Results 461-480 of 9,417 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (23 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Department of Social Protection operates a humanitarian assistance scheme to assist households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events including flooding. The purpose of this scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: As Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, and flood relief, I am here to propose a Supplementary Estimate for the OPW. The OPW’s Estimate provision for 2023 is €626.8 million and, at present, is profiling an excess of €8.8 million on...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for the question. We have already undertaken substantial works across the country and these projects have all shown, in their own way, the ability of these schemes to be able to protect communities, whether in Ennis, Clonmel, Clonakilty, Bandon or even in Douglas or Togher in Cork city itself. One of the things we have proven in recent years is that, where these schemes...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Regarding studies we must undertake in respect of birds, for example, whether they are wintering or have a nesting season, some of these must be done over a two-year cycle. We also have situations, to give another example, where we must resubmit information in respect of the Blackpool flood relief scheme for four individual otters. I refer to what would happen if we were not to do this and...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: We do not have a problem with resources in our Department. I have outlined our Estimate for this year. We are adequately funded for the delivery of the CFRAM programme. I cannot tell the committee that I will cut corners or shorten processes to make things happen faster. I cannot do that because I would be back in------

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is a complicated-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: If the Deputy asks what might be perceived to be a simplistic question on a complicated process for people who will be listening to this debate, watching it on Facebook or using it for videos, it deserves an honest answer. I can no more short-circuit the planning process for a major climate adaptation scheme than a person applying to Meath County Council can short-circuit the planning...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Yes, the business scheme is being administered through the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is my understanding that the first of those payments have been issued based on photographic evidence and other means being provided by individual business owners and local authorities. The Irish Red Cross has been at pains to point out that the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: First of all, I do not accept the Deputy's charge. I do not think there was a question there at all. It presupposes that we are hanging on to properties without engaging with anybody, which is not the case. As an organisation, our preference has always been - if it is a disused Garda station or a property that has been transferred from HSE, for example, to the OPW - to give it to the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: This is a question the Deputy and others have raised on a number of occasions on the floor of the Dáil. Following the Covid crisis, we are now living in a different environment in which the amount and type of office accommodation in different parts of the country has changed, as has the usage of space. It is always far easier to manipulate buildings ourselves than it is to ask a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: Sometimes, based on the investment we might have made in a particular building and depending on the lease, it will make sense to retain it. Other times, it might be opportune for the Government, through the Office of Public Works, to cease or dispose of the lease. Obviously, a building's location will be paramount in our thoughts with reference to the operation of existing Departments,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: To give an example, going back to Deputy Tóibín's question, between the end of November and the end of December 2023, the following are the buildings we have agreed in principle for disposal pretty much to all local authorities: a former Garda station and residence at Shanagolden in County Limerick; a former Garda station in Kilcullen----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: No, these are just examples of what we will dispose of in this month alone. They include land at Rosmuc, County Galway; a former Garda station in Galbally, County Limerick; a former Garda station in the Deputy's constituency, in Bellacorick, County Mayo, which is transferring to Mayo County Council; a former Garda station in Bunbeg, County Donegal, which is sale agreed; a former Garda...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: I can circulate that information.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 11 – Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Supplementary)
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Supplementary)
Vote 14 – State Laboratory (Supplementary)
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)
Vote 18 – National Shared Services Office (Supplementary)
Vote 43 – Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Supplementary) (22 Nov 2023)

Patrick O'Donovan: For instance, the property that is sale agreed for €150,000 at Galbally, County Limerick, is going to Limerick City and County Council. We get a valuation on a property. We are not giving them away. We are not allowed to give them away, nor should we, because they are public assets. In the first instance, we offer them to the local authorities, the HSE and public bodies. In some...