Results 25,381-25,400 of 32,924 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (27 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2015 provides for a significant phased amelioration of the cuts to public service pensions imposed by the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). This pension restoration under FEMPI 2015 is now underway, with pension adjustments scheduled in three phases, on 1 January 2016, 1 January 2017 and 1...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (27 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question, the following table outlines the cost of ensuring that all staff in my Department and the bodies under its aegis are paid €11.50 per hour or above. Such information in respect of other Government Departments and bodies under their aegis would have to be the subject of separate questions to the relevant Ministers. Organisation Annual Cost...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the committee for inviting me here to discuss the economic and fiscal position in the context of budget 2017. The Government and I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, are very supportive of, and appreciate the need for, the Oireachtas having an enhanced input into discussions on budgetary priorities. It was in this context that I published the mid-year expenditure report...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Of the expenditure increase that is planned for next year, €900 million is set to honour the commitments we have in continuing to provide our existing services. For example, the contribution of that is in demographics, the Lansdowne Road agreement and capital investment. The breakdown varies by Government Department, and that was all laid out in the summer economic statement by...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: For example, most of what happened under the framework of commitments we have under the Lansdowne Road agreement, alongside the wage increases that are due to our public servants, tend to be associated with productivity changes as well. We now have an organisation of economists within my Department whose job it is to look at our capital expenditure to ensure it is meeting the requirements we...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: From experience of dealing with this process in my current and previous job, I know this type of behaviour, which has existed, has been dramatically reduced compared with previous years. The simple fact is that in many cases resources have been reduced compared with what we had in previous years. The road budget is a matter we must address, and the Minister, Deputy Ross, has been raising it...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I cannot give the Deputy a guide on the September figures at this stage because they are still being collated by the Department of Finance and they have not been shared with me. Assuming we do not change policy in any other area, I do not expect any kind of a significant change in the fiscal space, although it will depend on our September figures as well.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: It is precisely in recognition of the Deputy's point that we made a decision to increase the health Estimate earlier in the year by €500 million and make the funding available to the health service earlier in the year.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We do that when the Cabinet meets. We can see how that worked. It is the reason the health allocation for this year was changed in an early part of the year, as the health Estimate was increased by €500 million. We also increased the justice Estimate by €40 million because the ability to make such changes without an associated change in our ability to raise revenue will be...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, everybody is very clear that the flexibility across coming years is very different from where it has been in previous years. They know there must be significant changes in the performance of an economy and it generates big changes in revenue coming in. They understand why there must be a change in the revenue-raising end of what the Government is doing to create the kind of flexibility...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I cannot give a figure for the auditors available within Departments but within my Department I have a large team of officials working with each Department every day on spending plans and what is coming out. The Deputy referred to the manner in which the Department deals with certain service delivery issues. We must have realistic estimates for the expenditure plans of every Department. It...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, it would.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I have discussions with the Minister almost daily on issues related to health expenditure. I do not recall speaking to him directly on the matter to which the Deputy refers. However, my officials have been engaging on this issue, which was discussed with me the day after the broadcast.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked whether the capital expenditure figures for 2017 will change as a result of the mid-term capital review. The answer is "No". I expect the mid-term capital review to affect the figures from 2018 onwards and I would like that to be the case. In my experience of managing capital in transport, with the exception of local and regional roads, the time lag between making funding...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We are running with it. The main area on which we are working with the European Commission is on trying to obtain full, absolute and ongoing clarity on what investment is treated as off balance sheet and what investment is treated as on balance sheet. The main area on which we are working in this regard is housing.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: On the Dublin metro project, I moved the mid-term capital review forward because I recognise the need to review and increase capital expenditure levels. The Minister for Finance and I increased capital expenditure for the next few years by €5 billion. I moved the review forward specifically in recognition of the need to better develop high capacity public transport solutions. I will...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We have allocated in excess of €440 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. That funding is in place. I understand, from what he is saying, that the Deputy wants the funding to be increased for the reasons he outlined. With regard to metro, in fairness to my predecessor at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, he had to make choices during a period...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In fairness to my predecessor in that Department, he made the choice to go ahead with Luas cross-city, the benefits of which will accrue next September and October. The Deputy has been good enough to acknowledge my role with regard to the metro project and my view on it. The key for me was the delivery of a high-capacity public transport solution for as much of the city as possible. I...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: This is an area I approach with great caution and it is important to be careful about how we handle it. One of the key factors in the horrific banking crisis that countries all over the world had to deal with was the establishment of all kinds of entities that were off-balance sheet and ended up having a causal effect on the quality of balance sheets. That was mostly the case in respect of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The council's words are ringing in my ears. I am well aware of its advice and perspective. I take seriously the views of such bodies on the need for sustainability in public spending and prudence and care. I know the council’s strong views on the matter. I am also aware, however, that when we do not have the right levels of investment and do not deliver the public services people...