Results 4,201-4,220 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: With regard to Deputy Barry's point on tech jobs, it is a matter of concern when anyone loses his or job, but especially when it is in the manner in which it was done in Twitter's case. There will be an opportunity for a full debate on that issue and the wider issue. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have briefed the Ministers in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: To be fair, the net issue leading to problems in certain cases is a lack of staff. It is not a lack of funding; the budget is there. The service is actively recruiting. It is bringing people in from other jurisdictions and trying to bring paramedics who qualified here and travelled abroad back to Ireland. However, there is a global shortage of paramedics and advanced paramedics. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that is important to communities all over Ireland. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, is working closely with the head of the National Ambulance Service, Mr. Robert Morton, and they are now very much focused on the implementation of the national ambulance strategy. We have provided substantial additional resources to the NAS over the past...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Canney. As he knows, Galway has been allocated €9 million for the period 2023-27. When we take this in conjunction with the transitional funding for Galway, which is €3.6 million for 2021 and 2022, it gives a total LEADER allocation of €12.6 million for the county for the period 2021-27. For the corresponding period 2014-20, County Galway had a core...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of LEADER funding in Galway. The first point I want to make is that there is no cut in LEADER funding. That is not the core point he made. The point he made is about the per capitaallocation. As part of the new €10 billion CAP strategic plan, the Government has committed significant funding of €108 million to LEADER for the period...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The truth is that the real test is when it comes to the specific actions that have to be taken to deliver on the targets. These will present challenges and difficulties at local and national levels but we will provide leadership and we require support from across this House. I do not think there is any lack of opportunity for input from parties and Deputies in the House to allow them to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue, which is significant for our country and the planet. By now, the Taoiseach will have delivered his speech at Sharm el-Sheikh. I think he summed up very well the imperative of action and delivery. This is something he has pinpointed as being the key issue. Ireland has made significant progress in terms of the overall framework, putting...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: There is no €2 billion in capital underspend on housing. As the Deputy knows, it is always the case that the final quarter of the year is the period in which there is the largest delivery. That is when schemes get closed out, accounts get done and drawdown of payments happens. There will be no such underspend in respect of housing capital this year. Any underspend, as the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: On this side of the House we are focused on doing everything we possibly can to resolve it-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----and to ensure that people who want to purchase a home are given direct support by the State to do so.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: This Government has acknowledged from the very beginning the scale of the challenge we face as a country in housing and the provision of accommodation for our people, whether it is private housing, public housing, cost rental or affordable purchase. We have prioritised investment in housing since coming into office in the summer of 2020. That is delivering results. Do we believe that more...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----because thousands of people are being provided with accommodation in our country as a result of the investment we are making. In addition, we are investing in affordable housing for the first time in well over a decade, including new affordable purchase schemes which Sinn Féin opposed. The Land Development Agency is now on site and is delivering homes for our people, both public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department (including the Office of Government Procurement) does not lease or own any properties that are currently unoccupied. With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the case for each of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. I am advised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: My Department has responsibility for reporting on the implementation of 28 actions in the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021, 15 of which are assigned to the Office of Public Works (OPW). Of these, 14 fall within the reporting period covered by the latest available progress report, which was to quarter 2 2022. Please find attached a table containing updates on these actions. We are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy may be aware that there is an ongoing review in relation to possible extensions to mandatory retirement ages and the impact on pay and pension across ranks in the Permanent Defence Forces. While this review is ongoing, an interim request was made by the Minister for Defence with respect to retaining Sergeants until end 2024, under their current terms, who were recruited post 1...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tax Code (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: Travel on official duty is an integral part of the functions carried out by many civil and public servants. As a standard principle, public servants should always strive to use public transport for official travel in the first instance, where suitable. The mileage rates are designed to compensate an officer for the costs incurred in using their own car on official business. The rates are set...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The following rates are payable to former civil and public servants who serve on Interview/Selection Boards in the Public Appointments Service and throughout the civil and public service. Retired Civil Servants (on pension): Secretary General €377 Deputy Secretary €295 Assistant Secretary €200 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Websites (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Minister wishes to advise the Deputy that the system is now fully operational.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that no officials from my Department have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Michael McGrath: The arrangements for starting pay in the Civil Service are governed by the terms of Circular 08/2019 - Revised Starting Pay Arrangements. The arrangements for incremental credit in the Civil Service are governed by the terms of Circular 21/2004- Agreement on incremental credit for previous service for entry levels at the grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer or equivalent grades...