Written Answers Nos. 60-69
60. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the support services that are in place for holders of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgages particularly if the IBRC's mortgage book is sold off to overseas buyers; the action he will take to ensure that these mortgage holders' homes are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9897/14]
View answerIt is important to highlight that the contractual terms and conditions of all customer mortgages and other borrowings have not changed as a result of the appointment of the Special Liquidators nor will those terms and conditions change as a result of the ultimate sale of these obligations to a third party. Purchasers of mortgage loans will be required to honour the legal terms of the loan agreements.
I am advised by the Special Liquidators that the residential mortgage customers of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited (in Special Liquidation) continue to enjoy the protection of the Central Bank Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears ("CCMA") and other protections in Irish consumer law.
The Special Liquidators have also confirmed that the third party bidders who are bidding for the residential mortgage portfolio have confirmed that they will be directing that the relevant acquired mortgage loans are serviced in accordance with the CCMA.
61. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of cigarettes and tobacco products seized at Dublin Airport and Dublin Port by customs officials in 2013 and to date in 2014; and the number of persons arrested during this period in connection with these seizures. [9903/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the statistics requested by the Deputy are contained in the tabular statement set out as follows.
2013 Cigarette Seizures
|
Location |
No. of Seizures |
Quantity Seized |
|
Dublin Airport Passenger Terminal |
3,129 |
9,108,805 |
|
Dublin Airport Cargo Terminal |
17 |
115,860 |
|
Air Mail Centre |
197 |
60,410 |
|
Dublin Port |
264 |
22,073,168 |
|
Totals |
3,607 |
31,358,243 |
2013 Tobacco Seizures
|
Location |
No. of Seizures |
Quantity (kilograms) |
|
Dublin Airport Passenger Terminal |
458 |
2,331 |
|
Air Mail Centre |
112 |
40 |
|
Dublin Port |
264 |
420 |
|
Totals |
834 |
2,791 |
18 persons were arrested at Dublin Airport and a further 1 arrest was made at Dublin Port during 2013.
2014 Cigarette seizures up to 20 February 2014
|
Location |
No. of Seizures |
Quantity Seized |
|
Dublin Airport Passenger Terminal |
642 |
1,536,427 |
|
Dublin Port |
66 |
96,965 |
|
Totals |
708 |
1,633,392 |
2014 Tobacco seizures up to 20 February 2014
|
Location |
No. of Seizures |
Quantity (kilograms) |
|
Dublin Airport Passenger Terminal |
44 |
82 |
|
Dublin Port |
22 |
87 |
|
Totals |
66 |
169 |
4 persons have been arrested at Dublin Airport in 2014. There have been no arrests in Dublin Port.
62. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have availed of tax relief for the purchase of gluten free products each year for the past five years. [9906/14]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the cost of gluten-free foods manufactured specifically for coeliacs is an allowable medical expense and tax relief may be claimed in the same manner as other health expenses.
Due to the format in which details of health expense claims are submitted by taxpayers, as claims for relief on gluten-free foods are in aggregated with claims in respect of other medical expenses, to estimate the cost of this relief would require an extensive investigation of the Revenue Commissioners' records to identify the relevant details in relation to this issue.
63. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he will take into account the extenuating circumstances and consider reviewing the criteria for tax relief or if that proves impossible to consider refunding the VAT, in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 [9920/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a person may claim income tax relief at the 20% income tax rate on the cost of gluten-free foods manufactured specifically for coeliacs. A letter from a doctor is required, which states that the individual, in respect of whom the expense was incurred, has the condition. However, as is the case with all claims to tax relief, relief is dependent on the claimant having a liability to income tax against which to offset the claim.
With regard to VAT, I would point out there is no VAT charged on the majority of basic food products, including the equivalent basic foods for coeliacs. Basic foodstuffs such as bread, butter, tea, sugar, meat, milk, vegetables and cornflakes are not liable to VAT.
64. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if a new house which was substantially completed in October 2013, albeit waiting connection to a water supply, is subject to the household charge for 2013 and following years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9974/14]
View answerAs the Household charge has been abolished, I presume the Deputy is referring to Local Property Tax (LPT).
For LPT purposes, a residential property is defined as any building or structure (or part of a building) which is used as, or is suitable for use as, a dwelling. Where a property has not reached the stage of construction where it is suitable for use as a dwelling until after 1 May 2013, it is outside the scope of LPT for the first valuation period of 1 May 2013 to 31 October 2016.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that based on the information supplied by the Deputy to the effect that there is no connection to a water supply in place on 1 May 2013, it would appear as if the property owner will not be liable to pay LPT on the property for the years 2013 to 2016 nor will the owner be required to file an LPT Return for this period.
65. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 18 February 2014, if he will confirm that he has seen the independent advice from PWC, sought by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Special Liquidators, in full; if he is satisfied with its approach and recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9977/14]
View answerI am advised that the independent advice was obtained by the Special Liquidators to assist them in developing a robust and credible sales process plan and timeline for the sale of the residential mortgage portfolio which will ensure that maximum value is obtained for all creditors of the bank. The Special Liquidators will not be publishing the independent advice received in relation to the sales process and timeline as it is commercially sensitive information which could potentially have a detrimental impact on asset recovery from the impending sale process.
I can confirm that neither I nor my officials have seen the independent advice provided by PWC to the Special Liquidators in relation to the residential mortgage portfolio of IBRC.
66. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by his Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value for money objective of his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10012/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.
|
External Consultancy/Advisory Services |
Total |
|
2011 |
€1,670,896 |
|
2012 |
€3,597,176 |
|
2013 |
€3,313,890 |
My Department makes every endeavour to minimise costs associated with such consultancies, and seeks to recoup costs from the sector where possible. In using such external services, my Department seeks to not only obtain value for money but to target the best return possible for the State, whether that be in the management of our shareholding of the banking sector, the development of economic policy, the defence of litigation or other matters.
67. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the number of women currently serving on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10024/14]
View answerI am mindful of the Government's target of achieving 40% female membership of State Boards.
Approximately 25% of the current board members under the aegis of my Department are women and my officials are working to increase this proportion as vacancies arise.
68. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give the required approval to the European Commission to disclose all documents in the Commission's control in its investigation of state aid to Bus Éireann and Ireland's answer to the question by European Commission in C 31/07 paragraph 82; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9971/14]
View answer69. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the European Commission was told by the Irish authorities that the school transport services were operated under contract by Bus Éireann and also to confirm that the European Commission was quoting from the Irish submission that the service was operated under contract in its letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs as published on the Official Journal of the European Union of 15 September 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9973/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.
The Deputy's question relates to an investigation initiated by the European Commission on the subject of State Aid to Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. The State's response was coordinated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and my Department supplied any information to that Department as required by the Commission. A decision on this investigation is awaited. The release of the documents referred to is a matter for the relevant European Commission Directorate. The Deputy will be aware that the current arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann for the provision of national school transport services were the subject of High Court proceedings seeking an order setting aside those arrangements. The case was heard over a six day period in the Commercial High Court. The High Court Judgement was delivered in October 2012 and found decisively in favour of the Department. The usage of words such as "contract" in various contexts was considered in the case in question. Given that a Supreme Court appeal is pending it would be inappropriate for me to comment selectively on this aspect outside the appropriate legal forum.
