Wednesday, 19 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 31 - 50

Foreign Adoptions

Questions (31)

Clare Daly

Question:

31. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 568 of 4 November 2014 regarding the 110 adoptions from Ethiopia and the 201 adoptions from Russia that have taken place here since the Adoption Act was enacted in 2010 the systems that his Department, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and any other agencies involved put in place to ensure that only reputable non-domestic adoption agencies are engaged in the adoption process, to avoid situations whereby persons engage in unethical practices such as applying hidden fees, lying about the condition of the child, or lying about whether or not the child involved truly is an orphan. [43925/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Adoption Act, 2010 was commenced on 1 November 2010. The commencement of the Act coincided with Ireland's ratification of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures are followed.

The Adoption Act, 2010, contained a transitional provision to enable prospective adoptive parents to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague or non-bilateral country, if prior to the establishment date, they had been issued with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt. The Adoption Authority advises that since the enactment of the Adoption Act 2010, applicants for an entry in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions have been required to swear an affidavit confirming that the adoptions they effected in Russia and Ethiopia respectively, complied with the definition of a ‘foreign’ adoption as outlined in Section 1 of the Adoption Act 1991. The adoptive parents stated that the following requirements were satisfied:

(a) the consent to the adoption of every person whose consent to the adoption was, under the law of the place where the adoption was effected, required to be obtained or dispensed with was obtained or dispensed with under that law,

(b) the adoption has essentially the same legal effect as respects the termination and creation of parental rights and duties with respect to the child in the place where it was effected as an adoption effected by an adoption order,

(c) the law of the place where the adoption was effected required an enquiry to be carried out, as far as was practicable, into the adopters, the child and the parents or guardian,

(d) the law of the place where the adoption was effected required the court or other authority or person by whom the adoption was effected, before doing so, to give due consideration to the interests and welfare of the child,

(e) the adopters have not received, made or given or caused to be made or given any payment or other reward (other than any payment reasonably and properly made in connection with the making of the arrangements for the adoption) in consideration of the adoption or agreed to do so.

Child Protection Services

Questions (32)

Denis Naughten

Question:

32. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps being taken to implement the outstanding elements of the Roscommon child care report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43923/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (33)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

33. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of beds purchased in 2014 in private mental health facilities for children and adolescents in Tusla; if these were child or adult mental health facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43983/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Child and Family Agency does not have a national role in the delivery of mental health services for children and young people as this remains the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The Agency does currently fund a small number of secure placements outside of the State and a number of these are in a service that provides a residential mental health facility for children and adolescents. As of July this year, the Agency had used 12 secure care places and, of these, 9 places were in a child and adolescent facility that provides mental health services.

Child and Family Agency Expenditure

Questions (34)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

34. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the cost overrun of Tusla for 2014 and in particular to comment on the extent to which the overrun relates to the cost of purchasing private beds for children and adolescents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43982/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The financial allocation for Tusla, The Child and Family Agency, in 2014, its first year of operation, was set at €609 million. This is comprised of €602 million in current funding and €7 million in capital funding. The overall level of funding available to the Agency, which is significant by any measurement, is designed to ensure that the Agency can provide a comprehensive and integrated service to children and families who require support. In Budget 2014, an additional sum of €6.7 million was made available to support the Agency's reform of the child welfare and protection services. The level of expenditure to date by the Agency amounts to €544m.

Notwithstanding the additional resources provided and the prioritisation of these services by the Government, it is acknowledged that delivering the range of service required of the Agency, within this budget, is challenging as a result of demographic and social factors. This has been reflected most recently in a report prepared by the Agency, titled 'Measuring the Pressure' which shows, inter alia, that there has been a strong rise in demand for foster care and private residential care over the period. Operational reforms are ongoing to achieve the most effective utilisation of existing resources. In addition, the Agency has been working to bring added controls in the area of legal services and continues to develop its approach to commissioning. My officials continue to review data on activity levels and performance on an ongoing basis as part of the performance management function of the Department. Specifically, my officials closely monitor the cash position of the Agency and are working with the Agency to determine an evidence based full year cash requirement.

The matter of whether supplementary funding is required to meet the running costs of the Agency in 2014 is currently been discussed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the ongoing budgetary discussions. The initial figures do show cost overruns in a number of areas including private residential and foster care which will be somewhat offset by savings in other areas. As has already been referenced the Agency is in its first year of operation and is charged with managing its allocation of funding. As discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform conclude a more informed position will emerge.

Child Care Services Inspections

Questions (35)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

35. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his position on extending the remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority to inspecting private child care centres. [43933/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Currently the registration, monitoring and inspection of private residential child care centres are carried out by the Child and Family Agency, and at the end of August 2014 such centres accommodated 152 children (2.3% of children in care) nationally. The Health Information and Quality Authority which was established under the Health Act 2007, is under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Health. As the Deputy may also be aware, there is a recommendation in the Ryan Commission report that those sections of the Health Act 2007 which would extend the remit of HIQA in this way, should be commenced. A Government decision in 2010 prioritised the inspection regime for child welfare and protection services and indicated that the timeline to extend HIQA's remit was to be the set out by the Minister for Health, in consultation with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

I would be generally in favour of extending the remit of HIQA, subject to the satisfactory completion of these necessary steps for support its implementation. There are a number of issues, including the drafting of regulations and HIQA national standards, that will require careful planning to ensure that the relevant functions and resources are transferred from the Agency to HIQA. Ideally this would seek to achieve both efficiencies and a structure that underpins a robust inspection regime. In the meantime, I have asked that the Agency take steps to improve the overall quality assurance of the registration, monitoring and inspection process of private residential child care centres, with a view to national consistency and to the publication of their inspection/registration reports.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Questions (36)

Robert Troy

Question:

36. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason four months after the original timeframe for publication, the terms of reference for the mother and baby homes inquiry have still not been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43973/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Government has undertaken to establish a statutory Commission of Investigation into matters relating to Mother and Baby Homes in accordance with the Motion passed by this House on 11 June. Considerable progress has been achieved since this date, including the publication of the Inter-Departmental Group’s Report, the announcement that Judge Yvonne Murphy will chair the Commission and an inclusive consultation process with stakeholders.

The establishment of any statutory investigation is a significant undertaking. As I have advised the Deputy previously, the scale and sensitivity of the specific concerns relating to Mother and Baby Homes, as evident from the Inter-Departmental Report and submissions received from interested parties, simply demand that I take the necessary time for detailed consideration of these complex matters.

Although the necessity to provide the Commission with appropriate terms of reference may be generally accepted, the task of achieving the required precision should not be underestimated. Our collective desire to finalise these arrangements quickly must be balanced against the clear obligation to the mothers and children who were in these institutions to get this process right from the start. Due care and attention at this formative stage should not be interpreted as anything else.

I am confident that we are now approaching the conclusion of this deliberative process. My priority remains to establish a Commission which can deliver on public expectations in a realistic manner by establishing a full account of what happened in these Homes. Following discussions with colleagues across Government the work of developing the terms of reference is now well advanced. In addition, my Department is working with Judge Murphy to advance the operational arrangements and determine the resources required to support the Commission’s work.

In parallel with this work I am consulting with a number of key stakeholders in order to update them on the emerging issues and to seek their further views. As I advised the Joint Oireachtas Committee last week, at least some of the issues being raised extend beyond the central focus on Mother and Baby Homes as debated in this House. However, I am confident that this inclusive approach will greatly assist to establish an effective inquiry which has the support of those most centrally involved.

Following the finalisation of the terms of reference in the coming weeks it is my intention to bring the matter to Government as soon as possible thereafter.

Children's Rights Referendum

Questions (37)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

37. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support a call for a Dáil Éireann debate on the way his Department managed funds provided by the Oireachtas to run the children's referendum of November 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43972/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The use of public funds by my Department in connection with the referendum on the thirty-first amendment of the Constitution of November, 2012 has been the subject of a ruling and judgment of the Supreme Court of 8th November and 11th December, 2012, respectively. These arose from proceedings taken by Mark McCrystal against the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, The Government of Ireland and the Attorney General.

The Court granted a declaration to the Plaintiff that the Respondents had acted wrongfully in expending or arranging to expend public moneys on a website, booklet and advertisements in relation to the Referendum, in a manner which was not fair, equal or impartial.

Arising from the Supreme Court ruling, my predecessor as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, issued a press statement in which she explained that in providing public information the Government had at all times acted in good faith. The Minister stated that she fully respected the decision of the Supreme Court in relation to the expenditure on the public information provided by the Government in advance of the Referendum. She made clear that the Government was now fully compliant with the Court's ruling.

A press statement was issued by the Government in connection with the subsequent Supreme Court judgment. This noted that the Court had found that the Government at all times acted in a bona fide manner. It stated the Government's commitment to working within the parameters of the judgment delivered by the Court in the conduct of future referendums.

The Deputy will be aware that there are ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court in relation to the provisional referendum certificate issued in connection with the referendum on the thirty-first amendment of the Constitution in respect of which a hearing is scheduled for early next month, with the judgment of the Court to follow in due course.

I do not support the Deputy's call.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Questions (38)

Jack Wall

Question:

38. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for a review of the decision to refuse their application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44397/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 8th July 2014. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who did not consider that the child met the medical criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 29th September 2014 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.

A review of this decision was requested on 11th November 2014. The application will now be examined by another medical assessor; once their opinion is received the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made, if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (39)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

39. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the rule for moving from disability allowance to invalidity pension sets out that a person must have 48 contributions in the previous complete tax year considering that the person is on disability and is not available to take up employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44414/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

To qualify for award of invalidity pension, a claimant must satisfy both the medical and PRSI contribution conditions. A claimant must be regarded as permanently incapable of work and also must have at least 260 weeks contributions paid with 48 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the date of claim.

Disability allowance is a means-tested illness scheme administered by my department. To qualify for disability allowance, a person must be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment, be aged between 16 and under 66, satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.

I understand the Deputy is referring to a specific claimant who has been refused invalidity pension as he did not satisfy the contribution conditions. The person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance since 2009. Immediately prior to applying for disability allowance the person concerned was self-employed, therefore he would not have qualified for invalidity pension at that time and he is not entitled to credits for the duration of his disability allowance claim. Consequently he will not satisfy the contribution conditions for invalidity pension.

Illness Benefit Appeals

Questions (40)

Michael McGrath

Question:

40. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an illness benefit review/appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [44420/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4 November 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Questions (41)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

41. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the circumstances under which an involuntary deduction may be made from a social welfare payment; and the total percentage or cash deduction that may be made. [44426/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

People who have received an overpayment from the Department of Social Protection have a liability under law to refund the overpayment. They have received money to which they were not entitled. Effective debt recovery is seen as an important measure to safeguard public expenditure. Where someone has been overpaid social welfare, it is important that this money is recouped.

I introduced legislation in 2012 in relation to the recovery of social welfare overpayments by way of weekly deductions from a person’s ongoing social welfare entitlements. This allows for a deduction of an amount up to 15% of the weekly personal rate payable to a customer for the purposes of the recovery of an overpayment without the customer’s consent.

The deduction of 15% applies to the person’s personal rate only and does not affect payment of any adult or child dependent allowances, or any other allowances that are in payment. It allows the person to retain 85% of their personal rate of payment. In the circumstances where the person has been in receipt of money to which they were not entitled, this is considered to be reasonable.

When deductions are being implemented from ongoing social welfare entitlements, the person is provided with the opportunity to put forward any circumstances that they feel may be relevant to the rate of recovery proposed.

The introduction of this legislation means that the Department is now in a position to ensure that all debt-holders in receipt of a social welfare payment are repaying their debt.

In addition, the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 provided for the introduction of Notice of Attachment for the recovery of overpayments directly from earnings or monies held in financial institutions. This significantly enhances my Department’s ability to pursue overpayments from persons who are no longer in receipt of social welfare and who are not making reasonable efforts to repay their debt.

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Questions (42)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

42. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if, when a person registers for Irish Water using their personal public service number and their spouse is in receipt of the household benefits package, that household will be granted the water support payment. [44427/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

As the Deputy will be aware, all of the issues in regard to Irish Water have been examined by the Government.

The responsibility for the policy in regard to water and sewerage services, including Irish Water, lies with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, who will be making a comprehensive statement on these matters in the House this afternoon.

Community Employment Schemes Places

Questions (43)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

43. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 4 November 2014, the reason her Department has not yet responded directly to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 despite the fact that the person received an acknowledgement letter from her Department on 5 September 2014 promising a further response from her Department; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the person has not received any substantive reply to concerns raised regarding the discontinuation of their community employment placement from either their sponsor organisation or her Department; and her views on whether this is acceptable practice. [44216/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned was sent a letter of acknowledgment from this Department on the 5th September in which he was informed that the issues that he had raised were being addressed and that he would be advised of the outcome. The issues raised by the person concerned related to his employment, his employer in this case being the Community Employment (CE) Sponsor. This Department wrote to the Community Employment (CE) sponsor requesting that they examine the issues raised and respond directly to the person concerned in line with CE procedures. Subsequently the CE Sponsor advised the Department that a response had issued to the person concerned. Any remaining issues should be addressed by the person concerned directly to their former employer. The Department has no role in relation to the employment of staff participating on CE and therefore the appropriate course of action, in line with procedures, was to forward the person concerned’s correspondence to his employer for their attention.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (44)

Noel Coonan

Question:

44. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a disability allowance appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44464/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 5 November 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Questions (45)

Áine Collins

Question:

45. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason when a person requests a form for change of social welfare payment details, the only form available DIR PMT 1 is a direct payment form into a financial institution, which does not give the option for the post office. [44474/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection is a key player in the payment services sector in Ireland with over 84 million payments issued to clients in 2013. Form DIR PMT 1 is available online and on request to clients already in receipt of certain welfare payments who wish to either:

- change their account details, or

- change from a cash or cheque payment to be paid directly into an account.

The form seeks various details from the client in relation to their account, including the BIC and IBAN codes which identify the account in a financial institution into which the payment should to be lodged. The BIC code can be up to 12 alphanumeric characters long and the IBAN up to 34 alphanumeric characters in length. The complete set of data is required to ensure welfare payments are lodged to the correct account. This form helps clients to provide the full data set required.

By comparison, such a comprehensive data set is not required where a client wishes to amend their payment method to receive their payment in cash at the post office. In such instances the Department requires the client to notify them in writing of the relevant post office details. No individual account details are required.

Community Employment Schemes Administration

Questions (46)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

46. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that she has stated that 134 community employment supervisors will retire over the next three years, if this will change her estimate in previous written answers regarding pension provision of €3.75 million per annum required for retired community employment supervisors; if she will now consider the implementation of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44479/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The annual estimated cost of introducing a defined contribution scheme for CE Supervisors was estimated at €3.75m for 2008, if the Department were to be the main funding body. Subsequent years have been calculated to work out at an average of approximately €3.7m per annum.

The Department is not the employer in respect of any person engaged in CE schemes. The responsibilities of the sponsoring organisations and the individuals concerned must also be recognised when considering pension provision arrangements.

Employers (including CE Sponsoring Organisations) are legally obliged to offer access to at least one Standard Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) under the Pension (Amendment) Act 2002. All CE sponsoring organisations were informed by the Department of their responsibilities under this Act at that time.

CE Supervisors may also qualify for the State Pension at 66 years of age. If they have accrued sufficient PRSI contributions (520 contributions @ full rate, equivalent to 10 years contributions) they will qualify for the State Pension (Contributory), which is not means-tested. In the event that there are insufficient contributions, the person may qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory), provided they satisfy the means test.

Ministerial Transport

Questions (47)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

47. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the ministerial transport costs for the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, for each Minister and Minister of State in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44896/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

On taking office, this Government reformed the transport arrangement for Ministers which has radically reduced the cost of travel. The Government decided to confine the use of State cars from 1 May 2011 to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. As a result, the average cost of providing transport has been reduced by 65% - from an average cost of €280,000 per minister in 2010 to a current annual estimate of €100,000 per annum.

The previous practice whereby all Ministers were provided with State cars and Garda drivers fell within the remit of the Department of Justice and in this regard details of the costs involved in respect of 2010 and the first four months of 2011 would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.

The total cost of ministerial transport in my Department for 2011, 2012 and 2013 is outlined in the table below.

Year	Total Cost
2011	€32,790.95
2012	€70,514.69
2013	€80,145.20

The cost includes mileage for the use of my own car for official business and remuneration for two civilian drivers.

Mortgage Interest Rates

Questions (48)

Denis Naughten

Question:

48. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the discussions his officials have had with the Central Bank of Ireland on the huge discrepancy between the European Central Bank base rates and variable mortgage interest rates charged by commercial banks to homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44412/14]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

Firstly, I must confirm to the Deputy that the lending institutions in Ireland, including those in which the State has a shareholding, are independent commercial entities. I have no statutory role in relation to regulated financial institutions passing on the European Central Bank interest rate change or in relation to the mortgage interest rates charged.  It is a commercial matter for each institution concerned.  It is not appropriate for me, as Minister for Finance, to comment on or become involved in the details of the accounts of mortgage holders.

The Central Bank has responsibility for the regulation and supervision of financial institutions in terms of consumer protection and prudential requirements and for ensuring ongoing compliance with applicable statutory obligations.  The Central Bank has no statutory role in the setting of interest rates by financial institutions, apart from the interest rate cap imposed on the credit union sector in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Union Act, 1997 and the requirement to be notified of penalty or surcharge interest imposed in respect of arrears.

The mortgage interest rates that financial institutions operating in Ireland charge to customers are determined as a result of a commercial decision by the institutions concerned.  This interest rate is determined taking into account a broad range of factors, including European Central Bank base rates, deposit rates, market funding costs, the competitive environment and an institution's overall funding.

However, as part of the Central Bank's work on mortgage arrears, lenders were asked to consider all avenues to help customers in arrears, including interest rate reductions.

My officials are in regular contact with the Central Bank on a range of prudential, regulatory and consumer related issues in the normal course of my Department's interaction with the Central Bank of Ireland.

Tax Reliefs Eligibility

Questions (49)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

49. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Finance if the amendment to section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act specified in section 21 of the Finance Act 2013 removes the requirement for it to be necessary for an Irish based film production company to be involved in a qualifying project for relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44424/14]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

Section 21 of the Finance Act 2013 introduced a change to the scheme for tax relief for investment in films whereby a producer company can claim a corporation tax credit for eligible expenditure rather than the current scheme which allows relief at the marginal rate of tax for individual investors.

It also introduced a new definition of 'producer company' (Section 21(1)(i))  which states that the production company must be either based in the State, or if based in an EEA state, must carry out its business through a branch or agency in the State. 

In addition, the producer company must be registered for and making returns for corporation tax in the State (section 21(1)(i)(e) refers) before it can apply for a certificate for the film relief credit.

Tax Collection

Questions (50)

Gerry Adams

Question:

50. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will review the cases of persons (details supplied) in County Louth; and if they are in a position to meet the persons involved. [44480/14]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I am advised by Revenue that it is already dealing with the various ongoing issues to which the Deputy refers.

Revenue has also confirmed to me that the persons in question can make direct contact with Mr. Declan O'Dalaigh of the Collector-General's office to discuss the issues.

Mr. O'Dalaigh can be contacted at telephone number 061 488062 or email address [e-mail]. Alternatively, Mr. O'Dalaigh's postal address is the Collector-General's Office, Sarsfield House, Francis Street, Limerick.