Parliamentary questions

Public Appointments Service

Ged Nash

127. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of recruitment campaigns that have been undertaken by the Public Appointments Service in 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of recruitment campaigns that were due to be undertaken by the Service in 2022 and which have been postponed or abandoned; if he will detail these specific campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48782/22]

Public Appointments Service

Ged Nash

128. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff in the Public Appointments Service in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48783/22]

Cost of Living Issues

Ged Nash

133. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all the one-off cost of living measures announced as part of the €4.1 billion package; the estimated cost of each measure and the measures which will arise in 2022 or 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49027/22]

Budget 2023

Ged Nash

134. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of additional supplementary estimates required in 2022 following the Budget 2023 announcements; if he will provide a list of each by Department, agency or vote; the estimated amount of funds required for each Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49028/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

153. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A4 local-authority housing at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49035/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

154. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A7 capital assistance scheme at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

155. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A10 mortgage-to-rent at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49037/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

156. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A11 capital advance leasing facility at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49038/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

157. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A12 Traveller accommodation and support at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49039/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

158. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A15 estate regeneration and refurbishment at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49040/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

159. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A16 energy efficiency – retrofitting at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49041/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

160. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A17 repair-and-leasing scheme at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49042/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

161. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A28 cost-rental equity loan at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49043/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

162. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A31 first-home scheme at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49044/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

163. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A32 affordable housing fund at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49045/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Ged Nash

164. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A33 Croí Cónaithe (cities) fund at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49046/22]

Public Sector Pay

Ged Nash

265. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to the Exchequer to bring the pay of workers in Section 56 organisations in line with public service pay agreements including Building Momentum and its potential successor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49031/22]

Health Services Staff

Ged Nash

350. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the Exchequer to bring the pay of workers in Section 39 organisations in line with public service pay agreements including Building Momentum and its potential successor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49029/22]

Budget 2023

Ged Nash

79. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has examined or requested a SWITCH analysis of the budget 2023 measures, excluding the 2022 temporary cost-of-living measures to be carried out; if he will provide a copy of any such analysis reviewed by his Department, for the distributional impact of the permanent expenditure and taxation changes from budget 2023 only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48282/22]

Living Wage

Ged Nash

86. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he plans to ensure that all contractors that are awarded State public procurement contracts pay all staff a living wage given the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48279/22]

Ethics in Public Office

Ged Nash

94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his plans to reform the Standards in Public Office Commission; and when the Heads of the Ethics in Public Office Standards Bill 2015 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48283/22]

Departmental Reviews

Ged Nash

103. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his plans in response to a spending review (details supplied) published by his Department; his views on whether the findings of the review would enable staff to avoid travel to and from the city centre on a daily basis and if there would be consequential savings in a reduced leasehold portfolios in the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48280/22]

Energy Policy

Ged Nash

150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his proposals for a windfall tax on energy companies in a scenario in which no agreement is reached at an European Union level; if such proposals will be included in the Finance Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48538/22]

Electricity Supply Board

Ged Nash

166. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected dividend from the ESB in 2022 and 2023, respectively; if he has sought a specific figure from the ESB for windfall profits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48537/22]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

234. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated projected cost of extending the 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas for the remainder of 2023; the estimated cost for the extension in January and February 2023; the estimated additional average cost to a household and a business from the higher VAT rate applying for the remaining ten months in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48530/22]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

235. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated projected cost of the Special Assignee Relief Programme in 2023; the reason that no cost has been attributed to extending the Programme in Budget 2023 documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48531/22]

Departmental Data

Ged Nash

236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the reason that the projected cost of the help to buy scheme is listed as €83 million in Budget 2023 documentation given that the full-year cost in 2022 will be substantially more; the expected underlying level of applications for the help to buy scheme in 2023; the estimated average payment for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48533/22]

Tax Credits

Ged Nash

237. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the qualifying criteria for the rent tax credit; if tenants in approved housing bodies, local authorities and cost-rental developments respectively will be eligible; and if not, the reasoning for that exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48534/22]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

238. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of pre-letting expenses for landlords at the €5,000 cap in 2020, 2021 and those projected for 2022, respectively; and the rationale for the projected cost of €1 million in the first year, and €2 million in a full year are grounded on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48535/22]

Tax Data

Ged Nash

239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the estimated number of housing units that are expected to be subject to the vacant homes tax in 2023; the number of homes that informed the €3 million yield in Budget 2023 documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48536/22]

Departmental Funding

Ged Nash

557. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount of once-off support to Section 39 bodies that will arise from the cost-of-living budget package in which he outlined that €110 million would be allocated to a range of health-funded bodies; the formula that will be used to award same; if similar payments will be made for Tusla-funded Section 56 bodies and section 10 homeless services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48532/22]

Public Sector Pay

Ged Nash

663. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount that it will cost the Exchequer to bring the pay of workers in Section 39 organisations in line with public service pay agreements, Building Momentum and its potential successor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48374/22]

Maritime Safety

Ged Nash

95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the actions the Marine Survey Office has taken with regard to the recent listing of the Hebble Sand dredging vessel on the River Boyne in Drogheda; the way the office proposes to work with the vessel owner and the Drogheda Port Company to make the vessel safe and-or have it removed from Drogheda Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47705/22]

Customs and Excise

Ged Nash

111. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the number of individual packages refused entry to Ireland due to a lack of a valid customs declaration form or electronic customs declaration form for each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the percentage the refused packages constituted of the total number of packages handled by customs for each of these years. [47751/22]

Customs and Excise

Ged Nash

112. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the total number of foreign postal services that have registered to use the automated import system to date (details supplied), which will enable them to register electronic customs declaration forms on behalf of customers; and the names of these foreign postal services. [47752/22]

Customs and Excise

Ged Nash

113. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned Irish citizens living or travelling in countries whose postal services have failed to register on the automated import system will be prevented from sending parcels of any kind to Ireland; and the way this may shut off Ireland from the global postal system. [47753/22]

Customs and Excise

Ged Nash

114. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the steps 'an individual can take to send items to Ireland if they are posting such items from countries whose postal services have yet to register on the automated import system; and if he is concerned at the risk of Ireland developing a reputation that is unfriendly to international business and trade. [47754/22]

Customs and Excise

Ged Nash

115. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if any foreign postal service has refused to register for the automated import system to date; and if he will provide the identities of these postal services. [47755/22]

Fire Safety

Ged Nash

149. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to a full redress scheme for construction defects; if so, if the scheme will be retrospective for persons who have already carried out safety work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47417/22]

Housing Policy

Ged Nash

150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the report on increasing the social housing income limits nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47418/22]

Housing Provision

Ged Nash

151. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase and cost-rental housing units that will be delivered in 2022; the individual project targets for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47419/22]

Wastewater Treatment

Ged Nash

168. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of advice or guidance his Department has provided to county councils or the EPA, having regard to the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1993, the European Union Water Framework Directive and the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulation 2003 (SI 722 of 2003), to assist them when assessing all existing renewals and new wastewater treatment licences, given the State's legal commitment to climate change and biodiversity protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47710/22]

School Transport

Ged Nash

281. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on the appeals made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth against the decision not to be provided school bus tickets in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47333/22]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recommendations in the recent report by the Commission on Taxation and Welfare that wealth and capital taxes should increase materially as a proportion of tax revenues; his plans to broaden the tax base and generate additional Exchequer revenue from additional taxes on wealth and assets in order to sustain public spending and to meet the challenges of the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46486/22]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

126. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans, if any, to reduce the rate of VAT applied on condoms and menstrual cups to 0%; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of reducing the rate on said products to 0%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46208/22]

Commissions of Investigation

Ged Nash

130. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned by the recent findings of the Report of the Commission of Investigation IBRC that a senior official at his Department made an unauthorised disclosure of confidential information regarding the sale process for an organisation (details supplied); if he believes that it is appropriate that the same official now represents the State’s interest in relation to the liquidation of IBRC in their role as head of the shareholding and financial advisory division at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46207/22]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Ged Nash

135. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned about the impact of rising European Central Bank interest rates on mortgage holders; his plans, if any, to put a cap on variable mortgage interest rates to protect homeowners; if he agrees that the current code of conduct on mortgage arrears needs to be updated to provide greater protection to homeowners who may be in arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46205/22]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

152. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent Tax and Welfare Commission Report’s findings that wealth and capital taxes should increase materially as a proportion of tax revenues; his plans, if any, to increase such taxes in order to put the public finances on a sustainable footing as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46204/22]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

161. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he, or any of his Departmental officials, were provided with any prior written or verbal notice regarding the decision of a bank (details supplied) on 21 July 2022 to terminate cash services at a number of its branches; if he or his officials were in possession of a document before the bank’s announcement of the decision to terminate cash services at a number of its branches on 22 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46206/22]

Pensions Reform

Ged Nash

90. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to hold a pension market review in view of the significant changes and ongoing issues within the sector; her views as to whether or not a full review including consultation with the public and relevant stakeholders is necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46239/22]