Parliamentary questions

House Prices

Paul Murphy

78. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on the desirability of house price increases; if the policy of his Department should be to encourage or discourage increases in house prices; and if his Department conducts assessments of the likely impact of its policies on house prices. [9656/15]

Litter Pollution Legislation

Paul Murphy

246. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the exemption from litter fines for election advertising, under sections 19 and 21 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, covers advertising promoting a registered party but not containing the name of a candidate. [9654/15]

Housing Issues

Paul Murphy

247. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of income being spent on housing costs he regards as affordable; his views on the steps the Government is taking to ensure availability of affordable housing for all households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9655/15]

Water Charges Administration

Paul Murphy

248. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Commission for Energy Regulation permitting Irish Water to increase water charges after 2019 if revenue is less than Irish Water expects and that Irish Water may retain profits for an extended period without passing these on to consumers through reduced bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9657/15]

Housing Issues

Paul Murphy

249. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concerns regarding the possible influence the high proportion of Teachtaí Dála who are landlords or have other property interests or both, as detailed in the latest Register of Members’ Interests, may have had in the past or may have in the future on housing policy. [9658/15]

Water Charges Administration

Paul Murphy

3. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contingencies his Department is taking for mass non-payment of water charges; the plans in place to increase funding from the State to Irish Water; if an assessment has been carried out on the impact this would have on the EUROSTAT market test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9119/15]

Private Rented Accommodation Costs

Paul Murphy

5. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on his meeting with the Irish Property Owners Association; in view of rising rents and the homelessness crisis, his plans on addressing rising rents; his further plans to introduce rent controls; and the other reforms with regard to the rights of tenants, and the tax treatment of rental income, that are being considered. [9120/15]

Water Charges Administration

Paul Murphy

9. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on meetings or contacts he or his Department has had with private landlord representative bodies and local authorities concerning the payment of water charges by their tenants; and the legislative changes or arrangements he is considering on the matter. [9101/15]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Paul Murphy

13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department’s estimates of the number of social housing units to be provided from a reformed Part V have fluctuated in the space of a few months, from 4,000 units during the period 2015 to 2020, that is, 666 units a year according to a press release on 2 October 2014, to 9,000 units during the period 2015 to 2020, that is, 1,500 units a year in Social Housing 2020, and then back to the original 4,000 during the period 2015 to 2020 in a written reply from his Department to a parliamentary question on this topic from this Deputy on 27 January 2015. [9102/15]

NAMA Operations

Paul Murphy

38. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concerns regarding the role of vulture funds in increasing rents by over 20%, as reported recently (details supplied); and his views on his position as regards their growing involvement in the residential sector, as result of buying up loan books sold off by the banks or the National Asset Management Agency. [9103/15]

Control of Dogs

Paul Murphy

41. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that have been put in place by his Department to ensure that dogs in the care of local authorities are adequately cared for, and that outsourced companies or institutions that take care of dogs in the control of local authorities have appropriate supervision and regulation to ensure a high level of animal care; and his views on reports from animal rights campaigners of overcrowding in dog pounds. [9104/15]

Tax Forms

Paul Murphy

66. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue monitoring agency for relevant contract tax C2 holders is still in place; if not, when it was abolished; and when the deduction form RCT1 was discontinued. [9433/15]

Third Level Facilities

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for student accommodation; her discussions with third level institutions on the issue of student accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8832/15]

Industrial Disputes

Paul Murphy

130. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the latest engagement with the teachers' trade unions on junior cycle reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8831/15]

Financial Services Regulation

Paul Murphy

190. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on discussions held with a company (details supplied), regarding the purchase of non-performing Permanent TSB home loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/15]

Financial Services Regulation

Paul Murphy

191. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the discussions held regarding the sale of Permanent TSB home loans; and if he will impose restrictions on the buyer of Permanent TSB home loans, to ensure that mortgage holders are provided the protection of Irish regulations and the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. [8805/15]

Corporation Tax

Paul Murphy

192. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposal in the Northern Ireland Assembly, to introduce a 10% corporate taxation rate. [8806/15]

Mortgage Lending

Paul Murphy

195. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in view of a media report (details supplied), if he will provide the findings of research carried out by his Department on the impact on the rental market of changes to the Central Bank of Ireland mortgage lending rules; if rent controls have been considered, or research on the impact of rent controls undertaken, by his Department; his views on rent controls and the affordability of rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8879/15]

European Financial Stability Facility

Paul Murphy

196. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on the Eurogroup's agreement with Greece on 20 February 2015; the position taken by him at this meeting, and related meetings, dealing with Greek debt and financing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8880/15]

Tax Code

Paul Murphy

197. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in view of the European Commission's investigation into the favourable tax treatment provided by Belgium to multinational companies (details supplied), if his Department has assessed the impact this investigation could have on similar tax breaks, and concessions, to multinationals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/15]