Parliamentary questions

Family Income Supplement Data

Róisín Shortall

272. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of family income supplement, by the number of children, by single parent households and by two-parent households, at 1 October 2015, in tabular form. [38329/15]

Family Income Supplement Data

Róisín Shortall

273. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for family income supplement currently being processed, and awaiting a decision, by her Department. [38330/15]

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

Róisín Shortall

274. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has plans to run an advertising campaign to promote the uptake of the family income supplement in 2016; the expected cost; have any similar campaigns been initiated in the past four years; and if she will provide details of same. [38331/15]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Dan Neville

275. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [38337/15]

Disability Allowance Appeals

James Bannon

276. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a person (details supplied) in County Longford with a disability allowance, as a matter of urgency, in view of the person's deteriorating health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38351/15]

Invalidity Pension Applications

Noel Coonan

277. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38358/15]

Registration of Marriages

David Stanton

278. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the provisions of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 apply to US citizens residing here on a Stamp 4 basis, who wish to marry a non-EEA national who is not residing here; the procedure through which such persons can make an appointment to attend a marriage registrar's office to give the three month notification of intention to marry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38370/15]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Sandra McLellan

279. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to disregard maintenance as means for rent allowance for lone parents, given that the purpose of maintenance is to make provision towards the essential needs of the child, and not to pay towards rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38383/15]

Invalidity Pension Eligibility

Willie Penrose

280. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is entitled to an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38392/15]

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Finian McGrath

281. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of civil servants under her remit who have been re-instated in recent years after taking a career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38732/15]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Dessie Ellis

282. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the delivery of 20,000 units for commercial sale by NAMA; and if any of these units will be made available for social housing or designated for affordable rent. [37633/15]

Budget 2016

Stephen Donnelly

283. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance for the full year cost of the tax breaks given in budget 2016 to those earning, €70,000; €100,000; and €150,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37162/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

284. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated expenditure of his Department in 2015 in tabular form; the budget for expenditure agreed at the start of the year for 2015; the extra expenditure or savings in this budget during the year to date; when and under what process this expenditure and these savings were approved; and his Department's budget for expenditure in 2016. [37262/15]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

285. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the allocation for his Department in 2016 which covers the Lansdowne Road agreement; and the demographic or other inflationary pressures. [37278/15]

Personal Public Service Numbers Data

Robert Dowds

286. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the reason it is necessary to get a personal public service number for a deceased foreigner who is leaving a legacy to an Irish relative; and if he will ensure that the process for getting such a legacy is simplified. [37331/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

287. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will indicate, in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the name of each appointee made from 7 March 2011 to date in 2015; the date of appointment; whether or not each appointee came through an advertised public application process; the number of vacancies which exist on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37362/15]

Investor Compensation Company Limited

Michael McGrath

288. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Investor Compensation Company Limited levy applies to public loss assessors in the insurance sector, given that the fund does not benefit their customers, they are not investment firms, and they do not handle client moneys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37375/15]

Tax Rebates

Andrew Doyle

289. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if a married couple (details supplied) in County Wexford, who were not given the correct marriage allowance for the past 18 years, will be reconsidered for the moneys forgone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37391/15]

Tax Credits

Éamon Ó Cuív

290. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding tax allowance and credits for couples living together; the reason the anomalies between married couples and unmarried couples still exist; if details of how they are treated can be outlined for both working and one working; the reason unmarried couples continue to be discriminated against; if it is an issue that can be corrected by legislation, or if it has constitutional implications; if he will further explain the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37501/15]

Central Bank of Ireland

Éamon Ó Cuív

291. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the matter of the 2015 Central Bank category C industry funding levy which shows a 45% increase over last year, and a 300% increase in some cases; if he is aware of concerns from the Irish Brokers Association and the Professional Insurance Brokers Association; if he has yet received the submission from the Central Bank of Ireland for approval; if he will prevent such huge increases occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/15]

Tax Exemptions

Paul Connaughton

292. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider changing the date that the exemption from inheritance tax applies, to the date of death of the benefactor, and not the date when the grant of probate is finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37521/15]

Credit Unions

Tom Fleming

293. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will refrain from commencing the recommendcations in Consultation Paper 88 while considering the recommendation of the International Credit Union Regulators' Network report for the review it says is necessary; if he will examine correspondence (details supplied) regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37523/15]

Currency Circulation

Thomas P. Broughan

294. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the result of any cost benefit analysis carried out by his Department on the rounding-up of prices, and change to the nearest 5 cent; whether the Government intends to eliminate the production of 1 cent and 2 cent coins; the timetable envisaged for this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37613/15]

European Central Bank

Thomas P. Broughan

295. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has estimated the impact of European Central Bank quantitative easing on growth rates on tax revenues since this policy began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37614/15]

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme

Clare Daly

296. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance further to parliamentary Question No. 245 of 20 October 2015, if he will clarify the apparent contradiction in the last two paragraphs in his reply in the context of information collected by the Fingal Senior Citizens Forum in respect of the home renovation incentive ( details supplied). [37618/15]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Clare Daly

297. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance his views on the Central Bank report published in May 2015 entitled Influences on Standard Variable Mortgage Pricing in Ireland, in the context that this report acknowledges that the banks currently continue to break contractual mortgage agreements they have with customers; and the action he will take regarding same. [37624/15]

Property Tax Yield

Lucinda Creighton

298. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance the amount of local property tax collected in the Dublin City Council area for the nine months, ending September 2014; ending September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37685/15]

NAMA Operations

Paul Murphy

299. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the projected payment schedules for future housing projects funded by the National Asset Management Agency; and his views on claims that there are administrative blockages in the agency, which appear to be hindering the release of funds to contractors and design professionals for works carried out in certain projects to date. [37702/15]

NAMA Operations

Paul Murphy

300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on reports that in many projects funded by the National Asset Management Agency design works are required to be completed prior to any funds being paid to design firms; and the average time projected for payments to project design professionals for work to be undertaken on future agency housing schemes. [37703/15]

Living City Initiative

Pearse Doherty

301. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications received under the living city initiative, by eligible city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37715/15]

Banking Sector

Jim Daly

302. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the total value of facilities sanctioned by the Irish pillar banks that were offered to private developers for the purpose of site acquisition; the cost of construction and site development works for new dwelling houses to be offered to the market, excluding home mortgage facilities, for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37734/15]

Tax Code

Clare Daly

303. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify if budget 2016 altered the situation regarding the reply to Question No. 83 of 20 September 2015 in respect of persons who rent a room in their private residence being exempt from tax on income generated according to the limits set, regardless of the basis upon which they rent that room, particularly in light of those persons who are involved with AirBnB and other similar networks. [37744/15]

Tax Code

Eoghan Murphy

304. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to encourage employers to hire persons returning to work after being absent for a number of years for reasons of child rearing or other family considerations. [37804/15]

Tax Code

Eoghan Murphy

305. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to exempt those over 66 years of age from stamp duty if they downsize their homes and purchase another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37808/15]

Tax Code

Eoghan Murphy

306. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to encourage homeowners to sell a part of their site for development, by, for example, exempting the sale from capital gains tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37809/15]

Tax Relief Data

Eoghan Murphy

307. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the increase in the disregard applied to the tax relief for tuition fees in respect of third level education, from €2,750 to €3,000; the estimated revenue anticipated from this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37810/15]

Vehicle Registration

Tony McLoughlin

308. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland's vehicle registration tax measures infringe upon a number of European Union laws (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37814/15]

Tax Code

John Browne

309. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Finance further to parliamentary Question No. 242 of 20 October 2015, if he is satisfied that in light of the decision of the European Union Commission in a legal case (details supplied), that the differential treatment between insured and non-insured approved retirement fund providers under the Ireland-United Kingdom double tax agreement A does not constitute state aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37830/15]

Tax Code

Billy Kelleher

310. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance given recent budgetary changes on excise taxes on tobacco products, the minimum price that retailers can charge for a packet of 20 cigarettes and a packet of fine tobacco for the rolling of cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37845/15]

Credit Unions

Brendan Griffin

311. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter regarding a credit union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37852/15]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

312. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the terms under which Allied Irish Banks can redeem the contingent convertible bonds which the State holds in the bank; the manner in which a redemption of these bonds would impact on the State’s finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37875/15]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

313. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the terms under which Allied Irish Banks can redeem the preference shares which the State holds in the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37876/15]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

314. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the income in cash terms received by the State in respect of the preference shares which it holds in Allied Irish Banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37877/15]

Tax Yield

Eoghan Murphy

315. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the revenue calculated from capital gains tax in each of the years 1995 to 2014; and the applicable rates in each year. [37881/15]

Pension Provisions

Michael McGrath

316. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the maximum amount that a person can withdraw per year from an approved minimum retirement fund before reaching the age of 75; his plans to change this maximum percentage; if the amount drawn down annually is subject to income tax, the USC and PRSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37899/15]

Tax Credits

Seán Fleming

317. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a couple who are not married but living together, where one person of the couple is working and cannot claim tax credits in respect of the partner, but at the same time when it comes to claiming social welfare the couple are looked at as a cohabiting couple and treated as one unit for Department of Social Protection purposes; his views that this different treatment by two Departments is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37912/15]

Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility

Brendan Smith

318. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the criteria in respect of the primary medical certificate; if he is aware that the Ombudsman referred to the need to change these criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37918/15]

Alcohol Sales

Pearse Doherty

319. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans to regulate the importation of alcohol for direct sale, that is, by online sale to the home; and the measures that are in place to ensure duty is paid on such imports. [37933/15]

Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base Proposals

Pearse Doherty

320. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his position on the introduction of the common consolidated corporate tax base; if this issue was ever discussed with the troika; if any commitment was entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37934/15]

Universal Social Charge Exemptions

Peadar Tóibín

321. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of additional workers who would be removed from the universal social charge if the exemption rate was increased from €13,000 to €19,572. [37964/15]