Written Replies Nos. 138 to 159
138. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide funding for the appointment of two additional full-time senior laboratory analysts for the Office of the State Pathologist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21768/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing requirements for my Department, including associated offices and agencies, are assessed and prioritised through the workforce planning process and aligned to the annual estimates process.
Through last year’s workforce planning process, the Office of the State Pathologist identified one senior laboratory analyst vacancy in 2017 and this post was filled in January. The workforce plan indicated the potential for one laboratory analyst vacancy in 2018.
However, the process is not static and there is ongoing engagement with senior managers across the Department in relation to their staffing requirements as pressures and priorities may require that plans are amended. Funding for additional posts not identified through the workforce planning process is considered with reference to the Department’s overall current pay budget.
139. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the statutory inquiry under section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 concerning a person (details supplied). [21797/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe inquiry to which the Deputy refers is to be established following my acceptance of a recommendation by the panel of the Independent Review Mechanism. The role of the Independent Review Mechanism was to review complaints of Garda misconduct.
Officials in my Department have consulted with the Office of the Attorney General with regard to matters concerning the establishment of this inquiry, its terms of reference and who will be appointed to conduct it. In accordance with section 42 (3A) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, there is a requirement for me to consult with the Policing Authority with regard to the setting up of the inquiry. That consultation process has been completed and I intend to proceed with the making of the necessary Order for the establishment of the inquiry shortly.
I have recently written to the solicitors for the person referred to by the Deputy with a copy of the terms of reference for the inquiry.
140. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the closure of the training unit in Mountjoy Prison; if the activities which had taken place in the training unit will be relocated to another part of the prison; and if she will provide details of same. [21802/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has commenced the repurposing of the Training Unit Place of Detention (on the Mountjoy Prison Campus) to a dedicated Unit for older prisoners. A key action of the current Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan (Action 2.5) is to ensure that older prisoners are identified as a specific group who have particular needs within the prison population. There are currently a number of such prisoners in the care of the Irish Prison Service who have significant and ongoing healthcare needs, many of whom are currently dispersed across the estate and in some cases significant distances away from the healthcare providers they rely on. The establishment of the unit will allow the Irish Prison Service to accommodate such prisoners in a purpose built unit within close proximity to a variety of medical care facilities and will also allow for appropriate remedial works to the accommodation. It is envisaged that the repurposing of the unit will take 18-24 months to complete. During this time, it will be necessary to accommodate current prisoners elsewhere in the prison estate, primarily within the Mountjoy Campus. It is intended that prisoners who are currently on programmes of temporary release will be facilitated in continuing with such programmes.
141. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the legislation required to authorise the use of the automatic number plate recognition systems by An Garda Síochána traffic corps, as per the advice of the Attorney General; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21805/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Síochána are exploring options for the expansion and enhancement of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR) and as part of that process sought advices from the Office of the Attorney General. Those advices, which were copied to my Department, raised the issue of legislating for ANPR.
Arising from this, my Department is currently in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General on the need for legislation, and will carefully consider the final advices when they are received.
142. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria used for selecting refugees; the way in which persons are prioritised; and when the resettlement programme will begin in Mullingar. [21926/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's attention is drawn to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of the 4th of April last in which I stated that, in respect of Ireland's resettlement programme, refugees are identified and proposed to Ireland by the UNHCR. They must meet the criteria set out in Article 1F of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (“the Geneva Convention”) and be deemed eligible for resettlement by the UNHCR. Refugees are interviewed by the resettlement team in the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration in my Department to establish that Ireland can meet their particular needs, including medical needs. They are also interviewed by members of An Garda Síochána and their fingerprints are checked against international databases for security reasons.
Resettlement to Mullingar is planned to take place during the summer but precise dates have not yet been finalised.
143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to assist a person (details supplied) living here to renew their passport. [22032/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy entered the State in March 2012 and registered directly at the GNIB Office towards the end of March 2012 for permission to remain in the State as the spouse of an Irish National. This permission expired on 28 December 2016.
The person concerned should write to Spouse of Irish National Unit, P.O. Box 12695, Dublin 2 requesting renewal of their permission and they should provide details of their extenuating circumstances regarding the renewal of their passport. They should be aware that under section 5 of the Immigration Act, 2004 it is unlawful for a non-national to be in the State other than in accordance with the terms of any permission given by the Minister for Justice and Equality. A person who contravenes such a requirement may have committed an offence and if found guilty is liable, under section 13 of the Immigration Act of 2004, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility, which has been established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
144. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank who are stationed in the Ballyfermot Garda station; and the number who were stationed there on 9 May in each year from 2008 to 2017, inclusive. [22051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
Ballyfermot Garda Station is in the Clondalkin Garda district which forms part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Division and I have been advised by the Commissioner that as of the 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 660 Garda with 27 Garda Reserves and 46 civilians attached to the DMR West Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.
I am informed by the Commissioner, since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, that 981 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, 87 of whom were assigned to the DMR West Division. I am also informed that another 600 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.
This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across the organisation, including the DMR West Division.
This investment in personnel is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and I have no doubt that these new resources now coming on stream will benefit all areas of Garda activity.
For the Deputy's information, I have set out below the strength of Ballyfermot Garda Station by rank as of the 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are available and the Garda strength for the years 2008-2016.
Ballyfermot Garda Station Strength 31 March 2017
|
Rank |
Total Strength |
|
Inspector |
1 |
|
Sergeant |
10 |
|
Garda |
72 |
|
Total |
83 |
Ballyfermot Garda Station Strength May 2008-2016
|
Strength |
Year |
|
2008 |
89 |
|
2009 |
88 |
|
2010 |
97 |
|
2011 |
97 |
|
2012 |
95 |
|
2013 |
87 |
|
2014 |
83 |
|
2015 |
84 |
|
2016 |
83 |
145. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of investigations by An Garda Síochána into alleged criminal damage done on 10 November 2007 to the property of persons (details supplied) who supplied materials to a company in north County Mayo; the number of statements that were taken by An Garda Síochána on this case; the number of persons who provided these statements; the number of persons questioned on their potential or constructive knowledge of the incident; if a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, on this case; if there were prosecutions in relation to this case; if so, the convictions that came as a result of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22147/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has sought information from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters raised and I will communicate further with the Deputy when a Garda report is to hand.
146. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance his views on reducing the VAT rate on the construction of new apartments to reduce construction costs and stimulate new supply; and if his Department has had discussions with other Departments on same. [21939/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply, does not in general allow the application of a reduced VAT rate on construction services. However, Ireland applies the 13.5% reduced rate of VAT to construction services under a derogation from the EU VAT Directive, because Ireland applied a reduced rate to such services on 1 January 1991.
The Programme for Partnership Government committed to ask the Oireachtas to consider the merits of a temporary targeted reduction of the rate of VAT from 13.5% to 9% on new, affordable houses and apartments, both public and private, timed to generate the maximum impact on supply and to target principally the purchasers of affordable homes.
In its June 2016 Report, the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness reviewed the costs of construction including VAT, in the light of the Programme for Partnership Government commitment. They recommend that the Housing Agency annually review construction costs but did not recommend that the VAT rate on new residential property be reduced.
Ahead of last year's Budget I decided that relief would be better operated through the income tax rather than the VAT system, as applying the 9% VAT rate to the construction of new residential properties would involve having two separate VAT rates applying to construction services.
As the deputy will be aware, I also introduced the Help-to-Buy incentive in Budget 2017 to help encourage the building of additional new homes. That scheme will run until the end of 2019.
147. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has conducted a detailed study of the size of the motor finance market here; if so, the level of household exposure if there were a change in circumstances in the car market such as a change to residual values of contracts or increased interest rates; the potential economic impact of such a change in the motor finance market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22111/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, the focus of my attention in relation to personal credit has been on the mortgage market because this is the most significant in terms of its impact on the borrower and the broader economy. I, as Minister for Finance, have not conducted a detailed study of the size of the motor finance market here. In addition, I understand that neither the Central Bank nor the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have published a report specifically on this issue. That said, I am not aware of any consumer protection issues in relation to the motor finance market.
I am taking the Deputy’s question, in the absence of detailed information, to refer to Personal Contract Plans (PCPs) or hire-purchase agreements. PCPs are in effect a type of hire-purchase agreement and my Department does not collate statistics on the number and value of such plans that are entered into.
The Consumer Credit Act, 1995, applies to the provision of hire-purchase agreements. Both the Central Bank and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have certain functions and legal powers in relation to the regulation of hire-purchase agreements.
While hire-purchase providers are not required to be authorised by the Central Bank, they are subject to a number of legislative and regulatory requirements supervised by the Central Bank and listed in Schedule 2 to the Central Bank Act 1942. In addition, to the extent that an entity is a 'regulated financial service provider', the powers in the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 and the administrative sanctions procedure will apply.
Finally, any intermediary who is arranging credit for a consumer is acting as a credit intermediary and an intermediary arranging such credit must seek authorisation from the CCPC to act as a credit intermediary. A list of authorised credit intermediaries is available on the CCPC website (http://www.ccpc.ie/compliance-business/credit-intermediaries/authorised).
148. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the price of motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22113/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of objectives of the Irish Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) system.
VRT is an important source of Revenue for the State. It also seeks to reflect the negative externalities caused by using the vehicle in the State. These externalities are the costs to society and to the environment that, without the tax, would not otherwise be reflected in the price of the vehicle and for which the consumer would not otherwise have to pay. In the case of motor vehicles, these externalities include environment externalities such as air pollution, which is why one of the bases for imposing VRT is the vehicle's carbon emissions. Other externalities which VRT seeks to reflect, include the costs to society of providing and maintaining the road infrastructure, traffic control, relevant emergency services, and vehicle registration and licensing. The funds raised through VRT go towards compensating the Irish State for these significant costs.
149. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance his views on the possibility of reducing the VAT registration threshold for architect firms in view of the fact that many smaller practices, especially those in rural locations, are becoming less common. [21901/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraVAT registration thresholds provide a mechanism for exempting business with a low turnover from having to register for VAT. This reduces the administrative burden on both small businesses often at the developmental stage and on the Revenue Commissioners. The VAT registration thresholds for small businesses are currently €37,500 in the case of a person supplying services and €75,000 in the case of person supplying goods.
In setting registration thresholds levels, the objective is to strike an appropriate balance between the desirability of reducing the administrative burden on small businesses and the need to avoid undermining tax compliance or causing competitive distortions relative to registered firms. Reducing the VAT registration threshold for architects may increase the administrative burden on smaller firms, while raising the threshold may cause competitive distortions.
VAT is governed by the EU VAT Directive with which Irish VAT law must comply. The EU VAT Directive provides that VAT registration thresholds may only be raised by Member States to maintain their value in real terms, that is, they may only be increased in line with inflation.
150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the high costs of public liability insurance; and if so, his plans to work with the industry to try to reduce this. [22070/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products.
Nevertheless, it is possible for the State to play a role in helping to stabilise the market and deal with factors contributing to the availability and cost of insurance. Accordingly, I established the Cost of Insurance Working Group and appointed Minister of State Eoghan Murphy as Chair. This Working Group is examining the factors contributing to the increasing cost of insurance and identifying what short, medium and long-term measures can be introduced to help reduce the cost of insurance for consumers and businesses. The initial focus of the Working Group was the issue of rising motor insurance premiums and in this regard the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017.
The Working Group is now in its second phase which is concentrating on the Employer Liability and Public Liability insurance sectors. The Working Group is building upon the previous work done in the motor phase in order to determine how it can be applied in the employer liability and public liability insurance claims areas particularly in relation to:
- Personal Injury data and information
- Effects of legal costs and litigation processes on insurance costs
- Current claims compensation arrangements and cost of claims
- Impact of unlawful activity on insurance sector
The Working Group is also considering the impact of the cost of insurance on the competitiveness of particular business sectors, the impact of health and safety issues on the cost of insurance and other market issues.
The Working Group is continuing to meet on a regular basis to examine issues related to Employer Liability and Public Liability insurance. The Working Group has held extensive consultations with a range of stakeholders including the Hotels Federation of Ireland, IBEC, ISME, the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI), the Licensed Vintners’ Association (LVA), the Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA), Chambers Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority. Further consultations are also planned and submissions have been invited from interested parties.
It is envisaged that the final results of the second phase will take the form of an addendum to the existing Report. As with the first phase, the aim is for all relevant bodies and stakeholders to work together in order to deliver fairer premiums for businesses without unnecessary delay.
151. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who wishes to bring personal property here: the way in which the person can apply for VRT exemption; the location the application must be made; the time limits to make an application; the legislation and Revenue rules that apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21426/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procedure for applying for relief from customs duties and VAT on transferring residence to Ireland can be found at http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/leaflets/pn1875.html and the procedures relating specifically to relief from VRT are at http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html.
The information supplied on the revenue website is primarily designed for persons who are moving house, with considerable belongings being shipped rather than carried as luggage. In most such cases, a customs agent is used to arrange the shipment, and the agent will be able to deal with any formalities. Duty and VAT do not normally arise, unless there are high value items which are capable of resale. For personal luggage such as would be carried by a normal passenger, no advance customs declaration is required.
In this case, it appears that a motor vehicle is being imported. Vehicle Registration tax (VRT) may be waived as described in the leaflet referred to above, which also provides contact details for further information. The claim for relief should be made at the local Revenue office within seven days of the arrival of the vehicle. It will be necessary to show that the vehicle was owned and used abroad for at least six months; that the person concerned resided abroad for at least one year; and that the person is now transferring permanent residence to Ireland, or has transferred residence within the previous year.
152. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of mortgage holders in receipt of tax relief at source, TRS, in 2017; the cost of such relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the number of mortgage holders in receipt of tax relief at source in respect of mortgage interest for the year 2016, the latest year for which data are available, is in the order of 419,400 claimants. The provisional cost to the Exchequer in 2016 for such claimants is €184.2 million. A forecast for 2017 is not available.
In my Budget speech last October, I confirmed my intention to extend MIR beyond the current 2017 end date on a tapered basis to 2020, in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The details of the extension will be set out in Budget 2018. A review of policy considerations and potential costs of such an extension was contained in the Income Tax Reform Plan published by my Department in July last year and may be of interest to the Deputy. The plan is available at: http://www.finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Income%20Tax%20Reform%20Plan-FINAL_0.pdf.
153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his plans to act on reports that there is a ticking timebomb regarding the practice of banks concerning revenue recognition before earned income from interest free credit cards in view of reports that a number of lenders (details supplied) are offering introductory 0% balances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21681/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the accounting rules around income recognition are covered primarily under International Accounting Standard IAS 18 which requires that the following conditions are met before income can be recognised:
- it is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item of revenue will flow to the entity, and
- the amount of revenue can be measured with reliability.
While it is the responsibility of the auditors of the banks to give an independent opinion that the banks’ accounts give a true and fair view of their assets, liabilities and financial position, supervisors are aware of the risk and continue to monitor the assumptions used by banks around income recognition on all their loan books.
Through the Central Bank's supervision and inspection work, I am informed that they continually evaluate aspects of the business model of institutions to address areas of concern and where issues are identified, they require the relevant credit institutions to remediate these issues.
In terms of the specific issue around introductory rates for credit card transfers in the Irish market, I understand that the duration of these offers are typically in the range of 6/7 months.
In addition, I understand that for those banks that offer such deals in the Irish market, the proportion of credit card accounts on such offers, is limited (<10% of total credit card accounts).
154. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that insurance companies are not accepting National Car Test, NCT, certificates as proof of road worthiness in claims cases; his views on whether it is unfair and unjust to expect persons to employ the services of mechanical engineers to prove road worthiness in such cases; his further views on whether the stance of insurance companies erodes the authority and reputation of the NCT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products.
Policy in relation to the NCT lies with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The NCT was introduced to comply with an EU Roadworthiness Testing Directive aimed at improving road safety and environmental protection. The NCT is an inspection or general "health check" of what is visible and accessible on the day of the test and includes a check of the roadworthiness of such safety features, amongst others, as lighting, brakes and tyres. It goes beyond the current Directive's requirements in many areas and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is of the view that the Irish system is one of the best roadworthiness testing regimes in the EU.
The NCT, however, does not replace or purport to replace the regular maintenance of a vehicle by a qualified mechanic and does not convey a warranty or guarantee of future reliability. While the NCT is one component of having safer vehicles on our roads, every vehicle owner also has a personal and legal responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and well maintained.
In terms of the assessment of individual insurance claims by vehicle insurers, this is a matter between the insurance companies concerned and their clients. I understand however from Insurance Ireland that further investigations of roadworthiness may be warranted in some cases particularly when a claim occurs a certain length of time after the NCT has taken place.
155. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the number of vulture funds operating here; the name of each vulture fund; the number of distressed mortgages in each portfolio; the protections in place for the tenants of such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21621/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no agreement on its precise meaning of the term “vulture funds” and it has come to have pejorative connotations. I presume that the Deputy intends referring to private equity funds. The Deputy will be aware that international private equity funds invested much needed capital in our economy during a period of high risk and uncertainty.
Central Bank data published on 16 March 2017 provided the following data in respect of mortgages held by what they called “unregulated loan owners”.
The total number of Principal Dwelling House (PDH) mortgages held by unregulated loan owners stands at 12,234, valued at €2.4 billion. The total number of mortgages in the Buy to Let (BTL) category was 5,955, valued at €1.7 billion. Of these loans, the number of PDH mortgages in arrears was 7,445. The number of BTL mortgages in arrears was 4,494.
The full report is available at:https://www.centralbank.ie/docs/default-source/statistics/data-and-analysis/credit-and-banking-statistics/mortgage-arrears/residential-mortgage-arrears-and-repossessions-statistics-december-2016.pdf?sfvrsn=9.
Other than that, the Central Bank does not routinely publish data on entities which are not regulated by the Central Bank and it is not possible to provide the list sought by the Deputy.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act, 2015 was enacted in July 2015. It was introduced by the previous Government to fill the consumer protection gap where loans were sold by the original lender to an unregulated firm. The Act introduced a regulatory regime for a new type of entity called a 'credit servicing firm'. Credit Servicing Firms are now subject to the provisions of Irish financial services law that apply to 'regulated financial service providers'.
Under the Act, purchasers of loan books must either be regulated by the Central Bank themselves or else the loans must be serviced by a credit servicing firm that is regulated by the Central Bank. The significant point is that the regulation is focussed at the point of contact with the customer. Therefore relevant borrowers, whose loans are sold to third parties, maintain the same regulatory protections they had prior to the sale, including under the various statutory codes (such as the Consumer Protection Code, Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears) issued by the Central Bank of Ireland and the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (Section 48) (Lending to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) Regulations 2015 which came into operation in July 2016. It is also important to highlight that the transfer of a loan from one entity to another does not change the terms of the contract or the borrower's rights and obligations under the original contract.
A register of Credit Servicing Firms authorised or transitionally authorised by the Central Bank is available on its website at http://registers.centralbank.ie/DownloadsPage.aspx.
Finally, I would highlight that tenant relations are governed by multiple pieces of legislation mainly under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
156. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons claiming relief under the special assignment relief programme for each year it has been in operation, in tabular form; the total value of tax relief on income granted for each year it has been in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21790/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra157. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Finance the number of relevant employees entitled to make a claim for relief under the special assignment relief programme who have made a claim for tuition fees for each year of operation, in tabular form; and the total value of such claims for each year of operation. [21791/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.
I am advised by Revenue that for each of the years 2012, 2013 and in 2014 (the most recent year for which figures have been published) the following table sets out the number of persons who availed of the special assignee relief programme (SARP) and the total cost of the programme.
|
Year |
Claimants |
Total Claimed €,000 |
|
2012 |
11 |
100 |
|
2013 |
121 |
1,900 |
|
2014 |
302 |
5,900 |
Employees who qualify for SARP may receive, free of tax, certain expenses of travel and certain costs associated with the education of their children in the State. The table sets out the total value claimed annually and the number of eligible claimants in respect of tuition fees for 2012, 2013 and 2014. It should be noted that under SARP only school fees of up to €5,000 per annum for each child of the relevant employee or for each child of his or her spouse or civil partner are allowed. Due to the nature of the SARP employer returns for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, there are no statistics available to estimate a net cost to the exchequer for claims involving tuition fees.
|
Year |
Claimants |
Total Tuition €,000 |
|
2012 |
- |
34 |
|
2013 |
18 |
169 |
|
2014 |
35 |
571 |
In relation to 2012, there was a very small number of claimants and an exact figure is not provided in order to protect confidential taxpayer information.
It should also be noted that the total tuition claimed figures are the total amount of tuition fees in respect of which claims were made and not the amount of tuition fees that qualified for SARP. The amount of tuition fees which qualified for SARP relief is not readily available.
Finally, I am also advised by Revenue that detailed reports regarding the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) are published on the Revenue Commissioners’ webpage located at http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/research/statistical-reports.html. These reports provide information on the conditions, eligibility and the calculation of the relief. Furthermore, there are statistics covering the uptake of the relief and the cost to the Exchequer up from 2012 to 2014, the latest year for which figures are available. I understand that an update including figures for 2015 will be published shortly.
158. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding plans to meet and engage with insurance companies here regarding excessive premiums being charged to persons, particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [21794/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products. Consequently, I am not in a position to review individual cases nor to direct insurance companies as to the pricing level that they should apply to particular categories of individuals.
However, I do accept that it is possible for the State to play a role in helping to stabilise the market and deal with factors contributing to the cost of insurance. Consequently, I established the Cost of Insurance Working Group and appointed Minister of State Eoghan Murphy as Chair. The Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance was published in January 2017. It contains 33 recommendations and 71 actions which are detailed in an action plan contained in the Report with agreed timelines for implementation.
Meeting the Report’s objective of delivering fairer motor insurance premiums for consumers without unnecessary delay requires the cooperation and commitment of all relevant bodies and stakeholders, none more so than the insurance industry itself. In this respect, there has been continuous ongoing engagement between my Department and the Working Group with Insurance Ireland on the implementation of the recommendations since the publication of the Report in January. Insurance Ireland, as the representative body of the insurance industry in Ireland with approximately 95% of insurance companies operating within the country being members, is a key party in respect of the implementation of many of the recommendations.
In parallel with the implementation of the Report’s recommendations, the Working Group in its second phase is currently examining the Employer Liability and Public Liability insurance sectors. Consultation with stakeholders is ongoing, and will also involve an appropriate engagement with the insurance industry.
159. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce new initiatives for the purchase of motor vehicles other than diesel vehicles in view of the new evidence that suggests diesel vehicles are prone to high emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21819/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of supports already exist to incentivise the purchase of hybrid and electric vehicles, such as relief from vehicle registration tax and, in the case of electric vehicles, a grants towards the cost of such vehicles. Any new initiatives aimed at introducing policies to address emerging issues are considered as part of the annual Budget process. This process starts with the presentation of papers to the Tax Strategy Group setting out options around taxation, including environmental taxes.
The Programme for Partnership Government seeks to make Ireland a leader in the take-up of electric vehicles. On that basis, a low emissions vehicle taskforce has also been established to examine initiatives which could further incentivise the early adoption of electric vehicles and other low emissions vehicles. It is expected that the taskforce will make recommendations to Government to assist the transition towards cleaner vehicles.
