Results 5,121-5,140 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: There are many thousands of people across the country who went above and beyond over the course of the last two years. The continued contribution of so many people in all walks of life has been essential to getting us through this difficult time. Collaboration and solidarity have been the hallmark of our national approach to COVID-19 and the measures announced on 19 January are true to those...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 68 together. In July, 2021 the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service which is in line with the Programme for Government commitment mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working.  The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 70 together. As the Deputy might appreciate, issues involving the pension schemes in relation to the Commercial Semi State companies can be complex. They also involve a range of different stakeholders and are influenced by a number of different factors such as those which impact on the overall value of pension funds. There is also a historical...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: Supporting society and the economy has been a Government priority since the onset of the pandemic. Supports were introduced swiftly in 2020, with a range of schemes introduced to support incomes, employment and key public services. Over €16½ billion in funding was made available for measures to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic during 2020, which provided for essential economic...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Budget 2022 expenditure ceilings reflect funding of €6.8 billion for our public services to address the challenges of Covid-19 with a further €0.2 billion of investments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Just over €4 billion of this amount was held in reserve. In REV 2022, just under €0.1 of the contingency was allocated with €51...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Data (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: Ensuring public expenditure is sustainable over the medium term is essential to allow us to continue to invest in our economy and society to deliver improvements in infrastructure and public services, while reducing the deficit in order to underpin the sustainability of the public finances as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. I have provided detailed information separately for the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 99 together. It is anticipated that the Blended Working Policy Framework will be finalised shortly, following conclusion of the engagement with employee representatives.  Once finalised, the Framework will be rolled out to all civil service organisations and will inform the development of organisational blended working policies which will be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The details requested by the Deputy on salaries and pensions in respect of Special Advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State employed in my Department in 2020 and 2021 will be set out in a table that will be supplied to the Deputy. 2020 Salary and Pension 2021 Salary and Pension Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform Pascal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: An Garda Síochána (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: Officials from the Office of Government Procurement in my Department assisted An Garda Síochána in the procurement process for a new uniform, with An Garda Síochána holding responsibility for developing the specifications based on requirements and intended use.  An Garda Síochána evaluated the tender submissions received, awarded the contract and made all...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: In recognition of the challenges that households are facing with rising energy costs we announced a package of measures on 10 February.   The package of measures is intended to be targeted and timely, in order to help with the immediate challenges that households are facing with energy costs. These measures seek to assist households on lower incomes and other families who are facing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The proportion of Departmental spending on pay and pensions will vary in line with the functions carried out by each Department.  The latest available information on funding in relation to pay and pensions for the years 2017 to 2022 for each Department is set out below.  The information for the years 2017 to 2019 is based on the appropriation account figures for those years which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: In the first instance, it is a matter for the Government Department under whose aegis responsibility for individual Commercial Semi State Bodies falls to consider and approve any changes to pension scheme rules or changes to discretionary benefits  with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This includes matters such as pension increase proposals. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 101, 112 and 116 together. Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Service Level Agreements (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I do not have any role in the negotiation of service level agreements at HSE level. This is a matter for my colleague, the Minister of Health.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The existing legal framework for public procurement provides considerable opportunity to incorporate environmental, including circular economy, considerations into procurement projects. Under the European Union Procurement Directives, cost may be calculated using Life-Cycle Costing (LCC), which takes into account costs at end-of-life, such as those associated with disposal, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: On 15 February, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022. The General Scheme has been published and referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach for pre-legislative scrutiny. I have instructed my officials to give whatever support the Committee requires in terms of briefing or clarification...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has provided grant funding to Benefacts since 2015. The project was funded as a pathfinder initiative in the area of data analytics on the non-profit sector. Benefacts was initially co-funded with philanthropy, however in recent years the Department has been providing the majority of funding to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: In recognition of the challenge that households are facing at the moment, in particular those on low incomes, a suite of measures was announced on February 10th to assist citizens with rising costs of living.  This package sought to balance targeting the main underlying problem of higher energy prices with the need to operate with the fiscal framework set out in the Summer Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Priorities (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 113 together. The Government is aware of the challenge posed to households, particularly those on lower incomes, by the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices.  In recognition of this, a suite of measures was announced on February 10th to mitigate the impact of recent inflation on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (1 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: In 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. This instructs Departments to consider using green criteria in their procurements, and to include green considerations in the planning and reporting cycles. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) fully embraces switching to green procurement. A key...