Parliamentary questions

Local Authority Housing Rents

Richard Boyd Barrett

226. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider in his deliberations on the new local authority rent scheme removing both disability allowance and family income supplement for subsidiary earners from rental assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29487/16]

Social Insurance Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

250. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider disallowing casual or short-term work early in a person's life that causes a large gap in their work history and therefore brings down the yearly average of PRSI contributions in respect of contributory pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29319/16]

Social Insurance Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

252. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will retrospectively apply home-maker's credits to persons who were home makers pre-1994 in view of the fact that a group of persons are being discriminated against in respect of their pensions and PRSI contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29322/16]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider ensuring those on carer's allowance are afforded the full benefits of a PRSI stamp in order that in the event of the person they care for no longer needing care, they would be eligible for jobseeker's benefit and the other benefits afforded to those working full-time who lose their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28753/16]

Labour Activation Measures

Richard Boyd Barrett

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the findings of the Michelle Millar report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28754/16]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Richard Boyd Barrett

118. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision not to grant home tuition to children with ASD between the age of two and a half and three years old unless it is provided in the home and not in a preschool environment as had previously been the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29082/16]

School Accommodation Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department has repeatedly failed to provide adequate accommodation for the children attending a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that some children spend their school days in a classroom which measures a total of 24 sq. m, while his Department's guidelines for new classrooms is 80 sq. m. [29095/16]

Central Statistics Office Reports

Richard Boyd Barrett

150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the quality of life issues facing young persons that have come to light from the Central Statistics Office data 2013. [22495/16]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

204. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the allegations of institutional abuse and neglect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29071/16]

Neuro-Rehabilitation Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the call for immediate action to direct a comprehensive revision of the proposed plan for neuro-rehabilitation services by his Department and the Health Services Executive, which is required to ensure adequate funding and co-ordination of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29080/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his plans for mixed-tenure social and affordable developments on publicly-owned land, outlined in Rebuilding Ireland, will effectively mean the privatisation of publicly-owned land; his understanding of what constitutes affordable rental and the way in which this differs from the current local authority housing model, or the HAP and RAS schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28730/16]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

19. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money projected to be spent on the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, housing assistance payment, HAP, and long-term leasing programmes over each of the years 2017 to 2021, listing the cost of each programme separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28687/16]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

37. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider a national building agency that would directly employ builders to spearhead a public housing building programme in view of the average nine-month timeline for the procurement and tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28690/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

42. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the options available to local authorities when negotiating with private developers on the social housing Part V component of private developments; the way in which local authorities may be able to increase the social housing component beyond 10%; the way in which a reasonable profit for the developer will be established; the cost of the Part V component agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28691/16]

Local Authority Housing Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the numbers of houses that will be directly built by local authorities, as against approved housing bodies, over each of the years 2017 to 2021, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28688/16]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

70. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the options for local authorities for the tender process; the reason for the recent delays in the houses planned in Cherry Orchard, Darndale, Finglas and Drimnagh; and the projected unit cost for all such homes to be delivered in 2017. [28689/16]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the required funds for a project (details supplied). [28899/16]

Home Help Service Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

190. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 453 of 5 July 2016 and a subsequent reply received from his Department, the actions he will take to ensure access in general to home care packages for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28896/16]

Greyhound Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

210. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to reports of the cruel mistreatment in China of greyhounds that have been sent from Ireland, including some dogs being boiled alive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28897/16]

Greyhound Industry

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will immediately halt the transporting and trading of greyhounds from Ireland to China due to the cruel treatment that these dogs experience in transit to China and once they reach there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28898/16]

EU Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent meeting with the European Council President, Donald Tusk. [27125/16]

Referendum Campaigns

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the referenda he proposes to hold during the term of Government. [27126/16]

Naturalisation Applications

Richard Boyd Barrett

83. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting since 2013 for an application for naturalisation to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28131/16]

Housing Assistance Payment Administration

Richard Boyd Barrett

223. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if persons signing tenancy agreements under the HAP scheme will automatically be put on the council transfer list; when the HAP scheme will be rolled out fully in the four Dublin local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28111/16]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

246. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the additional funding allocation he has received in the context of the housing crisis and the Government's commitment to increase capital spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/16]

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Richard Boyd Barrett

247. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider a national building agency that would directly employ builders to spearhead a public housing building programme in view of his concerns over housing supply, noted in his Department's draft national risk assessment report, and the risk this poses to overall competitiveness and social inclusion. [20697/16]

State Pension (Contributory)

Richard Boyd Barrett

271. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the home-makers scheme in relation to pensions has not been extended to home-makers pre-1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28207/16]

State Pension (Contributory)

Richard Boyd Barrett

272. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the legislation for calculating PRSI contributions in relation to contributory pensions to disregard short-term or summer employment at the time of entry into the system as this causes a large gap in contributions and hence lowers the yearly average of contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/16]

Waste Management

Richard Boyd Barrett

504. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the environmental and health impact assessments which have been carried out in relation to human biosolids being used as fertiliser; the regulations in place on the storage and spreading of this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28229/16]

Motor Insurance Regulation

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider setting up a State insurance company in order to ensure that the current prices of motor and other insurance are curbed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27593/16]

Departmental Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

30. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of meetings held between his Department officials and vulture funds during his terms as Minister; if he or his officials suggested to these funds that they might benefit from tax loopholes such as section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act or any other tax loopholes for the purposes of minimising their tax contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27595/16]

Property Tax Rate

Richard Boyd Barrett

35. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will change the requirement of local authorities to make a decision on the rate of local property tax by the end of September each year in advance of the local authorities receiving information regarding the other moneys that will be available to them from central government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27592/16]

Departmental Expenditure

Richard Boyd Barrett

36. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money his Department expects to spend on appealing the European Commission's decision on a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27591/16]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Richard Boyd Barrett

49. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has fully quantified the lost revenue to the Exchequer as a result of the exploitation by special purpose vehicles, SPVs, of the section 110 corporate tax loophole and other tax loopholes between 2007 and 2015; his plans to close all these loopholes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27594/16]

Economic Growth Rate

Richard Boyd Barrett

70. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he has read the Central Statistics Office, CSO, report containing figures of 26% growth in the economy. [22768/16]

Property Tax

Richard Boyd Barrett

97. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the full cost in 2017 of abolishing the local property tax. [28024/16]

Property Tax

Richard Boyd Barrett

98. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of introducing a second home tax of €600 per property for those who own two properties on their second property and €1,000 per year on each property for those who own three or more properties, assuming the second property is paid at the €600 rate. [28025/16]

Property Tax

Richard Boyd Barrett

99. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of introducing a mansion tax on every home worth more than €1 million at the rate of €2,000 per property. [28026/16]

Universal Social Charge

Richard Boyd Barrett

100. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the cost in 2017 of abolishing the USC for all those earning less than €40,000 and reducing the USC by half for those earning less than €70,000. [28028/16]

Fiscal Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

101. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount of fiscal space available for 2017. [28032/16]

Tax Collection Forecasts

Richard Boyd Barrett

102. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the amount ahead of forecast the total tax revenue is projected to be for 2016 and 2017. [28033/16]

Universal Social Charge

Richard Boyd Barrett

103. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of establishing new PAYE bands (details supplied). [28034/16]

Tax Code

Richard Boyd Barrett

104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of introducing a wealth tax of 2% on all assets, financial and property, excluding the family home and farm. [28035/16]

Tax Reliefs Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of reducing the earnings cap for pension-related tax relief from €115,000 to €70,000. [28036/16]

Pensions Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance the projected yield in 2017 of a reduction in the standard pension fund threshold from €2 million to €625,000. [28037/16]

Water Charges Data

Richard Boyd Barrett

133. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set down the full cost in 2017 of abolishing water charges. [28027/16]

Jobseeker's Allowance

Richard Boyd Barrett

169. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2017 of restoring the young persons jobseeker's allowance rates of €100 and €150 per week to the standard rate of JSA. [28029/16]

Arts Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

185. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the full cost of the arts budget in 2016; and the cost of increasing arts funding to 0.6% of GDP. [28031/16]

Prescriptions Charges

Richard Boyd Barrett

188. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the cost in 2017 of reducing prescription charges to €2 and separately, the cost of reducing to €1.50 and to €1 per prescription while retaining the cap of ten prescriptions as a maximum. [28030/16]

EU Summits

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent EU summit in Bratislava. [27127/16]