Parliamentary questions

Housing Schemes

Catherine Connolly

82. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 5 October 2023, his plans for the phasing out of the help-to-buy scheme; the details of the analysis underpinning the decision to extend the scheme to the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51364/23]

Economic Data

Cormac Devlin

83. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Finance his response to recent European Commission forecasts for the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51398/23]

Universal Social Charge

John McGuinness

84. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance how many earners in counties Kilkenny and Wexford, respectively, will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51539/23]

Tax Code

Brian Leddin

85. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Finance if he will request that his Department undertake a vehicle taxation report considering the introduction of weight and size-based taxes on private vehicles in Ireland to incentivise a switch to smaller and lighter vehicles, similar to the weight tax in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51579/23]

Tax Code

Emer Higgins

86. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he can provide an update on Ireland’s membership of the crypto-asset reporting framework and any proposed legislative change to tax reporting relevant to the exchange of information between members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51396/23]

Banking Sector

Pearse Doherty

87. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he will transpose the credit servicers' directive by means of a statutory instrument; his assessment of warnings that the provisions of the directive could lead to an erosion of consumer protection and citizens’ rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51434/23]

Disability Services

Denis Naughten

88. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the current status of the final report of the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group recommendation which indicated that the current disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme was outdated and should be replaced with a needs-based, grant-aided vehicular adaptation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51471/23]

Universal Social Charge

Niamh Smyth

89. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51230/23]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance his views and recommendations with regard to introducing a wealth tax;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51575/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Catherine Connolly

91. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 5 October 2023, if he will provide an update on the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; when he expects the appeals process to re-commence; the expected timeline for the clearing of the backlog; what analysis his Department carried out into the reasons for the difficulty in recruiting the new board, as evidenced by the fact that it took four expression-of-interest campaigns in 18 months to fill the positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51363/23]

Financial Irregularities

Alan Farrell

92. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance to report on his Department’s efforts to tackle money laundering within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51296/23]

Tax Code

Alan Dillon

93. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on his Department’s actions to crack down on cryptocurrency tax evasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51525/23]

Universal Social Charge

James Lawless

94. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance the number of earners in counties Kildare, Wicklow, Meath and Louth who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51212/23]

Tax Reliefs

Ged Nash

95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to index the cap on tax relief (Standard Fund Threshold) on pensions, against wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51430/23]

Universal Social Charge

Willie O'Dea

96. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the number of earners in counties Limerick, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/23]

Banking Sector

Alan Farrell

97. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Finance to report on his Department’s efforts to increase innovation and competition in Ireland’s banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51295/23]

Tax Credits

Brendan Smith

98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that tax relief for parents in respect of the accommodation costs for students attending further or higher education colleges is applicable in respect of all students, whether studying in this jurisdiction or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51577/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Pauline Tully

99. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the progress made to date to convene a new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals; the actions he has taken to clear the backlog of 1,079 appeals outstanding, as of end-August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51565/23]

Inflation Rate

Richard Boyd Barrett

100. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the basis of his projection for inflation in 2024 of 2.9% when the annual inflation rate in September was 6.4%, and has been increasing recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46961/23]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund

Matt Carthy

101. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the guidance provided to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund regarding industries, sectors or otherwise, which it is prohibited from investing in. [51425/23]

Tax Data

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

102. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in County Carlow claiming the rent tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51207/23]

Insurance Coverage

Pádraig O'Sullivan

103. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider establishing a national flood insurance company to cover flood damage costs especially when so many homes and businesses are unable to obtain flood insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51209/23]

Tax Code

Bernard Durkan

104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the implications, if any, for Ireland’s taxation policy in the wake of recent European Court judgement in respect of competition laws; whether Ireland retains absolute authority in respect of taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51467/23]

Tax Data

John McGuinness

105. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance how many taxpayers in counties Kilkenny and Wexford, respectively, are claiming the rent tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51538/23]

Disability Services

Michael Moynihan

106. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance how many people in Cork qualify for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51366/23]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

107. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has reviewed the report on Section 481 tax relief from the Budget Scrutiny Committee; what actions he is planning in relation to the recommendations from that report, in particular those with regard to quality employment and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51574/23]

Tax Reliefs

Richard Boyd Barrett

108. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he is planning to implement the recommendations of the report on Section 481 tax relief from the Budget Scrutiny Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51573/23]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

109. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the up-to-date figure in respect of corporation tax revenue recorded to November 2023; if he has reassessed the level of likely 'windfall' corporation tax surpluses out to 2026; if he will publish the revised figures as compared to the corporation tax estimates out to 2026 which were published in this year's summer economic statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/23]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

110. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance to identify the projects and initiatives in which his Department and the Government plan to invest in terms of the in excess of €3 billion to set aside as the 'climate and nature' elements of the proposed Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund; what assessment was made by his Department that determined that maximum drawdown from the fund out to 2030 would be approximately €3.1 billion out of a fund with a total value of €14 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51427/23]

Insurance Coverage

Pádraig O'Sullivan

111. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will engage with the insurance industry to discuss the provision of flood cover, particularly into the future due to the worsening effects of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51210/23]

Credit Unions

David Stanton

112. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance to outline his policy with respect to credit unions; the action he is taking or plans to take to encourage credit unions to foster good saving habits among young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51546/23]

Universal Social Charge

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

113. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Finance the number of earners in County Carlow who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51208/23]

Debt Collection

Brendan Griffin

114. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of elderly people being pursued by financial companies for historic debts; if he is aware of the extreme distress being caused to people in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51581/23]

Tax Credits

Denis Naughten

115. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the relief available under the incapacitated child tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51472/23]

Insurance Coverage

Aindrias Moynihan

116. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance what measures are being considered to assist homeowners whose home insurance does not include flood cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51550/23]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

117. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to broaden the tax base in the context of the State's reliance on a small number of tax heads including corporation tax and VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51429/23]

Insurance Industry

Aindrias Moynihan

118. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance what reductions in motor insurance premiums could be achieved to benefit motorists on the announcement that insurance details from the MIBI is now shared directly with An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51549/23]

Disability Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

119. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance if he will comment on a review into the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51597/23]

Disability Services

Michael Moynihan

120. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance if he plans any changes to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme. [51365/23]

Economic Data

Pearse Doherty

121. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his assessment of the European Commission’s forecast of a 0.9 percentage point fall in GDP for 2023; the drivers of this revision; and his views on the outlook for the Irish economy and the labour market in the context of this downward revision. [51435/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Alan Dillon

122. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the primary medical certificate; the steps taken to implement the appeals board; how he intends to reduce the waiting time for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51524/23]

Interest Rates

Brendan Griffin

123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned with the increases in mortgage interest rates being demanded of customers by financial lenders; to provide an update on his recent engagements with such lenders and the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51580/23]

Financial Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on recent statistics published by An Garda Síochána regarding the 77% increase in cases of investment fraud this year; the measures his Department is considering to respond to the rise in financial fraud and authorised push payment scams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51433/23]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

125. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reason no monies can be drawn down from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund until 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51426/23]

Legislative Measures

Matt Carthy

126. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance if he will facilitate the progress of the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 to Committee Stage as a matter of priority. [51424/23]

Economic Growth

Bernard Durkan

127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which Ireland’s economy continues on a stable footing notwithstanding any potential threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51468/23]

Financial Services

Denis Naughten

128. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the steps he and his European Union colleagues are taking to ensure better regulation of commodity future markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51475/23]

Commissions of Investigation

Peadar Tóibín

129. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been underway; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [44814/23]

Banking Sector

Cathal Crowe

130. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the implementation of the recommendations of the banking review. [51368/23]

Universal Social Charge

Barry Cowen

131. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the number of earners in counties Offaly, Laois, Longford and Westmeath who will benefit from the USC reductions announced in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51302/23]