Results 3,481-3,500 of 33,118 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I cannot give an indication that I will agree to more projects coming into the pipeline because that would be an overall Government decision of significance. I am not yet confident that our capital ceilings for the year will allow that to happen but I will look at it in relation to the other two issues the Deputy raised. There are issues with public procurement and the public spending code...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of government spending and seeks to ensure that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. Those allocations are laid out in the NDP. To answer the Deputy's questions, the Fiscal Monitor for December 2022 recorded gross capital expenditure of more than...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I very much take the Deputy's point. Through my membership of the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change and in my role as Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I want to support a lot of the work that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has on the way. As Deputy Leddin is aware, there are some very positive signs. We know that electric car sales rose 81% year...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I take the Deputy's point. I know how hugely important these workers are to our society. However, as I said, it is an area that is fundamental to the work that the Department of Health does. If any proposals are shared with me that look at the matter that the Deputy has raised, I will certainly keep in mind his observations. I look forward to updating him on any progress that is made on it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 provides the regulatory framework for recruitment and selection that all civil and public service employers are required to adhere to. It provided for the establishment of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, CPSA, as the independent regulator for appointments made under the Act; the Public Appointments Service,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I certainly will check it out. I have seen so many good examples of mobility within the Civil Service in recent years and I know of the positive role that it can play. I would certainly be interested in understanding any limitations or issues regarding its operation. As I said to the Deputy in answering his question, I am not aware of any concerns at the moment, nor have they been raised...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 126 together. I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to address the review of the Act. I want to acknowledge the work that has been put into this project by the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. Under his guidance, an update setting out the current position in the review was brought to Government and subsequently issued to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I was not aware of the option to make oral FOI requests but I am familiar with the operation of the legislation. As the Deputy will know, Ministers do not play a role in determining what information goes out. On the access that FOI legislation has to the records of a Minister, there should be nothing in your private communication that refers to Government business. My phone and any...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: The public system is open to citizens.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As I said, I am not aware of the ability for FOI requests to be granted and issued orally but I accept that the Deputy is raising important matters on governance, transparency and standards in public life. To go back to the FOI request that is at the heart of this parliamentary question, as I have said, this is an Act that works well. I heard Deputy Nash refer to the black marker and I want...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question, which touches on two important issues; the need to maintain adequate provision of care in the community and the need to increase significantly the uptake of environmentally friendly modes of transport that will help decrease our greenhouse gas emissions. As the Deputy will appreciate, consideration of targeted supports for specific categories of workers...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As I said on the NDP, I want to look at what other improvements or changes we can put in place that get the balance right between the effective use of taxpayers' money and all the scrutiny that is needed for all projects, particularly larger capital projects. On the Deputy's final point, on that and other matters I look forward to making a statement to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am responsible for the delivery of the national development plan, NDP, for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. My Department is also responsible for maintaining the national frameworks within which Departments operate to ensure appropriate accounting for, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I will shortly engage with the NDP national implementation board, particularly the outside representatives and experts on the board, to get their views on these issues. I have some initial views on those things we can do better on, and can improve on, to turn this higher level of expenditure into better output for our society. My first port of call will be to engage with the NDP management...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to emphasise my view that the capital ceilings in place at the moment are very appropriate for this year. Changing the capital ceilings inside the budgetary year rarely leads to that money being spent in its entirety, and sometimes it can lead to other challenges regarding good value for the taxpayer. That being said, I aim to be in a position to give some guidance and instruction...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

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

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand that a lot of this information is available for individual projects. I will certainly look at the point being made by the Deputy on how this can be better tracked in an overall fashion. I am aware, for example from challenges with the national children's hospital number of years ago, of the need for a refined public spending procedure for very large projects. I understand the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flexible Work Practices (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: I would not describe the arrangement that is in place as being in any way ad hocbut would describe it as varied. It is the case that, within our public service, we have so many roles available, as the Deputy will know better than I do. We are trying to have a framework in place that allows a minimum amount of discretion to work from home but also guarantees that public services are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flexible Work Practices (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: That information exists. It is captured for organisations such as the Revenue Commissioners when they examine how they respond to communications. I do not have the detail on the various parts of our civil and public services. To deal with the Deputy's question on the framework in place, it is, as I referred to in the early part of my answer, the Blended Working Policy Framework for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2023)

Paschal Donohoe: Supporting rural Ireland is a major cross-governmental policy objective and priority. However, the amounts allocated to the Department of Rural and Community Development are themselves but a fraction of what we invest in our regions and local communities. For example, the figures the Deputy referred to do not include how much we spend in schools located in rural communities, nor do they...