Results 17,761-17,780 of 33,392 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Erosion (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very familiar with the situation at Portrane and I have visited the area. Fingal County Council is leading on this issue, as it is a matter for local authorities in the first instance to assess and address problems of coastal erosion in their areas.  Where necessary, Local Authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central Government Departments, including the OPW, for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Commissioners of Public Works, on behalf of the State, manage a large and diverse property portfolio, which ranges from office accommodation to heritage properties, visitor centres, Garda stations, among others.  As is typical of such large portfolios, there will always be a number of properties, at any given time, that are vacant.  These are currently being retained because of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Industrial Disputes (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pay Agreement 2018 -2020 provides the appropriate industrial relations mechanisms for the processing of disputes that may arise between the parties to this Agreement. The threatened industrial dispute in question is being addressed on this basis in consultation between officials from my Department and those of my colleague the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships Data (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy might be interested to know that I already publish two sets of financial data on PPPs.  The data can be accessed on the PPP website at www.ppp.gov.ie.  The first set of data provides an update on the existing Financial Commitments table.  This table contains detailed information in relation to all PPP projects for which contracts have been signed and which are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Spending Code, published by my department, summarises the high level principles to be applied when scrutinising expenditure proposals as well as the roles and responsibilities of those involved. It also encompasses guidance on a variety of issues related to the management of expenditure at each stage of the expenditure lifecycle. This includes central guidance on the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Erosion (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very familiar with the situation at Portrane and I have visited the area. Fingal County Council is leading on this issue, as it is a matter for local authorities in the first instance to assess and address problems of coastal erosion in their areas.  Where necessary, Local Authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central Government Departments, including the OPW, for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: On 3rd May, 2018, I was delighted to launch 29 Flood Risk Management Plans and investment of €1bn in flood risk management as part of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040. These Plans are the output from the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State. The Plans set out the measures...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: While obviously it would not be possible in this context for me to address each example individually, I am satisfied that there are compelling grounds to justify each of the various exclusions and part exclusions set out in schedule one of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. Taking the example of commercial state bodies, government policy remains that these should not be subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Stability Agreement (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides for a range of benefits for those public servants who have accepted and comply with the terms of the Public Service Pay and Stability Agreement 2018 - 2020. In exchange for work practice reforms, greater productivity, improvements in how services are delivered to the public, industrial peace and restraint from cost-increasing claims,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Divisional Headquarters (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has advanced a comprehensive Garda Building Programmein recent years that has provided Garda accommodation such as, new builds, major extensions and refurbishments to existing Garda Stations.  The design and construction of these new works has provided An Garda Síochána with appropriate, fit for purpose working conditions and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates Process (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Due to the scale of Government expenditure and the cash basis of Government accounting, the need for Supplementary Estimates can arise for a number of reasons, including policy decisions, timing issues and overspends. The position in relation to Supplementary Estimates takes into account the most up to date trends in Departmental expenditure and receipts. Last week, Supplementary Estimates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Budget 2019 contains specific measures to ensure that Ireland is in the best possible position to respond to the challenges - and indeed the opportunities - that Brexit will bring. Increased resources of €25 million has been provided across a range of Departments and Offices based on a Brexit central case scenario, where there will be a transition period until 31 December...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Ensuring our social and economic priorities are met depends on sound public finances and sustainable economic growth. To this end, the expenditure strategy for Budget 2019 is based on providing steady increases in public expenditure, which are underpinned by stable and predictable tax measures.  This requires a focus on affordable and sustainable improvements in services as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, in general, selection competitions within the Civil Service take place by way of; - competitions confined to particular Offices/Departments (Internal promotion) or - from competitions open to candidates from all Offices/Departments (Interdepartmental promotion) or - from open competitions to all eligible candidates including members of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Pay Commission (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: “The Terms of Reference for the work of the Public Service Pay Commission are published at and I have no plans to review those Terms of Reference. “

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The 2014 Act was the product of a very extensive process of review, involving FOI users, academics and transparency advocates, as well as representatives of public bodies.  These findings informed all aspects of the approach taken in the Act, as well the Code of Practice issued under the legislation, which sought to bring about greater efficiency, consistency and promote best practice in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Development Plan Expenditure (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: The general government balance figure in Table 8 of the Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published in Budget 2019, takes into account capital allocations as outlined in the National Development Plan. The National Development Plan, including social housing construction commitments, forms the basis for the voted capital allocations outlined in Table 8. Thereafter, the general government gross fixed...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As I said in my Budget speech, it is the Government’s position that workers start to pay too high a rate of income tax at too low an income level. We cannot hope to remain competitive if someone on a relatively low income and who decides to work a few hours overtime has nearly half that extra money taken in tax. Therefore, in Budget 2019 I have once again increased the entry point to...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Operations (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, I have no role in the day to day commercial operations of any bank in which the State has a shareholding and therefore the information which the deputy requests is not held within my department.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Imports and Exports Data (27 Nov 2018)

Paschal Donohoe: Primary responsibility for the accuracy, compilation and publication of trade statistics rests with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Revenue Commissioners has no authority to divulge the information it collects (on behalf of the CSO) to any third party. This remains the case even in situations where a trader provides incorrect information. In this regard, the Deputy will...