Results 6,261-6,280 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Work is well underway on preparing Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which is required to access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The Plan will set out the reforms and investments to be supported by the Facility. The aim of the RRF is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the pandemic and make European economies and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The review of the National Development Plan was brought forward in order to ensure alignment with the new Programme for Government. Crucially, the review of the NDP will also be aligned with the work being progressed as part of the Climate Action Plan and the National Economic Recovery Plan. The NDP review commenced in October 2020 and considers five fundamental elements: what the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Compliance with the public spending code in the disbursement of public funds is a matter for each contracting authority and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is charged with responsibility for auditing and reporting on the accounts of each Government Department in that respect. The Local Authority Audit Service performs a similar function for Local Authorities. It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I should first explain that as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform I am responsible for the annual Estimates of Expenditure, and for the multi-year capital envelopes, which set the overall capital allocations across Departments; and for the ongoing monitoring of expenditure, both current and capital, that takes place across the Departments. Responsibility for the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: EU public procurement rules apply across all Member States within the European Union. Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement (goods, services and works) has been transposed into Irish Law in the form of corresponding Regulations under SI No. 284 of 2016 which form the legal basis for the national rules governing public procurement. Accordingly, the legislative basis for the public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Data (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 125 together. Budget 2021 provided for an overall expenditure ceiling €87.8 billion this year. Of this funding, €75¾ billion was allocated to core expenditure programmes with €6½ billion allocated to Departments for measures related to Covid-19. Further to this, €5.4 billion was set aside in reserve to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 97 and 109 together. The Deputy will be aware that the matter of community employment schemes falls within the policy remit of my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. I have however a strong appreciation of the role of Community Employment Schemes in communities right across the country and I know this role could not be fulfilled without...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: In 2017, the European Commission Communication on making Public Procurement work in and for Europe presented a public procurement strategy that sets out the overall policy framework and defined clear priorities to improve procurement in practice and support investment within the EU. The Communication states that strategic public procurement should play a bigger role for central and local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: In 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. The Circular instructs Departments to consider including green criteria in public procurement processes where: - Clearly defined, quantifiable, verifiable, and measurable criteria have been developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The current pay rates for senior civil service grades (Secretary General, Deputy Secretary, and Assistant Secretary) are as set out in Circular 12 of 2020, which is available here: These rates may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Regarding Secretaries General, the gradings of these posts were informed by recommendations of the Review Body on Higher...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, I have overall responsibility for EU Cohesion Policy and primary responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which includes European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) Funds – also referred to as INTERREG Funds. The Minister for Education & Skills has primary responsibility for the European Social Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Public Service Innovation Fund (PSIF) which launched as a pilot in May 2019, is a competitive fund managed by the Reform Division in DPER. The Fund was established to support innovative ideas from across public service organisations. To date 52 projects (2019 & 2020) have been supported by the PSIF totalling €1.5 million. Some projects have digitised or automated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Workplace Relations Commission (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am aware that SIPTU has been engaging with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in relation to the terms and conditions of its members who are political support staff of Oireachtas Members. The staff in question are employed in the Houses of the Oireachtas by individual TDs and Senators. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act, 2003 requires the Commission, in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Since the beginning of this pandemic, Government has committed significant resources to ensuring that our society is in the best possible place to withstand the impacts of Covid-19. Since March 2020, a provision of over €28 billion has been made available for expenditure measures to support our people, businesses and key public services. This substantial funding provision across 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I should first explain that as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform I am responsible for setting the overall multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings for each Ministerial Vote Group as set out in the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. My Department is also responsible for maintaining the national frameworks within which Departments operate to ensure appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2021 (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2021 provided for an overall expenditure ceiling of €87.8 billion this year. As set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services (REV) 2021, nearly €82.4 billion of this has been allocated at a departmental level. €75¾ billion of this has been allocated to core expenditure programmes with €6½ billion allocated to Departments for measures...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: There is no central information on numbers of Civil and Public Servants currently working from home. My Department proactively supports employers across the Civil and Public Service in managing workplace attendance through the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19.This document is regularly updated to reflect any changes in public health guidance and government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I would like to thank Deputy for the question. The Deputy will be aware that a large programme of reform has been under way since the establishment of this Department in 2011. Reform of public services will continue to play an integral role in this Department's function as we recover our economy and society from the colossal and pervasive impacts of the Covid19 pandemic. In fact, this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I and my Department are responsible for the civil service pension schemes, which cover personnel in established and unestablished civil service and State Industrial posts. It would be a matter for those sectoral authorities, including relevant Ministers, to supply such information as may be available in respect of the wider public service. The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement)...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government is committed to public capital investment as both a stabiliser and stimulus in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Investment is set to increase significantly over the coming years as part of the National Development Plan, and so it is opportune to assess whether capacity across public service bodies is keeping pace with these increased investment levels. My Department recently...