Results 6,341-6,360 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out below. Office of Public Works The Office of Public Works (OPW) was notified by the Digital Government Oversight Unit (DGOU) in my Department on 23 March 2021 of a new electronic portal for submission of Start of Year and End of Year Returns for ICT expenditure and Requests for Specific...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 416 together. The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below. In line with Standing Order 51A, I have been advised that the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) will respond directly to the Deputy within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: Circular 02/2016, issued by my Department, sets out arrangements for the oversight of Digital and ICT projects and initiatives across the Public Service. While staff costs are not included, submissions should include costs relating to external resources.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy regarding the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below. In line with Standing Order 51A, I have been advised that the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) will respond directly to the Deputy within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing of Budgets (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: Equality Budgeting is a way of approaching and understanding the budget as a process that embodies long-standing societal choices about how resources are used, rather than simply a neutral process of resource allocation. In practice, this means that equality budgeting attempts to provide greater information on how proposed or ongoing budgetary decisions impact on particular groups in society,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Remote Working (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government, has committed, in the Programme for Government, to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working in 2021. In this context, My Department is, as a matter of priority, working with employers across the Civil Service to develop the longer term approach to remote working in the sector. My Department is also working closely with the wider public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy will be aware that the matter of community employment schemes falls within the policy remit of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs & 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 the leadership of the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy will be aware that the matter of community employment schemes falls within the policy remit of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs & 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 the leadership of the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Civil Service HR Policy Division within my Department regularly issues Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19. The most recent update was released on the 8th of March 2021. Section 1.1 of this document, which is based on public health advice and the Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021, provides guidance for employers in relation to who should attend the work premise...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Sign Language (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department is committed to meeting all of its statutory obligations and providing the best possible service to relevant stakeholders. Due to the nature of its role, my Department does not generally provide services directly to the public or to businesses. The Department is currently in the process of completing a survey issued by the National Disability Authority on the operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below Title of Act Date signed into law Current Position Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 4 March, 2019 Certain provisions of the Act were commenced by S.I. 189/2019, including parts 1 and 5, sections 9-12 and most of parts 6 and 10. It was originally planned to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that under the EU Procurement Directives, different procurement thresholds apply in respect of the acquisition of works, services and supplies / goods. To facilitate monitoring and reporting in that regard, the Department records on an ongoing basis the value over their lifetime of all formal contracts, and informal contracts valued over €5,000, entered into...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department can be contacted by e-mail at minister@per.gov.ie. As the Deputy is aware, Circular 25/2016 states that State Bodies under the aegis of Government Departments must provide and maintain a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members.  The relevant information in respect of the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires that an annual report be published in relation to disclosures received by the Department.  This is available on the Department's website on gov.ie, at the link below, and sets out that there were no protected disclosures received between the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (25 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") was adopted by the European Council and Parliament on 23 October 2019. Ireland is one of just 10 EU Member States to already have comprehensive whistleblowing laws in place, in the form of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, and is considered a leading country in this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: Disability services in Ireland are provided through a mix of HSE direct provision as well as through non-statutory Section 38/39 service providers and private providers.  The Department of Health currently has responsibility for Government policy on disability services.  While my Department engages with the Department of Health on expenditure on disability services, the progression...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) represents an important response by the European Union to the challenges posed by the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU.  Ireland played a leading role in securing support for the Reserve at the marathon European Council meeting last July. The purpose of the BAR is to help counter the adverse economic and social consequences of Brexit...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (24 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department is committed to ensuring that the process of engagement between the parties to pay negotiations including the recent negotiations which were facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission is based on fairness in the treatment of all concerned. While the LEVEL 5 restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic presented very real challenges to the conduct of negotiations on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (24 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Public Service Agreements, including the current agreement 'Building Momentum', encompass public servants only. The pay and conditions of public servants are the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the agreements are negotiated on that basis. Section 39 organisations are grant-funded by the Health Service Executive under Section 39 of the Health Act...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the management of capital budgets and individual projects is a matter for the relevant Departments in the first instance. What I can say is the capital carryover mechanism is in place to assist Departments with the management of their capital spend across years to alleviate pressures and delays caused by unexpected events.  This mechanism allowed...