Written Answers Nos. 72-78
72. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the annual budgetary deficit in monetary terms and percentages of GDP from 2009 to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40615/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table.
The 2014 figures are from the current fiscal forecast for end 2014, which was published as part of Budget 2015. The Exchequer balance figures for the years 2009 to 2013 are as published in the Finance Accounts for those particular years.
The underlying general government figures for 2009 and 2013 exclude support to the banking and financial sector, as this is the basis for which performance against fiscal targets are measured. These figures were calculated by taking the headline figures, published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in their October 2014 annual government finance statistics release, and subtracting the support given to the banking and financial sector.
The calculation of the underlying general government balance as a percentage of GDP, for the years 2009 to 2013, uses GDP figures on an ESA 2010, which were published by the CSO recently.
It should be noted that official deficit figures for these years, which were submitted by the CSO under the September EDP return, will be made available by Eurostat within the coming weeks.
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Exchequer Balance (€m) |
-24,641 |
-18,744 |
-24,918 |
-14,892 |
-11,503 |
-7,830 |
|
Underlying general government balance (€m) |
-19,357 |
-18,074 |
-14,764 |
-13,901 |
-9,947 |
-6,872 |
|
% of GDP |
-11.5 |
-11.0 |
-8.6 |
-8.0 |
-5.7 |
-3.7 |
75. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the reasons behind the selection and appointment of a person (details supplied) to the credit union advisory committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40637/14]
View answerThe Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) is a committee established under section 180 of the Credit Union Act 1997. The function of the CUAC is to advise the Minister for Finance and such other persons as I think fit, in relation to the improvement of the management of Credit Unions, the protection of the interests of members and creditors of credit unions and other matters relating to credit unions.
The legislation provides that every person appointed to the CUAC shall be chosen by the Minister for Finance. Under section 180(3) of the 1997 Act, on 22 September, 2014 I appointed three persons to the CUAC for three years.
To guard against any issues including conflict of interest issues, CUAC members are subject to requirements of the Official Secrets Act 1963, the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 and the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. These forms will be signed by each member at the first meeting on 3 November.
It should also be pointed out that the CUAC member referred to by the Deputy was a member of the previous CUAC appointed from 2010 to 2013 and there were no conflict of interest or any other issues raised in relation to her appointment during that term.
I am satisfied that each appointed member of the CUAC has vast experience and knowledge of credit union matters and will make a valuable contribution towards dealing with the challenges facing the sector at this important time for the Irish credit union movement.
77. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a tax review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40694/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the tax credit allocated against the private pension of the person concerned has been reviewed. This review has resulted in an increase in the tax credit available against this pension. Based on the information available, concerning the amount of the pension, it is expected that no income tax will now be payable on that pension. Limerick Revenue District rang the person concerned and advised that an amended Tax Credit Certificate, showing the correct position, will issue shortly.
78. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a plan was submitted by Mayo County Council for flood defence and relief works at Ballina, County Mayo; his views on making funding available to have works carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40506/14]
View answerIn 2010 Mayo County Council submitted an application for funding under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works to prevent water infiltration through the river walls on the left bank of the river in Ballina in the vicinity of Batchelor's Walk. The application was not approved as it is OPW's view that other factors may be contributing to flooding at this location. The identification of these factors is being addressed in the context of the ongoing Western Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study to ensure that any mitigation measures that are proposed will deal effectively with the flood problem.
In the initial phase of the CFRAM Programme, referred to as the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA), Ballina was identified as one of 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFA's). Hazard mapping, indicating the river and coastal flood risk in Ballina, is at draft stage and is to be finalised shortly and a Public Consultation Day is scheduled for 11th November 2014. This will give interested parties and individuals the opportunity to contribute their knowledge of flooding in Ballina to the Western CFRAM study team.
The next stage in the CFRAM process is an option assessment exercise to assess management options for any river and coastal flood risk in Ballina. The OPW estimates that this report will be completed by 2016. Further information is available on which also contains links to the individual CFRAM Study websites.
The Government Decision of 11 February, 2014 which made available funding for the repair of existing public infrastructure damaged by storms in the period of 13th December to 6th January 2014, allocated a sum of up to €4,205,000 for repair works in County Mayo based on estimates provided by Mayo County Council. T he Council submitted to the Office of Public Works a programme of works detailing how it proposes to spend the allocation of €4,205,000. The programme included an amount of €176,000 for repairs to parts of a flood defence wall on the right bank of the River Moy at Ballina. The programme of works was approved and it is a matter for the Council to prioritise and progress these works and to draw down the funding that was allocated. The Council has recently drawn down some of the funding available to it but has not yet applied to draw down funding in respect of works in Ballina.
