Results 13,141-13,160 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Revaluation of all rateable properties across the State is a priority for Government and is a feature of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. The national revaluation programme aims to provide up-to-date valuations for individual properties across all economic sectors that are subject to local authority rates. It is an important programme, especially given the significant changes that have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Licence Sale (26 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Under the next National Lottery licence, annual contributions for Good Causes will be set at 65% of Gross Gaming Revenues. Gross Gaming Revenues are defined as the level of sales less the amount deducted for prizes. As the Deputy is aware, the successful bidder for the next licence will also be required to make an upfront payment to the State in return for a 20 year licence to operate the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Appointments (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: During March 2013 the Public Appointments Service (PAS) commenced a recruitment competition to provide cover for temporary clerical positions in the civil and public service, including vacancies arising from the Shorter Working Year Scheme. Given the short-term nature of the appointments, the Public Appointments Service does not collate detailed information on the background of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The remuneration reduction provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, apply to all public servants in receipt of annual remuneration over €65,000 including special advisers. Standard remuneration rates for Special Advisers are linked to the Civil Service Principal Officer (standard) scale of €80,051 – €83,337 - €86,604...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Leader's Allowance Issues (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Party Leaders Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 2001. The legislation, when introduced in 1938, made provision for payments to leaders of qualifying parties in respect of members of Dáil Éireann only. The legislation was amended in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 to 315, inclusive, and 317 together. The Government continues to make good progress on achieving all of our deficit targets and priorities, as articulated in the Government Programme. We are bringing public expenditure back onto a sustainable path and driving forward the public service reform agenda to ensure that efficiencies and reformed work practices...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government continues to make good progress on achieving all of our deficit targets and priorities, as articulated in the Government Programme. We are bringing public expenditure back onto a sustainable path and driving forward the Public Service reform agenda to ensure that efficiencies and reformed work practices play a full part in contributing to the overall budgetary consolidation...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Procurement Service Framework Agreements (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The National Procurement Service (NPS) is focused on developing centralised arrangements for the procurement of goods and services used commonly across the public service nationwide. The benefits arising from these central arrangements include: cash savings; administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering; greater purchasing expertise; improved consistency; and enhanced service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I can confirm that the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) issued the Contracts for sale to the legal Department of Kerry County Council on the 3rd May for execution. A reminder for the return of same was issued on the 31st May. As soon as Kerry County Council return the contracts to the CSSO the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Topical Issue Debate (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Twenty five topical issues were selected for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform since March 2011. Twelve topical issues were specific issues related to the Office of Public Works of which ten were taken by the Minister responsible, Minister of State Brian Hayes and two by another Minister. Thirteen topical issues were specific to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Transport (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question the following is a table of the total cost of Ministerial transport since the formation of my Department in 2011: Type of Expenditure Number of Staff 2011 Amount 2012 Amount 2013 Amount Minister Drivers Salaries 2 €31,136.68 €63,811.26 €31,277.94 Drivers Expenses 2 €14,617.36 €24,567.91...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question my Department, since it's inception, used photography services on three occasions. In 2012 photography services were used for the Public Service Excellence Awards held in Dublin Castle which amounted to €811.52. In 2013 two EUPAN conference events were held in Dublin Castle at a cost of €104.55 each. I understand that the Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question my Department did not engage in any Newspaper supplements in any of the three years mentioned.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The analysis to which the Deputy's question refers is confidential and highly commercially sensitive and I do not propose to release it.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (25 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 329, inclusive, together. The Government approved the publication of the Valuation (Amendment) Bill, 2012 on 3rd August, 2012 and the 2nd stage debate was taken in Seanad Éireann on 11th October, 2012. Revaluation of all rateable properties across the State is a priority for Government and is a feature of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. The...

Other Questions: Sale of State Assets (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I should have mentioned it. Deputy Higgins is aware the original requirement for the troika was to use all of the proceeds from the sale of State assets to retire debt. I have spent considerable weeks and months trying to change this view with some success. After much negotiation the agreement was that 50% of the take could be used directly for job creation and would be rolled into the...

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am afraid I am due elsewhere at 7 p.m. so forgive me.

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I thought we had three hours yesterday.

Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships Cost (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy knows, I am always looking for sources of capital to invest in infrastructure in Ireland. The vice president of the European Investment Bank was in Dublin yesterday and I had a very long and fruitful meeting with him. The European Investment Bank has certainly been very helpful in this regard. It has a number of new schemes in progress. It wants to move away from direct...

Other Questions: State Properties (20 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Chairman of the Office of Public Works, OPW, is the senior responsible owner for driving reforms in public property asset management. The Chairman chairs the steering group established in October 2012, drawn from public service property stakeholders, to review existing property management arrangements across the public sector and develop a framework to drive efficiency and value for...