Results 61-80 of 1,014,944 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:Denise Mitchell) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (23 Apr 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I answered that. We set a target of 5%. We are getting towards that target. We are making progress towards the delivery of it. I will go back to the point I made at the start of my exchange with the Deputy. Looking at the increases in capital expenditure year upon year upon year, between this year and next year there will be an increased spend of €1.2 billion. Capital...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (23 Apr 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: The concern I have, which I referred to, is that projects throughout the State are either being delayed or quietly shelved. Communities that have campaigned and waited for years are being left in the dark wondering why projects they thought were agreed and progressing are now not progressing. The only possible conclusion they can come to is that we have not accounted for inflation. People...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (23 Apr 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I appreciate that. I am not familiar with the detail on the schools the Deputy referenced. I do not want to do them a disservice. However, no matter how much more money is available to the Government or how much it decides to spend, there will always be a higher demand than there is money available to meet that demand. That will always be the case. Anywhere any Minister goes, there is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Flood Relief Schemes

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

David Stanton: 59. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the progress made to date with respect to the Midleton flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15631/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

David Stanton: I wish the Minister of State well in his new role. Will he outline what progress has been made to date with respect to the Midleton flood relief scheme and make a statement on the matter? I understand the scheme has five stages. Serious work began on this scheme nine years ago in 2015. I also understand two avenues of planning are available. Will the Minister of State tell me what has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy. I know the commitment he has to Midleton and to this project. I am aware of the devastation caused by flooding to communities and the significant impact on people, families, businesses and communities. As the Deputy said, I visited Midleton in my previous role as Minister of State with responsibility for local government. I intend to visit again shortly in my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister of State for his response and for his interest to date in visiting the town and surrounding area in his former role. He viewed first-hand the utter devastation that occurred. We were very lucky that no one drowned. If this flooding happened at night-time or the tide had been in, it would have very serious indeed. Will the Minister of State give some information on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: The Minister of State will have a chance to come back in but we are way over time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: This is characteristic of the Fine Gael part of the Government. It promises a wall and then, when people ask where it is, it says that three blocks of the wall are in place. The people then say they were told they would get a wall but that there is no wall at the moment. The Minister of State mentioned 2,000 homes being protected by flood defences. There was a report in 2021 which stated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: We are way over time. I ask everyone for co-operation. Deputy Conway-Walsh wishes to come in briefly before the Minister of State.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I wish the Minister of State well in his new job. I am really pleased to hear him talk about the Crossmolina flood relief scheme. He will know that the town of Crossmolina has been waiting for that for almost ten years now. Could he give me an update as to its exact status and when it is going to start?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will deal with the latter question first. The Crossmolina scheme is subject to planning consent. I will forward a detailed note on it to the Deputy. To go back to Deputy Tóibín's question, the CFRAM study on tranche 1 is about protecting 80% of properties. Flooding causes great difficulties for people. I know what it is like. I come from a constituency where there has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Apr 2024)

Question No. 56 taken with Written Answers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Spending Code (23 Apr 2024)

Public Spending Code

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Spending Code (23 Apr 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: 57. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the infrastructure guidelines will lead to reform within individual Departments in the context of capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17727/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Spending Code (23 Apr 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: The infrastructure guidelines replace the public spending code. Changes to the public sector spending code were announced early last year. It took until the end of the year before the infrastructure guidelines were published. How long will it be before we see the reforms adopted by the Departments? Most importantly, how will the Minister's Department measure the effectiveness of this change?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Spending Code (23 Apr 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy very much. The infrastructure guidelines were indeed published in December. They had an effective date of 1 January 2024. As a result, they are already in effect. My Department has refreshed the requirements for capital projects in the new infrastructure guidelines, reducing the number of approval stages prior to implementation from five to three and streamlining the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Spending Code (23 Apr 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: On page 2 of those guidelines, it is stated that it is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer of a Department to ensure that the guidelines are adopted. As the Minister has said, we may not see the changes until next year. With regard to the procedure for delivering capital projects, what flexibilities do Departments have under the new infrastructure guidelines? For instance, can the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Spending Code (23 Apr 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I will look at three factors. The first is whether the projects individual Government Departments decide to go ahead with are still within budget, that is, still in line with the original expectations set for the project. Second, I will consider whether the guidelines have led to an increase in the speed at which decisions are made and projects brought to tender. From my engagement with my...