the unit's contribution to evidence-based policymaking. It is almost like the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. It provides evidence and, sometimes, contrarian views but, ultimately, it is for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a determination with regard to housing policy. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In the real world, planning objections make a difference and ultimately prevent people from getting on with the job of delivering the housing we all want.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In fairness to him, the Deputy gets away with a lot of things in here but to compare the planning processes in train in Longford to those in Dublin, where the majority-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Will the Deputy let me finish? I imagine the majority of planning applications in Longford are for one-off houses or small schemes. The Deputy is comparing bananas to pineapples. There is no comparison. Let us look at the greater Dublin area, although I know the Deputy did not want to refer to this. The report states: Counties in the [greater Dublin area], and those containing large...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: We are finished.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy got four bites.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shared Services (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy very much. I am taking this question for the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth. The delivery of the financial management shared services centre and programme was approved by the Government in 2020 with an indicative timeline through 2025 and assigned a budget of €115 million. The programme plays a central role in the delivery of the Civil Service renewal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shared Services (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy asked for the names of the specific organisations that have already moved across and the timeframe in which others will move across. I will have to ask the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to respond to her on those issues. With regard to the financial envelope, the Government decision I referred to provides for a capital envelope of €115 million. Of course, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As someone who represents one of those rural counties the Deputy seems to have such a knowledge of-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The number of houses that are granted planning permission on a once-off basis is tiny, relative to what is needed. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Deputy Conway-Walsh will know what I am talking about here. The number of one-off houses in rural areas, compared with schemes of houses that are built, is minuscule. Naturally enough, the refusal rate will be smaller but the overall refusal rate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Consultations (11 May 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, who is out of the country as well. As part of the programme for Government, Ireland is committed to re-energising its Open Government Partnership, OGP, process. The OGP aims to secure concrete commitments from governments across the world to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and...