Results 9,321-9,340 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that in recent years the position regarding opportunities for employment in the public service generally have been limited by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion which was announced on the 27th March, 2009.  In Budget 2015, I was pleased to be able to announce that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In answer to the Deputy's question my priorities for the remainder of my term in office are consistent with the priorities outlined in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 published by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton on Friday 11 July 2014.  In the area of responsible and sustainable management of the public finances in addition to working towards...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There are 13 staff in my Department who are currently on a sabbatical/career break. The duration of leave currently availed off can be broken down as follows: Length of Leave of Absence Number of Staff 0 - 6 months 0 6 - 12 months 2 1 - 2 years 3 2 - 3 years 2 3 - 4 years 5 4 - 5 years 1 5 years plus 0 Total 13

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the engagement of all service-providers by my Department is done within the parameters of value for money with every effort made to minimise costs. In line with stated Government policy, all public bodies must use a competitive process for the purchase of any goods and services, whatever the value. The OPW has availed of the centralised...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Relations Contracts Data (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 172 together. In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that, with the exception of the Office of Public Works, no external public relations firm was availed of by my Department since its formation. However the engagement of all service-providers by my Department is done within the parameters of value for money with every effort made to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The total amount spent on external IT consultants by my Department each year since its establishment in June 2011 is as follows:  Year Amount 2011 €0 2012 €30,750 2013 €164,608 2014 €478,514

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Data (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My Department awards contracts for IT consultancy following requests for tenders advertised on the public procurement website, . These are typically awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous of the tenders received. My Department was established in June 2011. While no contracts for external IT consultants have been re-negotiated since then, all new contracts have been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following tables outline the number of appointments to State Boards under my remit, including recommendations, credentials and if vacancies were advertised, since the formation of my Department in 2011: An Post National Lottery Board Member Date Appointed Recommended By Credentials If vacancy advertised Mr. Donal Connell (Chairman) Re-appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Requests (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the Freedom of Information request details you are seeking concerning my Department since its formation in March 2011: Freedom of Information Request details 2011 - 2014 Details 2011 2012 2013 2014 Number of Requests received 61 178 99 110 Number of Requests refused 5 20 8 14 Number of Requests granted 38 51 29 55...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Data (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the total amount spent on external consultancy reports commissioned by my Department since its inception in 2011: Name of External Report Costs Date or Expected Date of Publication Name of External Consultant Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement €35,819.80 June 2011 MKO...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Expenses (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question please see  in the table hereunder details of the total annual spend on  staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. Year 2011 2012 2013 To date 2014 Staff Subsistence Payments €147,923.94 €211,881.60 €280,746.09 €173,358.17 Staff Taxi Payments...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Costs (18 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response the Deputy's question the following table is a list of total legal costs incurred by my Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014: Legal Cost Department / Office Year Amount Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 2011 Nil =  2012 €91,821.00 = 2013 €188,512.59 = 2014 €184,031.00 Office of Public Works 2011 €342,033.24 = 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: It would not be appropriate for me to comment publicly on the details of individual pensions cases. Pensions overpayment cases are unusual but do sometimes arise where a case is particularly complex. Where the collation of relevant data has not been completed before an individual retires, every effort is made to ensure that the retiree is not left out of pocket, even if this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Valuations (17 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under section 28 (4) of the Valuation Act 2001, a Revision Officer appointed by the Commissioner of Valuation may carry out a revision of valuation in relation to a particular property only if a material change of circumstances has occurred such as the coming into being of a new building, a change in value due to structural alterations of an existing building, total or partial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: International Agreements (17 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has no policy role in relation to the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The matter is primarily for the Minister for Justice and Equality and, I understand, a number of other Ministers whose policy remit is also relevant to the provisions of the Convention.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (17 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In Budget 2015, I was pleased to be able to announce that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014 and continuing during 2015. The Deputy may wish to be aware that a number of open competitions have already taken place or are in process including: - Clerical Officer with an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (17 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The position is that where an individual has availed of a career break, that person is not guaranteed that s/he will return to the same position as s/he previously held. I refer the Deputy to my previous reply to his similar question regarding career break schemes and the return to work provisions of such schemes. (Reply No. 86 dated 4 December, 2014). The return to work...

Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships Data (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have indicated that the expectation is that it will be of the order of €440 million annually-----

Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships Data (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Early in the new year. I do not have with it.

Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships Data (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I can give the Deputy a breakdown of the PPPs per sector. In health, 14 primary care centres across the country will be delivered. A shortlist of tenderers has been selected and the final tenders are due to be returned in February 2015. Those 14 centres, which are not substantial in money terms overall, will be delivered by PPPs. The roads sector investment will see the delivery of three...