Results 2,661-2,680 of 3,333 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I was under the impression that in the case of Dunkettle, there was a significant overspend on what had originally been budgeted. Is that actually not the case?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay. That is good to hear. My next question relates to the area of the planning process which I spoke about here before. The Attorney General is undertaking a very large project. Has TII had any engagement with him in regard to the reform of the planning process?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I wish to move on to an important point about finances. Over the past year, an issue arose with regard to expenditure on the N73. TII's use of the term "funding uncertainty" has grown over the course of the past six months. Is there any update on the delay that happened in September? Will that project be going ahead? Has Mr. Walsh any information for that committee on that?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: My questions about funding uncertainty relate not only to the issues with the N73 which arose earlier in 2021 but also to the current development plans for major motorway projects and new road projects, including relief roads, bypasses and other strategic infrastructure projects on which TII is working. Is TII currently in a financial position to undertake what has been underlined in the NDP...

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Will Mr. Walsh explain about the ten-year envelope? Can he expand on that point if possible?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: What projects that are referenced in the NDP are included in that?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: There are not that many.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: So you have sufficient funding-----

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: There has been much media commentary in recent weeks about concerns regarding road projects, major capital projects in the country and funding issues relating to them. I wanted to get the opinion of the Mr. Walsh, as the CEO of TII.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: It is an important point. There needs to be degree of clarification on it. I take it from Mr. Walsh that in regard to Ireland 2040 he is on track to get those projects finished, constructed and commenced, and he has the funding for all of them.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: How much is that?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: In regard to the decision-making process on what projects get funding, how does that work in terms of the signing off and the expenditure in each annual period?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I have a few concerns around the national investment framework for transport in Ireland, NIFTI. This framework is being implemented by the Department of Transport. Does Mr. Walsh have any concerns about this affecting TII's work programme and budgets? Is there potential for that to defer projects for further cost-benefit analysis?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: I am not asking Mr. Walsh to criticise but does he have any concerns about its implementation? As a lot of people are quite concerned that it could have a very significant impact on new roads being constructed and the work for which TII has responsibility, it is a fair question.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: To me, a policy hierarchy sounds like some way of slowing down a project.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: Will the public spending code be included in the NIFTI process or is that going to be an additional one?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: They are going to be merged.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2020 (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: It will add six months of the timeline.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Feb 2022)

James O'Connor: 35. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce supports for persons who experience hair loss due to alopecia and cancer treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5389/22]