Results 81-100 of 940,214 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:John Lahart)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (4 Oct 2022)

Bernard Durkan: I seek to ascertain the degree to which reform can play a major part in cutting expenditure, eliminating delays and ensuring the best value for money is achieved in the shortest possible time as opposed to the longest possible time in respect of many projects.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that it is an indictment of Government policy. It is the European Commission that has reclassified the region because of its improved economic performance relative to the European Union average.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (4 Oct 2022)

Catherine Connolly: It has disimproved.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The population is up in the northern and western region. Employment is up there, as, of course, are investment levels. It is because of its improved performance that it has been reclassified, not by the Government but by the European Commission. I do not suggest that the Deputy is trying to make a political football out of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (4 Oct 2022)

Catherine Connolly: No, it is a misunderstanding of-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: This is not a national decision; it is a decision by the European Commission based on the three classifications it has for regions and it is based on the improved performance of the north and western region using that benchmark.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

National Children's Hospital

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Carol Nolan: 82. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the engagements his Department has had with the Department of Health and other Departments regarding the way the increased costs of the national children's hospital project will be managed within the overall agreed national development plan capital allocations; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Carol Nolan: As the Minister is aware, there are ongoing concerns regarding the cost of the national children's hospital. Has his Department flagged any of those concerns with the Department of Health or any other Department?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and ensuring that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. My Department is also responsible for maintaining the national frameworks, such as the public spending code, within which Departments operate to ensure appropriate accounting and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Carol Nolan: I thank the Minister for his response. He mentioned oversight and his Department but have specific concerns in respect of the cost and rising expenditure on the hospital project been flagged? As he is aware, in March 2017 and March 2019 the Rural Independent Group, of which I am part, gave the previous Government openings to change course in respect of the national children's hospital when...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The first point is that my Department does not manage the capital projects of other Departments. It is their responsibility, in line with their legal obligations, to manage those projects, and it is the responsibility of the Accounting Officer to do so. Arising from the lessons that had to be learned from the national children's hospital, the public spending code was strengthened in 2019....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Carol Nolan: I again thank the Minister for his response but surely there is some intervention he can make with the Department of Health given that €1.1 billion has been drawn down and there are endless problems with the whole project. To be constructive, I suggest that we have a debate on the real cost and service implications of this train wreck of a project. Will the Minister commit to that?...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Children's Hospital (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: There are many opportunities for projects such as this to be debated, such as at the health committee, here on the floor of the House as a Topical Issue matter and so on. It is not for me, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to commit to a debate on a project that is being managed by another Department. As I stated, the capital budget for this project was approved in 2018....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (4 Oct 2022)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (4 Oct 2022)

Office of Public Works

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (4 Oct 2022)

Catherine Connolly: 83. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions that have been taken or that are planned following the analysis and conclusions of the spending review 2022 report entitled An Assessment of the Balance of Current and Capital Expenditure - OPW Estate Management Portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48285/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of Public Works (4 Oct 2022)

Catherine Connolly: I draw the attention of the Minister to the spending review carried out by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES. What steps is the Government taking with regard to the recommendations in that review and the data? I also point out to the Minister of State that there is a serious misunderstanding somewhere in the media reports on the downgrading of the north-west...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Farrell and agree with her point on the value of section 39 organisations and the work they do. I met representatives of several section 39 organisations over recent weeks in the lead-up to the budget and they made the point to me on the impact of the pay deal on them. As they are of course grant-aided organisations, they receive their financial support directly from the HSE....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (4 Oct 2022)

Mairead Farrell: The detail of that will be important to the workers. The topic of the evening is the considerable pressure people are under as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. I realise we refer to it often in this Chamber but the reality is that people are choosing between heating, eating and paying the rent. It is difficult for many to do all three. I want to raise the issue of the secretarial...