Results 1,021-1,040 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----in particular in his current role.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: This matter has already been debated extensively in connection with this Bill and otherwise. The issue is not one of ends - there is a fair degree of consensus in that regard - it simply is one of means. The Minister for Finance is opposed to the amendment. I will not rehearse all of the relevant material in that regard; I will merely summarise the key points. Including a provision such as...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (11 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has spent €44.8 million in implementing the Flood Relief Scheme for the River Nore in Kilkenny City. This compares very favourably with the benefits associated with the Scheme, which are estimated to be in the order of €120 million, and have been calculated using an internationally recognised methodology. The cost associated with the construction of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (11 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The matter raised by the Deputy is currently under investigation by the Office of Public Works. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the results of the investigation are to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (11 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: A full reply to this question will be given today by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Parliamentary Question No. 205 refers.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: A number of key projects were identified as priority elements of the decentralisation programme in the Government announcement of 14 October 2008. The construction of a new headquarters building in Portlaoise for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in conjunction with a new headquarters for the Department of Education and Science in Mullingar, and a new decentralised office...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (10 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The former Garda Barracks at Barrack Street, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny is being assigned to the Affordable Housing Initiative, as per Government Decision S205511 of 15 April 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (5 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The cost of the site in question was €4.5 million. It was purchased from Killarney Town Council. I am advised that by the Commissioners of Public Works that the purchase followed best practice. The price was consistent with the price of land in the area at the time of the transaction.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (5 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: As a result of the Commissioners of Public Works inviting submissions from Local Authorities for funding of coastal protection works in 2009, Kerry County Council submitted four projects for funding. Each Local Authority was requested to prioritise the projects included in their submission. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has reviewed all projects submitted and, following a qualitative...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (5 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Commissioners of Public Works approved funding to Kerry County Council for funding to investigate the flooding problems at Glenfesk and Sneem. The carrying out of the studies is a matter for the Council.

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (5 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The buildings were occupied by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government staff and subsequently vacated to allow for works to be undertaken, after which they would re-occupy. The Office of Public Works (OPW) appointed a design team, who developed a sketch scheme that is ready to be submitted for planning permission. Progress on this is subject to funding from the...

Air Travel Tax. (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: Almost. It is south Tipperary.

Air Travel Tax. (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I am pleased to take the opportunity to comment on the air travel tax and express my regret at the decision of certain airlines to withdraw flights and services from Shannon Airport. The Minister accepts that the airline industry, with other industries within the transport sector and beyond, continues to go through a difficult trading period. However, he does not accept that the decline in...

Air Travel Tax. (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: -----band B, 2,001 to 4,000 miles, £45; band C, 4,001 to 6,000 miles, £50; and band D, over 6,000 miles, £55 in the case of economy class. These rates double in the case of tickets other than economy class. One might be tempted to argue why the airlines which use UK airports - some use them very heavily - do not bully the British Government.

Air Travel Tax. (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The base band A rate is being further increased to £12 from 1 November 2010, with increases of 30% to over 50% being applied to the other three bands, B, C and D, also from that date. In France, the civil aviation tax is charged at around €4 for EU destinations and €7 for other destinations. Moving further afield, Australia and New Zealand which, like Ireland, are extraordinarily...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: To date, the value of savings achieved from the procurement review is €21.5 million. The savings were achieved in the supply of goods and services to Government Departments, Offices, Agencies and Third Level Institutions. The savings were achieved over the supply of a large number of goods and services. Among the main areas where savings were achieved were I.T. Hardware, Energy,...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 147 together. The Government decided that "the Office of Public Works would chair a working group to develop a structured and coherent approach to the further management and development of the site, on the basis that Cork County Council would be asked to continue to discharge site management responsibilities on an agency basis...". OPW is in the...

Written Answers — Central Procurement Unit: Central Procurement Unit (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The National Public Procurement Operations Unit (NPPOU) has been established by Government Decision on 8 July 2008 and is based in the Office of Public Works, Trim, Co. Meath. The Unit is actively working to reduce costs in public procurement through a number of initiatives that include: Percentage reduction in goods and services contracts. A reduction of 8% in the cost of all goods and...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The Office of Public Works (OPW) placed a contract with P. Elliott & Co. Ltd. in the sum of €24,894,841, including VAT, for the Design and Build of the Department of Defence new headquarters at Station Road, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Work on site is well advanced and is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. Expenditure of approximately €25,500,000 has been incurred up to end...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (3 Nov 2009)

Martin Mansergh: The former Government Offices at Kells Road, Navan are State-owned, so no rental costs arise. While the OPW has no immediate use for the building, it is a very valuable and strategic site, which will be retained by the State. A range of options for its longer-term use is being considered. To maintain the basic fabric of the building and prevent its further deterioration, limited services...