Results 4,801-4,820 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (10 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department, including the Office of Government Procurement, does not engage external firms or agencies for the purpose set out in the question. One of the responsibilities of my Department's Press Office is to communicate in a strategic and effective manner my Department’s messages and goals to all stakeholders.  The Press...

Estimates for Public Services 2022 (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 27—International Co-operation (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €603,902,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2022, for certain Official Development Assistance, including certain grants, and for contributions to certain International...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Pensions (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will appreciate detailed matters in relation to Garda pensions are in the first instance the responsibility of the Minister for Justice. However, in broad terms, I can outline the policy reforms introduced in 1995 for public service pensions and how this affects pension entitlements. In 1995, the Government decided that full social welfare cover should be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: Funding raised by the National Lottery plays a very important role in supporting a range of good causes at national, regional and community level.  My Department has no direct involvement in the allocation of National Lottery Good Causes funding. As set out in section 41 of the National Lottery Act, 2013 the National Lottery Regulator transfers moneys from the National Lottery Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Gender Proofing of Policies (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Equality Budgeting and Well-being Budgeting initiatives are part of the ongoing development of Ireland’s performance framework that also includes the Performance Budgeting and Green Budgeting initiatives, the ongoing development of the Public Spending Code, the Establishment of the Irish Government Economic & Evaluation Service and the Spending Review process.   ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will appreciate, many workers went above and beyond over the course of the last two years very challenging years. Their continued contribution has been essential to getting us through this difficult time. After careful consideration, the Government made decisions earlier this year in relation to recognition of these efforts.  A national day of recognition and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Programme for Government commits to gradually increasing the carbon tax over the next decade to reach €100 a tonne by 2030. The funds raised by these increases in the carbon tax will allow for an additional €9.5bn of Government spending over the decade. €3bn is to be allocated to targeted social welfare and other initiatives to ensure a Just Transition, €5...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, there are different employee contribution arrangements applying to public service pension schemes depending on when individuals joined their relevant scheme. Accordingly, I have addressed the question raised below based on whether an individual is a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme or the Single Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently two staff members from my Department seconded out to administrative roles in the third level sector. One member of staff is seconded to Dublin City University and the other is seconded to the Technological Higher Education Association. The Secondment Policy, and associated Guidelines and FAQs, published by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (4 May 2022)

Michael McGrath: My Department is currently seeking to establish if any fines have been incurred for failure to transpose an EU Directive on time.  I will communicate with the Deputy directly once that process has been completed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Targets (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The draft stability programme update, SPU, 2022, published on 13 April, outlines the latest fiscal and economic projections for 2022. The SPU outlines core expenditure of €80.1 billion for 2022. With non-core expenditure of €7.5 billion, including in respect of Covid funding and the Brexit adjustment reserve, this gives an overall...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Targets (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: In the current year, we provided for a reserve of almost €4 billion, €1.5 billion of which has now been spent or accounted for. That €4 billion was, in effect, earmarked for Covid-related expenditure. It is anticipated it will not all be needed for that, although some of it certainly will. We have said that the cost of looking after Ukrainian refugees who come here...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Targets (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy knows, in the stability programme update we have made provision of up to €3 billion for the cost of looking after refugees across a full year next year. It is a high-level estimate. In truth, we simply do not know what the real cost will be. So much depends on the number of people who come here, how many of them stay, and to what extent they will join the labour force...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I will come back to the Deputy with the specific details of the project concerned, the Ballina to Killaloe river crossing. I wish to reassure him that the strengthening of the external assurance process is not designed, in any way, to slow down or delay the delivery of projects. All the evidence, in this regard, indicates that the single most effective way to address scheduled delay, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank both Deputies for raising these issues. On the question of delays, I want to provide reassurance again that these new strengthened procedures are not there to delay projects, nor do I believe that they are delaying projects. One of the key elements for Departments when bringing forward major projects is that they must engage with the panel of external experts that my Department has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I believe there will be great interest in the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, because it will essentially involve providing grants to renovate derelict vacant properties. We all know that there are too many of them in our towns and villages around Ireland. They are located in communities where services are already in place. Many of them are in the centre of towns and villages. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies very much for raising those points. In regard to planning, they will be aware of the major initiative that is currently under way, which is led by the Attorney General. We are expecting new consolidated planning legislation later this year, which is a very significant step that we believe will help to ease some of the blockages that currently exist in the system and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 93, 98 and 133 together. The Government has committed €165 billion in capital investment through the national development plan, NDP. As a percentage of national income, annual capital investment is now among the largest in the European Union. In the current year, almost €12 billion will fund vital infrastructure in areas such as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out at budget time in the expenditure report with further detail then provided in the Revised Estimates for public services. Following allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for each Minister to assign funding as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: If the Deputy examines the facts, this Government is delivering for the northside of Cork city. Indeed, it is delivering for all of Cork and there is a fair allocation of resources. looking at the investment from this Government that is now going into the northside across a range of areas, such as a number of housing schemes with which the Deputy will be very familiar, including in...