Results 8,441-8,460 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There are currently 8 Secretaries-General (and equivalents) who by virtue of their appointment prior to reforms introduced by me in 2011, retain the "old TLAC terms" which entitles them to a severance payment of 6 months' salary and up to 10 added years' service. There are 3 levels of Secretary-General in pay terms with different pay rates. The pay rate would also be dependent on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department currently holds information on the salary rates being paid to Chief Executive Officers of some 60 non-commercial State-sponsored bodies. A 10% reduction in the salaries paid to those CEOs would amount to around €767,000.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no commercial semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the potential annual savings to the Exchequer if board members fees were reduced by 25%. Agency Annual Savings to Exchequer Public Appointments Service €8,764 The Valuation Tribunal €29,050 Total €37,814 The non-commercial State sponsored bodies under my remit are the Special European Union Programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to questions nos. 147 and 148 on 9 July 2014 in which I referred the Deputy to my reply to questions nos. 399 and 400 on 16 July 2013 (refs. 34463/13 and 34464/13). The position and figures remain as outlined in that reply.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Based on current rates, a 50% reduction in the Officeholder allowances (salaries) payable in respect of the positions of Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister and Minister of State would yield an annual saving of €805,762.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Based on current rates, the Officeholder allowances (salaries) payable in respect of all Oireachtas Officeholder positions amount to a total of €1,789,448 per annum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Based on the amounts currently payable, a reduction of 10% in the Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly called the Party Leaders Allowance) would yield an annual saving of €765,857.  The Parliamentary Activities Allowance was last reduced in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The allowances currently payable to Chairpersons of Oireachtas Committees amount to a total of €139,840 per annum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The allowances currently payable to certain Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission amount to a total of €61,667 per annum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The two Ministers of State who regularly attend meetings of the Government are each paid an allowance of €15,829 per annum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The annual saving to the Exchequer, if the salaries of the Special Advisors in my Department were capped at the first point of the non-PPC Principal Officer grade, would be €42,844. In the context of current Special Advisor's pay, the first point of the Principal Officer scale, referred to, applies to those appointed prior to 1 January 2013.  Arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Exchequer Savings (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The current provision available under the Direct Purchase Scheme to TDs and Senators is a maximum of €750 every 18 months for the purchase of one mobile phone, car kit, installation costs and insurance subject to an application with receipts and proof of all of the expenditure incurred.  The Deputy may wish to note that Ministers and Ministers of State are not eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the total cost of professional fees during 2014 was €2,494,281.  The annual saving to the Exchequer based on a reduction of 10% would be €249,428.  (Payments are inclusive of VAT where applicable.) My Department ensures that every effort is made to limit the use of consultants where possible.  All contracts are negotiated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.  The learning and development budget for my Department in 2015 is €350,000.  The overriding objective of learning and development as set out in the Department's Learning and Development Strategy is to implement initiatives which are fully aligned with our business priorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department does not normally collect information on overall figures for travel and subsistence in the civil and wider public service. However, in 2013 my Department carried out an analysis of spending on travel and subsistence expenditure across the Civil and Public Service. The analysis covered spending in the years 2011 and 2012 and is the most recent public service-wide analysis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (30 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As part of my responsibilities as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for the terms and conditions of employment of public servants.  However, specific policies relating to special leave from employment for public servants - other than civil servants - are dealt with on a sectoral basis by the appropriate responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ombudsman's Remit (30 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Ombudsman Act 1980 established the Office of the Ombudsman and provided a legislative mandate for the Ombudsman to monitor administrative accountability by ensuring that public service activities are carried out properly, fairly and in accordance with good administrative practice.  The Ombudsman is independent of Government and is appointed by the President. The Ombudsman is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates (30 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State on a rating authority basis. The purpose of the revaluation is to bring more equity, fairness and transparency into the local authority rating system and to distribute the commercial rates liability more equitably between ratepayers...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (30 Jun 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 278, inclusive, together. These questions all relate to consultations on the valuation process for wind energy plants. The Valuation Office completed their revaluation of Limerick at the end of 2014 when final certificates of valuation issued. The final values attributed to wind energy farms would, after the application of the Annual Rate...