Results 42,901-42,920 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (12 Feb 2015)
Simon Harris: As indicated in my reply of 22nd January, discussions are taking place between the various stakeholders on the proposed establishment of an interim National Flood Forecasting Service. The issues for discussion include how the resource requirements can be met, including the required resources and expertise in the disciplines of meteorology and hydrology. It is not possible at this stage...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I am delighted to be here. From the Office of Public Works I am joined by Ms Clare McGrath, chairman; Mr. Tony Smyth, director of engineering; and Mr. Michael Long, accountant. As Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, I am pleased to set out some of the priority programmes of work to be funded from the...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: Deputy Sean Fleming very efficiently ran through the entire activities of the Office of Public Works. He touched on a large number of areas.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: That is correct. There is a great deal of work going on in that regard and I am aware that the select sub-committee discussed the matter in detail. On the issue of maintenance budgets, a problem does not arise. As I believe I stated in my opening remarks, since 2013 the maintenance budget has been transferred to the OPW. That is an important point.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I am extremely happy to try to debunk the myth about State art. Frankly, matters in this regard have become silly. There is no view within the OPW that anybody went off with a load of paintings in the back of his or her car. Let us be very clear on that point. However, there are lessons that need to be learned about the inventory of State art. We have adopted the necessary procedures....
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I can speed up a little if committee members wish.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I wish to address the questions on Intreo, the National Convention Centre and Portlaoise. That is what I have left. The question on Portlaoise is important. I will be brief.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: A target of 61 Intreo centres were to be in place in cities and towns throughout Ireland by the end of 2014. The first ten Intreo offices were delivered in May 2012 and a further 35 offices were handed over in 2013 and 2014. The remainder are targeted for delivery in 2015. In a number of towns Intreo has been delivered across two locations. The Intreo programme is estimated to cost in...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: My apologies.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I did not.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I will try to be as quick as I can in answering all the questions. Deputy McDonald is correct on the issue of flood insurance. My predecessor established a memorandum of understanding between Insurance Ireland and the Office of Public Works. The understanding was that the Office of Public Works would make available all details of flood mitigation works carried out by it. In turn,...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: There are training allocations in our Vote, which have increased, and therefore I can respond to the Deputy.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. Heritage Week is organised by the Heritage Council and that is the body to take that issue up with. We make a number of our buildings available.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: On the issue of maps, I would like to address the insurance coverage issue head on. None of us believes that insurance companies are not mapping risk. If the fact that Ireland and other European countries are complying with an EU floods directive in the interest of their citizens to map flooding on a methodical basis, make it public and set out in a systemic way a list of projects that need...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I fully agree with the Deputy, except with the assertion that no progress has been made. I cannot speak for my predecessor. He put in place this arrangement, which has been very good, to establish the sharing of information. We are now at crunch time. We have the first progress report. We need to see whether all that engagement and time-consuming effort by the Department’s...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I would be more than happy to make available the information and would really appreciate the input of the committee. Deputy Barry’s last questions were about training and office space. He is right that we can regard training as wasteful but we need to be very careful because as part of Civil Service renewal and making sure our public services are fit for purpose we are, for...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I will check the records for last year and contact Deputy Doherty directly about the Hill of Tara. I thank her for making me aware of that. The total staff numbers in Áras an Uachtaráin are coming down. On 1 January 2014 there were 24 people working there and on 1 January 2015 there were 20 people. The budget was provided at the end of 2014 in anticipation of 2015 but we do...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I agree with Deputy Creed about Kanturk that the issue needs to be brought to a finality. My officials are in discussions and will be meeting Cork County Council officials. I do not think it is prudent for me to say more than that, but the meeting will be taking place. Regarding the delivery of a Garda station and a fire station in Macroom, which we have discussed, there are examples of...
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: I will have to check that with the Deputy. He is asking if the OPW would contact the council rather than the council contacting the OPW.
- Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (11 Feb 2015) Simon Harris: We do a fair number of Garda stations in house in terms of in-house design, but I still take the point. If two buildings are being designed by public authorities side by side, it is important to have a conversation. I will arrange for my officials to contact Cork County Council on foot of this conversation.