Written Answers Nos. 39-58
39. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the ambassador to Colombia has concluded their visit to La Guajira and a region (details supplied) to carry out fact finding work; if he has received a report from the ambassador on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46949/19]
View answer40. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his officials have recently contacted the ESB regarding its continued purchasing of coal from a mine (details supplied); his plans in relation to a national plan for business and human rights; and his views on reported human rights abuses and environmental degradation in the region due to the mine and the importation of coal from same to here. [46950/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.
The associated issues of environmental degradation and human rights abuses are widespread problems across Latin America. Our new Embassy in Bogotá has been engaging on these issues in Colombia, including in La Guajira and has maintained regular contact with all relevant stakeholders in order to gain a greater understanding of the circumstances and issues that have been raised previously with regard to the Cerrejón mine.
I remain concerned at reports of the activities of the mine having a detrimental impact on the environment and on local communities. Taking into account security and other considerations, a visit by the Embassy to the Department of La Guajira, where the Cerrejón mine is located, was possible in late September 2019. The visit took place on 23 and 24 September and was led by Ireland's Ambassador to Colombia, Ms Alison Milton.
The programme included a tour of the mine itself, which was also attended by NGOs and local-community groups, as well as meetings with all stakeholders involved with the Cerrejón mine, including Cerrejón management, local communities, local government, religious leaders, academics and NGOs, including the local human rights group Fuerzas Mujeres Wayuu.
The La Guajira region has a near-majority indigenous population (over 40% compared to 3.4% nationally), the largest of which is the Wayuu people, who number around 270,000 and for whom the exploitation of La Guajira’s natural resources is a major grievance as they maintain a deep spiritual and ancestral connection to the land. It is also one of Colombia’s poorest regions, where the needs of local communities are acute.
The mine generates almost half of the region’s income and is one of its largest employers providing over 13,000 jobs. While the mine owners attest to their compliance with local and international standards, challenges exist in relation to local governance, leading to a lack of trust between the local authorities, local communities and the mine.
The Embassy has reported on the range and complexity of issues, not least evolving public opinion in relation to the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels, and concluded that efforts should be made to improve communication between the local communities and the mine, and to include the local community in plans for closure of the mine by 2033.
The Embassy will hold meetings with national Government, with national and international NGO partners, and with Cerrejón management in order to share feedback on the visit. Some of these meetings have already taken place.
As I have indicated previously, I wrote to the ESB in September requesting further information regarding the ESB's sourcing of coal from Cerrejón. I received a response in October in which the ESB outlined a recent assessment of the mine carried out by Bettercoal.
Bettercoal is an organisation established by major coal buyers to ensure coal is being sourced via responsible supply chains, which the ESB joined in 2014. This assessment indicates that the Cerrejón mine's operating principles are essentially in line with the Bettercoal best practice code. Bettercoal has made a number of recommendations to Cerrejón for improvement and increased compliance, on which the mine has been actively engaging.
Addressing the risks of adverse impacts of business activities on human rights is a priority of this Government. Ireland is one of only 22 countries worldwide that has adopted a national action plan on Business and Human Rights to give effect to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Since its launch at the end of 2017, my Department has implemented a number of key commitments including the establishment of the Business and Human Rights Implementation Group, to oversee progress on delivery of the Plan and the completion of an independent baseline assessment of the current legislative and regulatory framework for business and human rights in Ireland. Both the National Plan and the baseline assessment are available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website. Work is now proceeding on the formation of three sub-groups, each tasked with prioritising and delivering key actions under the three pillars of the UN Guiding Principles, namely, the State duty to protect, corporate responsibility to respect and access to remedy.
My Department will continue to monitor developments on this matter closely and to engage with all relevant stakeholders.
41. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to his Spanish and French counterparts or ambassadors in relation to 349 Basque prisoners who were members of ETA, which has been on ceasefire for some considerable time and who are held in various prisons outside of the Basque country, to have these returned to the Basque country; if he has spoken to the Spanish authorities regarding the experiences of the peace process here in relation to the importance of prisoner issues being dealt with to cement the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46960/19]
View answerThe placement of a State’s nationals within its prison system is a matter for the Government and the relevant competent authorities of that State, in accordance with domestic, European and international law. As such, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter in question.
42. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if he has been lobbied in relation to flat rate VAT on feedlots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46944/19]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that I have received two items of correspondence, the first in January 2018 and the second in September 2019 that referenced the flat rate VAT on feedlots and raised questions about possible excess flat-rate payments to farmers involved in the rearing of livestock for the beef sector. However, to date Revenue has not established that business models and contractual arrangements exist or are common in this sector that create the conditions for the generation of a systematic excess of flat-rate addition payments to farmers over their VAT input costs. A flat-rate farmer involved in a business in which cattle are bought from other flat-rate farmers and reared for a further limited period before being supplied to a VAT registered business such as a beef processor would normally receive a flat-rate addition payment that exceeded his or her VAT input cost; however, the payment might not exceed the total VAT input costs associated with rearing the animal incurred by all the farmers involved in the process. It would be expected that the price paid to flat-rate famers supplying to another flat-rate farmer would take account of the flat-rate ‘credit’ being transferred with the animal. I will however continue to monitor the beef sector and other agricultural sectors to ensure that the flat-rate addition scheme does not operate to give rise to overcompensation of farmers at the aggregate level for VAT on input costs.
If the Deputy has information of particular contractual arrangements in the beef sector that could give rise to a systematic excess of flat-rate addition payments to farmers involved in beef production, he should provide it to Revenue.
43. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the status of a VAT return for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46946/19]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the persons in question initially applied for a VAT refund on 23 July 2019. Revenue subsequently requested supporting invoices from the persons on 31 July 2019, which were received on 31 October 2019. Revenue has now completed its review of the invoices and the refund will issue in the coming days.
44. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to threats to the operation of the retail export scheme as a consequence of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019 [46984/19]
View answer45. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the practice in which the retail export scheme facilitates tourists who are visiting Ireland from outside the European Union claim a value added tax refund on all purchases above a threshold of €0.01, which has helped to encourage higher levels of spending and increased visits to Ireland by non-EU tourists, is now in danger as a result of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46985/19]
View answer46. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance his plans to commence the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019, which will fundamentally alter the retail export scheme by introducing a new minimum threshold of €175 which will result in all non-EU tourists having to spend a minimum of €175 before they can claim back VAT on their holiday purchases in the event of a no-deal Brexit; his views on whether this will have a negative impact on the tourism sector; if an analysis has been carried out on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46986/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 44 to 46, inclusive, together.
The Retail Export Scheme allows persons who are resident outside the EU and who make purchases of goods in the EU to avail of a refund of the VAT charged on these goods where the goods are exported from the EU by the tourist or traveller within three months of purchase. The UK will become a 3rd country and UK residents will become eligible for the scheme post Brexit.
The provision concerning the restrictions and conditions that may be applied to the Retail Export Scheme in the event of a no-deal Brexit was included in the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019, which became law on March 17 of this year.
The Government's intention is to provide reciprocal protection to the UK if they decide to restrict the introduction of their VAT Retail Scheme, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. However should the UK apply an unrestricted Retail Export Scheme, Ireland will not commence the precautionary sections, and an unrestricted VAT Retail Export Scheme will operate between jurisdictions.
The proposed measures, while precautionary, were influenced by i) the potential for significant Exchequer impacts as a result of the expansion of the scheme to the UK, and ii) the potential risk of fraud in the application of the VAT Retail scheme.
47. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated first and full-year costs of proposals by the OECD (details supplied) based on latest data. [46990/19]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that information sought by the Deputy is not available on tax returns, or other information sources, in respect of third-party equity investors who could avail of the proposed extension to the existing Entrepreneur Relief. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately estimate the cost of the proposals.
48. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding probate and credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47006/19]
View answerFirstly, it would not be appropriate for me make comment on a specific case. It is also important to note that the Probate Office of the High Court deals with matters relating to probate and as such is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality.
However, the Deputy may wish to note that under section 21 of the Credit Union Act 1997 (1997 Act) as amended, a credit union member may nominate a third party (e.g. a family member) to be the recipient upon the death of the member to the whole or part of the member’s property that they have in the credit union at the time of their death.
The 1997 Act (as amended) imposes a statutory limit of €23,000 on the amount that can be passed by way of a nomination. Thus, if at the date of the nominator's death the amount of the member’s property in the credit union exceeds €23,000, the credit union may only dispose any property up to the value of €23,000. The effect of these provisions are that any nomination up to €23,000 will pass outside the terms of any will. Any sum in excess of this will revert to and be an asset of the estate, which needs to be distributed under the terms of the will or the rules of succession where there is no will.
Ordinarily the production of a grant of probate would be required to release funds from a bank account to the personal representative, irrespective of the amount. However, if a person dies leaving small amounts of money in a bank, the bank may agree to release the funds without the necessity for a grant of probate.
While most applicants instruct a solicitor to process their application for a grant of probate, personal applications can also be made to the Probate Office of the High Court for a grant of probate.
The Deputy may also wish to note that if an individual is not satisfied in any of their dealings with a financial services provider the individual may make a complaint to the provider’s internal complaint resolution process. If they are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, they can then make a complaint to the independent Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. Investigations by the Ombudsman are free of charge to the complainant. Further information on the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman can be found at www.fspo.ie.
49. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the list of projects backed by a company (details supplied), in tabular form; the amount invested by the company in each project; the number of homes planned for each project; the number of homes built in each project; the funding invested to date from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund; the details of a new private funder of the company; the way in which it is being invested from this source; if this is in addition to funding from an investment firm (details supplied) and the ISIF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47032/19]
View answerThe Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has informed me that many of the questions raised by the Deputy are commercial matters relating to Activate Capital, therefore it is not appropriate for me to comment on them as Minister for Finance.
However, the ISIF has committed €500m to Activate Capital, a senior stretch lending platform which will fund residential development projects in Ireland.
Since inception, Activate funding has supported the completion of 757 new homes. The breakdown by year is available in the following table.
Table 1: Activate funded new housing output by year
|
Year |
Number of Houses Funded |
|
YTD 2019 |
316 |
|
2018 |
346 |
|
2017 |
95 |
|
2016 |
Nil |
I am further informed that Activate currently has 23 sites in production; these sites have the capacity to deliver over 3,200 units. Activate, through funding residential development projects, is targeting the construction of 15,000 new homes over its lifetime.
In October 2019, Activate Capital broadened out its funding base with the addition of a large European pension group alongside the existing investor base of ISIF and KKR.
50. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when he expects to bring forward the central bank (amendment) Bill; when the legislation will be passed; when he expects the new regulations will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47034/19]
View answerMy officials are continuing to work on the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill which, among other measures, will increase individual accountability in the financial sector. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, this is a complex piece of legislation and the Bill's provisions must be constitutionally sound in the event of legal challenge.
My Department and the Central Bank have been engaging in order to provide for the Individual Accountability Framework on the basis of sound principles so as to drive a better culture in the banking sector, and wider financial sector. My officials will be engaging further with the Attorney General's Office in advance of submitting draft heads of Bill to Government so as to ensure that the correct balance between additional powers for the Central Bank and the protection of individuals' constitutional rights is struck.
It remains my intention to bring forward draft heads of Bill to Government for approval before the end of the year and then to progress the Bill for debate in the Houses, including pre-legislative scrutiny. This timetable is subject to other competing legislative priorities, including any Brexit-related matters that may arise.
51. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when legislation is being introduced to ring-fence the increase in carbon tax in 2020 and onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47035/19]
View answerIn Budget 2020 I announced that the revenues from the increase in the carbon tax from €20 to €26 per tonne CO2 would be ring fenced and the funds used to:
- Protect the most vulnerable in society;
- A Just Transition; and
- Investing in low carbon transition
On 9 October 2019, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published "The carbon tax increase - what it will be spent on", which sets out specific details in relation to where the ringfenced monies will be going. This can be accessed at: https://assets.gov.ie/35942/a72c67a62786496686fa9257b3f6fa64.pdf.
These are increases that would not have taken place in the absence of an increase to the carbon tax and the increased funding is additional to that provided by the National Development Plan. All funds are ring-fenced for these schemes only. Departments will not be allowed to use the carbon tax revenues for any other purpose, other than those schemes detailed below. This guarantees that all funds raised by the carbon tax will go towards climate action.
I am satisfied that this approach will enable the continued ringfencing of additional carbon tax revenues to just transition and climate mitigation areas in future years.
52. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he continues to plan to not invest €500 million into the Rainy Day Fund from the Exchequer in 2019 in view of Brexit; if so, his plans for €500 million; if it will be used in 2019 on expenditure; if it will be kept in the Exchequer account until 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47036/19]
View answerIn preparing Budget 2020, I set out that a disorderly Brexit was the baseline scenario for budget planning purposes, and therefore a Budget deficit was in prospect.
On that basis, I decided that there would be no transfer of €500 million from the Exchequer in 2019 to the Rainy Day Fund.
Since I published Budget 2020 on 8th October, an extension of the EU’s deadline for withdrawal to 31st January 2020 has been agreed. As such, the risk of the UK departing the EU without a deal has been averted for now. However, the ultimate outcome is still very uncertain and a disorderly Brexit is still possible. Given this uncertainty, the Budget position has not changed.
The €500 million will remain as Exchequer cash balances. It will therefore be used to fund planned expenditure commitments and improve the Exchequer funding requirement for 2019.
53. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the projects which he has identified for drawing down funding from the European Fund for Strategic Investments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47061/19]
View answer54. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the number of project applications entered under the European Fund for Strategic Investments from 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of successful agreements to date; the estimated amount of expected drawdown of funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47062/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together.
Since the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)'s commencement in July 2015, it has been possible for any project promoter, either public or private, to engage with the EIB regarding the possibility of receiving loans or guarantees under EFSI for particular projects.
In this way, EFSI is providing an important additional funding possibility to the State alongside other possibilities such as the EIB's normal lending, the State's borrowings through the NTMA and other mechanisms such as PPPs and off-balance sheet vehicles. However, it is important to bear in mind that each EFSI loan entered into by the State pre-commits funding for the repayment of such loans, and so has to be considered in the context of the expenditure benchmark under the EU's fiscal rules.
In general, Government Departments with project related responsibilities have existing relationships with the EIB. On this basis it has been a matter for each Department concerned to advance their projects in coordination with the Government's Capital Plan as coordinated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department of Finance has no role in assessing either public or private projects which may be the subject of applications for EFSI loans/guarantees.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that there is a publicly available list of projects which have been approved for EFSI support by the EIB in the State (www.eib.org/en/efsi/efsi-projects/index.htm). For convenience I am providing a spreadsheet prepared by the EIB which contains lists of signed, approved and pre-approved Irish projects for your convenience.
The EIB’s website advises that there have been 33 transactions covering €1.5bn of approved EFSI financing and €7.1bn expected investment related to EFSI in Ireland since inception. As I mentioned in previous PQ responses on this topic, the Deputy should be aware that the EIB’s EFSI Irish project list contains both private and public sector projects, and it also includes cross-border projects between Irish entities and entities in other Member States. On the other hand, the list may not reflect Irish private sector project promoters participating in a project that could receive funding from EFSI loans/guarantees but which is led or based in another EU Member State.
|
Title |
Country |
EFSI financing |
Total investment related to EFSI |
Sector |
Approval date |
|
Aerogen Investment Programme |
Ireland |
30.00m |
63.17m |
RDI |
21/07/2017 |
|
Amryt Pharma |
Germany; Ireland |
20.00m |
178.00m |
RDI |
18/10/2016 |
|
CUBE Infrastructure Fund II |
Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Ireland; Italy; Portugal; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom; EU Countries |
100.00m |
729.00m |
Digital; Energy; Transport; Environment and resource efficiency |
16/06/2016 |
|
Capenergie 3 Fund |
Belgium; Finland; France; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Spain; Sweden |
45.00m (partial) |
1,466.00m |
Energy |
21/07/2015 |
|
Cubic Telecom |
Ireland |
23.50m |
209.15m |
Digital; RDI |
27/03/2019 |
|
DIF Core Infrastructure Fund I |
Austria; Belgium; Finland; France; Germany; Ireland; Netherlands Antilles; Spain |
59.50m |
371.11m |
Digital; Energy; Transport |
19/09/2017 |
|
Dasos Fund II Co-Investment Forestry Ireland |
Ireland |
28.50m |
39.00m |
Environment and resource efficiency |
10/06/2016 |
|
Devenish Nutrition |
Ireland; United Kingdom |
40.00m |
356.00m |
Smaller companies |
10/07/2018 |
|
Ericsson 5G |
Ireland; Spain; Sweden; EU Countries |
250.00m (partial) |
1,450.90m |
Digital; RDI |
15/03/2018 |
|
IMPAX New Energy Investors III |
Finland; France; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Poland |
75.00m |
1,600.00m |
Energy |
03/03/2016 |
|
Irish Continental Group Ferry Project |
Ireland |
75.00m |
153.60m |
Transport |
01/06/2017 |
|
Irish Continental Group Ferry Project II |
Ireland |
80.00m |
168.50m |
Transport |
28/05/2018 |
|
Irish Social Housing PPP |
Ireland |
61.30m (partial) |
300.00m |
Social infrastructure |
15/06/2017 |
|
Malin Corporation - Life Sciences Investments |
Ireland; United Kingdom |
55.00m (partial) |
1,425.00m |
Smaller companies; Social infrastructure; RDI |
16/06/2016 |
|
NTR Renewable Energy Income Fund II |
France; Ireland; Italy; Sweden; United Kingdom; EU Countries |
84.00m (partial) |
1,209.00m |
Energy |
15/03/2018 |
|
Nuritas |
Ireland |
30.00m |
264.00m |
RDI |
29/10/2018 |
|
Oweninny Onshore Wind Farm Phase 1 |
Ireland |
79.50m |
176.30m |
Energy |
14/11/2017 |
|
Primary Care Centres PPP |
Ireland |
70.00m |
135.00m |
Social infrastructure |
21/04/2015 |
|
Sbci Business Support Investment Platform |
Ireland |
15.00m |
420.00m |
Smaller companies |
09/10/2018 |
|
Susi Renewable Energy Fund II |
Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Portugal; United Kingdom |
65.00m |
1,085.00m |
Energy |
10/03/2016 |
|
TIIC Transport and Social Infrastructure Fund |
Germany; Ireland; Netherlands Antilles; Portugal; Spain; EU Countries |
60.00m |
2,790.00m |
Transport; Social infrastructure |
12/10/2016 |
|
Vivasure |
Ireland |
10.00m |
89.00m |
RDI |
22/03/2019 |
EFSI financing is the tranche of an operation that benefits from the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments. This amount will sometimes differ from the total EIB financing amount of the same operation. Total investment related to EFSI refers to the total financing amount expected to be attracted for any particular EFSI project. This amount might come from public or private sources, and it includes EFSI financing provided by the Bank. Signed projects are listed with the actual amounts agreed in the contract, which may differ from the amounts initially authorised by the EIB Board of Directors.
Pre-Approvals: These are umbrella operations that have been approved under EFSI but which cannot be counted towards the EFSI objective until concrete sub-projects have been signed.
55. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the number of project applications entered under the European Investment Bank for investment and infrastructure projects from 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of successful agreements to date; the estimated amount of expected drawdown of funds annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47063/19]
View answerI am advised by the EIB and the NTMA (in relation to loans to the Exchequer) that the position is as set out in the following tables. The information relates to public sector projects in Ireland which have been signed during the period specified by the Deputy. I am advised by the EIB that the Bank would not have statistics on applications, as there is not an application process per se. The launch of a loan appraisal, which is published on the EIB website, is the first stage of the loan approval process.
EIB signed public sector investment and infrastructure in Ireland, 2014-2019
|
Operation Name |
Sector |
Signature Date |
Contract Amount (EURm) |
|
DUBLIN LUAS CROSS CITY |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
03/03/2014 |
120.00 |
|
DUBLIN LUAS CROSS CITY |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
03/03/2014 |
30.00 |
|
N17-N18 GORT TO TUAM PPP MOTORWAY |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
30/04/2014 |
143.03 |
|
STRATEGIC BANKING CORPORATION OF IRELAND |
SECTION Z : GLOBAL LOANS, LOANS FOR SMES, LOANS FOR SMES AND MID-CAPS, LOANS FOR MID-CAPS |
28/10/2014 |
200.00 |
|
IRISH WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
29/10/2014 |
9.00 |
|
IRISH WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
29/10/2014 |
0.00 |
|
IRISH WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
29/10/2014 |
67.00 |
|
IRISH WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
29/10/2014 |
0.00 |
|
IRISH WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
29/10/2014 |
24.00 |
|
IRISH WATER INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
29/10/2014 |
0.00 |
|
ESB NETWORK - RENEWABLE CONNECTION |
SECTION D : ELECTRICITY, GAS, STEAM AND AIR CONDITIONING SUPPLY |
30/10/2014 |
92.00 |
|
ESB NETWORK - RENEWABLE CONNECTION |
SECTION D : ELECTRICITY, GAS, STEAM AND AIR CONDITIONING SUPPLY |
30/10/2014 |
8.00 |
|
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
17/12/2014 |
76.77 |
|
HFA - IRISH SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT |
SECTION F : CONSTRUCTION |
18/12/2014 |
150.00 |
|
OPEN ACCESS (GFI) |
SECTION J : INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION |
19/12/2014 |
12.00 |
|
OPEN ACCESS (GFI) |
SECTION J : INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION |
19/12/2014 |
0.00 |
|
ANNUAL TOTAL |
|
|
931.80 |
|
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN EDUCATION INITIATIVES |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
25/06/2015 |
70.00 |
|
M11 GOREY TO ENNISCORTHY MOTORWAY |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
14/10/2015 |
109.10 |
|
STRATEGIC BANKING CORPORATION OF IRELAND |
SECTION Z : GLOBAL LOANS, LOANS FOR SMES, LOANS FOR SMES AND MID-CAPS, LOANS FOR MID-CAPS |
22/10/2015 |
200.00 |
|
IRISH FLOOD PREVENTION PROGRAMME |
SECTION E : WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES |
17/12/2015 |
200.00 |
|
DUBLIN PORT DEVELOPMENT |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
21/12/2015 |
100.00 |
|
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
21/12/2015 |
76.00 |
|
ANNUAL TOTAL |
|
|
755.10 |
|
N25 NEW ROSS BYPASS PPP |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
26/01/2016 |
21.81 |
|
PRIMARY CARE CENTRES PPP |
SECTION Q : HUMAN HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES |
25/05/2016 |
70.00 |
|
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
19/07/2016 |
100.00 |
|
IRISH SCHOOL PROGRAMME III |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
17/10/2016 |
200.00 |
|
RCSI CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
09/12/2016 |
50.00 |
|
HFA - IRISH SOCIAL HOUSING |
SECTION F : CONSTRUCTION |
21/12/2016 |
200.00 |
|
COILLTE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY |
SECTION A : AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING |
22/12/2016 |
45.00 |
|
COILLTE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY |
SECTION A : AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING |
22/12/2016 |
45.00 |
|
ANNUAL TOTAL |
|
|
731.81 |
|
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND GALWAY CAMPUS |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
30/06/2017 |
60.00 |
|
LIMERICK 2030 REGENERATION PROGRAMME |
SECTION F : CONSTRUCTION |
16/11/2017 |
85.00 |
|
NATIONAL CHILDREN HOSPITAL - DUBLIN |
SECTION Q : HUMAN HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES |
08/12/2017 |
490.00 |
|
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME |
SECTION F : CONSTRUCTION |
19/12/2017 |
70.00 |
|
PORT OF CORK - RINGASKIDDY PORT REDEVELOPMENT |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
20/12/2017 |
30.00 |
|
ANNUAL TOTAL |
|
|
735.00 |
|
GRANGEGORMAN PPP |
SECTION M : PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES |
28/03/2018 |
21.97 |
|
GRANGEGORMAN PPP |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
28/03/2018 |
87.90 |
|
TCD ENGINEERING ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
05/10/2018 |
100.00 |
|
E-HEALTH IRELAND |
SECTION Q : HUMAN HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES |
12/10/2018 |
225.00 |
|
GAS NETWORKS IRELAND |
SECTION D : ELECTRICITY, GAS, STEAM AND AIR CONDITIONING SUPPLY |
07/12/2018 |
100.00 |
|
ANNUAL TOTAL |
|
|
534.87 |
|
IRISH SOCIAL HOUSING PPP |
SECTION F : CONSTRUCTION |
19/03/2019 |
59.43 |
|
IRISH SOCIAL HOUSING PPP |
SECTION F : CONSTRUCTION |
19/03/2019 |
1.88 |
|
SBCI BUSINESS SUPPORT INVESTMENT PLATFORM |
SECTION Z : GLOBAL LOANS, LOANS FOR SMES, LOANS FOR SMES AND MID-CAPS, LOANS FOR MID-CAPS |
14/06/2019 |
14.40 |
|
SBCI BUSINESS SUPPORT INVESTMENT PLATFORM |
SECTION Z : GLOBAL LOANS, LOANS FOR SMES, LOANS FOR SMES AND MID-CAPS, LOANS FOR MID-CAPS |
14/06/2019 |
133.60 |
|
DUBLIN AIRPORT OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE UPGRADE |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
21/06/2019 |
323.05 |
|
DUBLIN AIRPORT OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE UPGRADE |
SECTION L : REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES |
21/06/2019 |
26.95 |
|
RCSI EDUCATION & RESEARCH BUILDING |
SECTION M : PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES |
27/08/2019 |
11.20 |
|
RCSI EDUCATION & RESEARCH BUILDING |
SECTION P : EDUCATION |
27/08/2019 |
28.80 |
|
AN POST INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION |
SECTION H : TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE |
15/10/2019 |
40.00 |
|
ANNUAL TOTAL |
|
|
639.30 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
3,396.09 |
Evolution of Disbursement (public and private sector) between 1/1/2014 and 31/12/2019, in Ireland as of 11/11/2019
|
|
2014 |
|
2015 |
|
2016 |
|
2017 |
|
2018 |
|
2019 |
|
|
|
Number |
Total (EURm) |
Number |
Total (EURm) |
Number |
Total (EURm) |
Number |
Total (EURm) |
Number |
Total (EURm) |
Number |
Total (EURm) |
|
Realized |
23 |
701.77 |
25 |
414.38 |
37 |
978.02 |
40 |
505.99 |
70 |
833.92 |
57 |
625.97 |
|
Committed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
60.22 |
|
Forecast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
55.00 |
|
Total |
23 |
701.77 |
25 |
414.38 |
37 |
978.02 |
40 |
505.99 |
70 |
833.92 |
65 |
741.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public sector incl PSE |
4 |
325 |
6 |
345 |
11 |
705.77 |
3 |
124 |
7 |
480 |
7 |
398 |
(PSE; public sector enterprises, including state agencies and local authorities)
The following table details the amounts drawn down from the European Investment Bank loans to the Exchequer since 2014:
|
Loan Facility |
Purpose of Loan |
Contract signature Date |
Loan Amount |
Drawn Amount (as of 14/11/2019) |
|
Dublin LUAS Cross City |
To finance the construction of an extension to a tramway system in Dublin. |
03-Mar-14 |
150,000,000 |
150,000,000 |
|
Irish Water Investment Programme - B |
To provide new water mains, water and wastewater treatment facilities and reservoirs, as well as measures to improve water conservation. |
29-Oct-14 |
100,000,000 |
100,000,000 |
|
Irish Flood Prevention Programme |
To finance flood protection and prevention programme in Ireland for the period 2015-2020. |
17-Dec-15 |
200,000,000 |
200,000,000 |
|
Irish Schools Programme III |
To construct, expand and refurbish public school buildings. |
17-Oct-16 |
200,000,000 |
200,000,000 |
|
National Children’s Hospital |
To finance construction of the new children’s hospital in Dublin. |
08-Dec-17 |
490,000,000 |
345,000,000 |
|
eHealth Ireland |
To finance strategic investments in digitalisation of the Irish health sector. |
12-Oct-18 |
225,000,000 |
0 |
|
Total |
|
|
1,365,000,000 |
995,000,000 |
The balance of €370m in loans is expected to be drawn down across the remainder of 2019 and 2020.
56. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance the number of EU member states that are prepared to increase national contributions to the EU budget and the Multiannual Financial Framework, MFF, 2021 to 2027 in order to increase spending for CAP; the number of member states that are against increasing national contributions to the EU budget proposed by the European Commission in May 2018; and the increased national percentage in GNI terms required for each member state to increase contributions to prevent proposed cuts to CAP post-2020. [47072/19]
View answerThe Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was most recently discussed at the October European Council where Leaders exchanged views on key issues such as the overall level of expenditure, the volumes of expenditure in the main policy areas, the financing - including revenues and corrections - as well as the conditionalities and incentives. In light of this discussion, it called on the Presidency to submit a Negotiating Box with figures ahead of the European Council in December 2019.
The October discussion largely reiterated the differences between Member States on the key issues. There was no narrowing of views on the overall level of expenditure, with a number of net contributors reiterating the need to keep the overall level at 1% of EU GNI, while there was strong push back from the net recipients on the Presidency proposals which they consider too low, they argue for an overall level of 1.11% of EU GNI. On the allocation of volumes between areas, net recipients expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding proposals on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Cohesion which they see as requiring further increases to the Commission’s proposals, for Cohesion in particular.
Given that Member States did not move beyond their traditional positions on the above, it is not possible to say who would be willing to increase contributions in order to fund CAP under a given scenario. A key element for consideration in the upcoming negotiations will be the nature of adjustments to the CAP, or any other policy area. For instance, all the cuts applied to CAP could be made up without any commensurate increase to contributions, if adjustments are made elsewhere in the MFF.
For Ireland, the CAP remains the a key national priority for the negotiations. Expenditure in the area of agriculture helps support 44 million jobs across the EU, while contributing to European Added Value (EAV) through rural sustainability, food safety, animal welfare, and environmental standards.
In relation to contributions, in his intervention at the October European Council, the Taoiseach noted that while Ireland’s contribution is likely to increase significantly, we need to focus on the benefits and not just the costs of EU membership, including access to the Single Market which vastly outweighs EU Budget contributions. While Ireland has not yet finalised a view on the appropriate overall level of expenditure in the next MFF, we support the efforts of the Presidency to progress negotiations towards agreement and will continue to engage constructively.
57. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds allocated to Ireland over the 2014 to 2020 period and expended in each year and to date in 2019 between Exchequer and EU funding to the PEACE IV 2014-2020 Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and INTERREG, in tabular form. [47059/19]
View answerThe PEACE IV Programme (2014-20) supports peace and reconciliation in the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The programme has a total funding allocation of €269,610,964, including Irish ERDF of €49,551,086 and Irish national match/exchequer funding of €8,744,309.
The INTERREG VA Programme (2014-20) aims to build social and economic cohesion in the Irish border counties, Northern Ireland and western Scotland, with a total funding allocation of €282,761,995. This includes €71,230,000 Irish ERDF and €12,570,000 national match/exchequer funding.
Both programmes are managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Claims for expenditure are paid retrospectively, with the SEUPB making the first expenditure claim to the Commission in 2017. The yearly breakdown of expenditure claims paid is set out in the following table:
|
Claims Paid by Year |
PEACE IV Irish ERDF € |
PEACE IV Irish Match/Exchequer € |
INTERREG VA Irish ERDF € |
INTERREG VA Irish Match/Exchequer € |
|
2017 |
414,726 |
73,188 |
656,704 |
115,393 |
|
2018 |
2,911,664 |
513,831 |
5,158,657 |
817,346 |
|
2019 |
4,155,144 |
733,286 |
7,192,749 |
1,170,041 |
58. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public buildings that have been retrofitted; the climate action measures being implemented across such buildings, the Leinster House campus and buildings housing Departments in view of the age of some of the buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41403/19]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has been running an energy conservation campaign entitled Optimising Power @ Work, since 2010. The programme is essentially a behavioural change campaign involving staff from over 270 large Central Government buildings. Energy savings of over 20% per annum have been achieved, equating to over €6M p.a. cost savings.
Since 2017, in a joint programme between “Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment”, SEAI and the OPW, energy retrofits have been carried out in 70 Central Government buildings, with an additional 15 currently in progress. The retrofit projects have typically included lighting, boiler and controls upgrades but there have also been some building fabric upgrades. Heritage buildings have particular challenges but improvements are still possible, particularly to lighting and heating systems.
