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Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 56 to 63

Tax Collection

Ceisteanna (56)

Noel Harrington

Ceist:

56. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) will receive a notice of assessment for income tax from the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12268/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the customer concerned has only recently registered for Income Tax. The customer's agent has been advised that the returns made to Revenue are incomplete and that it is not currently possible to issue notices of assessment.  The taxpayer should contact Mr. Mick Duggan, Revenue Commissioners, Revenue House, Blackpool, Cork at 021-6027232.

Banking Sector

Ceisteanna (57)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

57. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Ulster Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12332/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I recently received a number of letters and emails from Ulster Bank employees on the issues raised in this letter. I understand and appreciate their concerns and responded directly. In Autumn 2013, following a review of its operations by the UK Treasury, RBS reaffirmed its commitment to the Irish market.  As part of that process, Treasury officials engaged with officials from my Department. In February 2014, I met with RBS executives to ascertain their outlook for the bank both here and in the UK. RBS is currently reviewing the operations of Ulster Bank in Ireland with a view to creating a sustainable business model, and on 27 February, RBS re-iterated its commitment to the Irish market. RBS also stated its intention to build on Ulster Bank's current position to be a compelling challenger bank to the domestic pillar banks and focus firmly on the customer. It is good news that the bank has committed so firmly to the Irish market and I think it shows significant support for expanding Ulster Bank's presence in the Irish market.  

From a domestic banking perspective, the continued presence of a viable and active Ulster Bank in the Irish market will be important in fostering competition for banking services. It is vital that businesses and consumers have a range of banking options available when using financial services and accessing credit - all of which will become increasingly important as the economy recovers. Officials in the Department of Finance have been in contact with both RBS and Ulster Bank officials and this will continue as the bank finalises its plans for the future.

Ministerial Meetings

Ceisteanna (58)

Patrick Nulty

Ceist:

58. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance the number of times he and officials in his Department have met a company (details supplied) or its representatives since he took office; if he will provide details, in tabular form, of the dates of each meeting; the names of the company representatives involved; the titles of the departmental officials involved; the reason for each meeting; the matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since taking office, there have been no official meetings between me or officials of my Department and the company referred to in the question (Communicorp Group Ltd.). Nor have there been such meetings between me or officials of my Department and representatives to said company. For the sake of completeness, I should inform the Deputy that as referenced in the Department of Finance Annual Review of 2012, there has been a concerted effort to enhance engagement with stakeholders both nationally and internationally on a wide range of issues -http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/department/annualreview2012.pdf. Officials from the Department became more active in public speaking and media engagements both nationally and internationally and therefore it might be the case that my officials have presented Department policy views while interacting with audiences comprising either employees of the company or representatives of said company.

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Ceisteanna (59)

Patrick Nulty

Ceist:

59. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance if there is any opportunity for a senior medical officer to have a broader interpretation of the established criteria for tax relief for disabled drivers and disabled passengers; if it is envisaged that these criteria may be altered in the future to include other conditions; if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 previously refused may be entitled to reapply due to a number of physical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12404/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (up to a certain limit), and exemption from motor tax, on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities.  To enter the Scheme the person with the disability must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate. To get a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be assessed as permanently and severely disabled by reference to the medical criteria set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. I have no plans to change the criteria at this stage.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (60)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

60. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the reports, reviews and studies commissioned by him or his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department since 9 March 2011; the date on which they were commissioned; the date on which they were completed; the date on which they were published; the cost of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12431/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A fully comprehensive response regrettably could not be compiled in the time available. My officials have requested the outstanding material from the various agencies and this will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

In reply to the Deputy's question, we have however included in the table that follows this reply the information that is available at this juncture.  Except where otherwise stated, the document has been commissioned by my Department. I should point for clarification out that I have assumed that the Deputy's reference to "reports" does not include annual reports or reports delivered pursuant to other statutory obligations.  These are therefore not included below.

Many tax schemes are reviewed in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill but detailed reports may not necessarily be published but may be referred to or form part of TSG papers, submissions to the Minister or other budget papers.  

Name of  Report/ Review/Study  Commissioned

Date Commissioned

Date report was completed

Date published

Cost of  the Report

Review of Remuneration Practices and Frameworks at the Covered Institutions

28/6/2012

11/3/2013

 12/3/2013

€119,000 (ex VAT)

PMCA Economic Consultancy to provide economic analysis and assistance in the preparation of the MTES 2014-2020 

 2.10.2013

6.12.2013

It is intended that the report will be published on the MTES website in the near future.  

€49,043 (VAT incl.)

Review of scheme of tax relief on donations to charities and approved bodies.  

8 Feb 2012

Budget day, 5 Dec 2012

Budget day, 5 Dec 2012

No external costs

Independent cost benefit analysis of Living City Initiative

June 2013

October 2013

15 October 2013

€28,290.00

 

Review of the Universal Social Charge

March 2011

October 2011

November 2011

No external costs

Independent survey of R&D performing firms in Ireland 2013

10/05/2013

15/10/2013

15/10/2013

€36,850.80

Fiscal Rules for Ireland

 

28/11/2011

12/01/2012

January 2012

€15,750.07 incl VAT

Cigarette  survey 2011 Revenue Commissioners

Sept 2011

June 2012

Sept 2012

€28,105(inc VAT)

Cigarette  survey 2012   Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Sept 2012

April 2013

Nov  2013

€28,105(inc VAT)

Report on valuations of properties to support the introduction of LPT Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Jan 2013

Feb 2013

Report not published. 

€56,653(inc VAT)

Report on the operation of VAT in a specific case   Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Jan 2013

Dec 2013

Report not published.

Nil (Pro Bono)

Cigarette  survey 2013 Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Oct 2013

In progress

In progress

€28,105(inc VAT)

Roll your own tobacco survey Office of the Revenue Commissioners

Nov 2013

In progress

In progress

€22,996 (inc VAT)

Financial Services Regulation

Ceisteanna (61)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

61. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if he will remove the Statute of Limitations applied to mis-sold payment protection insurance that was sold to customers since 2007, in line with other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12451/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As Minister for Finance, I do not have the primary role in relation to amending the law in relation to the Statute of Limitations.  This is a matter which has broad legal application and, as such, would fall for consideration, in the first instance, by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Turning specifically to Payment Protection Insurance issue, the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau was established under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004. This legislation provides the Financial Services Ombudsman with various powers in order to determine jurisdiction on a complaint. Included in this is a statutory timeframe. Section 57BX (3)(b) provides:- A consumer is not entitled to make a complaint if the conduct complained of  occurred more than 6 years before the complaint is made.

Therefore, the legislation prohibits the Financial Services Ombudsman from examining any aspect of a complaint where the conduct being complained of occurred more than 6 years prior to the receipt of the complaint in his Office.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (62)

John Browne

Ceist:

62. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department paid FGS an additional €8,400 in 2011 for the school transport scheme report, in terms of the services and-or advice required by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The report referred to by the Deputy reviewed the overhead costs and indirect costs associated with the administration of the school transport scheme. In completing its work on this report, FGS entered into a signed confidentiality agreement with Bus Éireann having regard to the fact that certain of the information made available to FGS by Bus Éireann was deemed to be commercially sensitive. Given this fact, the Company was further engaged to advise on necessary redactions, and, to provide initial advice on possible updated accounting arrangements.

Higher Education Schemes

Ceisteanna (63)

John Halligan

Ceist:

63. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he or his Department considered linking the requirements of those persons engaged in Springboard courses to the possible provision of State-supported child care facilities; if he will acknowledge that vast numbers of people are forced to relinquish places on such courses as they are unable to make provision for their child care needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12243/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Springboard is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part-time higher education courses to enable unemployed people who have lost jobs in sectors where employment levels will not return, to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. Unfortunately due to the limited resources available under the Springboard fund it is not possible to cover other expenses, including child care expenses, incurred by students while participating on a course. Child care support was introduced in the late 1990s as a way of providing assistance to people participating on specific Further Education programmes who faced barriers returning to education. In 2010, this programme was restructured into the Childcare Education and Training Scheme (CETS) administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It is not intended to extend the scheme further at this point.

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