Written Answers Nos. 161-180
161. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding that is available for domestic solar panels; when funding will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4147/22]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers the grant scheme to assist homeowners to install solar PV panels. The scheme was launched in July 2018. The table below outlines the applications received and financial supports under the scheme, as of 31st December 2021. The 2022 Exchequer allocation is €14 million.
|
Year |
No. of applications |
Value of applications supported |
|
2019 |
1,820 |
€4,266,405 |
|
2020 |
2,916 |
€7,353,320 |
|
2021 |
4,089 |
€9,435,125 |
Solar PV is also funded under the Communities Energy Grant Scheme, which makes grant funding available to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock, and is open to domestic and non-domestic applications. Latest available figures show that in 2020, 137 domestic applicants received support for solar PV installations under this scheme.
162. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he will consult with the National Transport Authority and a company (details supplied) to review the bus timetables of the services 59 and 111 serving Dalkey, Loughlinstown, Killiney and Dún Laoghaire to include a service that caters for school children attending schools, in view of the fact that there is currently no timetabled service that coincides with the finishing times of these schools resulting in many more cars on the road impacting traffic and emissions unnecessarily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3980/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the operations of public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
163. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport if he will request Irish Rail to update its timetable on the Ballybrophy rail line to include a service during lunchtime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3987/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the operations of public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
164. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport the reason that no funding has been given from funds (details supplied) to upgrade the Ballybrophy rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3988/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that track relaying on the Ballybrophy line is provided for within this year's Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC) work programme.
As the Deputy is aware, last year 7.5miles of track was relayed on the line, leaving a total of 12 miles outstanding. This year's work programme planned an additional 4miles to be relayed by the end of the year; however, consideration is now being given to expediating the delivery of the programme to ensure that the entire outstanding 12miles is completed in 2022 and I am hopeful that will be achieved this year.
165. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the operation of the 17A bus route by a company (details supplied) as the buses are consistently late or do not show; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4031/22]
View answerWhile as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, I am not involved in the operations of public transport. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question, regarding the operation of the 17A bus route, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
166. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is prudent to allow a company (details supplied) to operate the new N4 and N6 route replacing the 17A if it cannot manage a much reduced timetable at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4032/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the operations of public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
167. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies within the remit of his Department for the period 1 January 2021 to date; if so, if he will provide details of the policies; the costs incurred for each individual poll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4053/22]
View answerMy Department has not commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies within the remit of my Department for the period 1 January 2021 to date.
168. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport the status of funding to complete necessary repairs at Clongriffin DART station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4086/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including in co-operation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART rail network.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply on the specific DART station referred to by the Deputy. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
169. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on plans for the western orbital route that would link the N81 to the N4 via the N7; and if funding has been allocated. [4101/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the new National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals.
In this context, TII is best placed to advise on the current plans in relation to an N81/N4/N7 link.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
170. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he was informed by the Irish Aviation Authority regarding its role in the context of Russian plans to conduct artillery drills off the Irish coast (details supplied). [4136/22]
View answerManagement of Irish Air Traffic Control Airspace is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). I can confirm that the IAA informed my Department of its plans to manage airspace capacity in the Southern Oceanic Transition Area, in response to the notification by the Russian authorities of their intention to undertake military exercises in that area. Such management measure will be undertaken in coordination with the Network Manager, Eurocontrol, and will create a flight restriction for the affected area along with an accompanying buffer zone to ensure the safety of civil aircraft operations.
171. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the number of times that the Irish Aviation Authority has been informed of military exercises by foreign military or naval services affecting Irish-controlled airspace in the past ten years; the countries involved; the number of notifications from each country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4160/22]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority are best-placed to provide the Deputy with the relevant information, and accordingly I have referred the Deputy's question to them for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
172. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance when the decision was made that An Post would recoup VAT charges (details supplied); if this service was tendered to other service providers; the rationale behind these additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4003/22]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that across the European Union, electronic Customs import declarations are now required for all consignments coming from non-EU countries including those coming through the postal system regardless of the value of the goods being sent. This includes consignments coming from the UK. The requirement for electronic import declarations for postal consignments came into force on the 1 July 2021. This is an EU requirement across all Member States and is necessary to protect public health, to ensure food safety and product standards and to protect EU businesses from unfair international competition thus preserving jobs for European workers including Irish workers.
Consignments from outside the EU cannot be delivered to the importer without the submission of an electronic Customs declaration and the payment of any taxes and duties due. The importer may complete these procedures themselves but generally, private individual importers appoint a representative such as a courier company or a postal operator to complete these Customs procedures on their behalf. It is this representative who becomes liable for the Customs debt at the point of import.
These representatives do not act on behalf of, nor do they collect the relevant taxes and duties on behalf of Revenue, but rather they act on the behalf of the importer and assist the importer in the clearance of their goods imported from outside the European Union. As this is a commercial arrangement between the importer and the representative, the matter of a tender process doesn’t arise.
The rate of Customs Duty which is owed is dependent on the origin and type of goods contained within the consignment. The rate of VAT applied is the rate which would be applied for the supply of similar goods in Ireland.
173. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies within the remit of his Department for the period 1 January 2021 to date; if so, if he will provide details of the policies; the costs incurred for each individual poll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4043/22]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies for the period 1 January 2021 to date.
174. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered increasing the single parent carer credit in line with the increase in the individual tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4078/22]
View answerThe general position is that tax expenditures are considered as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.
As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 included a significant tax package amounting to a cost of €520 million. This included a substantial income tax package comprising of an increase of €50 in each of the main tax credits – personal tax credit, employee tax credit and the earned income credit – from €1,650 to €1,700. An increase of €1,500 in the income tax standard rate band for all income earners was also introduced. Furthermore, the 2% rate band ceiling for USC was also increased for 2022 in line with the increase in the national minimum wage to ensure that a full-time adult worker who benefits from the increase in the hourly minimum wage rate of €10.20 to €10.50 will remain outside the top rates of USC. Further details can be located at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/publication/7e491-taxation-measures/.
Having regard to the fiscal demands and pressures facing the State in 2022, it was not possible to increase all tax credits and remain within the fiscal parameters. However, the tax changes introduced in Budget 2022, will benefit all income earners who pay income tax, including those persons in receipt of the Single Person Child Carer Credit, and are aimed at helping taxpayers at a time when prices are rising. I would also note that those in receipt of this credit may also have entitlement to an increased standard rate band each year which is €4,000 higher than that which applies to a single person who is not entitled to the credit.
In all the circumstances, I am satisfied that the Single Person Child Carer Credit in its current form is appropriately calibrated at present and there are no immediate plans to review or amend the credit.
175. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the position of the Government with regard to Irish banks, particularly those that are largely in State hands, freezing or suspending the accounts of customers who conduct personal banking with Iran-based bank accounts. [4100/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Banks are designated persons under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, and consequently have Anti-Money Laundering / Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations to meet under that legislation. In meeting these obligations, banks are required to adopt a risk based approach as to how they conduct their business and who they conduct it with. I therefore have no role in influencing the risk tolerances banks should accept in this area and consequently cannot direct them as to what approach they should adopt.
Additionally, Irish banks are subject to the provisions of Council Regulation (EU) No. 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 and Council Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 of 12 April 2011 which impose restrictive measures (sanctions) in relation to Iran and the individuals listed in their annexes.
My officials contacted the three banks in which the State has a shareholding and received the following responses:
AIB
"The bank may freeze or suspend accounts for any customer where required to do so to meet regulatory or legal requirements"
PTSB
" In line with our terms & conditions and in order to ensure we meet our overarching obligations in terms of the prevention of money Laundering/terrorist financing and compliance with Sanctions; PTSB does not process any payments to or from Iran-based bank accounts"
Bank of Ireland
" Bank of Ireland is a diversified Financial Services Group which adheres to all legislative and regulatory requirements applicable in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. These include all requirements emanating from the European Union, HM Treasury, United Nations and US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
"In line with Department of Finance guidelines in relation to country and geographic risks for money laundering and terrorist financing, country risk is not solely related to the country of origin of a customer but also takes into account business links or other links the customer may have to a particular country. "As such, when financial institutions within this jurisdiction, including Bank of Ireland, consider a country to be a high risk jurisdiction for the purposes of their AML and sanctions policies, it requires enhanced monitoring to be conducted, in accordance with their legal obligations.”
176. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the terms of settlement made by a bank (details supplied) in proceedings taken by members of a group; if he will outline the terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4123/22]
View answer177. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that €75 million has been set aside by a bank (details supplied) to deal with the position of investors who for financial, business or other personal reasons could not participate in litigation against the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4124/22]
View answer178. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the sum of €75 million is inadequate to reimburse members of a fund (details supplied) who had invested for financial, business or other personal reasons and could not participate in litigation against a bank for the losses incurred by them in the settlement with the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4125/22]
View answer179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the action he proposes to take to restore the reputation of a bank (details supplied) and fully reimburse members who invested in a fund and who for financial, business or other personal reasons could not participate in litigation against the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4110/22]
View answer182. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a fund (details supplied) has been referred to by a person as a legacy issue; the actions that will be taken to support investors who invested in the fund who for financial, business or other personal reasons could not participate in litigation against the bank given that they are continuing to suffer serious continuing financial losses and distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4113/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 177, 178, 179 and 182 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Finance, I have no role in the commercial decisions made by any bank in the State. This includes banks in which the State has a shareholding.
Decisions in this regard are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The independence of banks in which the State has a shareholding is protected by Relationship Frameworks which are legally binding documents that cannot be changed unilaterally. These frameworks, which are publicly available, were insisted upon by the European Commission to protect competition in the Irish market. The AIB Relationship Framework is available to view on my Department's website.
My officials contacted AIB and received the following response:
"AIB is undertaking a review of all investments in the property funds, known as Belfry, sold between 2002 and 2006. Each investment is examined on a case by case basis to determine if redress may be due in certain instances. The bank is continuing to communicate with Belfry investors to make them aware of this review, to provide progress updates and to advise a dedicated contact point for any queries. AIB is focused on completing its review of these legacy investments in a timely manner. Based on initial assessments, a provision of €75 million has been taken for the anticipated cost of redress and other related costs that may be payable. This was set out in a note in AIB’s H1 2021 accounts.
"In July 2021, the bank settled legal claims from approximately 270 investors in Belfry Funds. A provision amounting to €25 million was taken at that time in relation to this settlement and the associated costs."
180. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he has been in communication with the Central Bank and the other regulatory authorities in relation to the losses incurred by those who invested in a fund (details supplied) and who for financial, business or other personal reasons could not participate in litigation against the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4111/22]
View answer181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the action the Central Bank and the other regulatory bodies have or propose to take against a bank (details supplied) and the relevant officers of the bank resulting from a settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4112/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.
I thank the Deputy for his questions. Officials from my Department contacted the Central Bank of Ireland and received the following response:
"The Central Bank intervenes, within the scope of its regulatory mandate, to ensure the interests of consumers and investors are protected by focusing on the issues that pose the greatest potential or actual risk of harm to consumers and investors. We require firms to put things right where they have made errors or cause consumer or investor harm, and through our continuing supervision of firms, we monitor the investigation and provision of redress and compensation for consumers and investors, where appropriate.
"We are aware of the decision by AIB to establish a programme to review all investments in the Belfry Funds on a case-by-case basis to determine if redress may be due in certain instances, as per its disclosure, which states inter alia “The Group has instigated a programme, which is ongoing, to review all investments in the Belfry funds on a case by case basis and to determine if redress may be due in certain instances.” All investors are included in the review without any action required by them at this time. AIB has written to all investors and has committed to communicating with them throughout the programme to advise on progress and the outcome of the review.
"As you will be aware, due to supervisory confidentiality obligations under national legislation (Section 33AK of the Central Bank Act, 1942) and EU law, we are unable to provide you with any information about our specific supervisory engagement with individual firms. However, please be assured that we have made clear our expectations of all regulated firms, that consumers and investors are treated in a fair and transparent way, and that firms fully comply with both regulations and our supervisory expectations. If consumers or investors have queries in relation to their Belfry Funds, they should contact AIB directly at belfryenquiries@aib.ie."
