Results 3,561-3,580 of 5,661 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: I welcome our guests and thank them for joining us this morning. I will start with the Department's dispute over the amount of the postal charges due to An Post for the 2016 general election. It has been reported that the Department paid €14.1 million to An Post in May 2016 and it disputed the liability of the Exchequer to pay the balance, which was €1.5 million. Will the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: Was there an agreement in place?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: So no agreement was in place in relation to the charge per item.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: How much did the Department pay in legal costs to defend the withholding of this €1.5 million from An Post?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: Will Mr. Moloney repeat the total cost?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: Has Mr. Moloney learned any lessons from this incident with regard to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's credibility in defending this case?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: Do these types of dispute regularly arise between the Civil Service and public services such as An Post? Was this a once-off incident? It has certainly cost the Department a significant amount of money from its internal funds.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: I will move on to the spending reviews undertaken to date, as other Deputies raised, and the demonstration of value for money being achieved by the relevant Accounting Officers. Will Mr. Moloney give an indication of the spending reviews for health? What findings, conclusions or recommendations have been taken on board with regard to health spending?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: There is a serious concern about health spending. This arises in particular when the HSE and the Department of Health are before the committee to discuss their financial accounting systems. There are concerns about accountability for and traceability of the use of public funds and about the value for money reports. We are very light about how we assign funds to areas in health where...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: Does Mr. Moloney have a timeline for the implementation of the new system? We are told it could take four or five years before the HSE is able to roll it out. I know procurement has finished and a contract has been signed to implement the system, but I am sure the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wants to get this up and running as quickly as possible.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 3 - Vote Accounting and Budget Management
Chapter 4 - Reallocation of Voted Funding (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: Has the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform done a risk assessment of the areas that have the largest spend? Will they be put on the system first? Are the HSE and Department of Health telling the Department which areas they will pick? Is the Department working with them to address where the scrutiny and traceability need to be focused?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 30. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the mental and emotional supports that are available to members of An Garda Síochána who, in the course of their duties, are faced with tragic and violent situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52423/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 286. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that childminders who have a service reference number for their premises are Tusla registered and have an active NCS or ECCE contract, are excluded from applying for a building blocks improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52486/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (20 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 287. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if early years' service providers who provide early years education from their personal private residence are eligible to apply for the building blocks improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52487/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: I welcome the suite of recent budgetary measures, especially for young people. They are practical measures that would help students and families with the cost of education and the cost of living generally. There are over 1,736 students in Mayo who will receive the additional student grant repayment. This is very welcome, on top of the €1,000 fee reduction. On the Minister's hard...

National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Acting Chairman and for the opportunity to speak on the National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill. I acknowledge the increase in funding from €300 million to €500 million. Tourism is one of Ireland’s most important economic sectors and its significance as a source of employment and regional development cannot be underestimated. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (18 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if those who are currently preparing to sit their Leaving Certificate in the next two years expect their student contribution fees to be further reduced beyond 2024 given the cost-of-living crisis and the increasing rates of rent being experienced by current third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51677/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (18 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 200. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way that he intends to support the eight new Ireland gas-fired power plants with natural gas supplies from Ireland to protect us depending on imports, via Scotland or the European network which is already under pressure. [51548/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (18 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will identify the location, backer, technology, megawatt output for the eight new gas-fired power plants and the stage of development for each development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51549/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (18 Oct 2022)

Alan Dillon: 202. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has determined the viability of gas reservoirs in nearby areas of the Mayo coast already licensed for exploration that have the potential to tie into Corrib Gas existing infrastructure allowing gas to be brought ashore with minimum disruption. [51550/22]