Results 42,741-42,760 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Offices (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: A site was acquired in Portlaoise for the provision of a building for the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine under the decentralisation programme. As the Deputy will be aware this building was not constructed due to the Government decision not to proceed with further decentralisation. To accommodate the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine staff, OPW took seven leases...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The River Suck, which is the main tributary of the River Shannon, forms part of the River Suck Joint Drainage District. Responsibility for maintenance of the channel rests jointly with Galway County Council and Roscommon County Council. The Councils have heretofore discharged their responsibility through the River Suck Joint Drainage District Committee. The most recent formal report submitted...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Kilmainham Gaol is a National Monument site in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and is - with 328,886 visitors in 2014 - one of the most popular and heavily-visited tourist sites in Ireland. Visitor numbers have been increasing year on year and have now reached a point where the Monument cannot accommodate increased demand with the existing entrance / layout arrangements....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The July 2012 Report of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Shannon flooding dealt with and included recommendations on a number of issues across a range of Government Departments and State Bodies. The Office of Public Works responded to the Committee by way of a written reply in September 2012, in relation to the specific matters within the OPW's area of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Funding (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Mayo County Council did not apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2013 for any funding for the purposes of coastal defences and addressing coastal erosion. With regard to 2014, the Government Decision of 11 February 2014 that allocated funding for repair of public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 included a sum of up to €19.6m...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (11 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. The information requested in relation to the visitor admissions for each site in OPW care where Guide services are provided is shown below. It should be noted that the 2014 figures have not been fully audited as yet and are therefore provisional. Site Name Provisional 2014 2013 Difference % Altamont 58,023 53,541 4,482 8.37%...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Publications (10 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: There is no minimum point size used in printed State publications. The readability of Acts; Statutory Instruments and Reports published by Government Departments; Offices and Agencies is enhanced by the use of twelve point font or greater.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (10 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: A flood relief scheme which included works in the local authority areas of Dublin City, Fingal and Meath County Councils was carried out on the River Tolka over the period 2003 to 2012. Works in the City area were completed by 2009 with approximately €7.5m expended in the City area out of a total of €19.3m. In general, the works were carried out directly by the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (10 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works assessment of the application from Clare County Council for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to carry out works at this location has been ongoing and I am advised that the OPW expects to be in a position to notify the Council of its decision very shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (10 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision of 11 February 2014 allocated total funding of up to €69.5 million for clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014. Of this sum of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair of existing coastal protection and flood defences based on...

Topical Issue Debate: Tax Exemptions (5 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I note his comments on the Central Bank's decisions on mortgages. The Central Bank is independent and it, not the Government, has decided on these regulations. The Government accepts them. During the consultation period, the Central Bank took on the concerns of many people, including first-time buyers. The deposit required does not...

Topical Issue Debate: Tax Exemptions (5 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's point on thresholds and entry points is valid and deserves significant consideration. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, and I debated it in this Chamber during the Finance Bill debate and the Minister is keeping the issue under review. I will relay the Deputy's views to the Minister. The Deputy pointed out that there is already an incentive in the form of lower LPT on a smaller...

Customs Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I am glad to have the opportunity to take part in the progressing of the Customs Bill through the House. As the Minister, Deputy Noonan, said in his opening remarks, most of the current national customs legislation is old and, in the main, consists of a body of pre-Independence legislation - the Customs Consolidation Act 1876 - which has been extensively adapted and amended on many occasions...

Customs Bill 2014: Referral to Select Committee (5 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Finance pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a).

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (5 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Responsibility for identifying and implementing appropriate measures to address flood risk at Bellurgan, County Louth rests with Louth County Council (LCC) in the first instance. LCC, with the support of funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged consultants in 2011 to assess the condition of the embankment and to make recommendations for any necessary upgrading. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (5 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 150 together. The following shows details of the properties leased by the Commissioners of Public Works in Portlaoise: Name and address of Building Annual Rent Occupancy Unit 11 Clonminham Industrial Estate, Portlaoise 98,133.16 Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Record Office Grattan Business Centre, Dublin Road, Portlaoise 190,000.00...

European Debt: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: These are real Irish families - people getting jobs, getting back to work and spending more money. We have seen an increase in start-ups and have seen our service and manufacturing industries increase. It is not made up although the Opposition has done a very good political job of trying to detach economics from society. Economic benefits and the economic growth we are now seeing represent...

European Debt: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: Deputy Boyd Barrett should not take my word for it. Just the day before yesterday, the National Treasury Management Agency raised €4 billion through a 30-year bond at a yield of just over 2%. We are not borrowing that money for fun or for the craic but to fund public services. The fact that people are willing to lend to this country again, that we are no longer locked out of the...

European Debt: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: The issue of the UN resolution came up and I think is important to address it. Ireland recognises the importance of an appropriate international agreement regarding sovereign debt restructuring due to its significant economic, social and financial implications. In common with other European member states, Ireland was unable to support the recent UN resolution on a multilateral legal...

European Debt: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Feb 2015)

Simon Harris: I would like to hear the Deputy's plan. When he gets beyond the rhetoric, he must have a plan.