Parliamentary questions

Air Services

Cathal Crowe

244. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport for an update on a Public Service Obligation application in respect of a proposed Shannon Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15010/24]

Road Safety

Seán Sherlock

245. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will fund an independent audit of footpath safety and cost to repair and restore footpaths in a local authority (details supplied). [15080/24]

Road Safety

Seán Sherlock

246. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will fund an independent audit of footpath safety and cost to repair and restore footpaths in a local authority (details supplied). [15081/24]

Rail Network

Michael Healy-Rae

247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify the situation with railway lines being reused and repurposed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15114/24]

Bus Services

Darren O'Rourke

248. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport to report on the performance of the 105 bus service in January-March 2024; his plans to improve this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15160/24]

Driver Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

249. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the reason that the NDLS office in Galway was closed on Saturday, 23 March 2024, despite appointments having been made for that date; the arrangements made to facilitate the customers let down, with other appointments; the frequency that scheduled appointments did not take place at NDLS offices around the country in the past year because offices were not open at the appointed times; the steps he intends taking to ensure that NDLS provides a better service to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15238/24]

Bus Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

250. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport for a status update in respect of a bus stop (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15250/24]

Bus Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

251. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport for a status update in respect of a bus stop (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15251/24]

Public Transport

Violet-Anne Wynne

252. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport if he has any plans to take a public transport audit in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15254/24]

Public Transport

Violet-Anne Wynne

253. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the issues that people with disabilities face when it comes to using public transport and space for their mobility device; if he is aware that some disability spaces on public transport are not big enough and that mobility devices are being damaged trying to fit in the space provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15255/24]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

254. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update with any engagement his Department has had with Louth County Council in respect of progressing phase 2 of the port access northern cross route in Drogheda; if he supports this vital infrastructure; if he will commit to fast-tracking and/or assisting any discussion to allow for its progression, including any funding required to complete an over/under passage of the main Dublin to Belfast rail line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15281/24]

Rail Network

Brendan Howlin

255. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport his views on the proposal by the National Transport Authority to terminate the Wexford to Dublin Intercity rail link in either Greystones or Wicklow town and to require passengers to disembark there to access commuter DART services; if he accepts that this substantial down grading of a main intercity link is totally unacceptable, if he will contact the NTA and Irish Rail on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15282/24]

Rail Network

Fergus O'Dowd

256. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if the REPowerEU funding of €56 million that will be allocated to the electrification works at Drogheda train station to facilitate the charging of battery electric trains, has been drawn down yet from the European Union; if so, when; if he will seek a detailed description on what the funding will provide in Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15287/24]

Driver Test

Fergus O'Dowd

257. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek an update from the CEO of the Road Safety Authority on the progress/lack of progress on the long-awaited driving test centre for Drogheda; what sites have been considered or investigated; the expected timelines for the opening of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15294/24]

Road Network

Brendan Griffin

258. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if Transport Infrastructure Ireland will address an issue affecting a homeowner on the N86 in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15295/24]

Waterways Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

259. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene and insist that Louth County Council, as a responsible party, that action is taken to remove the hebble dredge from the River Boyne in Drogheda following its original sinking in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to deploy the use of battery technology to support the installation of EV charging infrastructure along the comprehensive road network in response to delays in grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15316/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

261. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to unblock potential barriers and streamline the process for the private sector companies to access grid connections for the installation of EV charging infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15317/24]

Rail Network

Fergus O'Dowd

262. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on progress to introduce the new DART hybrid fleet on the northern line to Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15322/24]

Public Transport

Brian Leddin

263. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the progress of the Moyross train station as the pathfinder project for Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15325/24]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

264. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the status of the proposed Ardee by-pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15339/24]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to provide a full update on the funding requirements and allocations required to advance the N2 Ardee to Carrickmacross road project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15340/24]

Driver Test

Paul Murphy

266. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider implementing technology which would allow, without the person taking the test having to make a complaint, for a review of each driving test examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15344/24]

Public Transport

Éamon Ó Cuív

267. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport when the draft revised transport strategy for Galway will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15365/24]

Bus Éireann

Paul Donnelly

268. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the number and percentage of buses in the Bus Éireann fleet (excluding school transport scheme) and in the Dublin Bus Fleet that are aged over 12 years old as of 2 April 2024; and the number of new buses for both companies that would be needed to be provided each year to ensure all buses in the fleet are less then 12 years old. [15383/24]

Rail Network

Richard Boyd Barrett

269. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport how many incidents and complaints have been logged in the past 24 months with regard to public and staff safety on the Sligo to Dublin train service, particularly between Sligo and Mullingar and vice versa; if any security or staffing measures will be implemented to provide safe transport for customers and staff on this train particularly between Sligo and Mullingar and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15393/24]

Road Network

Denis Naughten

270. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline, in light of the EPA Research Report 454, titled "Farm-Carbon: Hedgerows and Non-forest Woodland (Hedgerow Carbon Project)”, the plans he has to direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland and local road authorities to expand the planting of hedges on motorway medians and on wide areas on the boundaries of our road network which are currently fallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15482/24]

Fuel Prices

Pearse Doherty

271. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned that a marked gap in the price of petrol and diesel in the South compared to the North that will result from scheduled increases in excise duty this year could pose a threat to the trade and viability of firms and petrol stations in Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13598/24]

EU Agreements

Matt Carthy

272. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the Irish contribution or projected to the EU Multiannual Financial Framework in the years 2013 through the end of this MFF in 2027, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13640/24]

EU Agreements

Matt Carthy

273. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the total or projected Irish receipts from the European Union under the EU Multiannual Financial Framework in the year 2013 through the end of this MFF in 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13641/24]

Insurance Industry

Seán Canney

274. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will examine the system by which genuine claims for compensation for damage to vehicles due to pot holes on our public roads are being declined by a company (details supplied) without any recourse to appeal by the vehicle owner and the dismissive attitude of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13651/24]

Illicit Trade

Michael Healy-Rae

275. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the real efforts that are being made to curtail the awful practice of smuggling drugs into Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13671/24]

Financial Irregularities

Pearse Doherty

276. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the Trilogue agreement on EU level anti-money laundering legislation, whether he will amend S.I. No. 308 of 2023 to allow greater access for civil society and others to the register of beneficial ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13681/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

277. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the revenue generated by restricting the remittance basis of taxation with respect to non-domiciled individuals to a lifetime limit of two, three and five years respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13708/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

278. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of non-domiciled individuals taxed on a remittance basis in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [13710/24]

Tax Credits

Pearse Doherty

279. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to clarify eligibility for the mortgage interest tax credit with respect to cross-Border workers in particular in situations (details supplied); if such individuals may qualify for the mortgage interest tax credit; if not, if he agrees that this reflects an inherent inequity in the operation of the tax credit; and the measures he will consider to rectify it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13731/24]

Tax Code

Francis Noel Duffy

280. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance his views on the assertion that the new BIK thresholds and rules encourages drivers who are in possession of company cars to do additional unwanted mileage to ensure they receive maximum benefit under the new scheme; if this will be reviewed in light of the environmental impact of the change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13749/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

281. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13805/24]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

282. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13823/24]

European Investment Bank

Rose Conway-Walsh

283. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the total loans drawn down by Ireland from the European Investment Bank in each of the past ten years in tabular form; to specify the purpose and amount of each loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13839/24]

Vacant Properties

Ged Nash

284. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of successful Living City Initiative applications made to renovate and refurbish properties in Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny respectively in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; the reasons Drogheda is not included in the initiative, given its population is significantly larger than that of Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13848/24]

Vacant Properties

Cian O'Callaghan

285. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance the estimated number of properties that are eligible to pay the vacant homes tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13955/24]

Tax Credits

Steven Matthews

286. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the recommendations of the Budgetary Oversight Committee's Report on the Section 481 Film Tax Credit; what efforts are being made to ensure Irish performers have the same contract terms as international performers in similar roles; if he is conscious of the need for productions operating in Ireland to comply with the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and European Copyright Directive in order to avail of the tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13972/24]

Illicit Trade

Catherine Murphy

287. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of times each of the customs cutter boats of the Revenue Commissioners have been deployed since the start of 2022 to date in 2024, in tabular form; the plans the Revenue Commissioners have to expand the fleet of interceptor craft; if the Revenue Commissioners have experienced difficulty in recruiting officers for marine operations; and if he will provide a schedule of the items seized at sea in 2023 and to date in 2024. [13978/24]

Tax Reliefs

Kathleen Funchion

288. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the help-to-buy scheme to second-hand homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13993/24]

Tax Data

Marian Harkin

289. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance to detail in percentage terms (in tabular form, on 1 January for the year 2014 and the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive), each of the following taxes/levies where relevant (excise, NORA, carbon tax, better energy) on the pump price of a litre of petrol and diesel. [14053/24]

Tax Code

Cian O'Callaghan

290. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance what financial supports are currently available for disabled drivers and passengers for vehicle modifications; what recommendations were made in relation to this from the Transport Working Group’s final report published in February 2023; when these recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14056/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

291. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to confirm if his Department received a submission in June 2022 from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the tax treatment of employer contributions to a PRSA; his views on the organisation’s view that “if the current BIK charge on employer PRSA contributions is removed and such contributions are no longer considered for tax purposes to be employee contributions, there is a risk that some companies could fund through tax deductible PRSA contributions at a level higher than they currently can to an OMA, given that PRSAs are not benefit limited like OMAs”; the reason the proposals provided by the organisation to address this risk were not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14117/24]

Tax Data

Pearse Doherty

292. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue generated annually by carbon tax increases in each of the years 2025 to 2030 respectively, with respect to the carbon tax increases in each of those years and on a cumulative basis. [14119/24]

Financial Services

Peadar Tóibín

293. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance what safeguards he and his office are looking at for people whose mortgages have been sold to a third party from the originator bank (details supplied); and if he is looking into this matter or has a plan to tackle this added expense on ordinary families. [14136/24]