Results 141-160 of 18,527 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Much has been done to tackle operational carbon in a building’s lifecycle, however, the carbon emitted in the production and transportation of materials (embodied carbon) used in construction along with excavation and demolition material is more challenging to address. The current Building Regulations apply Nearly Zero-Energy Building standards (NZEB) to new buildings, whereas...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Climate Action Plan (27 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department is in regular contact with other Departments as part of its expenditure management function. This includes the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Environment, Climate and Communications. In relation to the Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023, I understand that my officials have had some limited engagement with...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Flood Relief Schemes (27 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer to the previous updates on this matter I have given to the House regarding the consent process for the Crossmolina (River Deel) Flood Relief scheme, the most recent on the 8th of February. In accordance with the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019, the Office of Public Works has sought consent for the Crossmolina (River Deel)...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Sector Staff (27 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I have been in contact with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) regarding the Deputy’s query on pension payments. The NSSO have informed me that pension related queries can be quite complex which can often necessitate requesting and reviewing an individual’s hard copy personnel file. It may also require engaging with their current local HR unit (or previous where...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Data Centres (27 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department uses a number of data centres which are ISO 27001 certified and are located across Dublin City, the greater Dublin area, Kildare and Cork. These data centres are a combination of private and Government owned facilities. To ensure the continued integrity and security of the services provided by my Department and across the Public Service, the exact locations of these data...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (21 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP), rests with the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (20 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Single Public Service Pension Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, established on 1 January 2013 under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The Single Scheme was established to place publicly-funded retirement benefits on a more sustainable footing in the context of longer life expectancies. The Single...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: A key part of the annual budgetary cycle is determining the amount of funding required for Departments to carry out their existing functions, before any new decisions are taken. This is referred to as the ‘Existing Level of Service’ or ELS. ELS funding provides for the maintenance of our existing services and schemes, with the overall affordability limits set out in the Medium...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am informed by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) that to ensure compliance with Data Protection they cannot comment publicly on an individual case. However, I am informed that the NSSO has reviewed the case and is contacting the individual in question as well as the related HR unit.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has received a guidance note from the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of the application of the principles of the various Court judgments relevant to the Government’s role in referendum campaigns. This guidance has been noted at the Department's Management Board and circulated to all staff in the Department. It has also been shared with the bodies under the aegis...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (13 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Union’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) is a unique regulation established specifically to provide support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial, and environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. The regulation is clear that in order to be eligible for BAR funding, the expenditure must fall within the eligibility period for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (13 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) currently has 44 vacant posts. The table below shows the number of current vacant posts by grade and the estimated full year cost of filling each vacancy. Grade Number of vacant posts Estimated full year cost Estimated Total Annual Cost of filling vacant posts Assistant Principal 4 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department plays a key role in developing and monitoring overall expenditure in line with Government objectives and agreed fiscal policy. Since 2020 external shocks, including Covid, war in Ukraine, and elevated inflation have required Government to take a responsive approach to fiscal policy. This has resulted in a higher level of Supplementary Estimates in recent years. In 2023, 31...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The monitoring and quarterly reporting of actions due under successive updates of the Climate Action Plan is conducted by the Department of the Taoiseach with input from relevant Departments. Progress reports up to quarter three of 2023 are accessible on gov.ie. The Progress Report for Q4 2023 is being finalised and will be made available following consideration by Government. The status of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Evaluation of Government expenditure is a vital component of the public expenditure management framework. This goal is fully embedded across Government and is progressed in a number of ways from the day-to-day management of resources, regular engagement across Departments and through the public service reform programme. It is also progressed through a range of budgetary reform initiatives...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to say that great progress is being made across government to digitalise public services. I am delighted to report that this progress has been recognised nationally and internationally, most recently in the OECD’s 2023 Digital Government Index. Ireland is ranked amongst the top 10 international performers alongside countries such as Korea, Denmark, the United Kingdom,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 104 together. Reform and transformation of our public services remains a key priority for Government and it is always a feature of Public Service Agreements. As such, the proposed Public Service Agreement 2024 – 2026 includes a chapter on transformation. If ratified, the Agreement will underpin the ongoing transformation of our public services,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Development Plan (NDP) provides investment of €165 billion over the period 2021 - 2030 and supports a broad range of infrastructure projects and programmes across the country. As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments. My Ministerial colleagues in Government are responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: A comprehensive review of the National Development Plan involving several strands of work was undertaken over the course of 2020 and 2021. The Phase 1 report was published in April 2020 and drew upon a number of pieces of research and policy papers. This work culminated in the publication of an updated National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP) in October 2021. The NDP provides for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the proposed agreement that was made at the WRC two weeks ago, following a challenging set of discussions. In my view, it is an Agreement that seeks to achieve a balanced approach to public service pay that rewards the ongoing efforts of public servants, while ensuring the responsible management of public finances. This has been Government’s ambition throughout this process....