Results 421-440 of 34,411 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Data provided by the Central Bank, based on extracts from unaudited information reported by credit unions, outlines the following positions as at 30 September 2023, 30 September 2024 and 30 of June 2025 (data for September 2025 is not yet available) respectively: 2023 - The amount outstanding in personal lending was €5.613bn with an average loan size of €8,898. 2024 - The...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Data provided by the Central Bank, outlines the following number of credit unions in Ireland as at 30 September 2023, 30 September 2024 and 30 September 2025 respectively: 2023- 192 trading credit unions (219 registered credit unions). 2024 -183 trading credit unions (206 registered credit unions). 2025- 172 trading credit unions (203 registered credit unions).

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Meetings (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The date of the informal meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) is being considered as part of the development of the high-level calendar that will span the full six months of Ireland's EU Presidency in the second half of 2026. As has been set out previously by the Tánaiste, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is coordinating across Government on the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Central Bank of Ireland has provided me with the following information in relation to this matter. The Central Bank publishes monthly data detailing sectoral holdings of www.centralbank.ie/statistics/data-and-analysis/securities-s tatistics/holdings-of-long-term-irish-government-bonds The published figures includes aggregated Holdings of Irish Long-Term Government Bonds by Credit...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together. The R&D corporation tax credit, as provided for in Section 766C Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997, is available to companies which are within the charge to Irish corporation tax, and which incur expenditure on qualifying R&D activities. The tax credit is currently available at a rate of 30% (increasing to 35% in Budget 2026)...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, I understand the frustration the recent cancellation of the Family Life Plus funeral cover policy has caused for its members. However, it is necessary to point out that neither I nor the Minister for State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance have a direct function in the relationship between financial service providers and their customers and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand that the question relates to the possibility of income tax relief being available to parents or guardians who purchase ICT equipment for use in school work for their school-going children. In line with best practice, and as with all proposals for the introduction of new tax measures or the amendment of existing tax reliefs, the proposal should be assessed in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: In Budget 2026, I announced the introduction of a new Derelict Property Tax (DPT). The aim of this tax will be to encourage the activation of derelict properties. This tax will replace the Derelict Sites Levy and will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Currently, the Derelict Sites Levy is an annual levy of 7% of the land’s market value. The rate of DPT is yet to be determined;...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Reviews (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government approved the publication of the Retail Banking Review and the implementation of its recommendations on 29 November 2022. The Review, which was conducted by officials in the Department with assistance from other Government agencies and Departments, made a wide range of recommendations to improve both the sector and the customers' experiences, recognising the critical importance...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: European Union (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Banking Union was created in response to the 2008 Financial Crisis. The first two pillars of the Banking Union, the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), have been in place for a decade and have been subject to a number of reforms to improve their effectiveness. The European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) is the third pillar of the Banking Union,...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Directives (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The European Commission published proposals for a Payment Services Directive (PSD3) and a Payment Services Regulation (PSR) in June 2023 following a review of the current Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The package sets out to address areas of weakness with PSD2, particularly regarding protections against authorised push payment fraud (APP), low open banking take-up, and a lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for Government has included a commitment to draft a five-year strategy for the credit union sector. I and the Minister of State intend to co-sponsor a workplan with the credit union sector to determine its Strategic Purpose. I have instructed my officials to draft a member focussed plan that will be inclusive and owned by the sector. My officials are actively engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU Presidency (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The high-level thematic priorities of Ireland’s Presidency are under development at present, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade coordinating across Government on the development of the overarching policy programme. This will be prepared in line with the EU Strategic Agenda for 2024-29, taking into account the current legislative work programme of the European Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Primary Medical Certificates (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note that my Department and I share concerns that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme or DDS is no longer fit-for-purpose and believe it should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-led approach for necessary vehicle adaptations that could serve to improve the functional mobility of the individual. However, this is very much a matter for Government as my...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Policies (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: The central thrust of the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) project is to help European citizens to invest more so as to insure that they have better financial outcomes and are better provided for in the future. Furthermore, the EU SIU project is also about trying to deepen the pools of capital that can be made available for investment purposes so as develop businesses bringing more growth...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together. Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is a beneficiary-based tax on gifts and inheritances that is payable on the value of the property received. For CAT purposes, the relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance (i.e. the disponer) and the person who receives it (i.e. the beneficiary) determines the maximum amount, known as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Data (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510, 513 and 515 together. Firstly I would note that some contingent liabilities are inherently uncertain or unknown until unexpected events take place, as detailed in a report by my Department here (). Therefore, as the report notes, the overall picture is difficult to define, measure, or collect data on. Nevertheless, my Department already publishes...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Functions (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 514 together. General Government Debt is calculated by the Central Statistics Office. By definition, General Government Debt includes the debt of all General Government entities.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Data (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512, 516 and 517 together. First of all, I would like to note that, as detailed here (, some contingent liabilities are inherently uncertain or unknown until unexpected events take place. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to forecast. However, my Department publishes the forecasts of the General Government Debt twice a year in the Annual Progress Report...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2025)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand that the Department of Transport received a request for financial support from the Irish Road Haulage Association for hauliers affected by the temporary closure of Holyhead Port following storm damage. The consideration of this request is not under my Department's purview. Thus, I cannot speak directly on its progress. However, under the responsibility of my Department, the...