Written Answers Nos. 252-267
254. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will reduce the level of excise on fuel products due to the severe pressures on many households due to the rising costs of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7363/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the final retail price of fuel is determined by a number of factors including the costs of production, distribution, global market factors, international exchange rates, taxation, wholesale market contracts as well as individual retail pricing policies.
The current inflationary trend in fuels is driven by international market factors, primarily by rising demand due to the economic recovery with secondary factors of rising EU ETS allowance prices, weather patterns and gas supply levels in Europe also contributing to rising costs.
I am acutely aware of the severity of the financial impact that this is placing on Irish households. To alleviate this impact, all households will receive an electricity credit in 2022. The Government is also discussing a package of measures which will further alleviate this burden for those most vulnerable to fuel poverty.
Targeted welfare measures such as those recommended by the ESRI in their October 2020 commissioned research paper provide the most efficient means of protecting those most vulnerable to fuel poverty rather than broad based measures such as excise reduction.
Over the longer term, the Government has committed to significant funding of residential energy efficiency measures and investment in alternative fuels which will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower the cost of heating our homes.
255. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance the number of electric vehicle charging points that are available for use by staff across all carparks provided for use by his Department throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7381/22]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that my Department currently has the use of one electric vehicle charging point.
256. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the amount collected in VAT from gas and electricity bills in the past two years to date; and his plans to reduce VAT on energy bills. [7422/22]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law with which Irish VAT law must comply. The VAT Directive obliges each Member State to have a standard rate of VAT and also allows that a Member State may choose to have no more than two reduced rates of VAT, which may be no less than 5%, and which may be applied to certain goods and services: any of those listed in Annex III of the Directive. Within this framework, Ireland currently applies a standard rate of 23% and two reduced rates of 13.5% and 9%.
The EU Directive permits derogations from the general rules to allow an individual Member State to continue certain historic tax treatments, such as the application of one of their reduced rates to particular goods and services which are not included in Annex III. Ireland, in line with the VAT Directive and by way of special derogation from the general rule, maintains several “standstill” provisions and derogations that allow us to maintain reduced rates to certain supplies for historical reasons. It is on this basis that Ireland applies its 13.5% reduced rate of VAT to the supply of fuel, gas, oil, and electricity services for both domestic and commercial use. The current 13.5% VAT rate applied to energy products is a ‘parked rate’, governed by Article 118 of the VAT Directive and standstill provisions from 1991 and cannot be reduced below 12%.
Article 102 of the VAT Directive provides that, after consultation with the EU VAT Committee, a Member State may choose to apply a reduced rate (no less than 5%) to the supply of natural gas, electricity, or district heating on a temporary basis. The EU Commission recently indicated that this provision could now be used by Member States without the requirement to consult the VAT Committee in advance.
Under its existing provisions, Ireland already applies a reduced VAT rate to a broader range of energy products (including the supply of fuel, gas, oil and electricity services) than would be allowed under Article 102, which is restricted only to supplies of natural gas, electricity, district heating.
Because a Member State may only have a maximum of two reduced rates, if Ireland were to consider introducing a new reduced rate, even on a temporary basis, for the supply of natural gas, electricity and district heating as allowed under Article 102 of the Directive, then it would not be permissible to also continue both of our existing reduced rates of 9% and 13.5%. This would mean that one of those existing rates would have to be removed and the goods and services covered by those rates would have to move either to one of the other reduced rates or to the standard rate. However, there is a significant restriction on this, as the services to which the 13.5% reduced rate applies on a historic basis (i.e. the “parked” services) cannot be moved to a rate below 12%. Therefore, depending on the reduced rates chosen, this restriction could mean that the services that are currently at the ‘parked rate’, would have to move to the standard rate of 23%.
If Ireland did reduce the rate below 12%, even on a temporary basis, we would not be able to retain the derogation we currently hold that allows us to apply a reduced rate. This means that the VAT rate on electricity, gas, oil and fuel would increase to 23% when the temporary relief had expired.
I am advised by Revenue that traders are not required to identify the VAT yield generated from the supply of specific services on their VAT returns. However, a tentative estimate for the VAT collected on domestic electricity and gas supplies in 2020 and 2021, based on tax returns and other information sources available to Revenue, is shown in the following table.
|
VAT Collected 2020 €m |
VAT Collected 2021 €m |
|
|
Gas |
60 |
65 |
|
Electricity |
228 |
290 |
257. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a community centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7211/22]
View answerFurther to my replies to your queries on 9th September and 2nd November 2021, we have now received legal advice from the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) regarding the lease on the Community Centre at Kilgarvan.
Discussions are ongoing with the relevant parties to come to a mutually agreeable solution.
258. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of Departmental civil servants and State agency employees under his remit, respectively working in County Wexford and their respective Departmental section in tabular form. [7240/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department, including the Office of Government Procurement, has no offices in the county specified. This is also the case for the bodies under the aegis of my Department, with the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has 40 members of staff across the locations in the table below.
Office of Public Works
|
Section |
Location |
No. of Staff |
|
JFK Park and Arboretum |
Ballysop, New Ross, Co. Wexford |
19 |
|
National Monuments |
Salt Mills, New Ross, Co. Wexford |
14 |
|
Arterial Drainage Maintenance |
Ballycraine, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford |
7 |
259. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made by his Department in respect of its targets and goals set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of his Department; if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7284/22]
View answerPlease refer to attached file - there appears to be an IT glitch as copy/paste not working.
260. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public procurement competitions that were held in 2021; the number of competitions that received no bidding applicants; the number of Irish language requirements that are part of the contract award criteria and contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7289/22]
View answerIn 2021 there have been a total of 69 public tender competitions published by my Department and agencies/bodies under the auspices of my Department. Of those 69 published competitions, only 5 received no responses.
My Department is committed to meeting its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 and, in particular, the commitments outlined in the Department’s Official Languages Scheme which is available on the Department's website. This Scheme sets out a standard approach across the Department to fulfilling obligations in relation to the Irish language, taking into account what is practical and achievable.
While the tendering process is facilitated through the national tendering platform, certain elements of data on public contracts, including contract award criteria in relation to Irish language requirements, is held by the contracting authorities concerned and is not available to report on an aggregated basis.
261. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of electric vehicle charging points that are available for use by staff across all carparks provided for use by his Department throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7387/22]
View answerInformation in relation to the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points available to staff across the OPW portfolio is not centrally collated. EV charging points are currently installed by the OPW subject to demand and funding. There are a number of charging points available at the OPW head office in Trim and at it's primary Dublin office.
The OPW is developing a policy with a view to putting a programme in place to incrementally increase the EV charging infrastructure across the entire OPW property portfolio over the coming years.
262. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure the pandemic bonus payment will be paid to workers in organisations funded under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7398/22]
View answerThere are many thousands of people across the country who went above and beyond over the course of the last two years. The continued contribution of so many people in all walks of life has been essential to getting us through this difficult time. Collaboration and solidarity have been the hallmark of our national approach to COVID-19 and the measures announced on 19 January are true to those principles.
After careful consideration, the Government made the decision to give all the people of Ireland a national day of recognition and commemoration on the 18th of March this year, and another permanent public holiday in February commencing in 2023.
The Government took many factors into consideration when coming to a decision in relation to any additional recognition measure for specific sectors, however it ultimately agreed that acknowledging certain frontline healthcare workers in the public sector and in private nursing homes and hospices in particular was the most fair and appropriate, whilst acknowledging all other healthcare workers and sectors with the public holidays.
This is a balanced package of measures that will benefit all workers across the economy, while also recognising in particular the risks faced by certain frontline healthcare workers during this pandemic.
263. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Thomas Pringle den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad iad na pleananna atá ar bun ag a Roinn chun toghchán a eagrú do Bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta, cén uair a bheidh sé ar siúl agus cá mhéad Comhalta i ngach réigiún a bheidh le toghadh ar an mBord nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [7115/22]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, luaitear sa Chlár Rialtais go ndéanfar athbhreithniú ar struchtúir fheidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin i ndáil le Bord an Údaráis
Maidir le hathbhreithniú ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin atá i bhfeidhm maidir le Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta, rinne an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais (OGP) comórtas a reáchtáil - ar iarratas mo Roinne, den dara uair le gairid i dtreo sainchomhairleoireacht a aimsiú le tabhairt faoin athbhreithniú agus moltaí ina leith a chur faoi bhráid na Roinne.
Ós rud é, áfach, nach bhfuarthas aon tairiscint de thoradh an dara chomórtais seo, tá na chéad chéimeanna eile á mbreithniú ag an Roinn faoi láthair i gcomhar leis an OGP i dtreo sainchomhairleoireacht cáilithe go cuí a aimsiú don chúram.
Mar chuid den athbhreithniú, tá sé i gceist ag an Roinn próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí a eagrú faoina dtabharfar an deis don phobal tuairimí agus moltaí faoin ábhar a roinnt i scríbhinn leis an Roinn. Seolfar an próiseas sin gan mhoill.
Is de thordh é seo uile a ndéanfar an scéal a bhreithniú maidir le struchtúr an bhoird.
Faoin socrú atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair maidir le struchtúr Bhord an Údaráis agus faoi réir fhorálacha ábhartha Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, ainmníonn na hÚdaráis Áitiúla a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta faoina gcúram acu cúigear comhalta faoi seach chuig an mbord agus roghnaítear an seachtar comhalta eile tríd comórtas poiblí a eagraítear faoi scáth na Seirbhíse um Cheapacháin Phoiblí.
264. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress that has been made to date to advance the implementation of Action 20.4 of Housing for All; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7163/22]
View answer265. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce new legislation to deliver on Action 20.4 of Housing for All; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7164/22]
View answer266. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the work that is currently underway between her Department and Fáilte Ireland at identifying the best international practice with regard to the implementation of Action 20.4 of Housing for All; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7165/22]
View answer267. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expected timeline for the delivery of Action 20.4 of Housing for All; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7166/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 to 267, inclusive, together.
Action 20.4 of Housing for All, the Government's housing plan to 2030, commits to the development of "new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that houses are used to best effect in areas of housing need”.
While overall responsibility for delivery of the plan rests with my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the lead role for implementation of Action 20.4 has been assigned to my Department. I have engaged with Minister Darragh O’Brien on this matter and my officials have met on a number of occasions with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Fáilte Ireland and the Residential Tenancies Board in furtherance of this action and further engagement is ongoing.
Funding was allocated in Budget 2022 to Fáilte Ireland which has been tasked with the design and implementation of a short term lettings registration system. The agency is currently recruiting staff to work on this project. My officials are also working on scoping out the legislative provisions that will be required to underpin this system with a view to these provisions being enacted in 2022.
