Results 15,861-15,880 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that significant progress is being made in reducing the numbers employed in the Public Service. The numbers working in the public service have continued to fall, with the provisional outturn for Quarter 1 2012 standing at 292,000. This is 28,000 below the peak numbers level of 320,000 in 2008. However, in order to reach the Government's numbers target of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: In accordance with the Valuation Act 2001, a national programme is being rolled out progressively for the revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties in the State. The revaluation programme aims to provide up-to-date valuations for individual properties across all economic sectors that are subject to local authority rates. The revaluation process is the mechanism whereby...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has not provided any money under any funding scheme to any group or project in County Meath in 2011 or to date in 2012.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Question No. 23619/12 of 10 May 2012 and Question No. 32369/12 of 4 July 2012.

Written Answers — Semi-State Sector Remuneration: Semi-State Sector Remuneration (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government supports a strong policy of pay restraint in the public sector and in 2011 introduced a general pay ceiling of €250,000 per annum in the case of newly appointed CEOs in this sector and sought voluntary reductions from incumbent CEOs whose salaries were in excess of this pay ceiling. I have no plans to introduce a unilateral pay ceiling of...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 272 together. The information sought by the Deputy is in the public domain and is available in the most recent annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Chapter 6 of the C&AG's 2010 Report, "Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships", sets out this information. While my Department works closely with other Departments to...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pensions: Public Sector Pensions (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is estimated that the imposition of a cap of €60,000 on pensions in the civil service, would result in an estimated annual saving of €8m. This takes no account of the tax and other statutory deductions foregone. Comparable data are not available for the public service as a whole.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pensions: Public Sector Pensions (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is estimated that the imposition of a cap of €48,000 on pensions in the civil service, would result in an estimated annual saving of €17m. This takes no account of the tax and other statutory deductions foregone. Comparable data are not available for the public service as a whole.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The total estimated expenditure in respect of training, development and incidental expenses for 2012 in my Department is €488,000. The training and development budget is €174,000. This budget is to cover training and development and post– entry education initiatives to ensure that staff have the necessary skills and expertise to enable the Department to meet its strategic priorities...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department provides Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructures and services both to my own Department and to the Department of Finance on a shared services basis. The budget for ICT office equipment and external IT services for 2012 amounts to €550,000. An approximate breakdown of anticipated spend is as follows– Maintenance & Support - €125,000, Contractors -...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The table below details the information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department on the breakdown of the budget of 343,000 on the EU Presidency in 2012. My Department does not expect to exceed this budget in 2012. Area Amount EU Presidency Pay 243,000 EU Presidency Travel 70,000 EU Presidency Other 30,000 343,000

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The table below details the information requested by the Deputy. The Centre for Management and Organisation Development (CMOD) in my Department provides ICT infrastructures and services to my Department and to the Department of Finance on a shared services basis. It also provides a range of ICT infrastructures, services and advice to the wider civil and public service. There is also an...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The table below details the information requested by the Deputy with regard to a breakdown of the 1.730m Reform Agenda budget 2012 allocation in relation to my Department. The Reform Agenda Fund is used to support the cost of implementing initiatives related to the reform of the Public Service, and specifically the implementation of the Government's Public Service Reform Plan, which was...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the Deputy's question refers to the period July 2011 to date. During this period 26 new recruits have been appointed to my Department including 5 fixed-term contract staff and 7 Administrative Officers who will be seconded to different Departments in the future. Details are as follows: Grade Number Salary per annum Status Assistant Secretary 1 €139,898 5 Year...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Appointments Service is the independent centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service. It also provides these services to local authorities, the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and other public bodies, where required. Having completed a selection process, the PAS assigns or recommends individuals for appointment by the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There are 8 staff serving in the Commission for Public Service Appointments as follows: Grade Number serving Annual Salary (Euro) Principal Officer One 96,295 Assistant Principal Two 77,884 57,814 (Work sharing 80%) Higher Executive Officer One 56,007 Executive Officer Two 39,166 12,111 (Incentivised Career Bk Cir: 13/2009) Clerical Officer Two 31,743 28,583

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Government Reform Unit is currently staffed as follows: Grade Numbers* Assistant Secretary 1 Principal Officer 3 Assistant Principal 6 Higher Executive Officer 2 Staff Officer 1 Clerical Officer 1*Numbers are based on headcount rather than full time equivalent staff.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The projected pay bill for the Government Reform Unit for 2012 is in the region of €1,020,000. This is based on staffing allocations to date and anticipated requirements to the end of the year. Staffing requirements may be subject to change and the projected pay bill will be adjusted accordingly.

Written Answers — Departmental Strategies: Departmental Strategies (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The list of projects as contained in the Programme for Government to be progressed by my Department in 2012 is as follows:- Reform and extension of Freedom of Information; Establishing a legal framework for Oireachtas inquiries; Review and modernisation of ethics legislation ; Statute Law Revision; Regulation of lobbying; Safeguarding confidential information communicated to a public...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is working on the material and information requested by the Deputy and my Department will furnish the information as soon as it is collated.