Results 5,441-5,460 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: The update of the Public Spending Code in 2019 combined with lessons learned from domestic projects and international best practice highlighted the need for more structured scrutiny of major public investment projects, particularly in the areas of planned delivery, costings and risk. This is to ensure that Government is making decisions with a full picture of the proposal, its costs, risks...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: Under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (the “Commission”) has the power to regulate the provision of “secretarial facilities” to Members. “Secretarial facilities” is a term encompassing the staff employed under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance. The Act requires the Commission to obtain the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: Total gross voted expenditure for 2021, as reported in the December Fiscal Monitor, amounted to €87,542 million. This comprised almost €77.6 billion in current spending and over €9.9 billion in capital expenditure. This level of expenditure is nearly €2.3 billion or 2.6% higher than expenditure in 2020. The total gross amount allocated to Ministerial Vote...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: Information on expenditure is published each month in the Fiscal Monitor.  The gross capital expenditure to end-December 2021 for each Department can be found on pages 19 and 20 of the Fiscal Monitor, published on 5 January 2022.  For the Deputy’s convenience, I have included a table below detailing the gross capital expenditure position for 2021 and the 2022 gross capital...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: The update of the Public Spending Code in 2019 combined with lessons learned from domestic projects and international best practice highlighted the need for more structured scrutiny of major public investment projects, particularly in the areas of planned delivery, costings and risk. This is to ensure that Government is making decisions with a full picture of the proposal, its costs, risks...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cybersecurity Policy (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179, 180 and 181 together. My Department implements a multi-layered approach to cyber security and to protecting ICT systems, infrastructures, and services. Information relating to services provided and or responses initiated to events in other Departments should be directed to these Departments. The threat landscape is constantly evolving and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: Action 20 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan provides for the implementation of a programme of organisational capability reviews, the purpose being: ‘To embed a culture of regular and objective assessments of the capacity and capability of each Department to achieve its objectives and take the necessary action to close any gaps.’ Six reviews have  been completed to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that in November 2020 my Department published Ireland’s first Public Service Innovation Strategy – ‘Making Innovation Real’. This strategy aims to develop, foster and sustain innovation capacity and capability across the public service. High level goals focus on developing user-centred services; developing an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 186, 187 and 191 together. Since the onset of the pandemic, significant additional funding had been provided by Government to allow Departments respond to the impact of the pandemic on citizens, businesses and public services. This expenditure, to fund temporary measures to address the impact of the pandemic, has been dealt with separately from...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Project Ireland 2040 (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. The National Development Plan (NDP) was published on 4thOctober 2021, committing to an overall investment of €165 billion in the years from 2021 to 2030. It is important to acknowledge that the majority of public investment projects are delivered on budget and on time and there is a high level of professionalism across the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will agree, the global pandemic and the UK’s departure from the EU have dominated the policy landscape over the last two years.  In relation to the global pandemic, significant direct expenditure supports have been put in place by the Government since early 2020 to respond to the impacts of COVID-19.  This funding has been critical in supporting people...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (20 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: Public Procurement in Ireland is governed by EU and National Rules. The National Public Procurement Policy Framework (NPPPF) sets out the overarching policy which consists of five strands: 1. Legislation (Directives, Regulations) 2. Government Policy (Circulars etc.) 3. Capital Works Management Framework for Public Works and Construction related Services 4. General Procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370, 397, 398, 399, 400 and 401 together. The National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs. The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: The OPW employs approximately 2500 staff across a wide range of craft, technical, administrative, and management disciplines.  All staff have important roles to play that bring great value to those availing of OPW services.   While there are many different grades and classifications of employee involved, the OPW values all of its staff equally and works hard to minimise the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: The framework for the management of Exchequer grants is set out in Circular 13/2014 Management and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds apply. The overall principle is that there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public money, in line with economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The circular provides that Grantees should submit their audited...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In July, 2021, the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service, which was developed by the Civil Service Management Board.  The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 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: Industrial Relations (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: It should be noted that Community and Voluntary sector organisations are not public service bodies and their employees are not public servants. Accordingly, my Department does not have a direct role in relation to these workers as their terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the relevant private sector employers in the first instance.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Communications (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: In response to the Deputy's question I have not received any communications from former Taoiseach Brian Cowen in relation to product specified.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: Section 483 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, provides for a gift on an annual basis to be made to the Minister for Finance to be applied for any purpose for or towards the cost of which public moneys are provided.  Gifts are accepted by the Minister for Finance. Gifting of salary is a personal matter for individual taxpayers. If an official wishes to gift part of his or her...