Written answers
Thursday, 16 July 2020
- Department of Finance
- Economic Growth Rate
12. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the latest European Commission forecast for economic growth and the implications for the fiscal position of the State; and if he will make a...
- Stability and Growth Pact
13. To ask the Minister for Finance if an indication has been received from the EU based on the Stability and Growth pact report forwarded to the EU in April 2020 regarding the likely borrowing...
- Economic Policy
14. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the most effective measures that are likely to impact positively on the economy in view of Covid-19 in the shortest possible time in the context...
- Commercial Rates
15. To ask the Minister for Finance if highly profitable companies will be excluded from the suspension of rates. [16310/20]
- Insurance Costs
17. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he plans to take to tackle high insurance premiums here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16105/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
18. To ask the Minister for Finance if an extension of the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be considered for sectors and employers that continue to be affected by public health measures; his...
- Commencement of Legislation
21. To ask the Minister for Finance when all sections of the Consumer Insurance Contracts Act 2019 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16295/20]
- Mortgage Lending
22. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has communicated with retail banks regarding the treatment of mortgage applications. including joint applications, whereby such applications are rejected...
- Tax Code
23. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce a tax on net wealth exceeding €1 million in order to fund public investment. [16312/20]
- Legal Costs
24. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount that has been spent on a case (details supplied) to date. [16313/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
25. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider measures such as a VAT reduction for the hospitality sector to 5% and the inclusion of seasonal workers in the temporary wage subsidy...
- Credit Unions
26. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the crisis many credit unions are facing in terms of increased regulation, levy charges, large restrictions on lending and onerous capital...
- Mortgage Interest Rates
27. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether claims by banks here that they must charge interest on 80,000 mortgage loans during payment holidays has been undermined by new guidance...
- Economic Growth Rate
28. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the latest IMF World Economic Outlook forecasts and the implications for the fiscal position of the State; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Economic Policy
29. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the projected deficit figure of €23 billion to €30 billion for 2020 based on the stability programme update in April 2020 in view of...
- Bond Markets
30. To ask the Minister for Finance if measures are being taken to refinance the outstanding obligations into long-term debt of the State in view of the historically low borrowing costs; and if...
- Tax Reliefs
33. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider providing income tax relief for the long-term lease of residential homes to address security of tenure in view of the success of a similar...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
35. To ask the Minister for Finance if measures will be implemented through an easing of the taxation burden on the tourism and hospitality sector in view of its importance as a provider of...
- Ministerial Priorities
36. To ask the Minister for Finance his priorities following his election as chairperson of the Eurogroup of EU finance ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16284/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
37. To ask the Minister for Finance if measures will be implemented as a matter of urgency from a VAT reduction and taxation perspective to assist the tourism and hospitality sector through the...
- Ministerial Priorities
38. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to use his new position as Eurogroup President to seek a mutualisation of debt and the creation of perpetual bonds to fund the post-Covid-19 EU...
- Corporation Tax
39. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the recent OECD report on corporate tax statistics published 8 July 2020 (details supplied); his plans to enact measures to...
- Rainy Day Fund
40. To ask the Minister for Finance the current balance of the rainy day fund; the ways in which it is intended to use the fund to deal with the costs and consequences arising from Covid-19; the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
42. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will be introducing criteria for companies that avail of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and other State supports during the Covid-19 crisis such as...
- IDA Ireland
48. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA-organised visits involving those from the industrial sector that have been made to an unused IDA site in Tipperary...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Just Transition Fund
50. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to include Moneypoint power station in the just transition fund in the event the plant may be scaled back in...
- Bord na Móna
51. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, under the just transition plan, compensation will be provided to peat harvesting contractors that made significant...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Heritage Sites
52. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the decision made by Shannon Heritage to keep some of its sites in the west of Ireland in particular...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
53. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will initiate a public transport recovery task force if he has not already done so with an independent chair and budget (details...
- Driver Licences
54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) can have their licence issued sooner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16344/20]
- Driver Test
55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding a driver theory test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Public Transport
56. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to commuter travel post Covid-19; and if he will make a...
- Semi-State Bodies
57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has been in contact with the management of Shannon Group in view of the recent announcement by the group to seek voluntary...
- Sport Ireland
58. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the terms and conditions of the funds released to an association (details supplied) in advance of the emergency general meeting of the...
- Consumer Protection
59. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to put in place a compensation package for persons who booked flights prior to 16 March 2020 for summer 2020 in cases in which...
- Driver Test
60. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if advice will be provided in relation to matters raised in correspondence regarding the circumstances of a person (details supplied)....
- Department of Finance
- Banking Sector
61. To ask the Minister for Finance the consequences for banks found to be making additional profits from the Covid-19 crisis; if those banks have been informed of the sanctions they will be...
- Value Added Tax
63. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering a reduction in VAT on the hospitality and tourism sector in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the sector; and if he will make a...
- Mortgage Lending
65. To ask the Minister for Finance the actions he will take to prevent the practice of the banks to not let persons who are in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme draw down already...
- Mortgage Interest Rates
66. To ask the Minister for Finance the actions he will take to stop banks charging interest on Covid-19 mortgage breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16318/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
68. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects the proposed European Covid-19 rescue fund to be applied across the European Union; if it will be proportional to the extent to...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
71. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects the economy here to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, with particular reference to those sectors most severely impacted; and if...
- State Aid
72. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects European state aid rules to be relaxed to facilitate the provision of vital infrastructure such as housing, health and education...
- Brexit Issues
73. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which he continues to review the impact of Brexit on various aspects of the economy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16446/20]
- Interest Rates
74. To ask the Minister for Finance the degree to which lending rates of interest here can be brought in line with those applicable in other eurozone countries in view of the commitment by...
- Financial Services Sector
75. To ask the Minister for Finance the degree to which he continues to monitor the activities of investment or vulture funds here with a view to ensuring fair and equitable treatment of...
- Banking Sector
76. To ask the Minister for Finance the degree to which he continues to engage with the pillar banks with a view to ensuring that their customers are treated in accordance with banking rules and...
- Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears
77. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the lending agencies are allowed to continue with the applications on their own internal mechanisms when dealing with customers who have arrears and...
- Economic Competitiveness
78. To ask the Minister for Finance the degree to which he expects the economy here to retain or increase its competitiveness on European or world markets; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Economic Policy
79. To ask the Minister for Finance the direction from which he expects to see the greatest challenges to the economy here in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16452/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
80. To ask the Minister for Finance the tax treatment of the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the pandemic unemployment payment; the means by which the liability will be calculated; the way in...
- Insurance Coverage
82. To ask the Minister for Finance the plans in place to assist companies in the leisure and entertainment industries, community groups and community facilities that cannot obtain public...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
83. To ask the Minister for Finance the funds that can be borrowed from Europe from the Covid-19 fund to bridge the deficit due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Traffic Management
84. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the rationale for the decision by the Office of Public Works to reverse the closure of the peripheral gates of the Phoenix Park; when a...
- Flood Prevention Measures
85. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on the recommended works on the River Santry between Raheny village, Dublin 5, and the sea in order to alleviate the flood...
- Traffic Management
86. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to conduct a survey of the number of motorised vehicles that pass through the Phoenix Park on a daily basis; his plans to...
- Cycling Facilities
87. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the cycle and pedestrian pathways on Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Commercial Rates
88. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the sanction of and the amount allocated to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage following Cabinet...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Data
89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of short-term let properties operating in rent pressure zones without the appropriate permissions identified by the...
- Social and Affordable Housing
93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to increase radically the income limits for eligibility for social housing in view of the fact many persons who will...
- Homeless Persons Supports
94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 922 of 23 June 2020, the supports in place to assist families or individuals that may...
- Land Development Agency
96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the projects under consideration by the Land Development Agency; the co-living and-or shared accommodation projects that are...
- Commercial Rates
97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the detailed information on the scheme to permit a rates waiver within local authorities following reports that, as the details...
- Rental Sector
98. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the blanket ban on landlords will be lifted with regard to the eviction of tenants (details supplied). [16433/20]
- Energy Efficiency
99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeline for the roll-out of a national retrofitting programme; the quarter in which the roll-out will commence; his plans...
- Department of Defence
- Army Barracks
100. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when works commenced on the new gymnasium at James Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny; and when works on same will finish. [16439/20]
- Emergency Services
101. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding a proposed landing strip for emergency medical flights will receive...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Schools Establishment
102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the need for an additional secondary school in Gorey, County Wexford, based on census figures and primary school enrolment...
- Schools Building Projects
103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stages involved in the school building process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16326/20]
- School Transport
105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school transport services for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16340/20]
- Schools Building Projects
106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the outcome of the tendering process in respect of a school (details supplied); and when it can be anticipated that on-site work...
- Special Educational Needs
107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review a case raised by a person (details supplied) and address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16362/20]
- Third Level Costs
108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that University of Limerick student accommodation (details supplied) will only refund 50% of...
- School Funding
109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding available to a school (details supplied) to deal with an emergency issue in its playground; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Child Abuse
110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reopen the redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse in schools and require it to act in accordance with the recommendations from...
- State Examinations
111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the guidance that can be provided in the situation pertaining to students who only intended to sit one subject in the leaving certificate 2020...
- Schools Building Projects
112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planning application for a school (details supplied); when the planning application will be submitted; and if she will make a...
- Public Sector Pensions
113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a further six years will be added to the pension entitlements of a person (details supplied) and the matter expedited. [16459/20]
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Community Employment Schemes
114. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding community employment supervisors and their outstanding claim for a pension scheme. [16329/20]
- Proposed Legislation
115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans for legislation to allow partners of mothers in same sex couples that conceive via IUI or IVF treatment abroad to...
- Public Services Card
116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her appeal in the Circuit Court regarding directions issued to her by the Data Protection Commissioner; the...
- Community Employment Schemes
120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the mechanism by which a community employment scheme employee who has worked a number of years and whose term is now ending...
- Domiciliary Care Allowance
121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of domiciliary care allowance in each county in tabular form. [16348/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the returns of a person (details supplied) will be reassessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16364/20]
- Exceptional Needs Payment
129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance
130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for a basic supplementary welfare allowance overpayment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she...
- Pension Provisions
131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the early retirement allowance or pension will come into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16401/20]
- Enterprise Support Services
132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the self-employed can apply for the enterprise support grant; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact self-employed persons have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to...
- Poverty Impact Assessment
135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the poverty impact assessment of reduced jobseeker rates for 18 to 24 year olds as committed to in the Social...
- Medical Aids and Appliances
136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the report on the cost of hearing aids and the adequacy of financial supports as committed to in the Social...
- Treatment Benefit Scheme
137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the review of the criteria to qualify for the treatment benefit scheme as committed to in the Social Welfare...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of self-employed that have had their pandemic unemployment payments reduced to €203. [16425/20]
- Rent Supplement Scheme
139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend the rent supplement scheme for those who have been financially affected by Covid-19; and if she will make...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment
141. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of Covid-19 income support for seasonal workers, such as multilingual tour guides, whose season from April to...
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
142. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports available for the reopening of not-for-profit community groups following closure due to Covid-19; and if she will make a...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme
144. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the TAMS II scheme is to be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16323/20]
- Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme
145. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an area of natural constraints payment for 2018 and 2019 for persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will...
- Meat Processing Plants
146. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will remove inability or vices as grounds to destroy a horse in licensed abattoirs; the number of State veterinarians posted...
- Animal Culls
147. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds culled in 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16338/20]
- Coillte Teoranta
148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) relating to Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16363/20]
- Live Exports
149. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason, when a farmer carries out an annual TB herd test, the results do not make the animals tested eligible for live export for...
- Agriculture Schemes
150. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a grant assistance scheme for farmers to replant land due to extensive damage caused by frost to their...
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Childcare Services
151. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the administrative burden that managers of early years childcare services are under; his views on the...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
152. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to take into account both the immediate needs of the childcare sector and the long-term sustainability of the sector when drawing...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Covid-19 Pandemic
153. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of passengers that entered here by plane from the United States of America since the introduction of passenger...
- Immigration Status
154. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which a person (details supplied) can extend a temporary stamp 4 status until receiving an appointment. [16372/20]
- Maternity Leave
155. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of maternity leave for mothers; the costs of extending maternity leave as a temporary expedient while infant...
- Legislative Reviews
156. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that voices of sex workers, including a group (details supplied), are included in the review of the sex work...
- Departmental Reviews
157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the report of the review group on anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures will be published; and if she will make a...
- Naturalisation Applications
158. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied). [16417/20]
- Crime Data
159. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fines and imprisonments on foot of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 and...
- Family Support Services
160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding parental alienation and its impact here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16457/20]
- Garda Deployment
161. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to Fingal, Dublin, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic as compared to the current number of...
- Department of Health
- Covid-19 Pandemic
162. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times in each month to date the 14-day quarantine rule for persons entering Ireland has been breached; the number of actions taken as a result;...
- Covid-19 Tests
163. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the public concern regarding the decision of private hospitals to charge between €250 and €275 for a Covid-19...
- Covid-19 Pandemic
164. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider making the use of face masks mandatory in indoor public spaces (details supplied). [16324/20]
- Mental Health Policy
166. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which he will implement the recommendations of Sharing the Vision over the next five years including costings, key objectives and outcomes in...
- Hospital Appointments Status
167. To ask the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [16341/20]
- Treatment Abroad Scheme
168. To ask the Minister for Health if patients with ATTR amyloidosis can access the new treatment for the disease at a hospital (details supplied) under the cross-Border initiative or treatment...
- Home Help Service
169. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an application for home help by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16368/20]
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
170. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disability service providers have not received extra funding to cover the costs of deep cleaning, sanitising...
- Medical Aids and Appliances
171. To ask the Minister for Health the status of equipment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16374/20]
- Medical Cards
172. To ask the Minister for Health when the income threshold level for medical card eligibility is to be raised; the details of the new levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Disability Services Provision
173. To ask the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16381/20]
- Medical Aids and Appliances
174. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recently published review (details supplied); his views on the recommendations of the report; his plans to conduct a...
- Hospital Appointments Status
175. To ask the Minister for Health the further length of time a person (details supplied) can be expected to wait for an appointment in University Hospital Limerick. [16386/20]
- Medicinal Products
176. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in getting access to Spinraza treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16387/20]
- Hospital Services
178. To ask the Minister for Health when haemochromatosis venesection clinics will recommence in Saolta group hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16406/20]
- Health Services Staff
179. To ask the Minister for Health if the disparity in pay for staff at a facility (details supplied) will be addressed. [16409/20]
- Disability Services Provision
180. To ask the Minister for Health if he and the HSE will engage with the management at a facility (details supplied) to provide the necessary funding to ensure a day care service can resume....
- National Children's Hospital
181. To ask the Minister for Health the additional cost associated with the halting of the national children’s hospital project for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis to date [16416/20]
- Medical Cards
182. To ask the Minister for Health if the criteria will be extended for access to a medical card to include patients that receive a metastatic cancer diagnosis (details supplied); and if he will...
- Healthcare Policy
183. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the elimination of HPV-related cancers within a generation here; the strategies that need to be implemented in the coming 12 months,...
- Dental Services
184. To ask the Minister for Health the number on the orthodontic waiting lists in Dublin across each category of need; the number of patients treated from each category in the most recent year...
- Hospital Data
185. To ask the Minister for Health the number of cataract operations that were carried out at St. Luke's hospital, Kilkenny, in 2019 and to date in 2020. [16440/20]
- Medicinal Products
186. To ask the Minister for Health when funding and approval for the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab will become available for persons with bladder cancer which has migrated to their lungs; and...
- Hospital Appointments Status
187. To ask the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [16458/20]
