Results 14,761-14,780 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Other Questions: Child Benefit Appeals (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: I raised an individual case because I have serious concerns about the handling of this by the Department. These are separated parents, both of whom claim to be the principal carer of the child. When the Department found in favour of the mother I queried the decision and discovered it was based on a letter from a social worker which was on the file. The social worker had no professional...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection following her signature of Statutory Instrument S.I. 616/11, the reason no pre-existing claimants were directly informed of the changes introduced to the rules of the scheme; the protocols in place in her Department to inform claimants of rule changes so that they may remain in compliance with the conditions of the scheme under which they are...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Collection (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 69. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason an application to have the local property tax deducted from a person's old age pension (details supplied) in Dublin 9 has not been completed despite the application being lodged in July of this year; when this process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Promissory Note Issues (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 76. To ask the Minister for Finance the total value of the promissory note deal as it was applied in Budget 2014. [44059/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Application (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance the saving to the Exchequer that would arise if the current arrangements for landlords, whereby they can claim interest repayments against tax for residential rental properties, was ceased for new entrants and the data upon which this estimate was based; and if he will provide similar details in respect of commercial properties. [44074/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Supports (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 191. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rates for foster payments that will apply in 2014. [43982/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services Expenditure (17 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: 211. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been a 21% reduction in the operational budget of the Daughters of Charity Services for persons with intellectual disabilities since 2009; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chief executive officer believes that any further reduction in funding will result in the closure of...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: This is the fact-----

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: The Government announced an extra €37 million for GP visit cards. It is giving with one hand while taking back on the treble with the other by withdrawing €148 million from medical card provision which includes the over-70s and under-70s. This will also result in substantial numbers of people being left without access to basic health care. There was great fanfare when it was...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: We all know how fond the Taoiseach was of the famous five-point plan he announced before the last general election. This time he and his Government colleagues have surpassed themselves. They have come up with a ten-point plan which is specifically targeted at older people. Cumulatively, it will result in older people who are already under severe pressure being hammered by the impact of...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: The Government is withdrawing 35,000 of the over 70s medical cards from couples with an income of more than €900 per week. The important point to bear in mind is that the figure is for gross income. The medical card is the only way for people to access home help services, public health nursing services and other community health services and that is the big loss to people-----

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: -----as well as the loss of security which the medical card gives. There also will be medical card losses for people who are under 70 and the Government is targeting €113 million to be withdrawn from those people. That equates to approximately 100,000 medical cards being withdrawn next year. We all know how squeezed people are already because of the tight income limits.

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Large numbers of people in their 60s with very meagre incomes will lose their medical cards through this austerity budget. We also have the reduction in tax relief for those who have very modest cover with health insurance companies. These people do not have the gold-plated policies to which the Minister for Finance referred yesterday.

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: The Minister very dishonestly portrayed this as something entirely different. People on very modest incomes who have been already put to the pin of their collars to maintain their health insurance because the health service is so unresponsive to older people in particular, will now lose the tax relief which will make health insurance even less affordable for them. We now have a totally...

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: On the one hand, the policy is to introduce universal health insurance and to develop an insurance-based health care system. On the other hand, through various Government policies, including those announced yesterday, health insurance is being made less affordable for people. The Government is squeezing more and more people out of private health insurance. Thousands of people are leaving...

Financial Resolutions 2014: No. 7: Income Tax (15 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: I ask the Minister to clarify that. Is it not the case that self-employed people already pay PRSI on their savings and that the intention is to impose 4% PRSI on employees savings?

Financial Resolutions 2014: No. 7: Income Tax (15 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: I would like a bit more clarity on that. What is an insignificant amount? If a PAYE employee has savings and he or she earns interest on those savings, that interest is actually unearned income. Will that interest now be subject to 41% DIRT and PRSI, giving an effective rate of 45% tax on those savings? I ask the Minister to clarify that point because that is my understanding of these changes.

Financial Resolutions 2014: No. 7: Income Tax (15 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: A sum of €100 in interest can be significant to people. Is the Government now intending to take €45 out of that €100 in tax?

Financial Resolutions 2014: No. 7: Income Tax (15 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: Following on from Deputy Michael McGrath's question, I did not hear the full exchange but would like the Minister to clarify whether PRSI will apply to savings such that DIRT and PRSI combined will result in a tax rate of 45% on savings. I agree that the approach is wholly unsatisfactory as a means of dealing with very significant budgetary proposals. No briefing at all has been provided....

Financial Resolutions 2014: No. 7: Income Tax (15 Oct 2013)

Róisín Shortall: For self-employed people, is that 45%?