Written Answers Nos. 165-169
165. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Taoiseach to detail the total expenditure on public procurement by his Department and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [13557/25]
View answerThe table below details amounts spent on all goods, services and works for the five years 2019 to 2023 (the last year for which audited figures are currently available) by the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach.
All procurement by the Department of the Taoiseach and NESDO is conducted in accordance with applicable EU and national regulations and guidelines and all expenditure is subject to regular review and oversight to ensure that budgetary control is maintained at all times.
|
Year |
Department/Agency |
Expenditure (€000) |
|
2023 |
Department of the Taoiseach |
€7,595 |
|
NESDO |
€702 |
|
|
2022 |
Department of the Taoiseach |
€10,619 |
|
NESDO |
€640 |
|
|
2021 |
Department of the Taoiseach |
€18,087 |
|
NESDO |
€523 |
|
|
2020 |
Department of the Taoiseach |
€23,190 |
|
NESDO |
€469 |
|
|
2019 |
Department of the Taoiseach |
€6,823 |
|
NESDO |
€532 |
166. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Taoiseach the circumstances in which a person may request a summary of reasons for a decision not to prosecute by the Director of Public Prosecutions; the relevant legislation which underpins same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13035/25]
View answerSection 2 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 explicitly provides that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) shall be independent in the performance of their functions. One of the ways that effect is given to this independence is that funding for the Director’s Office is provided through a separate Vote; Vote 5 – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. While I have a role in presenting Estimates for Vote 5 to the Oireachtas annually, neither I nor officials in the Department of the Taoiseach exercise any control in relation to how the Director discharges their functions.
I am advised by the Office of the DPP that the circumstances in which a person may request a summary of reasons for a decision made by the DPP not to prosecute are as follows:
A person can ask the DPP for reasons for a decision not to prosecute or for a review of that decision if they are:
· a victim of crime*;
· a family member of a victim in a fatal case; or
· a solicitor acting on behalf of either of the above.
There is a 28-day time limit within which to request a summary of reasons. This is to ensure the fair and efficient administration of justice and to balance the rights of the victim with those of the suspect. In some cases, the time limit may be extended but only if there is good reason and it is in the interests of justice to do so.
The relevant legislation which underpins this is the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, which establishes the rights of victims of crime to certain information and to certain protections during investigations and criminal proceedings. These include the right of victims to request reasons for decisions not to prosecute (section 8 of the Act) and subsequent reviews of those decisions (section 9 of the Act).
More information on this matter can be found in chapter 12 of the Guidelines for Prosecutors and on the Victims and Witnesses section of the Office of the DPP website, www.dppireland.ie.
* The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act defines a ‘victim’ as:
(a) a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence
(b)family members of a person whose death was directly caused by a criminal offence and who have suffered harm as a result of that person’s death.
167. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; and who paid the salary of the individual seconded. [13697/25]
View answerThe Department did not have any secondments from consulting firms in the period specified.
168. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Taoiseach if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; and the details of same. [13698/25]
View answerNeither the Department of the Taoiseach nor the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - have awarded any contracts to, or used the services of, the hotel in question from 1st November 2024 to date.
169. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of his Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [14060/25]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) – the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach - is set out in the tables below.
Department of the Taoiseach
|
Platform |
Total Videos* |
Videos with Speech** |
Videos with Speech that feature ISL and/or Subtitles |
% of Videos with Speech that feature ISL and/or Subtitles |
|
X |
115 |
47 |
44 |
94% |
|
|
109 |
47 |
45 |
96% |
|
|
54 |
36 |
35 |
97% |
|
|
116 |
57 |
50 |
88% |
|
TikTok |
1 |
1 |
1 |
100% |
|
YouTube |
50 |
50 |
43 |
86% |
|
All Platforms |
445 |
238 |
218 |
92% |
|
* ‘Total Videos’ includes all videos posted such as speeches, packages, videos without audio and videos solely with animated text ** ‘Videos with Speech’ only includes videos that feature a person talking i.e. videos that are possible to subtitle |
National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO)
|
Platform |
Total Videos* |
Videos with Speech** |
Videos with Speech that feature ISL and/or Subtitles |
% of Videos with Speech that feature ISL and/or Subtitles |
|
X |
5 |
2 |
0 |
n/a |
|
|
5 |
2 |
0 |
n/a |
|
|
1 |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
YouTube |
8 |
6 |
6 |
100% |
|
All Platforms |
19 |
10 |
6 |
60% |
|
* ‘Total Videos’ includes all videos posted such as speeches, packages, videos without audio and videos solely with animated text ** ‘Videos with Speech’ only includes videos that feature a person talking i.e. videos that are possible to subtitle |
