Parliamentary questions

Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta

Pearse Doherty

1943. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad chuige nach bhfuil bord Údarás na Gaeltachta i bhfeidhm faoi láthair; an bhfuil aon dul chun cinn déanta aici chun bord úr a cheapadh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1912/18]

Road Projects Status

Pearse Doherty

27. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the commitment in respect of the completion of the A5 motorway to Derry and Letterkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53263/17]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has scoped the potential impact of proposed United States tax changes to the taxation of intellectual property on the State; the level of research his Department or other Departments or agencies are involved in to quantify the possible impact here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53289/17]

Stamp Duty

Pearse Doherty

84. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the situation in a case in which a sale is agreed and deposit paid for land on 10 October 2017, but no contract has been signed regarding non-residential property on transactions eligible for the 2% rate under transitional relief measures; if the lower rate of stamp duty is still applicable if the contract is executed before year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53384/17]

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Pearse Doherty

85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to introducing the concept of a deemed disposal for non-resident investors in Real Estate Investment Trusts, REITs and Irish Real Estate Funds, IREFs, as applies to Irish resident investors in unit funds (details supplied). [53385/17]

Stamp Duty

Pearse Doherty

126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the expected cost in 2018 of the proposed exemption for stamp duty for commercial properties that are made up of 25% residential property; and the rationale for same. [52976/17]

Oireachtas Members' Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the rate of salary that would apply to Deputies, Senators, Ministers, Junior Ministers and An Taoiseach if in each case the Civil Service grade their salary is linked to was reduced by a grade, in tabular form; the estimated savings from such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52914/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pearse Doherty

178. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delays in progressing a school building project (details supplied); when this project will proceed to construction phase; if his attention has been drawn to the unsuitable accommodation available on site at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52927/17]

Private Security Authority

Pearse Doherty

226. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the statutory role and powers of the Private Security Authority in the event that a device, alarm or security system apparatus installed by an approved contractor should fail; if liability rests with the authority; the measures taken by the authority to ensure that the privacy of customers is respected by contractors licensed by the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53008/17]

Hospital Staff

Pearse Doherty

259. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels and staffing rota details in respect of the radiology department at Letterkenny University Hospital; the vacancies which have yet to be filled at this department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52655/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pearse Doherty

260. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for persons awaiting an appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital's radiology department for three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months and more than 15 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52656/17]

Home Care Packages

Pearse Doherty

357. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the gaps and service disruptions within the care package being made available to a person (details supplied) with complex health needs; if his attention has been drawn to the impact which this situation is having on ensuring continuity of care in respect of this person's care plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53118/17]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Data

Pearse Doherty

521. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the refusal rates for applications for domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53012/17]

Cruinnithe an Aire

Pearse Doherty

185. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuair sé comhfhreagras ó scoil i gContae Dhún na nGall (sonraí curtha ar fáil) ina bhfuil cruinniú á lorg ag bainistíocht na scoile; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [51560/17]

Health Services Provision

Pearse Doherty

368. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to provide long-term full-time care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51824/17]

Paediatric Services

Pearse Doherty

459. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if correspondence from a group (details supplied) in County Donegal in which a number of concerns are outlined with respect to paediatric diabetes services in the county has been received; if a reply has issued to this correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51843/17]

Tracker Mortgage Examination

Pearse Doherty

2. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when he will receive the next update from the Central Bank with regards to the tracker mortgage examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51309/17]

Departmental Functions

Pearse Doherty

31. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to implement the actions attributed to his Department under the measures to enhance the States corporate, economic and regulatory framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50885/17]

Banking Sector Regulation

Pearse Doherty

32. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has discussed with the Central Bank the actions of a bank’s (details supplied) restructuring group; his plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50886/17]

Insurance Costs

Pearse Doherty

43. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the growing number of older persons who find themselves facing a choice between huge increases in premia or a loss of value in their life cover due to the whole-of-life policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50884/17]

Licensed Moneylenders

Pearse Doherty

47. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans for legislation to set a cap on the interest rate that can be charged by moneylenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50883/17]

Stamp Duty

Pearse Doherty

50. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the grounds on which the increase in commercial stamp duty will be sustainable; the expected revenue achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50882/17]

Heritage Projects

Pearse Doherty

129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding has been committed to progress the installation and construction of a sea wall and associated coastal defences at Machaire Rabhartaigh in County Donegal; if so, the amount of funding that has been allocated for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51254/17]

Heritage Projects

Pearse Doherty

130. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the installation and construction of a sea wall and associated coastal defences at Machaire Rabhartaigh in County Donegal; the costings associated with these planned works; when construction is expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51255/17]

Nursing Home Services

Pearse Doherty

137. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future of long-term residential care at a facility (details supplied); if bed capacity reductions are being considered as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51256/17]

Nursing Home Services

Pearse Doherty

138. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future of long-term residential care at a facility (details supplied); if bed capacity reductions are being considered as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51257/17]

Nursing Home Services

Pearse Doherty

139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if reports detailing the investment and service needs of community hospitals in County Donegal (details supplied) will be made available to me; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51258/17]

Child Care Services

Pearse Doherty

161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a policy position has now been agreed in respect of the status of the loco parentis policy on the current HSE review of care services and supports for children with life limiting conditions and complex healthcare needs; if service users and their families have been updated accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51328/17]

Respite Care Services

Pearse Doherty

162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the operational appraisal into the Ballyshannon campus site in County Donegal to examine respite service provision options within the community healthcare organisation or CHO 1, as requested by HSE corporate management, is now complete; if he will provide the details of the report's findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51330/17]

Fisheries Protection

Pearse Doherty

390. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the designation of rivers as catch-and-release salmon fisheries for 2018; if a response has yet been issued; the reason for the reclassification of these fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50729/17]

Driver Licence Renewals

Pearse Doherty

417. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration has been given by his Department to establish a mechanism by which emigrants may renew their driving licences whilst remaining resident abroad in view of the ongoing plight of the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50817/17]

Stamp Duty

Pearse Doherty

107. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of applying a 1% stamp duty for first-time buyers, maintaining the 2% for those who are purchasing a home having sold their home and applying a 5% stamp duty rate for investors including all persons and structures purchasing property as an investment. [49989/17]

Philanthropy Initiatives

Pearse Doherty

117. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the tax advantages in place for a person or business which engages in philanthropy, including income tax, estate taxes and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50097/17]

Corporation Tax Regime

Pearse Doherty

131. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has given consideration to introducing legislation which would prohibit the use of legacy losses against profits beyond 31 December 2017 in view of the fact that banks have accumulated losses from the financial crisis of some €34 billion. [50668/17]

Community Care

Pearse Doherty

322. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the details of the latest proposals being recommended in respect of the redevelopment of a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal; the changes being considered for long-term residential care and dementia services at the aforementioned facility as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49905/17]

Medical Card Applications

Pearse Doherty

387. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50182/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pearse Doherty

421. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment at the ENT clinic at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50356/17]

Home Care Packages

Pearse Doherty

445. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a decision in respect of an application for a home care package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50509/17]

Media Mergers

Pearse Doherty

513. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress that has been made to establish a commission on the future of the media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50036/17]

Driver Test Waiting Lists

Pearse Doherty

540. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an earlier date can be offered for a driving test for a person (details supplied) in order to allow them to take up an offer of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50007/17]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects

Pearse Doherty

542. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made to carry out upgrade works on the N14 route; the road class which is being proposed for this route; if costings are available for the various options being considered for this upgrade including the comparative costs of constructing a dual carriageway versus a 2 plus 1 class roadway for this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50035/17]

Sovereign Debt

Pearse Doherty

73. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans to repay bilateral and other sovereign loans at an earlier date than scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49651/17]

Medical Card Applications

Pearse Doherty

147. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49510/17]

Health Services Provision

Pearse Doherty

173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment from the HSE speech and language service and the psychology service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49617/17]

Jobseeker's Allowance Payments

Pearse Doherty

239. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the parents of foster children whose attention was not drawn to the fact that they could declare foster children as child dependants on the jobseeker’s allowance payment can have this payment backdated to when they first started caring for the foster children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49582/17]

Tax Treaties

Pearse Doherty

132. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans to commission a report on the way in which the State's tax policies and treaties affect developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48708/17]

Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears

Pearse Doherty

133. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views and those of the Central Bank on whether the policy of a bank (details supplied) of charging an extra 1 percentage point interest rate on all restructured tracker mortgages is within the spirit and letter of the code of conduct on mortgage arrears; if this issue has been raised with him or the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48709/17]

Banking Sector Regulation

Pearse Doherty

141. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the section 110 tax status availed of by qualifying companies operating as non-bank loan originators in the State could be breaking state aid rules in view of the fact that new banks or lenders which could set up non-retail lending operations here and do not meet the current qualifying criteria for section 110 status would not be afforded the same tax neutral treatment. [48849/17]

State Aid Investigations

Pearse Doherty

142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the implications of the European Commission's recent ruling that a company (details supplied) has to pay €250 million to Luxembourg having received illegal tax benefits from Luxembourg, in terms of state aid from Ireland to a company in view of its taxation arrangements with the State and the parallels between Luxembourg and Ireland regarding companies. [48850/17]

State Aid Investigations

Pearse Doherty

143. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the EU Commission has informally or formally requested information on Irish tax schemes for the purposes of state aid rules or specific tax relationships with companies; the details of such requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48851/17]