Parliamentary questions

Strategic Infrastructure

Michael Fitzmaurice

163. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance the details of the measures in place to monitor the way in which, and the location, of the moneys lent by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund are spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36185/22]

Strategic Infrastructure

Michael Fitzmaurice

164. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if the directors of an airline (details supplied) have given his Department an undertaking to use Ireland Strategic Investment Fund moneys only in the development of routes within and from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36186/22]

Strategic Infrastructure

Michael Fitzmaurice

165. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance if the loan given to an airline (details supplied) from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund is to be rescinded if the airline fails on commitments made when receiving the loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36188/22]

Tax Code

Sorca Clarke

166. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will consider a review of the 9% VAT rate for those hotels charging exorbitant rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36270/22]

Appointments to State Boards

Michael Ring

167. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Finance the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under his remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33852/22]

Revenue Commissioners

Emer Higgins

168. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Finance when the Central Revenue Information Office at Cathedral Street, North City, Dublin 1 will be open to members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35284/22]

National Asset Management Agency

Cormac Devlin

169. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a matter involving the National Asset Management Agency (details supplied); if he will raise the issue with the agency seeking an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35402/22]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

170. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the number of PhD positions funded by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35432/22]

Tax Code

Holly Cairns

171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance his views on increasing the VAT threshold for small and medium enterprise service providers to €80,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35547/22]

Tax Reliefs

Michael Healy-Rae

172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled passengers and drivers scheme will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35575/22]

Customs and Excise

Catherine Murphy

173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of customs officials inspections at Knock, Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Shannon airports in 2021 and to date in 2022; the value of items, substances and cash seized during this period; and the amount of cash returned on appeal for the same time period. [35781/22]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Catherine Murphy

174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount that would be generated if the late registration fee of 0.1% was increased to 0.6% for vehicles that remain unregistered for VRT, based on 2019 figures. [35782/22]

Revenue Commissioners

Catherine Murphy

175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of providing seven additional dog detector teams for the Revenue Commissioners; the amount of cash seized by the Revenue Commissioners' dog unit in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the estimated street value of drugs and tobacco products seized during that time period. [35783/22]

Tax Code

Eoin Ó Broin

176. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the current rate of VAT on construction for Government-funded social and affordable housing schemes; and if there are any legal impediments to reducing or zero-rating VAT on such schemes. [35787/22]

Tax Code

Eoin Ó Broin

177. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the current rate of VAT on construction for refurbishment of vacant properties; and if there are any legal impediments to lowering this rate of VAT for refurbishment of vacant properties when such refurbishments meet other Government policy objectives, including those set out in the climate action plan's town centre first policy. [35788/22]

Departmental Bodies

Matt Carthy

178. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance the bodies under his aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each, where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35851/22]

Tax Credits

Michael Lowry

179. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider establishing a scheme of tax credits in budget 2023 for owner-occupiers of defective apartments, duplexes and residential properties to offset remediation costs, similar to the way buy-to-let owners can offset liabilities against profit and loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35891/22]

EU Directives

Michael Lowry

180. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he has reconsidered his support for the enactment of a proposed European Union directive implementing a minimum corporate tax rate, given the increased pressures on Irish and European Union competitiveness as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [35936/22]

EU Directives

Michael Lowry

181. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to implement the proposed global minimum tax rate as part of Finance Bill 2023. [35937/22]

Tax Reliefs

Cathal Crowe

182. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will consider a relaxation of rules on a temporary basis to allow employers to pay a fuel allowance to their workers without having it taxed, a measure which could be rescinded once fuel prices stabilise. [35974/22]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

183. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Finance the response and actions taken by the Central Bank in relation to tracker mortgages; if this situation and response will be applied to other similar cases ongoing and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36036/22]

Budget Process

John Lahart

184. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a budget submission from an organisation (details supplied); his response to the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36055/22]

Tax Reliefs

Niamh Smyth

185. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance if an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36057/22]

Insurance Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

186. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update for publicans who are awaiting payment from insurance companies for business closure claims as a result of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36125/22]

Strategic Infrastructure

Michael Fitzmaurice

187. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance the Department that is in control of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund; if this fund is for regional development in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36156/22]

Banking Sector

Claire Kerrane

188. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by older people with accounts with a bank (details supplied) who have to find alternative banking and have no photographic identification, passport or driver's licence, which many in their 80s and 90s, in particular, do not have; if provision will be made for these citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36212/22]

Banking Sector

Thomas Gould

189. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance if he has engaged with banks regarding the reduction of quarterly fees, given the current climate, and encouraged them to notify people of quarterly fee charge withdrawals prior to withdrawal [36225/22]

Appointments to State Boards

Michael Ring

190. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under his remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33858/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Rose Conway-Walsh

191. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if women civil servants employed prior to 1981 are required upon retirement to pay contributions owed to the Civil Service spouses and children's benefit scheme for years of employment prior to 1981 from their lump sum payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35266/22]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

192. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of PhD positions funded by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35436/22]

Flood Risk Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

193. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will ensure that for the winter of 2022, pumps will be on site, fuelled and manned by OPW staff at Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon to save the houses that are in danger of flooding around Lough Funshinagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35473/22]

Flood Risk Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

194. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans the Office of Public Works has in place to progress works at Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon, in terms of appropriate assessment screening, planning permission and required legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35474/22]

Public Sector Staff

Holly Cairns

195. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on adjusting travel and subsistence rates given increasing travel costs. [35553/22]

Office of Public Works

Catherine Murphy

196. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of revenue generated from car parking charges, by location, in each OPW site in which parking charges apply in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [35769/22]

Departmental Bodies

Matt Carthy

197. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the bodies under his aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each, where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35857/22]

Public Sector Staff

Catherine Connolly

198. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the review in relation to amending the occupational injury and illness scheme or public sector pay in relation to cases of long-Covid contracted in the workplace, particularly in relation to the possible recognition of long-Covid as an occupational illness or disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35925/22]

Airport Security

Michael McNamara

199. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the cost of the additional Garda presence at Dublin Airport on the weekend beginning 4 June 2022 to supervise the security queues through departures has been reimbursed to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36131/22]

Appointments to State Boards

Michael Ring

200. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under her remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33862/22]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

201. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of PhD positions funded by her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35440/22]

Departmental Funding

Carol Nolan

202. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the funding her Department has allocated to organisations, groups or persons in order to combat misinformation and disinformation online, in print and in broadcasting media from 1 January 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35494/22]

Departmental Schemes

Colm Burke

203. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration will be given by her Department to instituting a similar support mechanism to the live performance restart grant scheme for those whose turnover was below €100,000 and thus were unable to qualify for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35698/22]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Murphy

204. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current and capital funding that her Department has provided to a venue (details supplied) in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the way that Exchequer funding was spent in each of the years in question. [35779/22]

Departmental Funding

Catherine Murphy

205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current and capital funding her Department has provided to the Gate Theatre in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the way that Exchequer funding was spent in each of the years in question. [35780/22]

Departmental Bodies

Matt Carthy

206. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the bodies under her aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each, where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35861/22]

Swimming Pools

Michael Collins

207. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is any funding available for a swimming pool in Baltimore, County Cork; if so, the potential sources of funds; the way the operators of the pool may apply, given this facility needs help to keep its doors open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36033/22]

Defective Building Materials

Matt Shanahan

208. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline in respect of the ongoing issue of pyrite and other contaminants appearing in cement and concrete blocks (details supplied), the enforcement measures that are taking place, directed by his Department, to ensure continuous and rigorous inspection of concrete block and cement product being offered to the Irish market to ensure they meet the latest building standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36209/22]

Appointments to State Boards

Michael Ring

209. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under his remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33856/22]

Vacant Properties

Dara Calleary

210. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available for a private citizen to redevelop a derelict building in rural towns for social or affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35268/22]

Housing Provision

Martin Browne

211. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is prepared to allow local authorities to take emergency measures to address the chronic shortage of housing available in many parts of the country. [35415/22]

Housing Policy

Martin Browne

212. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review into income limits for social housing, given that he stated that a review of income eligibility was under way in 2021. [35416/22]