Parliamentary questions

Community Banking

Niall Collins

210. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress as committed to under the programme for Government to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks. [49829/17]

Departmental Functions

Niall Collins

113. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the social partners or employment policy experts were consulted before the decision was made to transfer labour affairs functions in her Department to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; if her officials carried out an impact assessment of the transfer of functions; and if so, if she will publish same. [48822/17]

Tax Code

Niall Collins

157. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the annualised interest rate applied on late payment and filing of P30 returns; the equivalent rate of interest applied in the UK and in other EU and OECD countries, in tabular form. [49094/17]

Tax Code

Niall Collins

158. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the annualised interest rate applied on late payment and filing of VAT returns; the equivalent rate of interest applied in the UK and in other EU and OECD countries, in tabular form. [49095/17]

Departmental Functions

Niall Collins

567. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the social partners or employment policy experts were consulted before the decision was made to transfer labour affairs functions from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to her Department; if her officials carried out an impact assessment of the transfer of functions; and, if so, whether she will publish it. [48823/17]

Ministerial Travel

Niall Collins

50. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the countries visited by her and others (details supplied) since May 2016; the total travel and accommodation costs incurred for each such visit on overseas ministerial business, in tabular form. [48616/17]

Brexit Issues

Niall Collins

51. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the EU Director General of Competition did not approve the proposed plan she put forward for a rescue and restructure scheme for businesses impacted by Brexit following her meeting with Commissioner Vestager in November 2017; the reasons the EU Director General of Competition and the Commissioner decided not to approve the scheme at this point in time; the specific reasons for same; and if state aid rules issues were raised. [48617/17]

Company Law

Niall Collins

52. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason section 9 of the Statutory Audits Bill 2017 deletes subsection (7) of the Companies Act 2014 (details supplied); her plans to retain the audit exemption for small and micro sized companies as provided for in most other EU member states. [48618/17]

International Bodies Membership

Niall Collins

53. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the joining membership cost and the annual cost for Ireland to become a member of both CERN and the European Southern Observatory. [48619/17]

Brexit Documents

Niall Collins

54. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the latest InterTradeIreland report which shows that 19 out of 20 businesses do not have a plan to deal with Brexit. [48620/17]

Horizon 2020 Strategy Funding

Niall Collins

55. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of Horizon 2020 funding awarded to SMEs on an annual basis per county since it was established, in tabular form. [48621/17]

Company Law

Niall Collins

56. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the review being carried out by the Company Law Review Group into the way in which company law is enforced here; the status of recommendations by the subcommittee on corporate governance preparing for legislative change intended to further refine the corporate governance provisions of the Companies Act 2014. [48622/17]

Tax Code

Niall Collins

65. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance Ireland’s ranking in comparison to other OECD countries in respect of the capital gains tax rate applied. [48623/17]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Niall Collins

66. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the reason the criteria laid down under the KEEP scheme mean a company must remain within the SME head-count definition and cannot scale up beyond this level to remain eligible. [48625/17]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Niall Collins

68. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the long waiting times for orthodontic services in the mid-west. [48210/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Niall Collins

88. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the amount of money allocated to sponsoring advertisements in the past six months from merrionstreet.ie or relating to a social media account (details supplied). [47663/17]

Economic Competitiveness

Niall Collins

34. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of Ireland's ranking overall when compared with small economies in the latest World Bank Doing Business rankings available for 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47583/17]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports

Niall Collins

35. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the report by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement into a trial (details supplied) will be published. [47584/17]

Legislative Programme

Niall Collins

36. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when Second Stage of the Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017, which will transpose a 2014 EU directive, will take place in Dáil Éireann. [47585/17]

Foreign Direct Investment

Niall Collins

37. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a report (details supplied) on the way in which the housing crisis and the severe housing shortages could harm Ireland’s competitiveness and the ensuing impact this may have on attracting foreign direct investment here. [47589/17]

Departmental Funding

Niall Collins

38. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 56 of 6 October 2017, the Exchequer funds given by her Department to the organisations to conduct this study. [47590/17]

IDA Ireland

Niall Collins

39. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to the confirmation by the IDA chief executive (details supplied) that over the past number of months there were concerns about a project in view of the time it was taking to get planning approval; when her attention was drawn to planning issues in this area since taking office; and the steps she took on receipt of this information with senior Department officials and Cabinet colleagues, including the Taoiseach, to ensure the project progressed and the investor did not pull out of the project . [47591/17]

IDA Ireland

Niall Collins

40. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of each occasion and date that a company (details supplied) raised the matter of the planning process for a project in Athenry since 2015 with her, her predecessor, the IDA and her Department; and the steps taken at Cabinet level to ensure the project was not lost. [47592/17]

Brexit Issues

Niall Collins

41. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if an application for a rescue and restructure scheme has been sent to the Directorate General for Competition; the details of the scheme; and the likelihood of approval. [47593/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Niall Collins

95. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the review SOLAS was to commission on pathways to participation in apprenticeship, including participation of persons with a disability; and his plans for developing apprenticeships opportunities for persons with disabilities. [47581/17]

Apprenticeship Data

Niall Collins

96. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the targeted apprentice registrations forecasted for all craft-based apprenticeships and registrations planned under new consortia led apprenticeship programmes; the apprenticeship population forecasted between craft-based and new consortia led apprenticeships; the number of existing and new apprenticeship programmes forecasted in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and the actual numbers released, apprenticeship registrations and new programmes operationalised for these targets in 2016 and to date in 2017. [47582/17]

Springboard Programme

Niall Collins

97. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for expenditure on Springboard in each of the years 2011 to 2017; the allocation made for 2018; the number of persons enrolled in such courses in each such year; and the projections for the period to 2020 in tabular form. [47586/17]

National Training Fund

Niall Collins

98. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for expenditure on Skillnets in each of the years 2011 to 2017; the allocation made for 2018; the number of persons enrolled in such courses in each year; and the projections for the period to 2020. [47587/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Niall Collins

203. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the changes introduced in budget 2018 with respect to the fair deal scheme; and the future treatment and possible discount on chargeable assets for farms and businesses. [47588/17]

Rugby World Cup 2023

Niall Collins

231. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the bid for the Rugby World Cup was weaker than other bids due to the lack of broadband infrastructure; if broadband access was discussed at any point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47444/17]

Rugby World Cup 2023

Niall Collins

232. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the bid for the Rugby World Cup bid was weaker due to the lack of delivery of the N20; if this road infrastructure or other infrastructure weaknesses were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47445/17]

Employment Data

Niall Collins

100. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of persons classified as part-time under-employed as a percentage of the number employed in each country in the EU 28 based on the latest data available in tabular form. [45591/17]

Departmental Communications

Niall Collins

101. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the cost of the research survey for the perceptions of government; the timeframe for the completion of the survey. [45851/17]

Departmental Communications

Niall Collins

102. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the external company undertaking an audit of his departmental website; the cost of the audit; and the timeframe for its completion. [45867/17]

Departmental Communications

Niall Collins

104. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the meetings of the strategic communications unit he or his departmental officials attended; and the date and location of each such meeting. [45999/17]

Departmental Communications

Niall Collins

105. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the last time his Department's website was revamped or remodelled; the cost of same; and if he or his departmental officials have been consulted regarding creating one stand alone online government portal website. [46016/17]

Departmental Communications

Niall Collins

106. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the investment in his Department’s website since 2011 including total associated costs incurred. [46033/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Niall Collins

107. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of departmental staff in his press office; and the reporting relationship in operation. [46050/17]

Departmental Staff Training

Niall Collins

108. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the protocol for attendance by staff, both civil servants and political non-civil servants at continuing professional development programmes and courses; the number of staff both civil servants and political non-civil servants in his Department who participated in such programmes on an annual basis in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the costs incurred by his Department for persons that participated in these courses; the providers of all such courses; and the subject areas of all courses and programmes provided in tabular form. [46067/17]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Niall Collins

109. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the public relations companies or agencies the services of which his Department used for information campaigns since 1 January 2017; and the costs incurred to date in 2017. [46084/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Niall Collins

130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the cost of photography in his Department since January 2017. [46532/17]

Job Vacancies

Niall Collins

139. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the contact details of an employer (details supplied) who announced jobs recently in County Clare. [45701/17]

Departmental Data

Niall Collins

141. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the external company undertaking an audit of her departmental website; the cost of the audit; the timeframe for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45853/17]

Strategic Communications Unit

Niall Collins

143. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the meetings of the strategic communications unit she or her departmental officials attended; the date and location of each such meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45985/17]

Departmental Websites

Niall Collins

144. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the last time her Department's website was revamped or remodelled; the cost of same; if she or her departmental officials have been consulted regarding creating one stand alone online Government portal website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46002/17]

Departmental Websites

Niall Collins

145. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the investment in her Department’s website since 2011 including total associated costs incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46019/17]

Departmental Staff Data

Niall Collins

146. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of departmental staff in her press office; the reporting relationship in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46036/17]

Departmental Staff Training

Niall Collins

147. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the protocol for attendance by staff, both civil servants and political non-civil servants at continuing professional development programmes and courses; the number of staff both civil servants and political non-civil servants in her Department that participated in such programmes on an annual basis in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the costs incurred by her Department for persons who participated in these courses; the providers of all such courses; the subject areas of all courses and programmes provided in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46053/17]

Public Relations Contracts Data

Niall Collins

148. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the public relations companies or agencies the services of which her Department used for information campaigns since 1 January 2017; and the costs incurred to date in 2017. [46070/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Niall Collins

164. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of photography in her Department since January 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46535/17]