Results 1,521-1,540 of 32,429 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Estimates for Public Services 2024 (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 7 — Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised Estimate)That a sum not exceeding €42,434,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2024, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Finance, including the Paymaster-General's Office,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: A key part of the annual budgetary cycle is determining the amount of funding required for Departments to carry out their existing functions, before any new decisions are taken. This is referred to as the ‘Existing Level of Service’ or ELS. ELS funding provides for the maintenance of our existing services and schemes, with the overall affordability limits set out in the Medium...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) that to ensure compliance with Data Protection they cannot comment publicly on an individual case. However, I am informed that the NSSO has reviewed the case and is contacting the individual in question as well as the related HR unit.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has received a guidance note from the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of the application of the principles of the various Court judgments relevant to the Government’s role in referendum campaigns. This guidance has been noted at the Department's Management Board and circulated to all staff in the Department. It has also been shared with the bodies under the aegis...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (13 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Union’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) is a unique regulation established specifically to provide support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial, and environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. The regulation is clear that in order to be eligible for BAR funding, the expenditure must fall within the eligibility period for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (13 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) currently has 44 vacant posts. The table below shows the number of current vacant posts by grade and the estimated full year cost of filling each vacancy. Grade Number of vacant posts Estimated full year cost Estimated Total Annual Cost of filling vacant posts Assistant Principal 4 ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is currently involved in making decisions with regard to the allocation of additional capital funding. What we have coming up is a large selection of significant public transport projects. They are all about the long term and will take many years to build. They will all be complex and demanding but will be worth it in the end. With regard to the opening point the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State is not lacking political capital, I can tell him.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am conscious of time and will cut straight to the matter. On 17 January of this year, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications wrote to my Department confirming the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to a pension increase of 4%. On 30 January, officials in my Department agreed to this and I wrote back to the Department of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The ESB most certainly does have its act together. In fairness to it and other bodies, the pay agreement was only made a couple of weeks ago, with the knock-on impact that it has for all of the other issues in this regard. As I said, the Department wrote to my own Department in the middle of the year and we responded very quickly. This payment will be backdated. I am confident that the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council made that observation regarding its view on the deficit of capital funding in the time ahead. This is the same organisation that is making the case for the implementation of the 5% spending rule. On the one hand, it is arguing, understandably and I agree with it, that we need to move back to the 5% spending rule. On the other hand, it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Foley, is making the case very strongly for funding that will allow projects such as that relating to the school in Ballinrobe to which the Deputy referred to go ahead. She is also making the case for people to focus on the issues the Deputy mentioned. Understandably, I am not aware of the specifics of the school in question. Overall, the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is probably aware, the ESRI report notes higher than expected population growth and planning permissions in the eastern and midland region between 2016 and 2020. However, but it puts forward a caveat in this regard by acknowledging that the NDP is still in its early stage of development relative to the 2040 targets. However, this is an area of concern for myself and my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I completely agree. The Deputy is dead right. That is why a strength of what we have tried to do so far is to integrate our capital plans and expenditure into the national framework and try to run both together. On the Deputy's point about the need for more forward planning and the need to be more predictable, this is the reason why we have set out capital expenditure ceilings for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Absolutely. I fully appreciate the sensitivity of these concerns to communities, which are looking to get protection and to see the risk of flooding mitigated. The scheme has already been subject to judicial review and demonstrates clearly the sensitivity and legal care that needs to be taken in these matters. I find myself in the position of speaking while my Department has a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Of course.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Point taken. For the purposes of complete precision, I recognise the Deputy’s full recognition of, respect for and understanding of the independent processes. What he is justifiably doing as an Oireachtas Member representing this community is making the case for urgency and for the scheme to be moved forward through the independent processes as quickly as possible. I speak on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I asked the ESRI to give me an assessment of the implementation of the national development plan and the kinds of issue that I believed should be considered in its future. The ESRI is an abundantly authoritative organisation that is well capable of choosing what issues it wants to consider in replying to the mandate I gave it and the piece of work I asked it to do. It is not fully fair to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy and recognise that this has not become a political matter, as I said in my opening remarks, in recognition of the concerns local communities have about this. I fully understand the desire of both Deputies and of Deputy Calleary to see this matter brought to a conclusion. I am, in effect, representing the final planning authority with regard to this scheme. For that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I will give a short answer to the Deputy's question, but will hopefully cover all of the key points to facilitate an exchange of views on it. I have covered this matter in questions from other Deputies this morning, I will give a broad answer as to the steps we are taking with regard to the availability of data and information. I highlight three, which I believe can make a difference. The...