Results 1,681-1,700 of 3,444 for speaker:Shane Cassells

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Is the Department preparing on the basis that it will have to address the issue of those counties that are currently in receipt of equalisation funds? I will put it another way. What is the total accumulated amount paid by the likes of Meath, Kildare and Dublin into the equalisation fund? That is probably a better way of getting to the heart of the issue. How many net contributors are there?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: That is what goes into the pot to be redistributed among the 20 odd other authorities.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Meaning that €138 million is required. That is no small amount in terms of commitments being made. The other major issue I raised last year is on the income side, namely, that relating to rates. Again, I am conscious of the Comptroller and Auditor looking at the significant amount of money coming in to local government. This is one of the few areas where the council has a...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: I would appreciate listening to the opinions of our guests from the CCMA on that. Mr. John McCarthy stated that the main area of central funding comes through the local property tax. That is a half misnomer because the people pay into a fund from which they are getting revenue. We do not have a general purpose grant. Are we heading towards a scenario - and we see from the chart that the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Does the Comptroller and Auditor General find it difficult to get a handle on the total amount spent in this area, particularly in view of the increasing use of different mechanisms? It is bit similar to when we discussed the expenditure relating to the Office of the President. When one looks at that office, it appears that the spend is very small until one realises the other elements...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: These scheme are all very welcome and councillors are benefiting in terms of urban regeneration and what the Department of Rural and Community Development announced a few weeks ago. From the point of view of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, however, €62 million plus in funding was announced by the Minister, Deputy Ring. Local authorities can apply to the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: May I ask the CCMA representatives to comment on rates?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Among Ms Maguire's counterparts in the CCMA, is the issue of funding a topic that would come up at meetings, particularly in view of the fact that it is the major contributor to the finance of local government and acknowledging that there is potential to increase the rates because the good times are back?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: I am a great advocate for autonomy and for councillors to be autonomous. However, I have seen examples across the country of councillors abusing that autonomy and I have no problem in saying so. They were whittling away at that base and left their councils bereft of funding. Our neighbouring County Louth would be a prime example. Can Mr. John McCarthy explain the local government...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Representatives of the Valuation Office attended a separate meeting. The slowness of the revaluation process was raised. I am aware that many counties are back up now in terms of that process, which will have an impact. I know the Valuation Office is a separate organisation but the negative press associated with some of those decisions and the long gaps in the revaluation process will...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Does that worry Mr. McCarthy? We saw it when we met representatives of the Valuation Office. Before they even get down to the south, to Kerry and so on, they have to go back up for revaluation in other parts of the country.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Is there interaction between the Valuation Office and the Department in terms of how that is to be achieved?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: That was my last question.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Was it a resourcing issue or was it just that it had not been engaged in for such a long time? Was the problem to do with processes?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: I acknowledge that. It is the type that is falling into the 40% that is the killer.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Strategy for Angling Development (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: 195. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason only 2.82% of the €25 million allocated under the National Strategy for Angling Development 2015-2020 has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10066/19]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Strategy for Angling Development (28 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: 196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the National Strategy for Angling Development 2015-2020 in view of the poor draw down of funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10067/19]

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (27 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: We dealt with a similar petition once before and the matter has come before us again. I have had the pleasure to meet the group on a number of occasions. There are a number of things at issue, the first of which is the abolition of the old borough council in Drogheda. Drogheda is an historical town with a proud tradition and the removal of statutory powers from the borough council was...

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (27 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Yes. I support the fact that the provision of statistics by the CSO will be informative for Drogheda and many other areas. I agree with the Chairman that the response, while informative and addressed some of the issues at play, did not address the issue of city status. It would be important for the status to be addressed as well. As I stated in my speech, I fully support the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Business of Joint Committee (27 Feb 2019)

Shane Cassells: Only the Chairman can see that.