Results 18,021-18,040 of 33,987 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Superannuation Schemes (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Civil Service Injury Warrants are a series of statutory instruments made under the Superannuation Acts. They provide additional benefits over and above normal pension entitlements, to or in respect of officers who, through no fault of their own, are killed or injured in the performance of their duties. The injury must be attributable to the nature of their duties. The additional...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates Process (15 Jan 2019)

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. Supplementary Estimates are an important element of our expenditure management toolkit, allowing for the proper alignment of resources with allocations. However, they can only...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Laois County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Office of Public Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, however, also makes funds available to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tender Process (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and National Transport Authority (NTA) have primary responsibility for meeting this commitment. Recognising the prevailing market structure for taxi services is central to this issue as there are no large unitary fleet operators who can easily be compelled to meet such a requirement. I understand that the NTA (a) continue to fund a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Process (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 was signed by the President on 26 December 2018 and came into effect immediately from that date. The Act provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age of most pre-2004 public servants from age 65 to age 70. Under the Act, any relevant public servant who had not already reached his/her compulsory retirement age...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The following table sets out the amount spent by my Department on Taxi Services in 2018. My Department employs the services of a taxi company engaged through an Office of Government Procurement drawdown contract. The hire of taxis to travel to and from meetings is only permitted where no suitable public transport is available or feasible. Month Amount Spent January €1,315.04...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In 2015, Kerry County Council was approved funding of €5,258 under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to carry out a feasibility Study of measures to alleviate ongoing flooding on the N70 South of Caherciveen which includes the area mentioned in the Deputy’s question. It is open to Kerry County Council to apply for funding...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The following table outlines the spend by my Department on marketing and media in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The figures include, for example, awareness campaigns in relation to MyGovID and the work of the Office of Government Procurement which is part of the Department. At present, there are no figures available for the projected spend on marketing and media in 2019. Year Total Spend...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no staff in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform employed to work on marketing, media and social media. There are currently 3 members of staff in the Press Office and managing the Department’s social media presence is a part of their work. In addition, one of my Special Advisers, Deborah Sweeney, provides press and media advice as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme (S.I 124 of 2014) does not prejudice the Occupational Injuries arrangements in place in each sector, as per the Sick Leave Regulations - (Regulation 4). Therefore any sick leave in relation to an occupational injury is ring-fenced from ordinary sick leave limits and is not included on an officer's sick leave record. In relation to the payment of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The long term ambition for the St. Laurence's Gate site is to continue to maintain it as a National Monument in State care, consolidate it, rectify certain structural issues that are apparent currently and, ultimately, once a balanced risk assessment has been undertaken, provide a level of safe public access. It is not clear at this stage when the necessary work will be done as a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Erosion (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by my Department that 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 funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat. In this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 276, inclusive, together. On 5 December 2017, the Government made a decision to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70, for public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. Primary legislation was necessary to bring this decision into effect and the compulsory retirement age of 65 continued to apply until the enactment of the Public Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that the Douglas flood relief scheme (incl Togher culvert) is being progressed by Cork County Council. The scheme has received planning approval and is currently at detailed design stage with procurement of the civil works contractor to take place in the first quarter of this year, with the appointment of the civil works contractor to follow shortly thereafter. Construction of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The former Garda station at Ballylongford, County Kerry is currently occupied by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). It is not available for another use at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In the first instance, I wish to advise the Deputy that when a procurement process commences, the final cost of procuring the goods or services involved will not always be fully known. The Department's internal procurement policy provides that a procurement process for goods or services over €5,000 may not be commenced without: establishing a clear business need; obtaining a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is managing the delivery of the new Forensic Science Laboratory at the Backweston campus. The Deputy should be aware that enabling works for Forensic Science Ireland that commenced in October 2017 have now been completed. However, due to recent changes in international forensic laboratory standards, the merging of the Garda Technical Bureau with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The civil and structural engineers for the project have been appointed following a public procurement process. The mechanical and electrical engineering service is being provided by in-house staff in the OPW. The Planning Application will be lodged in the coming week. The current programme is that tenders will be issued in Quarter 2 and construction to begin in Quarter 4, 2019. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 9 October 2018 the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Kildare County Council have developed the project brief for the study referred to by the Deputy. I have requested information from Kildare County Council and a direct reply will issue to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (15 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The extended road closure is necessitated due to a partial collapse of the bridge at Dunkellin during the course of works on the Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream flood relief scheme. Galway County Council (GCC) is the Contracting Authority for this project with funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. A road closure was in place for the duration of the proposed works to...