Parliamentary questions

Community Banking

Joan Burton

1454. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work his Department has carried out in conjunction with An Post regarding the ongoing public banking investigation by the Department of Community and Rural Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38102/17]

Inland Fisheries Ireland Funding

Joan Burton

1455. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the additional resources that can be put in place to support Inland Fisheries Ireland in tackling river pollution events that kill fish similar to the incident that occurred in the River Tolka at Mulhuddart in July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38103/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Funding

Joan Burton

1512. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding provided to Transport Infrastructure Ireland in 2017 for resurfacing of the national road network; the priority list for resurfacing of the network as determined by TII, by area and year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37038/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

1576. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official, the funding allocated to the Brexit unit, the cost to date and the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37999/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

1577. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38015/17]

Transport Infrastructure Provision

Joan Burton

1578. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38031/17]

Tourism Industry

Joan Burton

1579. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent figures published by the CSO showing a 9% drop in the number of UK citizens visiting here; his plans to deal with the impact of Brexit and the fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38089/17]

Rail Network Expansion

Joan Burton

1580. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the DART expansion programme and the electrification of the Sligo line from Connolly to Maynooth together with removal of level crossings and re-signalling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38090/17]

Rail Network

Joan Burton

1581. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions his Department has taken in respect of the report published by Iarnród Éireann regarding the company’s funding shortfall and ability to invest and maintain its existing infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38092/17]

Public Transport Initiatives

Joan Burton

1582. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding his Department’s work with local authorities and transport providers on the bus rapid transport scheme in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38093/17]

Rail Network Expansion

Joan Burton

1583. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding his Department's work with Iarnród Éireann regarding the electrification of the Maynooth line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38094/17]

Public Transport

Joan Burton

1601. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of tenders received by the National Transport Authority in relation to the operation of a public bus service on route 139, Naas to Blanchardstown, by the closing date of 30 August 2017; when the assessment of the tenders will be completed and the contract awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38507/17]

Rail Network Expansion

Joan Burton

1602. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress on securing funding under the mid-term capital review for the electrification of the Maynooth and Kildare rail lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38509/17]

Appointments to State Boards

Joan Burton

1611. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will fill the vacancies on the boards of Irish Rail, Bus Éireann, the National Transport Authority, the Road Safety Authority and Fáilte Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38611/17]

Rail Network Expansion

Joan Burton

1612. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the comments attributed to the CEO of Irish Rail regarding pressure in capacity on the Maynooth line that the most sensible rail investment to prioritise is the upgrading of this route to DART standard; his views on whether this would benefit the commuter population using the line and pave the way for building more affordable housing easily accessible to Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38628/17]

Public Transport Initiatives

Joan Burton

1613. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the NTA plans to create new bus connections between the new Luas terminus in Broombridge and the surrounding communities in Navan Road, Ashtown, Cabra and Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38629/17]

Affordable Childcare Scheme

Joan Burton

1664. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the widespread practice by crèches to increase their fees in line with the newly introduced affordable childcare payment; the measures she is taking to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37895/17]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Joan Burton

1665. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to crèches refusing to participate in the universal child care subsidy citing legal advice; the steps her Department is taking to address the concerns of crèches in respect of the contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37896/17]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Joan Burton

1666. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèches that have signed the contract for the new universal child care subsidy; the number of contracts waiting to be processed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37897/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

1668. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in her Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37986/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

1669. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff deployed full-time in her Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38002/17]

Construction Costs

Joan Burton

1670. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by her Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which she monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms her Department employs to establish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38018/17]

Adoption Legislation

Joan Burton

1697. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to allow adopted persons access their personal files and information regarding their adoption and origins; when she plans to allow adopted persons such access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38938/17]

Community Banking

Joan Burton

1728. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to recent publicity regarding an organisation's (details supplied) work here on the establishment of a public banking network; if the organisation invited officials from the Department for Finance and his Department to participate in a field trip to Germany to examine the public banking network there; the technical assistance the organisation offered the Government in respect of the establishment of a public banking network here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37768/17]

Community Banking

Joan Burton

1729. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the public banking investigation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37769/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

1734. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37998/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

1735. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38014/17]

Community Banking

Joan Burton

1736. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to recent publicity on an organisation's (details supplied) work here regarding the establishment of a public banking network; if the organisation invited officials from the Department of Finance and his Department to participate in a field trip to Germany to examine the public banking network there; the technical assistance the organisation offered the Government in respect of the establishment of a public banking network here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38100/17]

Community Banking

Joan Burton

1737. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the public banking investigation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38101/17]

Living Alone Allowance

Joan Burton

1781. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated yearly cost of increasing the living alone allowance from €9 to €15 per week; her views on the fact that persons living alone have higher costs than couples; her plans to increase the living alone allowance in budget 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37039/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

1859. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in her Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37991/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

1860. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff deployed full time in her Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38007/17]

Departmental Reports

Joan Burton

1861. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the drafting, completion and publication of the report investigating bogus self employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38035/17]

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Joan Burton

1867. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of households in receipt of rent supplement that have transferred to the housing assistance payment in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38134/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Joan Burton

1948. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress his Department has made in respect of the EUROSTAT investigation into the establishment by the Government of a bond to finance social housing investment suitable for credit unions to invest their surplus funds in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38048/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

2012. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37995/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

2013. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff deployed full-time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38011/17]

Construction Costs

Joan Burton

2014. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38027/17]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

2015. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has studied the implications of Brexit regarding inward migration from the UK and EU and the additional demand this will impose on the private rented residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38080/17]

Planning Issues

Joan Burton

2016. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his officials completed the trial densification project at a location (details supplied) in the Dublin City Council area; the conclusions drawn from the densification project and its viability for being rolled out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38081/17]

Commercial Rates

Joan Burton

2017. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to modernise and consolidate legislation governing commercial rates; the status of the drafting of the rates Bill approved by Government on 11 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38082/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Joan Burton

2018. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress his Department has made on the reintroduction of the affordable housing scheme that was suspended during the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38083/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Joan Burton

2019. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress his Department has made along with the National Development Finance Agency on allowing larger institutional private investors to become involved in financing social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38084/17]

Homeless Accommodation Provision

Joan Burton

2020. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons and families assisted under the emergency accommodation scheme in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38085/17]

Rent Pressure Zones

Joan Burton

2021. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent finding by an organisation (details supplied) that eight out of ten landlords wrongly issued rent increases to tenants in rent pressure zones in cases on which it adjudicated; the steps he will take to ensure more compliance by landlords with the new legislation. [38091/17]

Approved Housing Bodies

Joan Burton

2022. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing and-or affordable housing units built or purchased by each of the approved housing bodies (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38135/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Joan Burton

2054. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units that have been constructed in 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38618/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Joan Burton

2055. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of affordable housing units that have been acquired or constructed in 2017 to date; the location of such affordable house building by county; the definition of affordable housing by couples and individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38619/17]

Local Authority Housing

Joan Burton

2056. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps taken and dates when each step was completed or cleared by and between the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Dublin City Council, from initial presentation by DCC until the current date with regard to housing projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38639/17]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Joan Burton

2057. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the slow timeframe needed to complete the current four social housing approval stages between local authorities and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government; the way in which this process could be reduced to speed up the time taken from when a site and project have been identified by the local authority to when a contractor commences on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38640/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

2112. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37989/17]

Brexit Staff

Joan Burton

2113. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38005/17]

Departmental Projects

Joan Burton

2114. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38021/17]

Schools Property

Joan Burton

157. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on correspondence between his Department and the Congregation of Christian Brothers in relation to the sale of the pitches at a school (details supplied); the status of the sale; if he will commit to negotiating with a trust (details supplied) and Congregation of the Christian Brothers regarding the future use and ownership of the sports pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33282/17]

Third Level Institutions

Joan Burton

175. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of the agreement made between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) or DIT Foundation and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin regarding the use of St. Laurence's Church in Grangegorman. [33525/17]

Property Ownership

Joan Burton

176. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body that has legal ownership of St. Laurence’s Church in Grangegorman. [33526/17]

Electoral Divisions Establishment

Joan Burton

177. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the townlands and electoral divisions within the Carpenterstown, Castleknock and Blanchardstown West school planning areas respectively, in tabular form. [33527/17]

Banking Sector

Joan Burton

261. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if responsibility for the public banking investigation has been transferred to her Department; the date on which the transfer took place; the timeframe for the remainder of the investigation; the date of publication of the final report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33524/17]

State Visits

Joan Burton

73. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Justin Trudeau. [32099/17]

EU Directives

Joan Burton

89. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has examined the decision by the European Parliament to vote in favour of a directive to require companies to require big multinationals to report tax and financial data separately in all countries in which they operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32375/17]

Tax Reliefs Application

Joan Burton

135. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the steps his Department has taken with the Revenue Commissioners to investigate the use of section 110 tax relief by firms since the introduction of the Finance Bill 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32371/17]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

136. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the preparations his Department made in advance of the national economic dialogue regarding the fiscal space for USC and income tax reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32372/17]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

137. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his officials have examined the European Commission decision in respect of tax breaks for employees in Sweden when they exercise their share options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32374/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Joan Burton

170. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions his Department has taken to identify the hidden fiscal space to source savings across Departments; the targeted savings each Department is expected to identify, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32373/17]

School Patronage

Joan Burton

220. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultations his Department has carried out with stakeholders regarding the updating of the reconfiguration plan to transfer patronage of schools from the Catholic Church to other school bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32376/17]

School Patronage

Joan Burton

221. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the 16 areas still waiting for the implementation of the 2012 reconfiguration plan in respect of school patronage; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents in the areas affected regarding implementation of the remainder of the 2012 reconfiguration plan; the changes to this which are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32377/17]

Legislative Programme

Joan Burton

222. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement his Department has had with the Unite trade union regarding the qualifications and quality assurance (amendment) Bill and the regulation of the ELS profession in the context of the forthcoming legislation; if he will meet representatives of the union to discuss it having an input into the forthcoming legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32378/17]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Joan Burton

223. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop post-leaving certificate, PLC, courses on a regional basis across two or more education and training boards, ETBs; his views on the fact that the absence of PLC provision in Dublin 15 is a serious restriction on persons seeking second chance education or a return to college and further education in the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32379/17]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Joan Burton

224. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress his Department has made in the development of a regional strategy on post-leaving certificate, PLC, courses with education and training boards, ETBs, offering PLC provision to a wide geographical area across two or more ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32380/17]

Institutes of Technology

Joan Burton

239. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of the agreement made between the Dublin Institute of Technology or DIT Foundation and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin regarding the use of St. Laurence's church in Grangegorman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32953/17]

Institutes of Technology

Joan Burton

240. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person or organisation that has legal ownership of St. Laurence’s church in Grangegorman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32954/17]

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Joan Burton

779. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the new amended rules in respect of community employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32955/17]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Joan Burton

780. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to continue the scheme launched in 2015 which gave persons of 62 years of age and over the opportunity to continue on the community employment scheme until they reach the retirement and pension age of 66; her plans to continue the scheme; her further plans to consider lowering the threshold to 58 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32956/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Joan Burton

4. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the delays experienced in commencing the construction of the permanent buildings of a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact the 2017-18 first class needs to be accommodated off campus at a site in Broombridge; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns parents have regarding the part of the school to be relocated off site and fears that the school will not remain on its existing campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31913/17]

School Staff

Joan Burton

7. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement the recommendations of the teacher supply in Ireland technical working group report Striking the Balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31560/17]

Teachers' Professional Development

Joan Burton

8. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department supports and the total investment involved in teacher continuing professional development at primary and post-primary levels; the detail as a percentage of education spending overall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31563/17]

School Patronage

Joan Burton

39. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to research by Trinity College on religious education which found young students do not want to be separated from each other according to faith; his views on the effects of this practice; the policy initiatives his Department has to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31564/17]

Primary Online Database

Joan Burton

51. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the detail of his Department’s inspection and supervision of the primary online database system, its function in respect of assessing school needs, appropriate funding and allocations of the capitation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31561/17]

Capitation Grants

Joan Burton

54. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the detail of his Department’s work in seeking to increase the capitation grant per pupil in budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31562/17]

Corporation Tax Regime

Joan Burton

30. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the tax losses built up in respect of financial banking and construction firms arising from the crash; if profitable companies such as a bank (details supplied) will enjoy tax write-offs for years to come; his plans for a minimum effective corporation tax rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31463/17]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

32. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the study he has ordered to amalgamate PRSI and USC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31462/17]

European Investment Bank

Joan Burton

37. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his recent discussions with the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg to strengthen the bank’s role here in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31461/17]

VAT Rate Application

Joan Burton

51. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the Democratic Unionist Party’s stance on adjusting VAT rates in Northern Ireland post-Brexit; the implications of the DUP-Conservative Party confidence and supply agreement at Westminster and the possibility of the UK introducing localised VAT rates in Northern Ireland; the impact of this on the retail and services sector in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31460/17]

Tax Compliance

Joan Burton

55. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he or his predecessor met with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss its report highlighting the effective tax rate paid by 16 of the top 20 European banks here, as committed to in Dáil Éireann by his predecessor on 4 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31459/17]

Referendum Campaigns

Joan Burton

3. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the referenda he is considering as a priority in the coming period. [29967/17]

Brexit Data

Joan Burton

67. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date in 2017; and the anticipated cost. [31280/17]

Brexit Data

Joan Burton

76. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in her Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date in 2017; the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31276/17]

Budget Submissions

Joan Burton

83. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a charity's (details supplied) 2018 pre-budget submission proposal to link tax incentives for landlords to conditionality such as greater as security of tenure, longer tenancy agreements and higher quality of accommodation; if he has investigated same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31134/17]

Brexit Data

Joan Burton

108. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the said Brexit unit; the cost to date in 2017; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/17]

Exports Growth

Joan Burton

115. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the report published by an organisation (details supplied); if his officials have examined the report; his policy proposals to address the issues identified in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31490/17]

Mortgage Lending

Joan Burton

116. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the practice by certain mortgage providers (details supplied) to only seek exemption from Central Bank mortgage lending guidelines for prospective buyers seeking an exemption of more than €40,000 greater than the standard loan-to-value or income ratio; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this penalises families seeking minor and modest derogation from income and loan-to-value limited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31491/17]

EU Meetings

Joan Burton

117. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the ECOFIN meeting on 16 June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31492/17]

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme

Joan Burton

118. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his Department's work on allocating additional resources for infrastructure investment in view of the Taoiseach’s decision to abandon the 45% debt-to-GDP ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31493/17]

European Banking Sector

Joan Burton

119. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the implications of the European Commission's approval of a €17 billion bailout for troubled Italian banks and the implementation of the banking recovery and resolution directive; the discussions that his Department has had with the European Commission concerning this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31494/17]

State Banking Sector

Joan Burton

120. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to sell additional stakes in a bank (details supplied); his further plans to fast-track the sale of the stake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31495/17]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Joan Burton

121. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to help SMEs tackle the challenges they face in view of Brexit, in particular providing credit for SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31496/17]

Credit Unions

Joan Burton

122. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the actions his Department will take on foot of the CUAC report Viability and Irish Credit Unions on 19 May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31497/17]

Banking Sector

Joan Burton

123. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his engagement with the public banking investigation being conducted by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31499/17]

Commercial Rates Impact

Joan Burton

124. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the direct link between the valuations process and the commercial rates system; his plans to examine the impact this business tax has on local business conditions and cost-competitiveness. [31500/17]

Property Tax Administration

Joan Burton

125. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the cost associated with establishing the local property tax system, including the self-assessment valuation mechanism; and the annual cost associated with administering and collecting the local property tax. [31504/17]