We are very much aware of the competing pressures the Defence Forces are facing at the moment and the changing security environment the country is in. As I stated, it appears to me that good practice is being asserted here in ensuring there is a feasible figure in place regarding recruitment. In the context of the other commitments that have now been made to the Defence Forces, this appears to be a very appropriate and realistic decision to make. I look forward to engaging with the Deputy on the matter in the time …

I reiterate what I have already said: I plan to make a further statement. I have not yet indicated to the Ceann Comhairle when that will be but, of course, the decision to grant that is his. At the earliest opportunity, I want to make a further statement on the matter and ensure the information I am sharing is as accurate as possible. A regards the format of that, I have not yet reached that point. Obviously, much of it is at the discretion of the Ceann Comhairle. I wish to again indicate my intention to give furth…

I am happy to emphasise the key points relating to the question that is on the Question Paper. My written response lays out the work that is under way to increase capacity within the construction sector. It looks at the work that is being led by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, through his Department. It makes reference to the construction sector group and the work that is under way to build investment there, and notes the work that is under way in the …

The Deputy will be aware that the programme for Government contains a commitment to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In this context, my Department, in collaboration with Civil Service employers, trade unions and staff associations, developed a blended working policy framework for Civil Service organisations which was published in March. The framework focused on the longer term approach to remote working in the Civil Service and has been shared with public service employers …

I would not describe the arrangement that is in place as being in any way ad hoc but would describe it as varied. It is the case that, within our public service, we have so many roles available, as the Deputy will know better than I do. We are trying to have a framework in place that allows a minimum amount of discretion to work from home but also guarantees that public services are maintained while working arrangements change. I am aware of some of the feedback on the quality of public services and the ability to …

That information exists. It is captured for organisations such as the Revenue Commissioners when they examine how they respond to communications. I do not have the detail on the various parts of our civil and public services. To deal with the Deputy's question on the framework in place, it is, as I referred to in the early part of my answer, the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations. Appendix B of that framework, which concerns the role of the people manager, lays out expectations regardi…

Supporting rural Ireland is a major cross-governmental policy objective and priority. However, the amounts allocated to the Department of Rural and Community Development are themselves but a fraction of what we invest in our regions and local communities. For example, the figures the Deputy referred to do not include how much we spend in schools located in rural communities, nor do they include rural bus networks, primary care centres or health facilities located outside our larger cities. I differ from the Deputy …

If the Deputy examines the expenditure of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, he will see it is over €2 billion. I believe it is €2.2 billion. It goes without saying that all of that supports our rural communities and agriculture sector. The amounts pertaining to the Department of Rural and Community Development, which is an important Department, add to the large amounts already spent by other Departments in supporting rural Ireland. That said, the amount of money allocated for rural development pro…

Now that I have been reunited with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, in another Department, I can say there is no greater champion of expenditure in rural Ireland, including the part of the Deputy, than him. I have no doubt that, in the time ahead, he will continue to make the case for the priorities the Deputy has referred to. I will certainly do my best to help. I am well aware of the difficulty of making a case for not spending money when there is so much within our society and rural Ireland that needs su…

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am responsible for the delivery of the national development plan, NDP, for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. My Department is also responsible for maintaining the national frameworks within which Departments operate to ensure appropriate accounting for, and value for money in, public expenditure. Because of its vital importance for our country, "NDP delivery” is to be added to my D…

I will shortly engage with the NDP national implementation board, particularly the outside representatives and experts on the board, to get their views on these issues. I have some initial views on those things we can do better on, and can improve on, to turn this higher level of expenditure into better output for our society. My first port of call will be to engage with the NDP management board to hear the views of different Government Departments and outside experts regarding what we can do differently and better…

I want to emphasise my view that the capital ceilings in place at the moment are very appropriate for this year. Changing the capital ceilings inside the budgetary year rarely leads to that money being spent in its entirety, and sometimes it can lead to other challenges regarding good value for the taxpayer. That being said, I aim to be in a position to give some guidance and instruction for how the delivery of our overall NDP can be implemented. I am aware of the frustration many people feel when we keep increasin…

The Government has committed to €165 billion in capital investment through the NDP, as published in 2021. As a percentage of national income, annual capital investment is now among the largest in the European Union. In 2023, almost €12 billion will fund vital infrastructure in areas such as housing, transport, education, enterprise, sport and climate action. Achieving value for money and reducing cost and schedule overruns is a vital part of delivering the NDP. My Department is responsible for the public spending c…

I understand that a lot of this information is available for individual projects. I will certainly look at the point being made by the Deputy on how this can be better tracked in an overall fashion. I am aware, for example from challenges with the national children's hospital number of years ago, of the need for a refined public spending procedure for very large projects. I understand the need for that. I am very much aware that for some of our larger projects, a very high level of scrutiny is needed regarding how …

As I said on the NDP, I want to look at what other improvements or changes we can put in place that get the balance right between the effective use of taxpayers' money and all the scrutiny that is needed for all projects, particularly larger capital projects. On the Deputy's final point, on that and other matters I look forward to making a statement to the House at the earliest opportunity.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 126 together. I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to address the review of the Act. I want to acknowledge the work that has been put into this project by the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. Under his guidance, an update setting out the current position in the review was brought to Government and subsequently issued to stakeholders and published late last year. Given the breadth and complexity of the issues involved, it is envisaged that the review will be co…

I was not aware of the option to make oral FOI requests but I am familiar with the operation of the legislation. As the Deputy will know, Ministers do not play a role in determining what information goes out. On the access that FOI legislation has to the records of a Minister, there should be nothing in your private communication that refers to Government business. My phone and any electronic device I have are subject to FOI legislation and I am careful to use official communication channels for Government business…

The public system is open to citizens.

As I said, I am not aware of the ability for FOI requests to be granted and issued orally but I accept that the Deputy is raising important matters on governance, transparency and standards in public life. To go back to the FOI request that is at the heart of this parliamentary question, as I have said, this is an Act that works well. I heard Deputy Nash refer to the black marker and I want to reaffirm to the House that the black marker is not wielded by Ministers when it comes to FOI requests that come in about th…

I thank the Deputy for his question, which touches on two important issues; the need to maintain adequate provision of care in the community and the need to increase significantly the uptake of environmentally friendly modes of transport that will help decrease our greenhouse gas emissions. As the Deputy will appreciate, consideration of targeted supports for specific categories of workers is a matter for the Department with the relevant policy responsibility. In the first instance I can confirm that no scheme of t…