Results 1-20 of 1,117,381 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Kathryn Reilly OR speaker:Colm Burke OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:Mattie McGrath)

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: A joint all-Ireland census publication based on the 2022 census and the 2021 Northern Ireland census is being developed in collaboration with the CSO and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and that will be published in quarter 1 of next year.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is due in 2027 and that is going to be partly online as well as obviously paper-based.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: That collaboration for that all-Ireland census publication is happening as we speak. There is ongoing review and they are constantly ensuring the data that is being collected is accurate and evidence-based. That work is ongoing but I can get the Deputy more information on that specific ask.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: There was also a pilot that was carried out. The new questions in the pilot included questions about where households, for example, park their cars, gender, sexual orientation, mental health and the way that third level qualifications were obtained. Following the learnings and the experiences of that pilot, further development of all census systems and procedures will commence. Now that...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: There was a projected overrun on the general law expenses. The law costs subhead covers the payment of legal costs awarded by the courts in judicial review matters and other legal proceedings. The projected overrun of €400,000 in 2024 is principally due to an increased number of claims arising from a significant general increase in court activity in recent years. These cases were...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: No. I may be able to get the most up to date figure if we have one.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will provide the Deputy with that.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: There has been an increased volume of work by this office in recent years. To give a taste of some of the activities, there was increased activity in the Central Criminal Court since 2019 and there has been a 149% increase in the number of court dates in the Central Criminal Court. The committee will be aware the Central Criminal Court deals with very serious offences, including murder and...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: Through the courts, yes.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Deputy O’Callaghan for his question. He is correct. During the financial downturn, a number of cuts were applied to counsel fee rates, including two separate reductions, which he referred to, 8% in March 2009 and April 2010, which mirrored cuts provided for by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act. An additional reduction of 10% was applied from October...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the committee for making time available today to consider this request for Supplementary Estimates. I am seeking a Supplementary Estimate a €400,000 for the Central Statistics Office in respect of Vote 4; €4.667 million for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of Vote 5; and €3.58 million for the Chief State Solicitor's Office. A detailed...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Once again, it is important to note that the project is proceeding. The grant came through the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. It is a very important scheme. I will ask the officials to engage with Mayo County Council on any interim measures. Normally, such measures come forward from the local authority. The OPW will look at any proposals from a technical...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: May I make a general observation? I am not a technical person. Schemes take a long time but that scheme is now going ahead. There is absolute certainty on that. The IPP scheme was brought in as an interim measure for Crossmolina. I have no doubt that people are very frustrated but the scheme is now going ahead and will provide absolute reassurance to the people of the Crossmolina area.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: May I just make a very general observation? I am conscious that the period is up to 4 December so there could be reviews. We want the scheme to go ahead. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not wish to comment on the scheme in great detail because we are still in that period. We want to get to 4 December so that the OPW can then commence construction of the scheme.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That relates to extra buildings and the state of older or obsolescent buildings.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are three elements to it. One is the increase in the number of buildings. Another is the profile of those buildings, with many being obsolete. The helpdesk has been extended on a more geographical basis in the last year. People are therefore able to avail of the service a lot more.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We were under the Cathaoirleach's stewardship.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish you all best of luck in the election.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is almost a case study.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery 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 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Point duly noted.