Results 45,381-45,400 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Deputy Boyd Barrett never needed one.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the criteria in place for a student to avail of a smaller exam centre in a State exam and also for a student to have a person read the exam questions during the junior or leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49868/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the backlog for carer's allowance payments; the number of outstanding applications; the average length of time each new claim takes to process from initial application to payment; the number of staff allocated to deal with new claims; the steps she take to reduce the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50114/12]

Tax Transparency Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: I will be brief. At the outset, I ask for less than a minute of the Ceann Comhairle's forbearance regarding an issue referred to by Deputy O'Donovan just prior to the Ceann Comhairle's arrival in the Chamber. This is my last opportunity to raise it before the Dáil adjourns for the week. Another Member of the House, Deputy Mattie McGrath, made comments on the national broadcaster...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Does the HSE see a value from the allowance?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: I have two more questions. There is craft worker's tool allowance, an allowance given to craft workers for the purchase of their tools. I understand it is abolished for new beneficiaries. I though this was peculiar. We have this provision in other sectors, such as the local authorities. I understand 352 staff received this allowance in 2011 and it amounted to €280,497. What...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: To reiterate, it would be useful to see on-call and seasonal allowances broken down by grade. One of the key bodies of work we have been doing in the past number of meetings is to try to look at where the allowances are going and the salary scale of those receiving the allowances so that we have an informed opinion on whether these people are earning a substantial public sector salary or...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Yes, I am referring to sessional allowances.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. I accept the point on front-line services but do we have a breakdown on how much of the overtime bill is derived from absenteeism, albeit on the front line?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Okay. Does Mr. O'Brien know how much agency nursing costs to replace nurses who are out due to absenteeism?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: I accept that and I do not want to badger on about the question. I am just trying to work out if the HSE has an estimate of the cost of absenteeism.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: I take Mr. O'Brien's point, although I am not overly pleased with it. When I speak to private sector companies, they can clearly tell me the cost of absenteeism to their organisations. I accept that Mr. O'Brien is operating off a complex payroll system, but it would be interesting to have an idea of the cost to the taxpayer of absenteeism in the health service. If Mr. O'Brien wants to come...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: How much do the agencies cost?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Let me try a more straightforward way of putting the question. What is the cost of overtime for nurses?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: No, I mean what was the total amount spent by the HSE on overtime for nurses in 2011? Am I right in saying that figure is a cumulative one for the whole organisation?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: I am just wondering if there is a breakdown for the figure of €169,857. How much of that is accounted for by nurses or consultants?

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: We need a bit more detail before we can form a viewpoint on some of these. I wish to have a quick look at some of the allowances. I understand that the living-out allowance for registrars, house officers and interns is paid to non-consultant doctors who are rotating between hospitals to help them secure temporary accommodation which is not available on the hospital site. In Mr. O'Brien's...

Public Accounts Committee: Health Service Executive - Review of Allowances (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Harris: Does the HSE hope to review the rate of this allowance?