Results 1,821-1,840 of 10,569 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 214, 215 and 216 together. In 2016, the Government established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group to improve coordination on flood risk management between all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. This Group provides a forum where all statutory organisations with roles and responsibilities that involve the River...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: A flood relief scheme for Freshford is part of the Flood Risk Management Plans being funded by €1.3bn for flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030. The flood relief scheme for Freshford Co Kilkenny was approved in May 2023 to be included as part of a national pilot to inform the delivery model for future flood relief schemes. This pilot is being overseen by a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Priorities (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works continues to work with consultants, Ian Ritchie Architects, to complete the necessary documentation to submit a planning application for a new commemorative bridge and entrance plaza at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens and Conyngham Road. Due to the environmental sensitivities of the location, an extensive Flood Risk Assessment and Section 50 Application is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202 and 209 together. The Office of Public Works has entered into a process of constructive dialogue with the owners of the Castletown lands in the form of commercial negotiations with the intention of arriving at an outcome that is in the public interest. It should be noted that it has long been the policy of the OPW to seek to reunite the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The trees to the Kildare Street and Merrion Square sides of the Leinster House complex are an integral and valued part of the site layout and design. The OPW has carried out inspections, by qualified arborists, of all trees on the site in 2005, 2008, 2013 and 2018. More recently, a five year survey was commissioned in 2020 with reviews each year through to 2025. Following Storm Betty this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The OPW have consulted with the NSSO in relation to the P.Q. 41346/23 and the NSSO have provided the following response input. Pension increases due following pay awards on 1 Feb, 2022 and that of 1 Oct, 2022 backdated to 2 Feb, 2022, and the 1 March, 2023 pay increase have already been paid in cases where retirees were on standard pay scale points. A number of OPW pensioners are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Urban Development (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The current state of Dame Lane is not satisfactory, given its close proximity to the main entrance to Dublin Castle. The Lane is, of course, under the management of Dublin City Council (DCC) and its regeneration and the improvement of its appearance will require close cooperation between the Commissioners of Public Works and the City Council. Suggestions on potential enhancements and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Urban Development (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The walls to which the Deputy refers are the historic boundary walls of the Castle and for reasons of security and conservation it is not envisaged that they could or should be entirely removed. However, as part of the Dublin Castle Strategic Framework Plan which sets out potential works over the coming decade, it was considered that a new pedestrian bridge could be opened between the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Urban Development (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I understand that five historic windows in Block M, Dublin Castle, which backs onto Ship Street Great, have been removed and replaced with plywood. This is part of an ongoing important conservation and refurbishment project for this range of buildings. When complete, Block M will house the Electoral Commission. I can assure the Deputy that these works are in the final stages and due for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Parks (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Additional time is needed to collate the required information. The OPW will respond to the Deputy directly on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW to increase its work on flood relief schemes to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: A competition for General Operative Band 2 (Rural) / 360° Excavator Drivers was advertised on 10th July 2023 for the South West Arterial Drainage and Construction Services Division which includes Co. Tipperary. The closing date for receipt of applications for this competition was Friday, 4th August 2023, applications received following the closing date are not accepted. All OPW...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Údarás na Gaeltachta (26 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Údarás na Gaeltachta's existing level of funding and the cost of increasing same by 10%, 20% and 50% is outlined in the following table: Capital (C8) €14.454m Current Expenditure (C7) €6.750m Administration (C6) €14.199m Overall Provision for 2023 €35,403,000...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Waterways Issues (21 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. Some 2,100km of channel and some 135km of embankments are maintained annually through an ongoing programme of works of a cyclical nature. Silt and vegetation management of channels is the most widespread maintenance activity,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (20 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The following table shows the rents paid by the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of Government Departments and certain Agencies from 2016 to year-end 2022. In the timeframe given for answering this PQ, it was not possible to compile all of the historical data from 2006 to year-end 2015. This information will be forwarded as soon as it is collated. It should be noted that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Wildlife Conservation (20 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Unfortunately the presence of the red squirrel has diminished in Ireland over the last few decades. This is in the main due to the high levels of grey squirrels and their speed of colonising new areas thus reducing the presence of suitable habitats. The grey squirrel has an extensive range on the eastern seaboard and the NPWS has no plans to undertake a national cull. Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Parks (20 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works had developed plans for the installation of a number of pedestrian crossings on Chesterfield Avenue, a number of years ago, but these were not achieved at planning stage with an Bord Pleanala. In 2021, the Office of Public Works, in collaboration with Dublin City Council (DCC), Fingal County Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) published the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Parks (20 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Office of Public Works has responsibility for the maintenance of the Phoenix Park. The access points and gated entrances are also maintained by the OPW. A programme of works for the Phoenix Park is in place and the repair of the steps at the Islandbridge turnstile as referenced is part of this work plan. It is envisaged these works should take place in 2024, subject to availability of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Compulsory Purchase Orders (20 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The OPW remains hopeful that a satisfactory arrangement can still be reached which will allow full public access to the site. To this end, on 15th September, the OPW reached an agreement with the current landowner to continue dialogue. On this basis, access through the privately owned lands will continue until at least 29th September. The OPW continues to work, in good faith, to achieve an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (20 Sep 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2016, the Government agreed to the establishment of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) to enable members of the public and local authorities take more preparatory action to reduce the impact of flooding. The Office of Public Works (OPW) chairs the Steering Group for the NFFWS, which is also comprised of representatives from Met Éireann, the National Directorate...