Results 11,341-11,360 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware in 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members.  Under the new arrangements Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or location to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Shared Services is a key element of the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016.  Significant progress has been made in relation to Shared Services, both as a concept and business solution since the publication of the original Reform Plan in 2011.  PeoplePoint, the Civil Service Transactional HR and Pensions Shared Services...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited, a consortium comprising Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (the owner of the Camelot Group), An Post and An Post pension funds, has been selected as the preferred applicant for the next National Lottery licence. Discussions on finalising the terms of the licence have been taking place between my Department and the preferred...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Government is making strong progress on achieving our targets and priorities regarding the expenditure commitments, as articulated in the Programme for Government. Sustainable public finances are a pre-requisite for economic stability and growth. This Government has therefore pursued a determined deficit reduction strategy.  We are committed to reaching the 3% of GDP...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Internship Scheme Placements (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: No JobBridge interns who have been employed by my Department were subsequently offered full time employment with my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The implementation of the new single sick leave scheme for the public service generally will commence next month.  The effective date for the new scheme will be 31 March 2014.  The scheme is being introduced through Ministerial Regulations which are provided for in the recently enacted Public Service Management (Recruitment and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I have previously informed the House, a consortium comprising Centrica plc, Brookfield Renewable Power Inc and iCON Infrastructure has  been selected as preferred bidder for Bord Gáis Energy on the basis of a bid that puts an enterprise value of up to €1.12bn on the business. As the  sale agreements have yet to be  finalised, it...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Last December, the Government agreed to proceed to the next stage of a Financial Management Shared Services Project for the Civil Service, Defence and Justice sectors. The initial scoping phase of the project has already been completed and represents an undeniable case for change.  It is estimated that sustainable savings in the region of €14.6 million, or over 30%, per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In case there is some confusion on the matter, I want to state clearly that the circumstances whereby a retiring civil or public servant may benefit from an award of added years of reckonable service for the purposes of calculating superannuation benefits are very limited. Professional Added Years Schemes: These schemes apply to certain professional, technical and specialist posts in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: European Investment Bank (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: One of the key ways in which the Exchequer Public Capital Programme is supplemented, is by the use of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) which are primarily funded up-front from non-Exchequer sources.   The sourcing of funding for PPPs is led by the Department of Finance working with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), and all Irish PPPs are reviewed for suitability for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme Expenditure (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the five year capital plan out to 2016 was set following a Government-wide review of the Public Capital Programme led by my Department in 2011. The plan includes a significant investment of some €17bn which will address critical infrastructure deficits, aid economic growth and provide much needed social infrastructure. As stated in previous replies, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Solidarity Fund (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity with disaster-stricken regions of Europe. The Fund was created in response to the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002.  In July 2013, following a review of the operation of the Fund, the European Commission proposed amendments to the EUSF...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (26 Feb 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. My Department spent €194,623 in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On 14 January, I published the Government's new Public Service Reform Plan for 2014-2016.  The new Plan outlines the key reform initiatives that will be implemented over the next three years.  It also addresses the broader ambition for reform towards 2020.  The four key themes running through this new Reform Plan are delivery of improved outcomes; utilisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners was granted sanction on 24 October 2012 to fill critical posts up to the limit of its end 2013 Employment Control Framework ceiling of 5,874 WTE, which included additional Local Property Tax (LPT)-related posts (reduced to 5,748 WTE for end 2014). It is a condition of this sanction that Revenue must refer to the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Public works contracts must be awarded on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria.  Different criteria are applied at the pre-qualification stage to those at the award stage with pre-qualification criteria designed to assess the capacity of applicants and tenderers to deliver the project in question.  Their capacity is typically assessed by criteria set out under the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under EU Directives on public procurement works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the threshold is €5.186 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by Government Departments the threshold is €134,000 and for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I am not the Minister with responsibility for issues in the aviation sector, I am not in a position to comment on negotations, if any, on matters arising in that sector.  In general however, the Trustees of the pension scheme, who are central to any solution of any funding difficulties in relation to a pension scheme, are required by law to act in the best interests of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The 2014 Estimate for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government sets out an allocation of €575.8 million for a range of social and affordable housing programmes.  In addition, a capital carryover amount of €22 million was approved for housing related expenditure. As set out in the Ministers and Secretaries Amendment Act 2013,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Extensive discussions took place with my colleagues in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in the context of the 2014 Estimates  resulting in an  allocation for 2014  of €575.8 million for  a  range of social and affordable housing programmes.   In addition, a capital carryover amount of...