I am pleased to advise the Deputy that, following discussions between my officials and those of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum will act in an advisory capacity in relation GovTech development in addition to its existing work.  The Forum, which was established by the previous Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation and created to support the government in driving the digitalisation of enterprise across Ireland. The Expert Group …

I am informed by the Regulator of the National Lottery who is informed by the operator of the National Lottery, Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), that PLI manages credit risks in line with industry norms to help ensure that all monies collected through the sale of Lottery products by its Retail Agents are secured. For this reason, PLI require a deposit or a bank guarantee, based on the individual retailers' preference, which is consistent with standard industry practice and based on the size and scale of the retaile…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 452 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that I expect to publish a new strategy for public service transformation in the very near future (within the coming weeks). The strategy document will be published on Gov.ie. This new strategy will act as a successor to the Our Public Service 2020 framework.

The Public Spending Code is the tool that the Government uses to consider the costs and benefits of the capital investment decisions it faces. As part of my Department’s enhanced mandate around the delivery of the NDP, I recently announced that the Public Spending Code will be replaced by a set of Infrastructure Guidelines. It is critical that these Infrastructure Guidelines incorporate a realistic assessment of the likely impact on greenhouse gas emissions of Government investment decisions. The National Developme…

The National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP) published in October 2021 provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland over the next 10 years, and delivers total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. The NDP also set out the range of actions that are being taken to strengthen delivery, maximise value for money, and ensure to the greatest extent possible that projects are delivered on time, on budget and with the benefits targeted at the outset. In 2023, over €12 billion will be made av…

The Government recognises the importance of the SME sector and continues to enhance the already substantial measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. The primary avenue by which the Government engages with SMEs on issues relating to public procurement is the SME Advisory Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Ossian Smyth who has responsibility for public procurement. The SME Advisory Group, which meets quarterly, includes representatives from the Irish Business and Employers’ Confe…

Since 6 April 1995, all newly-appointed public servants became fully insured under the Social Insurance System.  They pay Class A PRSI, which would entitle them to Social Insurance Benefits such as, maternity benefit, illness benefit, State Pension Contributory (SPC) and other social insurance entitlements not available to public servants paying modified PRSI (Class B, C or D).  A significant number of occupational pension schemes (both private and public sector) take account of a member’s entitlement to the SPC wh…

As Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments.  Management and delivery of individual investment projects within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan (NDP) is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister. Each Minister is responsible to deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under their remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery. In 2…

Acknowledging that more progress needs to be made in our society, in our economy and by this Government is not the same as the Government indicating that we are not making any progress at all. That is the premise of this debate today. This Government, all of our colleagues, colleagues from three different political parties, fully acknowledge that we need to do more. We fully acknowledge, particularly as we grapple with the searing effects of our challenges in building more homes, the need to get more homes built an…

I fear claims like that only deepen the sense of disenchantment and undermine the legitimacy of how progress can be made, rather than offering any solutions.

I conclude by reiterating what the Taoiseach said a moment ago. He said we can do more and we can do better. This Government will do more and we will do better. We know more progress needs to be made, but progress is still happening.

You could not even get a new speech, it is the same script.

Is it 50,000 or 100,000 houses a year? Which is it?

Is it 50,000 refurbishments a year?

I have.

He is not concerned about them.

He never said that.

He never said that.

I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 1 — President’s Establishment (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €5,091,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2023, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Secretary General to the President, for certain other expenses of the President’s Establishment and for certain grants. Vote 2 — Department of the Taoiseach (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €38,745,000…

At least the Deputy is acknowledging it.