Results 43,541-43,560 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I said I would not go down that road and I will still resist doing so. The issue is, as Senator Byrne rightly notes, the fact that as today, we are still having a discussion about how we can make sure this Bill is the best possible Bill. The Senator is right in that my officials are still engaging with stakeholders. We still have Report Stage in this House once we conclude Committee Stage....

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 27, which is similar to amendment No. 25, provides for an extension of deadlines where material is submitted online or electronically. This is good practice. Amendment No. 28 makes provision to restrict occupier-assisted valuations to certain components of a valuation. This might, for example, be the exclusion of particular types of specialised property or categories of...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: It is to give flexibility to allow for occupier-assisted valuation in an entire geographical area or an entire category. It is therefore to provide for flexibility within the legislation.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: Amendments Nos. 31 to 37, inclusive, are the remaining amendments to sections in Part 5A dealing with occupier-assisted valuation. Amendments Nos. 31 to 33, inclusive, propose to change section 26(d). Under what was proposed in the Bill, there was provision for the occupier, after having submitted an initial valuation, to be asked to submit an alternative valuation. The new proposal is...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chair and the Seanad for facilitating the resumption of Committee Stage. I made many of my comments on this during our previous debate on Committee Stage and I have looked at the issue again in light of comments made by Senators. I am satisfied that what the amendments seek to do is in line with what the Bill always intended to do. I am also satisfied that the amendments make...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I reject any implication that this did not receive a political input or that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and others were not involved. A memo was brought to Government on these changes in July 2014. The amendments I am bringing forward in the House have the approval of Cabinet collectively. I am eager to stress that the fact we continue to engage, as the Senator asked me...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision of 11 February, 2014 specifically addressed the allocation of funding for the repair of existing public infrastructure damaged by storms in the period of 13th December to 6th January 2014. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG) wrote to Kerry County Council indicating that, based on the estimate submitted by the Council to that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Applications (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works currently has no outstanding applications for funding for flood relief works on the River Suck under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme. Significant funding has been provided by the Office of Public Works under the Minor Works Scheme to allow Galway and Roscommon County Councils undertake specific flood alleviation projects within the River Suck catchment....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Ahascragh River forms part of the Ahascragh River Drainage District for which the responsibility for maintenance rests with the relevant local authority, in this case Galway County Council. Under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, as amended, all local authorities are required to provide to the Office of Public Works (OPW) an annual report in respect of the condition of the Drainage...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (7 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The flood alleviation project for the St. Flannan's College and Ballybeg areas in Ennis (known as the Ennis South Flood relief Scheme) is being progressed by Clare County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW and the Council are currently in discussion regarding aspects of the cost benefit analysis report prepared by the Council's consultants for the identified...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Station Refurbishment (7 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. The Commissioners of Public Works undertake refurbishments and routine maintenance to Garda Stations on foot of requests and priorities assigned by An Garda Síochána. A request has been received, to convert an existing Garage at Newcastlewest Garda Station into a new locker room, which would then allow the existing locker...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Station Closures (7 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Justice, as part of An Garda Síochána's rationalisation programme, announced the closure of 139 Garda stations between 2012 and 2013. The Office Of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility to manage properties which have been deemed surplus to the requirements of An Garda Síochána. The OPW policy for disposing of these surplus State properties is as...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Station Closures (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I will take the Senator's three questions. He asked whether the 16 stations that have been given for community use all went through the same process where consideration was given first to their disposal on the open market. I will check this out as most of this happened before my appointment, but my understanding is that they did. The commissioners make an evaluation as to whether there is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Station Closures (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Senator has asked a fair question whether, even if the OPW Commissioners were to dispose of the Garda station in Kilfinane and the disposal were not to take place for a significant period, if the OPW consider an interim use. I will raise that issue with my officials and will come back directly to the Senator.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Station Closures (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Heffernan for his kind words on my appointment. I very much appreciate them. I also appreciate the opportunity afforded by the Adjournment debate raised by him for me to update Seanad Éireann on closed Garda stations and what has happened to date, and to respond to the question of the cost of maintaining such premises. In relation to the State's property assets, the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Station Closures (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. The Local Authority may carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using its own resources. It may also apply to the Office of Public Works for funding for flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. If Kerry County...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together. Moneycashen, which consists of parts of the townlands of Kilmore, Cloghane & Knoppoge in the Cashen area, was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) as a location where coastal flood risk was potentially significant. A detailed assessment is being carried out under the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Records (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy, as it relates to the Office of Public Works, is not readily available in the format requested. The Commissioners of Public Works are currently assembling the information. The Commissioners would point out that they would not be able to comment as to whether documents stored on behalf of client Departments and or Offices would be intended for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes Status (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works has statutory responsibility for the maintenance of the Glore River, which forms part of the Moy Arterial Drainage Scheme. Works are progressing at present on this river as part of the OPW arterial drainage maintenance programme for 2014. Due to low water some works may be delayed. Liaison is continuing with the environmental stakeholders and, with continued...