Parliamentary questions

VAT Rebates

Thomas P. Broughan

165. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that Cystic Fibrosis Ireland raised almost €9 million for hospital building projects over the past four years, of which 23% value added tax was paid to the Government, if this tax can be reimbursed to the organisation to continue with its work; and if he will provide, in tabular form, the intake from value added tax on capital projects by charity organisations, such as the hospital building projects by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, in the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date. [14576/15]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Billy Timmins

166. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the high variable interest rates Irish banks are charging (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14584/15]

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

167. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14599/15]

Budget Consultation Process

Michael McGrath

168. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to establish a budget office which would cost alternative budgets prepared by opposition parties; and if he will provide costings for the election proposals of all parties; the work being done to date on this proposal; his plans to have this office in place for the next general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14602/15]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Peter Mathews

169. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider protecting the 300,000 variable rate mortgage holders by lowering the variable rate of interest to 2.5%, which is currently the average rate in the eurozone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14605/15]

Tax Reliefs Application

Michael McGrath

170. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if it is possible to claim income tax relief in respect of contributions paid by a deceased person, under the Nursing Home Support Scheme; if so, the person who would make the claim on behalf of the deceased person's estate; the procedure that needs to be followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14685/15]

Proposed Legislation

Pearse Doherty

171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when the Taxation and Certain Other Matters (International Mutual Assistance) Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14737/15]

EU Regulations

Terence Flanagan

172. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if legislation will be introduced in relation to vulture funds (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14756/15]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Terence Flanagan

173. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if a review of the Central Bank of Ireland's Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears will take place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14757/15]

Tax Code

Patrick O'Donovan

174. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the tax implications in a case were the child of a farmer under the Young Farmer Top-Up Scheme receives entitlements by transfer from the parent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14769/15]

Tax Code

Patrick O'Donovan

175. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the tax implications for a farmer and one of that farmer's children creating a partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14770/15]

Fuel Traders Licences

Clare Daly

176. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance with reference to the opening statement on fuel fraud provided to the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on 3 December 2014, which referred to 130 service stations being closed since 2011 for laundering fuel offences, if he will publish the list of those service stations. [14781/15]

EU Regulations

Clare Daly

177. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will advocate the introduction of legislation in all European Union Member States to prevent vulture funds from claiming more than other lenders in the case of sovereign debt crisis. [14789/15]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Clare Daly

178. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the Central Bank of Irelands Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears in order to ensure that it is legally binding and procedurally fair to borrowers, and that vulture funds, currently unregulated here, are covered by it. [14790/15]

VAT Exemptions

Michael Healy-Rae

179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the anomaly whereby persons buying feed for horses do not pay value added tax, while persons in the greyhound industry are obliged to pay value added tax on feed purchased for their greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14807/15]

Tax Exemptions

Brian Walsh

180. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 26 March 2015 regarding the single person child carer tax credit, his plans to address the difficulties that arise for the secondary claimant when the primary claimant gets married, in order to substitute the income lost for the secondary claimant, who loses the tax credit although the circumstances remain the same for the secondary claimant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14808/15]

Bank Restructuring

Michael McGrath

181. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the restructuring plan as approved for PermanentTSB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14816/15]

Tax Collection

Michael McGrath

182. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of interest levied and collected by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of each of the years 2012 to 2014 in respect of late payment of tax liabilities; the way this is broken down across different categories of tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14824/15]

Tax Collection

Michael McGrath

183. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of penalties levied and collected by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of each of the years 2012 to 2014 in respect of late payment of tax liabilities; the way this is broken down across different categories of tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14825/15]

Tax Collection

Michael McGrath

184. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the current rate of interest charged by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of late payment of tax liabilities; the way this has changed over the past ten years; his plans to review the rate in view of the current low-interest rate environment generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14826/15]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Mary Lou McDonald

185. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Finance if there are impediments to temporary staff who are employed by outsourced companies on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners when they seek to apply for permanent jobs which are identical to the jobs they been performing on a temporary basis prior to the advertising of the new jobs. [14867/15]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Billy Timmins

186. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance his plans to assist home owners in arrears and facing repossession; if he will develop a scheme that permits the home owners to remain in their houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14923/15]

Social Welfare Payments Administration

Billy Timmins

187. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance if he will have discussions with the banks to examine the possibility of a small loans policy which would include the option of having repayments taken from source on social protection payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14924/15]

Tax Code

Billy Timmins

188. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the cost of lowering the top rate of income tax by 1%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14926/15]

Tax Code

Billy Timmins

189. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the cost of lowering the marginal rate of income tax by 1%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14927/15]

Semi-State Bodies Dividends

Billy Timmins

190. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the semi-State commercial companies under his control; the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14936/15]

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Michael Healy-Rae

191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding crèches in the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/15]

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Tom Fleming

192. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will examine a submission (details supplied) and grant a local authority exemption from commercial rates for all premises and facilities in the private child care sector thereby implementing equity to these vital and important child development and education providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

Michael McGrath

193. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the planned flood relief scheme in Cork city; if he will provide an estimate of the timeline in the delivery of the project; the level of funding that has been committed to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14600/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Michael Ring

194. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ascertain from the Office of Public Works when a final report will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo following the site visit by engineers to inspect the flooding potential to that person's home and road as a result of the closing of an Office of Public Works drain; the redress the home owner has if this property and road floods as a result of this drain closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14702/15]

Semi-State Bodies Dividends

Billy Timmins

195. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the policy he has with respect to dividend payments to the Exchequer from commercial semi-State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14925/15]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Billy Timmins

196. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of restoring the public sector pay cuts that took place over a number of budgets, by each Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14928/15]

Creimeadh Cósta

Éamon Ó Cuív

197. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe an bhfuil sé i gceist ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí airgead a chur ar fáil láithreach chun an creimeadh cósta i gCill Mhuirbhigh, Árainn, a leigheas, á chur i gcuntas go bhfuil cosc ar thrácht ar an mbóthar ansin dá bharr agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an mbóthar sin do dhaoine áitiúla agus do chuairteoirí; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [13863/15]

Garda Station Closures

Dara Calleary

198. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in respect of a Garda Síochána barracks (details supplied) in County Sligo; and the Office of Public Works's plans for same. [14035/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Fergus O'Dowd

199. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the flood relief works required to the embankment at Bellurgan in County Louth. [14150/15]

Public Sector Staff

Sean Fleming

200. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the maximum number of days of annual leave persons are entitled to, across the public service, including State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14291/15]

Architectural Heritage

Michael Healy-Rae

201. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter regarding boat operators (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14697/15]

Public Sector Staff Redeployment

John Lyons

202. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to open up the public service and Civil Service so that public servants may transfer freely into the Civil Service, similar to the way civil servants may transfer freely into the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14792/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Creed

203. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details in respect of all Government Departments where employees therein have been the beneficiaries of injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14799/15]

Valuation Office

Éamon Ó Cuív

204. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in respect of the soon-to-be-passed Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012, he will clarify the situation, and if the changes in valuation of sports clubs will have immediate effect when the legislation is passed, and thus influence rates bills for clubs so as to benefit clubs in the current year, or if he will outline what the Valuation Office or local authorities have to do to implement the legislation; the length of time this process should take and when sports clubs may expect to see revised rates bills; if the process is prolonged, if sports clubs will be able to seek a refund or amended bill from the date the legislation is passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14823/15]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Terence Flanagan

205. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on concerns (details supplied) in Dublin 3 regarding reversal of pay cuts in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14831/15]

Water Supply Contamination

Clare Daly

206. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans of the Office of Public Works to intervene and carry out a detailed inspection of the drainage and sewer at a location (details supplied) in County Galway, and to make a determination as to remedial works, in view of the lack of confidence that residents have in Galway City Council and Irish Water, as a result of the manner in which they have handled the very serious issue of water contamination. [14843/15]

Semi-State Bodies Dividends

Billy Timmins

208. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the semi-State commercial companies under his control; the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14969/15]

Registered Employment Agreements

Peadar Tóibín

209. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce the industrial relations (amendment) Bill to provide a new legislative framework for registered employment agreements before the summer recess. [13910/15]

Proposed Legislation

Peadar Tóibín

210. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will introduce the industrial relations (amendment) (No. 2) Bill to provide for collective bargaining rights before the summer recess. [13911/15]

Employment Rights

Peadar Tóibín

211. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Unfair Dismissals Acts or Terms of Employment (Information) Acts include a definition for commencement of employment. [13927/15]

Employment Rights

Terence Flanagan

212. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding zero-hour contracts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13982/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

213. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 26 March 2015, if the €250 million over five years in additional funding was accounted for in his Department's budget for 2015; if he will provide details of this allocation in his Department's Voted Estimate; where this funding is to be dispersed; and if the €150 million property investment programme is included in the aforementioned €250 million allocation. [13993/15]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Terence Flanagan

214. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding small and medium-sized enterprises. [14004/15]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Terence Flanagan

215. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available for persons who wish to set up a new business. [14005/15]