Parliamentary questions

Rail Network

Bernard Durkan

147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the progress to date in the preparation of the extension of the DART to Maynooth and further afield to such locations as Kilcock and Enfield, with a view to catering for the commuter belt across north County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22324/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

148. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance what sanctions are used for businesses operating a gaming business without a gaming licence (as per Revenue's register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22250/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

149. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many prosecutions have taken place of gaming establishments operating without a licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) since 2019, per year and per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22252/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

150. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware there are casinos operating in Waterford without gaming licences in 2024 (as per Revenue's register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22253/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

151. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the details of sanctions taken against casinos or gaming premises operating without an annual or three-month gaming licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) since 2019, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22247/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

152. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many gaming and casino businesses are currently operating without a licence in Ireland (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22248/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

153. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how long gaming and casino businesses are allowed to operate without a licence in Ireland (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences) before prosecution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22249/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

154. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the exemptions that are in place for businesses that wish to operate a gaming premises without a gaming licence (as per the revenue.ie register of gaming licences); how any such exemptions are assessed and monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22251/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

155. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many gaming machines are currently licensed for Waterford in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22255/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

156. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance how many gaming machines were licensed in Waterford since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22256/24]

Gambling Sector

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

157. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue generated through gaming machines licence fees in Waterford gaming premises and casinos since 2019, per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22257/24]

Universal Social Charge

Pearse Doherty

158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated first- and full-year costs of reducing the first rate of USC from 0.5% to 0%, reducing the second rate of USC from 2% to 0% and increasing the threshold to the third rate of USC from €25,760 to €30,000. [22275/24]

Universal Social Charge

Pearse Doherty

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated first- and full-year costs of reducing the first rate of USC from 0.5% to 0%, reducing the second rate of USC from 2% to 1% percent and increasing the threshold to the third rate of USC from €25,760 to €27,880; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22276/24]

Tax Exemptions

Willie O'Dea

160. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration to increasing the annual exemption limits for tax purposes for people over the age of 65 years from €18,000 for a single person and €36,000 for a married couple, in view of the fact these exemptions have now been in place for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22295/24]

Insurance Industry

Pearse Doherty

161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to outline any consent to settle provisions within insurance law, whereby insurers are required to seek an insured’s approval before settling a third-party claim, in the context of reports that insurers are settling claims for amounts and reasons that are disputed by the insured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22299/24]

Heritage Sites

John McGuinness

162. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will investigate the extent of the maintenance required to make safe the structure known locally as Ballyshaun Castle (details supplied); if information boards will be provided at each location giving a brief history of the structures; if there are grants available to local community groups or property owners for such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/24]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

163. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress to date in resolving the imminent threat of flooding of homes at Ballagh, County Roscommon, within the next 12 months based on GSI modelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22229/24]

Voluntary Sector

Claire Kerrane

164. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the 2,500 care workers excluded from the pay deal agreed with Government to avert strike action by employees of voluntary organisations; the rationale for excluding these critical workers in the care sector, who care for the most vulnerable citizens; if he will correct this exclusion and ensure all workers doing the same work receive the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22235/24]

Heritage Centres

Matt Shanahan

165. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of complementary admissions being issued each year at the Custom House visitor centre (details supplied); when the visitor centre will be properly operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22283/24]

Heritage Centres

Matt Shanahan

166. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made on sourcing a cash safe for the Custom House visitor centre (details supplied); the number of complementary visitors admitted over the past five years; his views on whether this issue should be relatively easy to rectify; when the visitor centre will receive the long awaited cash safe that will enable it to process cash payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22292/24]