Results 2,301-2,320 of 32,432 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reviews (24 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for her question. Earlier this month I launched ‘Better Public Services’, the public service transformation strategy out to 2030, which is aimed at delivering for the public and building trust. This strategy is a successor to the Our Public Service 2020programme and builds on the achievements that have been made in every facet of the Public Service in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 245 together. In relation to the civil service, for which my Department holds detailed data, the suggested Living Wage at €15 per hour based on the civil service 35 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of approximately €27,395. Detailed data on civil service staff indicates that approximately 6% of staff (FTE) in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The total public service pay bill figure (inclusive of Local Authorities) for 2023 is estimated to be €25.9 billion. This includes all elements of pay, including basic pay, allowances, overtime, premia, and employer PRSI. The estimated cost of a 10% pay increase for public service workers earning less than €100,000 would be approx. €2.4 billion.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Courts Service (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, based on Government decisions and as part of a broader Government need to reduce costs across the public service, the Minister for Justice exercised powers conferred to them under section 10(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 to apply reductions to professional fees paid to barristers under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in 2009, 2010 and 2011. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is committed to promoting care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Home support is an increasingly important part of the supports we offer to older people and it will continue to increase in importance into the future, as our ageing population grows. The overall policy intention and provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Wildlife Conservation (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is currently no such policy in place in my Department, including the Office of Government Procurement. With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the position with regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department. The OPW has advised me that the Office is taking a very proactive position in terms of biodiversity and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Development Plan 2021-2030 committed my Department to reviewing certain elements of the Public Spending Code to improve the Government’s understanding of the relationship and impacts of investment decisions on the wider environment and climate. As part of this programme of works, my officials have been working with the OECD, funded by the EU Commission through DG...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reviews (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland has committed to achieving ambitious but challenging legally-binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, with key milestones in 2030 and 2050. Therefore, economic appraisals should include an appropriate valuation of the cost that society will bear in dealing with the greenhouse gas emissions any project might give rise to, or the benefits to society of a project that mitigates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Budgets (23 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: At the end of April, the most recent period for which figures are available, total gross voted expenditure amounted to €26.9 billion. This level of spending shows the significant increase in public investment over the same period last year, with expenditure over €1½ billion higher than end-April last year. This additional expenditure demonstrates investment, set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Living Wage (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: In relation to the civil service, for which my Department holds detailed data, the suggested Living Wage at €13.85 per hour based on the civil service 35 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of approximately €25,294. Detailed data on civil service staff indicates that less than 0.1% of staff (FTE) in the civil service are on salary points less than the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Public procurement in Ireland is governed by EU Procurement Directives and National Legislation. Public bodies are obliged to act in accordance with these rules and accordingly must respect the general principles of EU law including non-discrimination, the free movement of goods and services, equal treatment, and proportionality and transparency in awarding public contracts. They must also...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: In March this year, I informed Government of a package of significant actions aimed at enhancing project delivery for the NDP and announced that the Public Spending Code will be replaced by a set of Infrastructure Guidelines. This package represents a fresh approach to securing delivery as part of the Department's enhanced remit around the NDP. The actions include significant changes to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, my Department is responsible for the Public Spending Code (PSC), which sets the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks is a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not clear from the Deputy's question as to what the review of alternative dispute resolution provision relates. My Department has sought clarification from the Deputy but, so far, this has not been provided. If the Deputy were to expand on the question, I could review further.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The majority of public investment projects are delivered on budget and on time and there is a high level of professionalism across the sectors. However, noting the higher risk profile of larger projects, my Department introduced additional procedures in November 2021 in order to improve project out-turns, avoid cost overruns and avoid delays to project delivery. Responding to this need,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was established by law under the Prosecution of Offences Act, 1974. Total gross expenditure in the Office as set out in the annual REVs over the period 2006 to 2023 is set out in the table below. In 2006, the Office spent €31.7 million. In the period since 2013, expenditure has increased by €17 million or by 46 per cent....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (18 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government has committed to €165 billion in capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) published in 2021. As a percentage of national income, annual capital investment is now among the largest in the EU. In 2023, almost €12 billion will fund vital infrastructure in areas such as housing, transport, education, enterprise, sport and climate action....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (17 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has been at the forefront of driving institutional change through a wide-ranging programme of legislative reform intended to enhance trust and transparency across Government. Important legislative measures include Regulation of Lobbying; Protected Disclosures; Freedom of Information; Statute Law Revision and Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures. My...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (17 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 together. I am advised by the NSSO that Wave 2 of the Financial Management Shared Services Programme will see a further 15 central Government Departments and Offices (in-scope client organisations) migrate their finance and accounting functions to the NSSO. This will bring the overall total number of client organisations to 23, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (17 May 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the companies that provide cleaning services to my Department is set out in the table below. Company 2021 2022 2023 (Year to date) Allpro Security Services - €230,861 €93,333 Rentokill Initial Ltd €2,019 €1,714...