Written answers
Wednesday, 18 November 2015
- Department of Finance
- Tax Reliefs Cost
7. To ask the Minister for Finance the current estimated tax expenditure costs of tax reliefs for the property and construction industry, and any further such expenditure resulting from budget...
- NAMA Assets Sale
11. To ask the Minister for Finance the remaining assets the National Asset Management Agency has to dispose of, when it will conclude its mandate; the general strategy it will employ in its...
- National Debt
12. To ask the Minister for Finance the impact on Ireland's national debt and the debt to gross domestic product ratio of proposed payments from Allied Irish Banks in 2015; the likely impact of...
- Corporation Tax Regime
13. To ask the Minister for Finance for an explanation of the recent spike in corporate tax receipts; the extent to which it is linked to recent changes made in relation to the so-called double...
- Credit Unions Regulation
14. To ask the Minister for Finance when the regulations set out in the Central Bank of Ireland Consultation Paper 88 will be introduced; when the remaining sections of the Credit Union Act 2012...
- Insurance Costs
15. To ask the Minister for Finance his views that the regulatory model has contributed to recent difficulties in the insurance sector; the actions he will take to deal with soaring motor...
- State Banking Sector
16. To ask the Minister for Finance how the State will maximise the proceeds from a future disposal of Allied Irish Banks; how these proceeds will be deployed; his views on the comments by the...
- NAMA Loans Sale
18. To ask the Minister for Finance if it is appropriate for the National Asset Management Agency Project Arrow to be completed, while investigations into the purchase of Project Eagle are...
- Post Office Network
19. To ask the Minister for Finance when a consultation with the Central Bank of Ireland will commence and conclude in relation to drafting a ministerial order pursuant to section 67 of the Post...
- Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme
20. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which consideration has been, or will be, given to utilising personal savings which are currently the subject of deposit interest retention tax...
- Real Estate Investment Trusts
21. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the real estate investment trusts, and their role in the Irish property market, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Tax Code
22. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the anomaly between the value added tax registration threshold for the sale of services and the sale of goods; if he will review this anomaly;...
- Property Tax
23. To ask the Minister for Finance why the report of the review of the local property tax by Dr. Don Thornhill was not published until budget day 2016, given that it was dated July 2015; the...
- Economic Growth
24. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding future economic growth prospects, especially in comparison to other European Union euro and non-euro...
- Retail Sector
25. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures that were announced in budget 2016 to support job creation in the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37994/15]
- Central Bank of Ireland Investigations
26. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the Central Bank of Ireland’s investigation into tracker mortgage infringements by banks; the number of banks being investigated, and...
- Property Tax Exemptions
27. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to exempt a complex (details supplied) and other residential complexes, that are unsafe to live in, from the local property tax. [40342/15]
- Tax Credits
28. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to address the issue of single parents who reside in this jurisdiction, who are not in receipt of child benefit and whose families reside in Northern...
- Rent Controls
29. To ask the Minister for Finance his role and input in the recent discussions around controls, regulations and new initiatives in the rental and housing market; and if he will make a statement...
- Credit Unions Regulation
30. To ask the Minister for Finance the impact the proposals from the Irish League of Credit Unions to invest €2 billion for social housing will have on the balance sheets of the banks;...
- Mortgage Arrears Proposals
32. To ask the Minister for Finance how he will tackle the very high number of residential mortgages in arrears for more than two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40358/15]
- Tax Code
33. To ask the Minister for Finance the current processing time for a value added tax number; if he will address delays within the Revenue Commissioners in issuing these numbers; and if he will...
- Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
34. To ask the Minister for Finance with regard to section 92 of the Finance Act 1992, as amended, section 134(3) of the Finance Act 1992, as amended and Statutory Instrument No. 353 of 1994...
- Tax Credits
35. To ask the Minister for Finance considering he is the lead Minister for the Action Plan for Jobs, why 173,000 self-employed persons will miss out on a new self-employed tax credit in 2016;...
- Tax Reliefs Cost
36. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has estimated the cost to the Exchequer arising from changes to the recently announced reforms to the treatment of tax relief for landlords...
- Credit Unions Regulation
37. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to a deferral of the implementation of the Consultation Paper 88 reforms in Credit Unions, given the concerns expressed by the...
- Corporation Tax Regime
39. To ask the Minister for Finance the specific causes of the large increase in the intake of corporation tax in 2015. [40345/15]
- Mortgage Interest Rates
40. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of banks that have decreased their standard variable interest rates in 2015; the size of these changes; and his plans to legislate to allow the...
- Departmental Reports
41. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the Economic and Social Research Institute report on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40011/15]
- Freedom of Information Data
42. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of freedom of information requests made to the National Asset Management Agency; of the number submitted, the number that were denied or rejected;...
- Department of Social Protection
- Social Insurance
43. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the first year and full-year cost of increasing the employer pay related social insurance rate of 8.5% from €376 to...
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a review of an application for a domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be...
- Departmental Correspondence
45. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding training courses for the long-term unemployed; and if she will make a...
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
46. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will...
- Social Welfare Offices
47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why the social welfare office in Portarlington in County Laois refused financial assistance or provision of information regarding...
- Carer's Allowance Applications
48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a...
- Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Limerick was not entitled to a back to education allowance; and if she will make a...
- Invalidity Pension Eligibility
50. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite a review of an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, as all relevant...
- Carer's Allowance Applications
51. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement...
- Invalidity Pension Applications
52. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused an invalidity pension; the reason it took two months to receive...
- Carer's Allowance Applications
53. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement...
- Disability Allowance
58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing disability allowance by €20. [40861/15]
- Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
59. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an increase in rent allowance will be facilitated for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who will be homeless unless...
- Child Maintenance Payments
60. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce attachment orders on social protection recipients in cases where a parent fails to comply with a court...
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
61. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a...
- Department of Finance
- Credit Unions Regulation
62. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Consultation Paper 88; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40761/15]
- Tax Rebates
66. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider in the Finance Bill an amendment to increase the time limit specified of four years for recovery of arrears of tax, due to omitting to...
- Universal Social Charge Exemptions
67. To ask the Minister for Finance the first year and full year cost of exempting income earners at or below €19,572 from the universal social charge. [40854/15]
- Tax Yield
68. To ask the Minister for Finance the first and full year revenue to be raised from increasing capital gains tax on passive investment to 35%. [40857/15]
- NAMA Assets Sale
69. To ask the Minister for Finance about reports of his comments in September 2013 to the First Minister, Mr. Peter Robinson, that the Government and Stormont would work together with the...
- Liquor Licence Data
70. To ask the Minister for Finance to set out the number of publican licences issued for each of the years 2011 to 2015 to date by category and based on the cost of licence; and if he will make...
- Economic Growth
72. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding future economic growth and the ability to avoid inflationary tendencies in the economy; and if he...
- Mortgage Arrears Proposals
73. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the extent to which he continues to monitor the manner in which the various banks continue to accommodate customers who have found themselves in...
- Small and Medium Enterprises Supports
74. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the extent to which he expects credit availability to small and medium-sized enterprises to improve in line with requirements; and if he will make a...
- Tax Code
76. To ask the Minister for Finance the current level of personal savings after which deposit interest retention tax is chargeable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40895/15]
- Credit Availability
77. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which adequate banking facilities continue to be made available to the hotel and catering sector, thereby providing the necessary facilities for...
- Bank Charges
79. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he continues to monitor the levels of bank charges being imposed by various banks; the basis for such charges, nationally and...
- Mortgage Interest Rates
80. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which mortgage lending rates are likely to converge with the rates applicable in other European jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on...
- EU Membership
81. To ask the Minister for Finance the degree to which he continues to monitor the potential economic fall-out in the event of a partial or total exit from the European Union by the United...
- Tax Yield
84. To ask the Minister for Finance the receipts from deposit interest retention tax in each of the past eight years and 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40903/15]
- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
- Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation
86. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware that responsibility for delivering objective 1.1 of the national positive ageing strategy, relating to developing...
- Job Retention
87. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Horse Racing Industry
88. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on making three amendments (details supplied) to the Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Agriculture Scheme Payments
89. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under the area aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on...
- Forestry Grants
90. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be reached on grant aid for the re-establishment of forestries that were damaged in recent storms; and if he will...
- Single Payment Scheme Payments
91. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a single payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40790/15]
- Basic Payment Scheme Payments
95. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive a single payment scheme payment; the reason for the delay; and if he...
- Wildlife Conservation
97. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on introducing a ban on the importation of bees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40841/15]
- Basic Payment Scheme Payments
98. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a basic payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Bovine Disease Controls
99. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 404 of 14 July 2015 for an update on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40864/15]
- Agriculture Scheme Eligibility
100. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason young farmers involved in partnerships now have to register to complete green certificates by 31 December 2015, instead of...
- Agriculture Scheme Payments
101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when all headage payments for 2015 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [40878/15]
- GLAS Applications
102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details provided) in County Cork, under the green low carbon agri-environment scheme, in...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Child Care Costs
103. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has considered extending parental leave for parents of older children, for example, up to 12 years of age; and the cost of...
- Garda Overtime
104. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Síochána overtime hours, by county, from 2011 to 2015, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Garda Corruption
106. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she can establish whether any member of An Garda Síochána accepted hospitality at home or abroad from any media outlet or...
- Community Alert Programme
107. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation for neighbourhood watch schemes, Garda Síochána text alert schemes and any other community-based alert schemes,...
- Garda Data
108. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of knives recovered by An Garda Síochána in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40758/15]
- Legislative Process
109. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Spent Convictions Bill 2012 will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if Government amendments will seek to amend the Bill to such...
- Garda Compensation
110. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality for a comprehensive update on the status of a Garda Síochána compensation claim for a person (details supplied), which this Deputy...
- Garda Vetting Applications
113. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive Garda Síochána clearance; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Garda Recruitment
114. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when An Garda Síochána will begin its next round of recruitment; and if applicants for the last round will automatically be considered...
- International Summits
115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on her participation in the Valetta summit on migration held in Malta on 11 and 12 November 2015; and if she will make a...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Domestic Violence Refuges
117. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action he will take to prevent the closure in December 2015 of the Cuan Álainn women's refuge at the Respond housing association...
- Homeless Persons Supports
118. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is aware that a number of young mothers with previous care experience are being housed in emergency hotels and bed and breakfast...
- Care Services
119. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rationale behind the practice of sending young persons into out-of-State care placements, rather than developing services and expertise...
- Aftercare Services
120. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs why aftercare provision is unequal and inconsistent across different counties and regions; the details of any analysis that he, the Health...
- Children in Care
124. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the recent Health Information and Quality Authority inspection report finding with regard to the lack of suitable placements to...
- Disability Services Provision
125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views that children with disabilities in the care of the State or in voluntary care should receive equal supports and services as...
- Legislative Programme
126. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to revisit the Child Care Act 1991 in order to reflect developments in social media and technology; his views that guidelines and...
- Children in Care
127. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide figures and statistics from the Tusla - Child and Family Agency on the number of care-experienced young persons of 17 to...
- Child Abuse Reports
128. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs why a number of recommendations made in the Ryan report have yet to be implemented, for example, Action 65, a longitudinal study on...
- Children in Care
129. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of Tusla - Child and Family Agency in achieving comprehensive care planning, effective matching and adequate supports to...
- Adoption Authority of Ireland
130. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will appoint adoptees and natural parents to the board of the Adoption Authority; if so, when; if not, the reason why; and if he will...
- Early Childhood Care Education
131. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first year and full-year cost of extending the early childhood care and education scheme annually to 48 weeks. [40858/15]
- Department of Health
- General Practitioner Services
133. To ask the Minister for Health the grounds on which a private general practitioner can refuse an appointment for a private patient; the criteria applied; and if he will make a statement on...
- Hospital Services
134. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times in each of the years 2013 to 2015 to date that Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 has had to be taken off-call; the reason for these...
- Health Services Provision
135. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address concerns raised in correspondence regarding the care of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the necessary medications will be...
- Mental Health Services Funding
136. To ask the Minister for Health the percentage of the total health budget in his Department that was allocated to the mental health services in 2004. [40766/15]
- Register of Medical Practitioners
137. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Medical Council and Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40771/15]
- Mental Health Services
138. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to the adolescent psychiatric services in the mid-west area in 2014. [40772/15]
- Care of the Elderly Provision
140. To ask the Minister for Health the number of senior case workers for the protection of older people available to assess all referrals of alleged elder abuse reported for the years 2011 to...
- Hospital Appointment Status
141. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40786/15]
- Hospital Services
142. To ask the Minister for Health the procedure for debt collection of bills issued by University Hospital Waterford; the length of time before bills are passed to an outside collection agency;...
- Medicinal Products Availability
144. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider allowing IV Augmentin, which is not covered under the general medical services for a person (details supplied) in County Cork given the...
- Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
145. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be fitted for orthopaedic shoes. [40823/15]
- Drug and Alcohol Task Forces
146. To ask the Minister for Health if he will make additional funding available to the South Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force given the proposal from Athy Community Addiction...
- Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
147. To ask the Minister for Health if a grant for a hearing aid is available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40829/15]
- Nursing Staff Recruitment
148. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 10 November 2015, the financial assistance available to encourage a qualified nurse (details supplied) to return...
- Hospital Appointment Status
149. To ask the Minister for Health when a cataract operation will be performed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he is aware of delays in this case; and if he will make a...
- Ambulance Service Response Times
150. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the ambulance service's response time in a recent case of an emergency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40874/15]
- National Task Force on Prescribing and Dispensing Remit
151. To ask the Minister for Health the work undertaken by the National Task Force on Prescribing and Dispensing, since it was first established in 2012 [40879/15]
- Primary Care Services Provision
152. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 231 of 12 March 2015, the delay in a payment being issued to a person ( details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he...
- Hospital Appointment Status
153. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a child (details supplied) in County Kerry in Tallaght Hospital in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Human Rights Issues
154. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any of his officials raised the case of a person (details supplied) with the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Sameh Hassan...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs Data
155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional special needs assistants provided for in budget 2016’s new measures, and any additional measures and resources...
- Special Educational Needs Staffing
156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a special needs assistant will be assigned solely to a pupil with on the autism spectrum disorder in a school (details supplied) in County...
- Schools Building Projects Status
157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of providing a replacement primary school for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the...
- State Examinations
158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a leaving certificate 2015 student (details supplied) who was allocated a special centre and a shared reader, but who failed...
- Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers
159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students awaiting grants from Student Universal Support Ireland, by county. [40828/15]
- SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Provision
160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify a situation (details supplied) regarding training courses for the long-term unemployed; and if she will make a statement on...
- Teacher Training Provision
161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce measures to make it more affordable for student teachers to attend courses in Gaeltacht areas; the changes in supports...
- Special Educational Needs Service Provision
162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Question No. 229 of 4 November 2015, her views that, 194 post primary level autistic spectrum disorder-specific special classes in...
- Schools Extra Curricular Activities
163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40876/15]
- School Transport Applications
164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when school transport will be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Cork; if this is not possible, if she will consider the payment...
- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Wind Energy Guidelines
165. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects to publish the revised guidelines on wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40789/15]
- Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data
166. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of properties that have been successfully purchased by local authorities through the local authority...
- Noise Pollution
168. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans in relation to noise nuisance; if future legislation will take consideration of noises that are not necessarily...
- Motor Tax Yield
169. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of pre-2008 vehicles on which motor tax was paid in 2015 to date, by county; and if he will make a statement on...
- Mortgage Arrears Rate
171. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the allocations under the mortgage arrears resolution process in 2014 and 2015 to deal with local authority housing loan...
- Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data
172. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the mortgage-to-rent scheme is successful, given that just 2.9 % approximately of mortgage holders in...
- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Gas Exploration Licences
173. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding extraction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Driver Licence Renewals
174. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take with the National Driver Licence Service to ensure an application for renewal of a driver licence is dealt with...
- Rural Transport Programme Funding
175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40752/15]
- Road Safety
176. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider installing speed cameras for the purpose of recording drivers who are within the speed limit and randomly selecting...
- Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Gender Equality
177. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a proposal to erect a statue or memorial in O'Connell Street, Dublin 1, dedicated to the role of women in Ireland's...
- Hare Coursing
178. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if hares captured by a coursing club (details supplied) were released back into the wild following the club's disqualification; and...
- Wildlife Conservation
179. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware that while a national deer census is not practical a census of localised areas such as in national parks could be...
