Results 61-80 of 9,898 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies (25 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies sets out the process whereby State Boards have clear authority in their sphere, to guide the operation of the State body and to hold the CEO and senior management to account against the organisation’s strategy. Payment of taxable benefits is a matter for the company in line with tax law. Remuneration packages of Commercial...

Seanad: Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation: Statements (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the Members of the House for the opportunity to attend today to discuss the important work programme of my Department. I will cover several key priorities and my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, who will be shortly, will touch on the elements of the Department's work related to her remit in her closing remarks. My Department operates from...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy is absolutely right on that. I was actually at the infrastructure committee for most of the afternoon where we discussed this at length. In the summer economic statement and budget 2026, we have prioritised capital investment in the economy. There is €19 billion being allocated next year, which is about 5.3% of GNI*, which is a significant signal from us about trying to...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: We are taking a different approach to ELS this year where we are looking at the totality of expenditure. In the initial engagement we have had with all Ministers, the emphasis has been on reform, efficiency and the delivery of services on the baseline expenditure. That is informing the allocation in terms of their existing service but also what might be possible for next year. We are...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is not about cutting. For example, where we have increased overall expenditure, the measurable outputs from that in previous years has varied across different expenditure lines in terms of service delivery for citizens. Different policy changes are made in any given year, which mean the actual ELS within any Department can vary and change within the year and following further Government...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is being negotiated with every Department based on what is available. There is engagement across every Department. For example - I think everyone will see this - there are certain expenditure lines where despite significant increased investment, we are not seeing the level of output or service and there is a requirement for reform. Just setting additional expenditure on that existing...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is a total package of €7.9 billion from an expenditure perspective. We are negotiating with each Department on that basis. The engagement is on the totality of that. We are not just negotiating new measures and in calculating-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is important to promote reform in the context of the expenditure discussions we are having. The carry-over requires analysis of usage or the intensification of a particular scheme, for example. That can vary and is dependent on lots of factors. In the health system the demand profile has been increasing and continues to increase. In other areas the demand might fall. That is why there...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: Everything is being negotiated.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: The medium-term expenditure framework was more a backward-looking piece about the expenditure drivers over the past five years. What the Deputy is referring to is a medium-term fiscal and structural plan which will contain the expenditure ceilings and will set out all of the detail he has requested. It is not and was never meant to be that. It is an analysis of the 45% increase in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: As for what we are trying to do in the budget process, there are two elements of additional expenditure we have added this year. Some of it relates to capital and we have provided for significant uplift in capital in the medium term with the national development plan review. Second, with the medium-term fiscal and structural plan and the moderation of current expenditure, which we have...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: Well, I accept the issue is being-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: In fairness, there was a series of crises. including inflation at 10%, Covid and the war in Ukraine,which precipitated and necessitated Government decisions and that cumulative impact created a 9% increase in expenditure. That level of expenditure over the next five years is not a sustainable position. What the medium-term expenditure framework sets out is where we have particular...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: Very quickly, as I know two of the questions relate to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, we have published multi-annual capital ceilings. For example, Irish Water has €12 million over the next five years and can plan and sequence that expenditure in the context of the different strategies that were set out and we will be publishing sectoral investment plans, as we discussed at the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: Yes, €2.3 billion of that related to capital expenditure. To clarify, in what way does the Deputy mean "planned"?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: Yes, in particular areas. We made decisions-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: We made decisions relating to €3.3 billion of it.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: No, we made a decision and that was reflected in the SES.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: That still has to be allocated across different Departments.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget 2026 Engagement (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Jack Chambers: It is, right now.