Parliamentary questions

Emigration Data

Jonathan O'Brien

52. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the recent report by the National Youth Council entitled Time to go - the Experience and Impact of Emigration on Ireland's Youth. [24467/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Martin Ferris

53. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to ensure that low-paid workers under the JLC and REA schemes continue to be fully protected and their income safeguarded. [24465/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Brian Stanley

54. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will give an assessment of the impact of the recent Supreme Court judgment with regard to REAs. [24463/13]

Employment Rights

Mary Lou McDonald

55. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the recent findings of the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland into the recruitment and employment of au pairs, the steps he will take to regulate this industry and recognise that au pairs should not be outside of the employment protections. [24448/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

56. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24615/13]

State Properties

Pearse Doherty

57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out by country, the latest valuation of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity, indicating the euro valuation and the year of valuation. [24699/13]

Sale of State Assets

Pearse Doherty

58. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out by country for each of 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, the proceeds from the disposal of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24700/13]

Importation Policy

Peter Mathews

59. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the reason goods from Israeli settlements are to be labelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24709/13]

International Election Monitoring

Andrew Doyle

60. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department sent the new selection procedure to applicants for the new election observer roster; if there is an appeal or review procedure within his Department to handle complaints by applicants regarding selection for the election observation roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24727/13]

Property Tax Administration

Kevin Humphreys

61. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the number of properties registered nationally, by each local authority area for the local property tax to date; the estimated number of liable properties in both; the aggregate amount of tax to be returned from those registered thus far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24499/13]

Property Tax Administration

Kevin Humphreys

62. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of properties registered in Dublin City Council for the local property tax to date; the estimated number of liable properties; the aggregate amount of tax to be returned from those registered thus far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24500/13]

Carbon Tax Implementation

Andrew Doyle

63. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline details of carbon taxation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24708/13]

Tax Code

Andrew Doyle

64. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the current vehicle registration tax is compatible with EU law; the legislative changes he is proposing regarding keeping the tax in line with European Court of Justice opinions and rulings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24730/13]

Property Tax Exemptions

Seamus Kirk

65. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a means test in respect of the local property tax demand for families dependant on single parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/13]

Property Tax Collection

Pat Deering

66. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the reason local property tax liability is taken immediately from customers' bank accounts when the explanatory booklet clearly states payment will not be taken earlier than 21 July 2013, option 2. [24505/13]

Bank Guarantee Scheme

Martin Heydon

67. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance if cash deposits held within approved retirement funds are covered by the bank guarantee scheme; the other protections that exist to protect cash held through private sector pension funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24576/13]

Housing Grants

Eoghan Murphy

68. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he is considering making the cost of home maintenance and repairs tax deductible, as is done in Sweden, in order to eliminate the growing black economy. [24592/13]

Property Tax Collection

Billy Timmins

69. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow who have not received their property tax correspondence; if this can be sent as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24594/13]

Debt Resolution Pilot Scheme

Thomas P. Broughan

70. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the third party service provider that will be selected to operate under the recent launched Framework for a Pilot Approach to the Coordinated Resolution of Multiple Debts owed by a Distressed Borrower; if the Money Advice and Budgeting Service will be selected as the third party service provider in view of the wealth of experience that MABS has in dealing with distressed borrowers; his views on recent reports that a company from the UK is being considered as the third party service provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24603/13]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Tom Fleming

71. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons in the special category with disabilities and if the target being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24614/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

72. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will estimate the total debt write down that will be given to developers who bid for their own loans from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation at substantially reduced values; and if the residual debt against those developers will be pursued by the State. [24689/13]

IBRC Liquidation

Pearse Doherty

73. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 14 may 2013, if he will confirm the restrictions that will be placed on Irish Bank Resolution Corporation borrowers who bid on their own loans after the window for 100% refinancing expires; if such borrowers will be prevented from acting in concert with third party bidders during the bid process as is the case with National Asset Management Agency borrowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24690/13]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

74. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 207 and 210 of 23 April 2013, and 195 of 14 April 2013, if he will confirm by year, separately, the salary and benefits and total remuneration of the Financial Regulator for 2011 and 2012. [24691/13]

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Pearse Doherty

75. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of borrowers who had loans of more than €10 million par value with the Irish Bank Resolution Corportation at 7 February 2013 ; the total par value of such outstanding loans; and the book value of such loans. [24692/13]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Pearse Doherty

76. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the amount of debt written off by Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB in 2010, 2011 and 2012 as a result of bankruptcies in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24693/13]

NAMA Property Rental

Pearse Doherty

77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an analysis of the €100-120 million per month recurring non-disposal income being reported by the National Asset Management Agency, showing commercial rental income, residential rental income and an outline of the other receipts and in respect of the commercial rental income to indicate the proportion arising from property in the State and from other jurisdictions. [24694/13]

NAMA Property Sales

Pearse Doherty

78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance following the announcement by the National Asset Management Agency of the disposal of the so called Project Aspen portfolio of €810 million of loans relating to a developer (details supplied), if he will provide his assessment on the deal which involves NAMA providing staple finance and retaining a stake in the loans; if he will confirm the security NAMA now holds in the loans and if NAMA's security in the loans has been diluted as a result of the sale; and if he will confirm the overall number of NAMA disposals which have involved NAMA retaining an interest in the assets sold. [24695/13]

Outright Monetary Transaction Scheme Participation

Pearse Doherty

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 23 April 2013, and further to his statement on 13 May 2013 that it seems to me that if we had one more sale of Irish paper, we would be eligible for outright monetary transactions scheme, if he will outline his basis for believing this to be the case and the reason he does not believe we would be eligible for access to OMT presently. [24696/13]

Outright Monetary Transaction Scheme Participation

Pearse Doherty

80. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 23 April 2013, and further to his statement on 13 May 2013 that we have not decided in Government yet whether we will apply or not for the Outright Monetary Transactions scheme but it is something that seems to be a mechanism that is working very well and it might be something that we would want to avail of coming out of the bailout, if he will outline the way the OMT mechanism is working and the volume and value of OMT transactions undertaken by the European Central Bank. [24697/13]

Outright Monetary Transaction Scheme Participation

Pearse Doherty

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 23 April 2013, and further to the publication on 14 May 2013 by the National Treasury Management Agency of its May 2013 presentation to investors which includes the statement clarity on Ireland's eligibility for ECB’s new Outright Monetary Transactions, OMT, would be helpful to underpin sustainable market re-entry; his views on whether there is a lack of clarity on Ireland’s eligibility for the ECB’s OMT scheme. [24698/13]

Mortgage Debt

Brendan Griffin

82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate the practice of the banking sector refusing to engage with lenders that find themselves in further difficulties after restructuring their loans; if the process of restructuring is reducing the cost to the borrower and taking into account future potential income difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24705/13]

Banking Sector Regulation

Andrew Doyle

83. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he has plans to consolidate the legislative basis for the Central Bank of Ireland and its operations; if officials from his Department have held discussions with the Central Bank in this regard; when he expects legislation to be brought forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24731/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Michael McGrath

84. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons to date that have availed of the special assignee relief programme; the number of employers whose employees have availed of the programme; the amount of tax foregone as a result of the tax relief granted; the number of employees who have had education fees paid by their employer on a tax free basis under the programme; his views on the number of jobs that may have been created under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24738/13]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Michael McGrath

85. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have to date availed of the foreign earnings deduction; if he will provide details of the countries in which persons availing of the deduction have worked; the number of employers whose employees have availed of the deduction; the amount of tax foregone as a result of the tax relief granted; if he intends to add any further countries to the list of qualifying countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24739/13]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

Seán Kyne

86. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the much-welcome benefits of the mortgage tax-relief at source for persons who first purchased homes between 2004 and 2008 as introduced in Budget 2012 are being negated by the continued existence of the stipulation which caps and reduces the tax relief at source after seven years and if he will strongly consider, owing to the difficult financial circumstances of mortgage-holder who purchased in the aforementioned years, extending the applicability of the full mortgage tax relief rate beyond seven years until 2017 when mortgage relief is schedule to end. [24752/13]

VAT Rate Application

Seán Kyne

87. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to the extension of the reduced VAT rate of 9%, which has had a significant positive effect on tourism industries, to coach passenger operators. [24753/13]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Billy Kelleher

88. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 14 May 2013, the way payments to be made were calculated; the quantity of smuggled tobacco the payments made under the MOU represent; if the payments represent tobacco that was leaked onto the Irish market or are they calculated by smuggled tobacco seized on a European-wide basis that is by the size of the Irish market as a proportion of the EU market; the tobacco companies that made payments to the Revenue Commissioners between 2008 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24765/13]

Economic Performance

Bernard Durkan

89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the economic performance of all sectors has been monitored over the past five years to date; the extent to which specific areas have been identified for the need for improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24775/13]

Institutes of Technology

Mary Lou McDonald

90. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the local employment clause contained within the DIT Grangegorman project contract. [24605/13]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Catherine Murphy

91. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the changes to be made by his Department in relation to the July provision scheme for families of autistic children; if he will clarify the position for families with more than one child needing access to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24766/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Jim Daly

92. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for a delay in issuing the proper qualification rate to a teacher (details supplied) in County Cork [24501/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Brendan Griffin

93. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the income figures from self employment from a persons father in a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24530/13]

Third Level Institutions Issues

Patrick O'Donovan

94. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of teaching days in 2012 in each of the third level institutions funded by the State; the number of teaching staff in each of those institutions; the number of privilege or personal days taken in each of those institutions in 2012; the minimum and maximum number of holidays given to teaching staff in these institutions in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24545/13]

Schools Building Contractors

Éamon Ó Cuív

95. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the name of the contractor awarded the building contract in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24554/13]

Public Sector Staff Redeployment

Michael Healy-Rae

96. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding redeployment within vocational education committees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24570/13]

Third Level Fees

Patrick Nulty

97. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 5 February 2013, if a matter raised in correspondence in respect of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 15 regarding their registration fees will be examined; if the student's concerns can be addressed in detail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24575/13]

Teachers' Remuneration

Denis Naughten

98. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 20 December 2012, the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24583/13]

Public Sector Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

99. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that a person who spent six years in college and received a masters degree, is being refused job positions in the public sector, due to the fact that they do not have their leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24596/13]

Proposed Legislation

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

100. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the proposed Education (Admission to School) Bill 2013 proposes to enact legislation that will prevent Gaelscoileanna from having an admissions policy that gives priority to children being raised through Irish; if he considers that this legislation will have an adverse effect on the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24599/13]

Schools Review

Nicky McFadden

101. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school building work and emergency accommodation works in 2013 in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24604/13]