Results 2,661-2,680 of 33,118 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: In late 2021, the Government launched the revised National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP) detailing €165 billion of public investment. In Budget 2024, a significant uplift in capital funding for 2024 will be provided through alignment with the capital expenditure ceilings detailed in the NDP. Total capital allocations will increase by almost €1 billion from €11.86 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Parks and Wildlife Service (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Appointments to the civil service through open competition are made subject to the advertised terms of the competition. In general, the terms allow that different conditions may apply to currently serving civil/public servants. There are policies in place which allow currently serving civil/public servants to start above the minimum subject to certain conditions. Examples of such policies...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has engaged independent environmental consultants to carry out the relevant environmental assessments as required by EU Directives 2011/92 and 2014/52. On the basis of advice received, I have sought supplementary information from the Office of Public Works as provided for under Section 7(4)(b) of the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage)...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on 25 May, 2018. To prepare for this critical date, my Department agreed a range of new internal data protection policies including a formal data breach management policy, the objective of which is to ensure that any data breaches are dealt with as required under Articles 33-34 of the GDPR. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy may be aware, the concept of unestablished civil servants refers to individuals serving in civil service Departments and Offices in a capacity in respect of which a superannuation allowance may not be granted under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1954. Taking that into account, membership of the Pension Scheme for Established Civil Servants does not apply. Instead, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Civil Service Accountability Board was established under the 2014 Civil Service Renewal Plan. It comprised a mix of senior Government ministers, including the then Taoiseach, senior civil servants and a number of external members selected following an expressions of interest process by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The Board met four times in total in Q2 and Q3 2015 and Q2...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Performance Review Group (PRG) was established in 2016 to oversee the Secretary General Performance review process, which was a priority action of the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2014 (Action 12 – Design and implement a robust performance review process for Secretaries General). This ensures the development of a high performance leadership cadre and assure that performance is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The table below reflects the dates of appointment by Government of Secretaries General in Government Departments. Department Name Date of appointment as Secretary General Extension Agriculture, Food and the Marine Brendan Gleeson 02-Oct-18 n/a Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As of 31 August 2023, the most recent available data, there are a total of 45,593 full-time equivalents (FTEs) employed in the Civil Service, of which 8,252 FTEs (18.1%) are employed in the grade of Assistant Principal or higher.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: In relation to the civil service, for which my Department holds detailed data, the suggested minimum wage at €17 per hour based on the civil service 35 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of approximately €31,047. Detailed data on civil service staff indicates that approximately 15% of staff (FTE) in the civil service are on salary points less than this. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials from my Department do not currently use the application in question to conduct official business. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as with all enabling technologies, will be considered on a solution by solution basis. Any such considerations will be discussed and a risk assessment conducted as appropriate. My Department has issued guidance to all staff reminding them of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Budget 2024 (3 Oct 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government established the Shared Island Fund in Budget 2021, providing ring-fenced resourcing for delivery of the all-island investment commitments and objectives set out in the Programme for Government and the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP). The Shared Island Fund aims to create a more prosperous, connected and sustainable island. Under the NDP it has a funding...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (28 Sep 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the National Shared Services Office that pension increases on foot of pay awards on 1 February, 2022 and that of 1 October, 2022 backdated to 2 February, 2022, and the 1 March, 2023 pay increase have been paid in cases where retirees were on pay scale points. OPW pensioners are often on off scale points and not linked to Civil Service pay scales which means they have to be...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. I thank the Deputy. This is a key area of engagement between me and the Ministers responsible for those sectors. Currently, we are engaging with their three Departments, which are among the largest spending Departments and, consequently, have a significant impact on our overall spending and budgetary plans. We are examining the funding we need to maintain the current level of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish everybody a good afternoon. I thank the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee for the opportunity to be here today as part of the pre-budget scrutiny process. When I appeared before the committee in July, the Government had just published the summer economic statement and the committee discussed the agreed budget parameters. Today I can address developments that impact on our...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I will in the time ahead prioritise three steps that will be really important to making faster progress on the NDP. The first is the legislation the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will bring before the Oireachtas. That will be huge legislation that, if passed by the Oireachtas, will bring more stability to how planning decisions are made within our country and greater clarity as to how...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (27 Sep 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The answer to the Deputy's first question is "Yes". That has to come out of the €2 billion. We are engaging with public sector unions, and will continue to engage with them over the coming weeks, on when we will engage on the future of public pay. We are open to engagements before the budget. I will make a decision closer to the point regarding how we present or indicate what...