Results 17,181-17,200 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department is carrying out preparatory work to implement the commitments in the programme for Government. When this work is complete I will bring proposals to Government in relation to the Freedom of Information Acts. These proposals will include the proposed extension of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts to the Property Registration Authority.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has no function in this particular matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As legislation was enacted in July 2011 to establish my Department, I am not in a position to provide relevant details for the period prior to then. However, 43 staff members in my Department have had increments paid to date. It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the number of increments that will be paid in 2012 as payment of increments is subject to sick leave and punctuality...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Since its establishment in July 2011, my Department has operated a shared service arrangement with the Department of Finance in respect of certain goods and services acquired by one, or other, of the Departments. I understand that the Minister for Finance will provide the estimate requested by the Deputy using 2010 as a reference year and that will cover both Departments.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will know, there have been several retrenchments in public service pension conditions which have applied to serving staff and current pensioners in recent years. The Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Act 2009 introduced a pension-related deduction amounting to some 7% of pay on average, while the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009 reduced pay by...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: On 17 November, I announced several key developments relating to Public Service Reform and published the Government's Public Service Reform Plan which sets the basis for the comprehensive and strategic reform of the Public Service in the coming years. The challenging fiscal position which we face means that far-reaching reform of the Public Service is essential in order to ensure it is...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The four former Chairmen of the Revenue Commissioners each receive a pension of €114,839.40 after Public Service Pension reduction. As is normal practice the names of the relevant Civil Servants are not included in the reply.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The position at the moment is that the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 provides for an average Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), with effect from 1 January 2011 and estimated to save €100 million in a full year, of about 4% of pension in line with the following rates and bands: Annual Public Service Pension (€) Reduction Rate First 12,000 0% Between...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The data sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible. Any inconvenience caused by this delay is regretted.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It has not been possible to collate the data in the time available. It will be provided to the Deputy by the end of this week. Any inconvenience caused by this delay is regretted.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I have submitted draft Heads of a Bill amending the Valuation Act 2001 to the Government for approval. Subject to such technical adjustments as may be found necessary in the course of drafting, approval is also sought to publish the general scheme for the information of the public, in line with the Programme for Government commitment on Dáil reform to publish such details at an early stage...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Public procurement regulations which transpose the provisions set out in EU Procurement Directives require that contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in an open and objective process. The aims of the regulations are to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to reply to this question on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Finance as a shared service Training Unit now provides training services to both Departments. I have taken the phrase "senior civil servants" to represent the grade of Assistant Principal Officer and upwards for the purpose of this question. Many courses are undertaken by...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As part of the general examination of budgetary policy in Ireland, the discussions with the EU-IMF and ECB have reviewed the main aspects of pay, pensions and numbers policy in the civil and public service. The discussions have covered developments in these areas in the recent past and the prospects for the medium and longer term. The Troika reports set out their views on these and other...

Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Go raibh maith agat. Introduction As I begin, I would like to say that I am conscious that the last Minister who stood up here to announce the Government's spending plans was the late Deputy Brian Lenihan. I believe it is appropriate that his commitment to his country and the public interest should be acknowledged here today. Tomorrow, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, will...

Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: -----taken measures to significantly reduce future public service pensions costs, produced a significant programme of agency rationalisation, cancelled many parts of the ill-conceived decentralisation programme, standardised annual leave arrangements for serving and new public servants and launched the most ambitious programme of public service reform since the foundation of the State to...

Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Going from 32 weeks to six months will save €51 million next year. Changes to the one-parent family payment will save €20.7 million. Changes to the redundancy and insolvency scheme to reduce the employer rebate from 60% to 15% will save €81 million.

Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Increasing minimum contributions and reviewing rent limits will yield savings of €55 million in rent supplement. Changes to the current system of concurrent payments will save €21.8 million in 2012. Full details of the specific social welfare measures are set out in the expenditure report along with a number of other changes to social welfare schemes and entitlements. My colleague, the...

Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: While we have had to make savings by abolishing student support for some new postgraduate students, we will make a contribution towards the fees of postgraduate students from the lowest income backgrounds. Substantial allocations will also continue to be made to assist students from lower income backgrounds to achieve an undergraduate qualification. The Department of Education and Skills...

Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)

Brendan Howlin: -----a reduction of costs associated with trainee and apprenticeship schemes, which will yield €19.2 million; a 2% reduction in core funding for higher education, which will secure savings of €23.6 million; an increase of €250 in the third level student contribution, which will secure savings of €18.5 million next year;-----