Written Answers Nos. 71 - 79
71. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance the reason the relevant percentage of mortgage interest relief is not applied to the interest included in a full redemption of an outstanding mortgage on a primary home which was in receipt of it while instalments were being paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2052/15]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that mortgage interest relief is available through the Tax Relief at Source (TRS) system as provided for by Section 244 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The relief is available at varying rates and ceilings in respect of interest paid on a loan used for the purchase, repair, development or improvement of a sole or main residence. The relief is available on qualifying home loans, taken out on or after 1 January 2004 and on or before 31 December 2012, up to and including the tax year 2017.
Persons purchasing their first qualifying residence are eligible for the higher 'ceiling' (known as the first time buyer ceiling) in the first seven tax years of entitlement when the maximum amounts of interest paid for which tax relief can be claimed are €20,000 for married/widowed persons and €10,000 for single persons. For tax years eight and onwards (up to 2017), the 'ceilings' are €6,000 for married/widowed persons and €3,000 for single persons (known as the non-first time buyer ceiling).
In circumstances where a mortgage is redeemed, the amount of allowable interest relief is restricted to the maximum of the applicable 'ceiling' for the particular tax year. There is no provision in the legislation to allow the relief on interest paid that is in excess of the 'ceiling' threshold even where the amount is part of a redemption agreement.
73. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form a list of all contracts for public works awarded in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the form of contract for public works awarded; the name of the company to which the contract was awarded; if the company is registered inside or outside the State; the value of the contract; and the Department or agency responsible for the contract. [1936/15]
View answer74. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the company names of subcontractors employed by a principal contractor awarded a contract for public works in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014: if the company is registered inside or outside the State; the value of contracted work; and the Department or agency responsible for the contract. [1938/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.
At the outset I would like to state that public works contracts are between the main contractor and the contracting authority. Contracts between main contractors and subcontractors are a matter for those parties concerned and details are not available.
Under EU Directives on public procurement public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the current threshold is €5.186 million. The Directives require contract award notices for contracts above these threshold to be published in the OJEU within 48 days of the award of the contract.
In relation to contracts valued below the EU thresholds, the general requirement is that works contracts above €50,000, be advertised on the national public procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie or, below this value, awarded on the basis of a competitive process of direct invitation to an adequate number of suitable suppliers.
Guidelines in Circular 20/14 issued by my Department also require public bodies from 1 August 2014 to publish all contract award notices over €25,000.
It is the responsibility of individual contracting authorities to publish award notices following the signing of a contract. This process is facilitated through the national eProcurement portal www.etenders.gov.ie. The Office of Government Procurement is unable to provide the information requested by the Deputy, which has been input by contracting authorities onto the eTenders system, in the time available, however, the information that is available, is being collated and will be issued directly to the Deputy.
75. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to revise the maximum performance related award payable to chief executives of semi-State companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1951/15]
View answerIn 2013 the Government reviewed the position on the payment of performance related reward schemes or bonuses for Chief Executive Officers in Commercial State Companies and agreed to continue with the policy which it introduced in 2011 of requesting the State Companies concerned not to award such bonus payments in light of the serious state of the public finances. Furthermore the Government agreed to continue with the practice of excluding the payment of bonus provisions in the employment contracts of newly appointed CEOs to such State Companies as well as in respect of contract renewals for incumbent CEOs.
The requirement to cease such forms of bonus payment together with other basic salary reductions introduced by this Government in respect of the CEOs in State Companies was necessitated by the very difficult financial and economic circumstances facing this country. The Government will accordingly continue to consider future policy developments in relation to performance related pay for the CEOs concerned in the light of prevailing circumstances.
76. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the performance related awards made to chief executives of semi-State companies in 2013 and 2014 under the aegis of his Department. [1952/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that no performance-related awards were given to any Semi-State companies under my remit in 2013 and 2014.
77. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received representations from the office of the Chief Justice requesting approval for a larger budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1954/15]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to funding for the Courts Service, which in the first instance, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Chief Justice has informed me that she is giving consideration to potential funding models for the service. Any proposals that arise will be subject to the normal estimates process between my Department and the Department of Justice.
78. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will liaise with Kerry County Council to agree a way forward to address a major flood risk problem (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1982/15]
View answerResponsibility for identifying appropriate measures to address flood risk at Incherea, Glenbeigh rests with Kerry County Council in the first instance.
While it is open to the Council to utilise its own resources, or to avail of funding that might be available from other sources to deal with the issue, subject to the Office of Public Works' (OPW) overall availability of funding for flood risk management, the OPW would consider an application for funding from Kerry County Council for any measures that are developed that are economically justifiable and environmentally acceptable.
79. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will facilitate access to a site (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1984/15]
View answerThe opening and closing dates of Skellig Michael for visitors in 2015 will be 15th May and 30th September. Previous attempts to remain open later in the season have inevitably led to a curtailment at short notice due to adverse weather conditions. Accordingly it is not proposed to extend the season into October in 2015.
As is normal, the effective operational date for the Monument is approximately two to three weeks in advance of the public opening and the Office of Public Works staff will therefore be travelling to the island from approximately late April / early May, weather permitting. This is so that the site can be prepared to receive visitors and significant Health and Safety preparations for the season carried out. The site will be fully assessed after the winter, any hazards cleared from public areas and any necessary repairs carried out.
Given the need for these essential preparatory works in advance of opening the island to the public, and having regard to dependence on weather, I regret that it is not possible to open the island earlier.
