Parliamentary questions

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

157. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue generated through gaming machines licence fees in Waterford gaming premises and casinos since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22257/24]

Universal Social Charge

Pearse Doherty

158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated first- and full-year costs of reducing the first rate of USC from 0.5% to 0%, reducing the second rate of USC from 2% to 0% and increasing the threshold to the third rate of USC from €25,760 to €30,000. [22275/24]

Universal Social Charge

Pearse Doherty

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated first- and full-year costs of reducing the first rate of USC from 0.5% to 0%, reducing the second rate of USC from 2% to 1% percent and increasing the threshold to the third rate of USC from €25,760 to €27,880; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22276/24]

Tax Exemptions

Willie O'Dea

160. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration to increasing the annual exemption limits for tax purposes for people over the age of 65 years from €18,000 for a single person and €36,000 for a married couple, in view of the fact these exemptions have now been in place for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22295/24]

Insurance Industry

Pearse Doherty

161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to outline any consent to settle provisions within insurance law, whereby insurers are required to seek an insured’s approval before settling a third-party claim, in the context of reports that insurers are settling claims for amounts and reasons that are disputed by the insured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22299/24]

Heritage Sites

John McGuinness

162. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will investigate the extent of the maintenance required to make safe the structure known locally as Ballyshaun Castle (details supplied); if information boards will be provided at each location giving a brief history of the structures; if there are grants available to local community groups or property owners for such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/24]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

163. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress to date in resolving the imminent threat of flooding of homes at Ballagh, County Roscommon, within the next 12 months based on GSI modelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22229/24]

Voluntary Sector

Claire Kerrane

164. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the 2,500 care workers excluded from the pay deal agreed with Government to avert strike action by employees of voluntary organisations; the rationale for excluding these critical workers in the care sector, who care for the most vulnerable citizens; if he will correct this exclusion and ensure all workers doing the same work receive the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22235/24]

Heritage Centres

Matt Shanahan

165. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of complementary admissions being issued each year at the Custom House visitor centre (details supplied); when the visitor centre will be properly operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22283/24]

Heritage Centres

Matt Shanahan

166. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made on sourcing a cash safe for the Custom House visitor centre (details supplied); the number of complementary visitors admitted over the past five years; his views on whether this issue should be relatively easy to rectify; when the visitor centre will receive the long awaited cash safe that will enable it to process cash payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22292/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by each local authority area in the State, that registered for the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, in tabular form. [22232/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding issued to businesses under the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, by local authority area, in tabular form. [22233/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the increased cost-of-business grant. [22234/24]

School Transport

Brendan Griffin

170. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if Bus Éireann will review its ageist school transport policy on over-70s bus drivers, given that other publicly funded public bus services do not have this restriction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22138/24]

Pesticide Use

Neasa Hourigan

171. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the use of chemical pesticide weed killers on school grounds; if she will promote the use of alternative methods of weed removal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22172/24]

Schools Building Projects

Charles Flanagan

172. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on when progress made on a school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22173/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

173. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if an ASD placement will be secured for a person (details supplied) who is waiting two years for a placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22191/24]

School Textbooks

Steven Matthews

174. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the reason for reducing the level of funding per student under the primary schoolbook grant from €96 to €80 per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22217/24]

School Transport

Maurice Quinlivan

175. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) will be awarded a place on the school bus for the school of their chosen ethos. [22218/24]

School Transport

Maurice Quinlivan

176. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) are recognised by the State as having a distinct ethos in terms of parental choice with regard to the provision of school bus places. [22219/24]