Results 741-760 of 9,563 for speaker:Jack Chambers

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: It was also raised elsewhere. The Minister will be here to respond to the motion whenever it is taken. In response to Deputy Collins's point on speed limits, the reforms that have been introduced relating to speed limits in this country will make a serious difference in saving lives on our roads. We know that speed is the central factor to so many of the road deaths across the country....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: As I said previously, my central point on commencement notices is that we have a strong pipeline in place for supply with commencement notices issuing of 60,000 new homes. Feedback suggests that there is unquestionably significantly more work on site than before, aided by the Government's development levy and water connection waivers, and it is not just a matter of if but a matter of when...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: We will be strengthening the role of the State to increase housing supply and trying to complement that-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: -----by having housing policies that accelerate private investment as well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: If the Deputy was really interested in effecting Labour Party policy, she would have stayed longer in the government formation talks.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I knew from all the engagement we had, she was more interested in posturing over there than she was in playing a constructive role in government. We were open to their proposals.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: She wanted to set up a State construction company, which would take years. It would take years. Let me be clear: our central objective, in any review of housing policy, will be to increase supply and to unlock and address all of the levers of supply which are open to Government to ensure we can drive affordability for young people and to address the severe housing shortage that is there....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for the question. What I said in reply to the other Deputies is that any incoming Government should examine all of the policy options that will achieve the central objective - where I think there is consensus on in this House - how do we increase the overall supply to meet the targets that have been set over a series of years. We are open to constructive feedback and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for her question. To set out the context on housing supply, it has significantly increased since 2020, with 130,000 new homes delivered in that period. Everyone on the Government benches and across the House was disappointed with the final numbers for 2024, which were less than what we expected. However, it is not true to say that we missed our Housing for All targets....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: Let me absolutely clear. We want to protect renters across our country. We also want to increase the number of rental homes that are available for people who want to rent. Central to that proposition is increasing the number of homes built across our country. The unfortunate reality is that the Deputy's housing policy would result in a complete failure of housing supply if it was progressed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The people have had their say on that. The Deputy's party's approach is not credible. It would abolish all the supports for first-time buyers, put back the work of the Land Development Agency for years and devise a new pseudo-form of home ownership, where someone would own their house-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: -----but not the land it was built on. Let me absolutely clear to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is important that a new Government with a new mandate assesses housing policy in order that we can increase the supply both homes that are available to rent and to buy across our country. It is in this way that the Government will take action over the coming months.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. We are all encountering many constituents in Dublin and across the country who are facing difficulties with rent rises and accessing affordable homes. That is why housing policy is the single biggest issue for the Government and why we want to take further action in the area of housing. I assure the House that the Government is absolutely committed to delivering more...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 217 together. The rates payable to retired Public Servants for serving on Interview Boards are in place since 1 July 2013. The rate payable is determined by the grade an individual served at the time of retirement, see the below table for current rates. The rates are under review by my Department. Secretary General €377...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Regulations (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I wish to advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis have had EU fines for breaches of EU guidance, requirements, regulations, directives or laws.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Process (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: My Department had responsibility for three Bills which were initiated in 2024. These were the Statute Law Revision Bill 2024, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2024 and the Appropriation Act 2024. The information requested by the Deputy is set out below in respect of each. Statute Law Revision Bill 2024The Statute Law Revision Bill 2024 was initiated and passed Second Stage in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The grade for the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation is Secretary General – Level I. The salary for Secretary General Level I since 01 October 2024 is as follows: €269,968 (PPC) and €256,469 (Non-PPC). No adjustments to the existing salary are planned outside of those provided by the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Programme for Government sets out the clear ambition to prioritise the delivery of transformative, critical and growth-enhancing infrastructure over the next 5 years. To support these goals, the Government, led by my Department, has now commenced work on setting the parameters, priorities and critical milestones for the Review. It is the intention that the review will be completed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: Circular 05/2023 sets out that all public procurement tenders, where they have an estimated value above specified national thresholds, must be advertised on the national electronic tendering platform (eTenders). As such, the estimated value of individual public procurement tenders is captured in a central system (eTenders) and available to my Department to report on, on an aggregated basis,...