Parliamentary questions

Programme for Government Implementation

Micheál Martin

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he or his officials are concerned about possible delays in any commitments made in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40520/13]

Programme for Government Implementation

Joe Higgins

2. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the Programme for Government. [45915/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his priorities for the forthcoming plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in County Armagh in November. [40791/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe McHugh

4. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his engagements with the British Government and with the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44105/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe McHugh

5. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his recent discussions with Mr. Bill Clinton, former President of the United States of America, in respect of Northern Ireland. [44109/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe McHugh

6. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Taoiseach if he will set out his Department's plans for promoting greater co-operation between Britain and the Republic of Ireland in addressing policy concerns at meetings of EU Heads of Government. [44112/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe Higgins

7. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he has recently met representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive. [45916/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

8. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to the British Prime Minister David Cameron at the recent European Council meeting in Brussels on matters relating to the North of Ireland and the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47673/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

9. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when he next plans to visit the North of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47697/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

10. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has met members of the Northern Ireland Executive recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47758/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has visited Northern Ireland recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47847/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

12. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the particular areas of youth unemployment that were discussed at the British-Irish Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50146/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

13. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the specific actions he will take on youth unemployment following the British-Irish Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50147/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

14. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to the British Prime Minister David Cameron regarding the planned State visit to Britain next April by President Michael D. Higgins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50213/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

15. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the 21st British-Irish Council summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50216/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

16. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the Messines and the Menin Gate in December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50217/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe Higgins

17. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent North-South meeting in Armagh. [53719/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe Higgins

18. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to the Messines and the Menin Gate in December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53721/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on recent meetings he has had with Northern Ireland Executive representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53849/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

20. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he had meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the European Council meeting on19 December, 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55567/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

21. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his plans to meet with the British Prime Minister David Cameron. [2225/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

22. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when he plans to hold a debate in Dáil Éireann on Northern Ireland. [2232/14]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Charlie McConalogue

124. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of all primary schools with fewer than five mainstream teachers; the cumulative effect of the budgets he has introduced on the pupil-teacher ratios in these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2609/14]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Jonathan O'Brien

125. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will reverse the decision to charge fees of up to €1,433 to low-earning apprentices for the college part of their courses; and if his attention has been drawn to the hardship this is causing. [2681/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mick Wallace

126. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if 170, of the 390 new special needs assistant posts announced on 3 December 2013, were allocated before the end of 2013; when the remaining 220 posts will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2699/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

127. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the new book rental scheme is not available to all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2610/14]

Schools Amalgamation

Catherine Murphy

128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in relation to forthcoming post-primary school plans for Maynooth, County Kildare, he will consider, on a pilot or temporary basis, the amalgamation of the two schools in view of the fact that no planned temporary school buildings will come under the board of management of Maynooth post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2746/14]

Value for Money Reviews

Éamon Ó Cuív

129. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects to publish the value for money report on small schools; the reason for the delay in publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2275/14]

School Guidance Counsellors

Charlie McConalogue

130. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on recent reports that guidance counsellors are spending 59% less time on one-to-one student counselling than they did just two years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2345/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Robert Troy

131. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will extend his Department’s support for book rental schemes in order that more schools and pupils can avail of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2350/14]

Springboard Programme

Seán Kyne

132. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills in recognition of the over 15,000 educational places provided by Springboard, if a new round of Springboard courses will be introduced in 2014; when a call for expressions of interest among course providers will be made; and if the criteria governing eligibility will be reviewed to assist, for example, persons on long-term social welfare schemes such as invalidity pension, to avail of the opportunity provided by Springboard. [2317/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Mick Wallace

133. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review his decision to exclude primary schools with existing book rental schemes from the new €15 million investment in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/14]

Education Welfare Service Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

134. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions being taken by his Department to address the findings and recommendations contained in the recently published investigation by the Ombudsman for Children’s office entitled, A statement based on an investigation into provision by the Department of Education and Skills and the HSE for a child in care, particularly the recommendations contained therein in relation to enrolment policies and the importance of ensuring school placements for children in care. [2276/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide reassurances to parents and teachers that there will be no cuts or reductions in services to the visiting teacher service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2349/14]

School Curriculum

Charlie McConalogue

136. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the first meeting of the working group on junior certificate reform will take place; the number of hours in-service training which will be provided to each English teacher in advance of the commencement of the new curriculum in September 2014; the way he proposes to address the concerns of teachers regarding the reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2344/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Jonathan O'Brien

137. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the issues raised in his proposed book rental scheme in view of the manner in which the information regarding existing schemes was collected by his Department. [2342/14]

School Patronage

Mattie McGrath

138. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the forum for patronage report was far too narrow in scope and centred much more around the religious education curriculum rather than any meaningful understanding of whole school ethos; his views on whether the forum report's philosophy will impose restrictions on Roman Catholic schools in respect of the way religious education is taught in Roman Catholic schools, on the way the religious artefacts are displayed, on the way prayer-life is conducted and the way the Christian ethos is lived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2313/14]

Education and Training Provision

Clare Daly

139. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will re-examine his decision to require apprentices to fund the part of their apprenticeship when they attend college as this will have a serious impact on participation rates in apprenticeships. [2321/14]

School Patronage

Richard Boyd Barrett

140. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will instruct his Department to engage and consult directly and openly with the board of management of a school (details supplied) with the aim of briefing the board and parents on his Department's efforts to find a location for the school; if he will meet with them within the next two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2348/14]

Education and Training Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

141. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reverse the fees imposed on apprentices for off-the-job training. [2338/14]

Education Policy

Charlie McConalogue

142. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of teaching time in second level schools is to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2347/14]

Value for Money Reviews

Denis Naughten

143. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in addressing the specific issues of rural schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/14]

Teacher Education Programmes

Charlie McConalogue

144. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he is putting in place to facilitate persons who hope to pursue teaching as a career; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2346/14]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Jonathan O'Brien

145. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for new laws that will monitor teacher performance. [2340/14]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Thomas P. Broughan

146. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 19 December 2013, if a specific mechanism can be built into the online application system for Student Universal Support Ireland in order that students making an application for a student maintenance grant will be automatically prompted by the system of the third level institutions which are not approved institutions for the grant and therefore eliminate the problem whereby some students enrolled in courses with private colleges had their grant applications processed online but were informed many months later that they were ineligible for the student maintenance grant. [2277/14]

Adult Education

Seán Kyne

147. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports provided, financial or otherwise, by his Department to encourage the take up of Irish language courses by adults in the context of lifelong learning. [2316/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

148. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools here that operate withdrawal or timeout rooms for children with autism; and his plans to regulate and monitor the use of them. [2339/14]

Early Childhood Care Education

Robert Troy

149. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions his Department will take in 2014 to ensure a high quality early years education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2351/14]

Pension Provisions

Mattie McGrath

150. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any of the two primary and second level teachers on his Department's payroll who retired between 1 February 2009 and 29 February 2012 and who had the salary increase of 2.5% payable from 1 September 2008 withheld when their gratuity and pension entitlements were being calculated because they continued to be paid by payable order have now transferred to electronic payment; if so, has the 2.5% increase now been applied to their current pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2312/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Clare Daly

151. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to avoid the problems he noted his predecessor was facing in February 2008 with regard to institutional rigidities and being bullied by teachers' interests and Civil Service conservatism when it came to providing ABA interventions for children with autism. [2318/14]

Education Standards

Bernard Durkan

152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department continues to interact with industry with a view to ensuring that the educational sector remains adequately focused to ensure that pupils and students emerging from primary, second and third level education are adequately equipped to meet the challenges at every level in the modern workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2314/14]

Education and Training Provision

Charlie McConalogue

153. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the budget 2014 decision to impose a new training fee on apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2343/14]

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Clare Daly

154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all schools are treated equitably with regard to book rental schemes; and that those schools which proactively introduced schemes will not find themselves disadvantaged by not being awarded the financial support being made available to those setting up schemes. [2322/14]

Education Policy

Jonathan O'Brien

155. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that is ring fenced to ensure schools have the capacity to deliver the new junior certificate reforms. [2341/14]

Skills Shortages

Bernard Durkan

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department has become alert to a shortage of skills in certain areas with particular reference to those sectors previously provided for by way of apprenticeships; if any dialogue has taken place with industry with a view to identifying how best to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2315/14]

Special Education Review

Clare Daly

157. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the National Council for Special Education literature review will not be published until 2015 in view of the fact that those tendering for the project were informed that it should be completed by January 2014; the reason he is not requesting a systematic review; the reason, given professional criticisms of the 2001 task force report, tendering parties were told they would not be allowed to re-evaluate evidence presented in that review. [2320/14]

Unemployment Data

Peadar Tóibín

158. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when accurate figures reflecting actual jobless figures can be expected, including those persons on training, back to work schemes and other jobs initiatives; the percentage of the labour force available for work; and the percentage that is working more than 15 hours a week. [2655/14]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael McGrath

159. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the dates of meetings held to date by the Cabinet sub Committee on Mortgage Arrears since its establishment in March 2012. [54553/13]

Household Debt Statistics

Thomas Pringle

160. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach when he expects the Household Finance and Consumption Survey to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1559/14]

Emigration Data

Gerry Adams

161. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the numbers of persons who have emigrated from Ireland since he took office in 2011. [55218/13]

JobBridge Scheme

Mary Lou McDonald

162. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form year on year the number of JobBridge interns taken on in his Department in 2013. [2244/14]

State Bodies

Mary Lou McDonald

163. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form year on year the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions, under the aegis of his Department, that have been filled since March 2011 to December 2013; the number of these positions that were publically advertised; and the number of female appointments. [2245/14]

Public Sector Staff

Mary Lou McDonald

164. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach to provide in tabular form year on year the occasions on which he has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded; the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [2246/14]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Niall Collins

165. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firms; his internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2249/14]

EU Programmes

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

166. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if the Government will be reviewing its processes and timescale for consultation and engagement with civil society regarding the development of the 2014 EU National Reform Programme following the exit from the bailout programme and given that Ireland is now subject to the full EU semester process and in view of the call from the EU Commission in their communication on the Annual Growth Survey on 13 November 2013 last for greater involvement of national parliaments, social partners and civil partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2253/14]

Departmental Expenditure

Niall Collins

167. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office, inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2254/14]

Departmental Agencies

Simon Harris

168. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Taoiseach the number of quangos, State agencies or organisations under the remit of his Department that have been merged, reformed or abolished since 2011; the details of each of these measures in tabular form; the cost saving or service delivery improvement which has resulted; how many more he expects to be merged, reformed or abolished and the timeline for same; if he will provide a full list of all agencies and organisations under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2255/14]

Charities and Voluntary Organisations

John Deasy

169. Deputy John Deasy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of each allocation from his Department’s expenditure budget to registered charities in each of the past three years. [2257/14]

Departmental Contracts Data

Patrick Nulty

170. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 5 November 2013, if he will list the manufacturers of the State gifts listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2258/14]

Ministerial Advisers Remuneration

Billy Kelleher

171. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach the names and amount by which each programme manager-special adviser has exceeded the relevant pay guidelines as laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2259/14]

Freedom of Information Requests

Seán Fleming

172. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the number of Freedom of Information requests received by his Department in 2012 and 2013; the number of requests for which a search and retrieval fee was sought; the maximum fee sought by his Department in respect of a request received and the number of requests not proceeded following the non-payment of the search and retrieval fee sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2261/14]

Departmental Bodies

Lucinda Creighton

173. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of Irish quasi-autonomous NGOs that his Department either created or fall under his Department’s responsibility and were in existence when he became Taoiseach and continue to exist to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2262/14]

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Lucinda Creighton

174. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators which fall under his Department’s responsibility who were chairpersons when he became Taoiseach and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2263/14]

Oireachtas Reform Agenda

Lucinda Creighton

175. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach if a new structure for the Oireachtas committee system will be established as envisaged for a Dáil under a unicameral system notwithstanding the decision by the Irish people to retain a bicameral system; if legislation is required or if changes to standing orders are expected to be published to give effect to these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2264/14]

Legislative Programme

Lucinda Creighton

176. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the total number of Bills that have been published by his Department since he was appointed Taoiseach; the number and title of those Bills which included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; which regulatory impact assessments were published; the total number of promised Bills for publication; if he will list the bills which will include a regulatory impact assessment and which regulatory impact assessments will be published before publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2266/14]

Electoral Reform

Gerry Adams

177. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when he will bring forward and implement proposals for Northern Ireland representation in Dáil Éireann. [2269/14]

Departmental Staff Data

Bernard Durkan

178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the extent to which agency staff have been used in his Department in each of the past five years to date for the purpose of answering and transferring calls on the switchdesk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2271/14]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

179. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2368/14]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Clare Daly

180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2484/14]

North-South Implementation Bodies

Joe McHugh

181. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will list all formal North-South meetings through the North-South Ministerial Council; formal engagements between him and formal engagement by him on North-South issues and bilateral meetings on an east-west basis for the years 2009 to 2013 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2248/14]

Human Rights Issues

Finian McGrath

182. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the issue of British systematic abuse of prisoners in Iraq at European Union and United Nation level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2302/14]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2362/14]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Clare Daly

184. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2478/14]

Humanitarian Aid

Finian McGrath

186. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support humanitarian aid to the 30,000 Palestinians currently resident in Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus in Syria. [2637/14]

Human Rights Issues

Thomas P. Broughan

187. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2660/14]

Departmental Strategies

Andrew Doyle

188. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has drawn up a digital strategy document, similar to that operated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2880/14]

Trade Relations

Dominic Hannigan

189. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any plans to establish a trade czar to work with our embassies in the promotion of Ireland as a trading partner and as a place for businesses to set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2884/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Martin Ferris

190. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance in view of the latest revelations regarding a sub-prime mortgage lender (details supplied), if he will take urgent steps to introduce legislation to prevent persons with criminal convictions in other jurisdictions from being granted money lending or mortgage lending licences here. [2288/14]

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme Administration

Brendan Griffin

191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if the tax relief provided in the home renovation initiative can be provided over a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2296/14]

Departmental Reports

Barry Cowen

192. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultant employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2361/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

193. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the way a convicted fraudster, who dodged long-standing creditors in another jurisdiction, received regulatory approval as a licensed lender from the Central Bank of Ireland when a key requirement is that firms must be of the highest financial and personal probity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2370/14]

Financial Services Regulation

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

194. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the establishment of an inquiry within the Central Bank of Ireland to establish the facts as to how a retail credit licence was granted to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2392/14]

Tax Code

Terence Flanagan

195. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if the delay in following through on his commitment to have local property tax as an allowable expense against private rental income is fair and reasonable in view of the unique taxes already imposed on the private rental sector, such as restricting mortgage interest to 75%, continuing to categorise private rental income as unearned, and the follow on from this of effectively being required to pay tax on a loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2398/14]

Mortgage Data

Michael McGrath

196. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of residential mortgages here that are classified as sub-prime; the number of sub-prime lenders currently operating in the market; the total value of sub-prime mortgages outstanding; the rate of arrears on these mortgages; the actions specific to the sub-prime sector which are being taken to address arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2423/14]

NAMA Operations

Michael McGrath

197. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when the review of National Asset Management Agency operations will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2424/14]

Mortgage Schemes

Denis Naughten

198. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the possibility of intergenerational mortgages; if legislative or Central Bank authorisation would be needed if such a product were to be offered; if such products are authorised in any other member State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2441/14]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

199. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that all registered VAT agri-contractors and FCI members will be entitled to claim back the carbon tax against their income tax as this tax is double taxation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2456/14]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

200. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that all invoices carry a VAT number or PPS number for moneys claimed against income tax and that if a sole trader does not have this then that payment should go down to personal drawings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/14]

Tax Collection

Michael McGrath

201. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will set out the latest estimate available to the Revenue Commissioners for the tax years 2011 and 2012 of the total number of taxpayers in each of the following bands, the latest estimate of the total income for each of these bands, the latest estimate of the total income tax, universal social charge and PRSI paid for each of the following income bands, that is, those earning less than €5,000, between €5,001 and €10,000, between €10,001 and €20,000, between €20,001 and €30,000, between €30,001 and €40,000, between €40,001 and €50,000, between €50,001 and €60,000, between €60,001 and €70,000, between €70,001 and €80,000, between €80,001 and €90,000, between €90,001 and €100,000, between €100,001 and €125,000, between €125,001 and €150,000, between €150,001 and €175,000, between €175,001 and €200,000, between €200,001 and €250,000, between €250,001 and €1,000,000, between €1,000,001 and €2,000,000, and €2,000,000 and over. [2459/14]

Property Tax Assessments

Michael McGrath

202. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties valued at greater than €1 million for purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2460/14]