Written Answers Nos. 171-189
171. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if a person goes through the bankruptcy process in the UK, the way in which this affects their credit rating and future chances of being approved for a mortgage here. [2928/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations and the Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code requires lenders to carry out an assessment of a mortgage borrower's credit-worthiness, and the Regulations also provide that lender shall only make mortgage credit available where the result of the assessment indicates that the borrower's obligations are likely to be met in the manner required under the proposed credit agreement. This assessment must also include the consideration of the results of a test on the personal consumer’s ability to repay the mortgage instalments, over the duration of the agreement, on the basis of a two per cent interest rate increase, at a minimum, above the interest rate offered to the personal consumer. (This two per cent test does not apply to mortgages where the interest rate is fixed for a period of five years or more). In order to conduct such an assessment, the lender is required to obtain and record sufficient financial and personal information from the consumer which is necessary, sufficient and proportionate. In due course the lender will also be obliged to access the information held on the Central Credit Register in relation to a mortgage or other qualifying credit application.
The policy responsibility for personal insolvency law, including its cross border aspects, are a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. However, from a financial services perspective there is no specific legal requirement or Central Bank guidance to financial institutions on the consideration of evidence of bankruptcy in the UK as part of the mortgage loan application process. Subject to compliance with applicable legislative and regulatory requirements, the decision to grant or refuse credit is a commercial decision by the individual regulated mortgage lender.
172. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) is being asked to repay a sum of money that was paid to them in relation to section 22 tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2940/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraRented residential relief and owner occupier relief were introduced by section 23 of the Finance Act 1981 in respect of residential properties in certain designated areas (S. 23 amended Chapter 11 of Part 10 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997). The reliefs were granted for a period of 10 years from the year of occupancy of a property. They were discontinued during the previous decade.
I am advised by Revenue that the person concerned purchased a qualifying property in 2006 and relief was granted to her for 2006 and she received owner occupier relief through her tax credits for 2007 and subsequent years. Relief should not have been granted to the person concerned after 2015 (the end of the 10 period for which relief was due) but, due to an oversight on Revenue’s part, this was not the case. Despite contact from the person concerned to Revenue in May 2017, the relief continued to be incorrectly granted.
I am also advised by Revenue that earlier this month, following further contact from the person concerned, Revenue noted its mistake and apologised for its error. The relief is no longer being granted.
I am further advised by Revenue that a review of the case for 2016 has confirmed an underpayment of tax for the year. A review of 2017 must await the pay and tax details for the year that will shortly be submitted on the P35 return by the employer of the person concerned.
Finally, having regard to the circumstances of the case, I am advised by Revenue that it has agreed with the person concerned an approach to recovery of the underpayment of tax for 2016 that minimises the financial burden on the person concerned; any underpayment of tax for 2017 will be handled in a similarly sympathetic manner.
173. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that in order for a person to withdraw their savings and close their State savings account, they must provide a PPS number even if the account was created before the anti money laundering provisions in the Criminal Justice Acts 2010 and 2013 were enacted and even if the reason the customer is closing the account is in protest at having to provide a PPS number in order to continue using the account. [2979/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treasury Management Agency (" the NTMA") has informed me that it is a 'specified body' for the purposes of sections 262 to 270 and schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. This provides the power to the NTMA, acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance, to request holders of State Savings products to provide their PPS Number for the purposes of verifying the identity of such holders.
The NTMA, acting on behalf of the Minister for Finance, and its agents, An Post and the Prize Bond Company, use the PPS Number for the sole purpose of the administration of State Savings products and accounts. Personal data provided by holders (including PPS Number) is processed for the purpose of the administration of State Savings products and accounts, including anti-money laundering requirements under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Acts 2010 and 2013.
Under such legislation designated bodies such as An Post, are required by law to verify customers’ identities, irrespective of when the account was opened. The same legislation also requires designated bodies to ensure that customer identity verification information is kept up to date. Therefore, when a person wants to withdraw their savings and close their State Savings account, regardless of when the account was opened, they may be asked to verify their identity in accordance with the Criminal Justice Acts 2010 and 2013.
174. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the contracts his Department or agencies under his remit has with a company (details supplied); the status of these contracts; the contingency plans that may now be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3146/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department does not have any contracts with a company named Carillion.
Of the seventeen Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has provided the following information:
|
Contract |
Status of contracts |
Contingency plans |
|
Schools PPP Programme – Bundle 5 Project Agreement dated 21 July 2016 and related ancillary agreements. The project involves the construction, finance, operation and maintenance of 6 schools on 4 sites in Wicklow, Wexford, Meath and Carlow. The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) is responsible for management of the Project Agreement on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. The counterparty to the Project Agreement is ‘Inspiredspaces Bundle 5 (Ireland) Limited’, a consortium in which Carillion is a 50% shareholder. The other 50% shareholder is the Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF). |
The Project Agreement is in the construction period. The school buildings in question are approximately 90% complete. |
The Project Agreement includes detailed provisions designed to ensure that the project continues in the event of the insolvency / liquidation of a consortium member. |
175. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Finance his plans to review the situation in which the cap introduced in 2009 which applied to banks that had transferred assets into NAMA restricting their use of deferred tax assets to 50% of their corporation tax and was removed in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLoss relief for corporation tax is a long standing feature of the Irish Corporate Tax system and is a standard feature of all other OECD corporate tax systems. It allows for losses incurred in the course of business to be accounted for when calculating a business’ tax liabilities.
Section 396C of the TCA 1997 previously restricted losses for NAMA participating institutions to offset losses against 50% of taxable profits in a given year. At the time of its introduction the Government had limited involvement in the banking system. However, by Finance Bill 2013, this measure was considered to have outlasted its initial purpose. Due to the State’s substantial holdings in the banking sector (99.8% AIB and 15% of BOI at the time) it was deemed to be acting against the State’s interests.
Section 396C was repealed to:
- Reduce the State’s role as a ‘backstop’ provider of capital.
- Improve the existing value of the State’s equity and debt investments.
To recognise the part that the banks played in the financial crisis, in 2013, the Government decided that the banking sector should make an annual contribution of approximately €150 million to the Exchequer for the period from 2014 to 2016. In Budget 2017, the payment of this levy was extended until 2021. It was anticipated that the bank levy could be expected to raise €750 million over five years.
As I have previously stated, I do not intend to reintroduce the 50% restriction that was in place until 2014 and that the appropriate way for the banks to contribute to the economy is through the bank levy. However, at Report Stage of Finance Bill 2017, I made a commitment to provide a technical paper on the matter of bank losses to the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach by June 2018. The commitment was made in the context of the potential impact on capital levels of the banks if changes were made to the manner in which loss relief can be offset, with the stipulation that maintaining the bank levy as the appropriate measure would remain the clear policy standpoint.
176. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding tax concessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3292/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that an online application was submitted by the person concerned on 15th January 2018. Revenue has been in direct contact with the person concerned regarding difficulties with the application and is assisting him with the making of a new application.
177. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the status of the public banking investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3341/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to "thoroughly investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions". My Department, along with the Department of Rural and Community Development, are the Departments tasked with the responsibility for fulfilling this commitment.
Local public banking is where a State, or other public body, has ownership of a financial institution. In Germany, local public banks, called Sparkassen, are only permitted to operate in specific geographic regions. The business model of Sparkassen is not to maximise profits, but rather promote economic development and financial inclusion in the particular regional area in which they operate. In terms of SME finance, Sparkassen tend to build close relationships with SMEs in their locality.
The investigation of local public banking has consisted of a consultation process engaging with stakeholders and interested parties. This consultation process was carried out last year by the Department of Rural and Community Development, assisted by my Department.
Additionally, there has also been consideration of a proposal put forward by Irish Rural Link and the Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation (SBFIC), the international development wing of the Sparkassen group. The proposal outlines a potential model of local public banking, based on the German model, in Ireland. There have been a number of meetings between officials in both departments and representatives from Irish Rural Link and SBFIC.
Officials in my Department and the Department of Community and Rural Development have been working closely together. They have now completed the report on the findings of their investigation and both I, and my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring T.D., have received this report. We are currently reviewing and considering it. We expect to be in a position to bring the joint report on the investigation of local public banking to Government, for approval, in the near future.
The Deputy may be interested to know that there are already significant Government measures in place to support access to finance by Irish SMEs. These include the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the Supporting SMEs Online Tool, the Microenterprise Loan Fund, Local Enterprise Offices, the Credit Review Office and the Credit and Counter Guarantee Schemes.
Additionally, my Department is working with other Government departments to develop tailored and innovative schemes to meet the evolving needs of Irish SMEs, such as the Agricultural Cashflow Support Loan Scheme and the Brexit Loan Scheme I announced in Budgets 2017 and 2018 respectively.
178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the number of agencies, boards or other bodies under the aegis of his Department that have been disbanded or amalgamated or whose functions were subsumed back into his Department since 2011; the number of such bodies set up by his Department since that date; the names of the bodies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2011, one body under the aegis of my Department has been disbanded. Sealuchais Árachais Teoranta (SAT), a statutory company under the Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1985 acted as a non-trading holding company for Icarom plc (formerly the Insurance Corporation of Ireland) which was under administration. The two Directors of the company were officials of my Department. The administration of Icarom came to a close in early 2013. The Office of the Attorney General was consulted at the time about SAT and approved the intention to wind it up under the voluntary strike off procedure. SAT was formally struck off the companies register on 5 October 2014 and is no longer in operation.
Six bodies have been set up under the aegis of my Department since 2011 as follows:
Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society merged in July 2011 following the transfer of all assets and liabilities of Irish Nationwide Building Society to Anglo Irish Bank and subsequently became known as Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC).
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council was established on an interim basis in July 2011 and put on a statutory footing in December 2012 by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) was established in January 2013. It ceased operations in July 2017 and all board members have resigned. A caretaker board consisting of two Departmental officials and a Central Bank nominee will remain in place until dissolution is effected through primary legislation which will effect the transfer of all of ReBo’s assets and liabilities to the Minister for Finance.
The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland is a new company established in 2014.
The Tax Appeals Commission was established in 2016 and replaces the Office of the Appeal Commissioners.
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 merged the offices of the Pensions Ombudsman and the Financial Services Ombudsman into a single office which provides a one stop shop for people with unresolved complaints against financial service and pension providers. The Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman was established on 1 January 2018. Within that office is the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Council. Prior to the amalgamation, the Financial Services Ombudsman’s Council was previously a body under the aegis of my Department and the Pensions Ombudsman was a body under the aegis of what is now the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
179. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount paid out and the number of claims the payouts related to by each agency under the aegis of his Department in respect of personal injury claims in each of the years 2010 to 2017; the number of claims that were settled outside of court in each of these years; the number of payments that were as a result of a court judgment in each of these years; the nature of the claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3421/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOf the seventeen bodies under the aegis of my Department, I am informed that fourteen have had no claims and have made no payments in respect of personal injury claims in the period requested. It was not possible for two bodies to respond to this information request in the time available and therefore I will make arrangements to provide a response in line with Standing Orders.
One further body paid out approximately €130,000 in respect of personal injury claims during the period in question. However, the Deputy will appreciate that in line with Data Protection regulation, I am not in a position to provide further information as requested.
180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance the steps his Department is taking to reverse the lifetime reduction in pension benefits for workers in the private and commercial semi-State sector that were brought about as a consequence of the temporary pension levy introduced in 2011. [1909/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI take it the Deputy is referring to the stamp duty levies applying to the assets of funded pension arrangements introduced in 2011 to pay for the Jobs Initiative, the chargeable persons for which are the trustees of pension schemes and others responsible for the management of pension fund assets.
The stamp duty levy on pension schemes was introduced in the wake of the financial crash and at a time when the economy was in very serious difficulties. Something had to be done to preserve and boost jobs and it is an unavoidable fact that difficult economic situations require hard and very often unpopular decisions. All sectors of the economy had to contribute to the recovery plan and the levy was designed to claw back a small amount of the very generous tax reliefs that those contributing to pension arrangements had benefitted from over many years.
The original 0.6% stamp duty levy on pension fund assets ended in 2014. The additional levy of 0.15% which my predecessor introduced for 2014 and 2015, mainly to help continue to fund Jobs Initiative, also ended in 2015.
The position is that the equivalent value of all of the money raised from the stamp duty levy has been used to fund the wide range of measures introduced in the Jobs Initiative to protect existing jobs and to help create new jobs and the Initiative has been a success in this regard. The measures introduced include expenditure measures such as the JobBridge and Springboard schemes, as well as a number of tax and PRSI incentives such as the reduction in the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% for the tourism and hospitality sectors and the temporary halving of the lower employer PRSI rate.
Under the legislation, the payment of the levy is treated as a necessary expense of a pension scheme and the trustees or insurer, as appropriate, are entitled where needed to adjust current or prospective benefits payable under a scheme to take account of the levy. It is up to the trustees or insurer to decide whether, when and how the levy should be passed on and to what extent, given the particular circumstances of the pension schemes for which they are responsible. However, the legislation also includes safeguards aimed at ensuring that should the option of reducing scheme benefits be taken, it must be applied in an equitable fashion across the different classes of scheme members that could include active, deferred and retired members. In no case may the reduction in an individual member's or class of member's benefits exceed the member's or class of member's share of the levy. Where pension scheme trustees or an insurer took the decision to treat the levy as an expense of the pension scheme, they would have adjusted current or prospective benefits payable to members under that scheme. The consequence of this treatment by the trustees or insurer could be a permanent reduction in members' benefits.
The value of the funds raised by way of the levy have been used to protect and create jobs and this has helped to create the improving financial and economic position of the State. Taxpayers to whom the impact of the levy may have been passed on by the chargeable persons responsible for the payment of the levy (the pension scheme trustees, etc.) will benefit from the changes which my predecessor began in Budget 2015 and which have continued in subsequent Budgets to reduce the tax burden on low and middle income earners.
181. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of unspent moneys received back into the Exchequer from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe effective management of the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a central responsibility of each Minister and their Departments on an ongoing basis.
In relation to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the underspends for 2015 and 2016 are set out in the Appropriation Accounts, audited by the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG), and published on the Office of the C&AG’s website. The estimated outturn for 2017 was published earlier this month with the end 2017 Exchequer Statement. The actual outturn will be available when the Appropriation Accounts for 2017 are finalised. The Tables set out the gross and net underspends for the period 2015 to 2017, with the 2015 and 2016 amounts as set out in the Appropriation Accounts and the 2017 amounts as reported with the December 2017 Exchequer Returns.
Gross Expenditure (€ Million)
|
Year |
Estimate Provision |
Outturn |
Variance |
|
2015 |
1,325 |
1,265 |
60 |
|
2016 |
1,363 |
1,257 |
106 |
|
2017 |
1,468 |
1,391* |
78 |
Net Expenditure (€ Million)
|
Year |
Estimated Provision |
Outturn |
Variance |
|
2015 |
895 |
826 |
69 |
|
2016 |
1,057 |
804 |
253 |
|
2017 |
1,131 |
1,058* |
73 |
* Includes capital carryover of €23.8 million into 2018.
After taking account of capital carryover into the following year, the surplus to be surrendered to the Exchequer in 2015 was €57 million and in 2016 was €231 million.
182. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a person (details supplied) will be notified of a hearing date in relation to their application for compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis case relates to an application under the Garda Compensation 1941 Acts – “Compensation Section” - Michael Kilroy v the Minister for Finance. The role of the Department of Justice and Equality in such cases is to decide if applications of Gardaí (who sustained malicious injuries in the course of their duties) are eligible to be awarded. There are also further criteria which have to be fulfilled. In the case of this individual, the Department of Justice and Equality has already authorised this application.
The case currently rests with the Chief State’s Solicitors Office (CSSO). The CSSO prepares applications for the High Court in relation to Garda Compensation cases. According to the CSSO, this case is ready to be sent to the High Court for a hearing, subject to the availability of the doctors required to give evidence. The CSSO will shortly be in contact with the individual’s solicitor regarding possible dates. The solicitor for the applicant will then be in a position to apply to the relevant judge for a hearing date.
183. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of visitors that availed of guided tours of Maynooth Castle, County Kildare in each of the years 2014 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2983/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of visitors to Maynooth Castle for the years in question were as follows:
|
Year |
Total Visitor Numbers to Maynooth Castle |
Numbers that availed of a guided tour. |
|
2014 |
25,268 |
15,384 |
|
2015 |
21,843 |
10,819 |
|
2016 |
21,892 |
10,091 |
|
2017 (Provisional & subject to change) |
22,786 |
11,508 |
The visitor season at Maynooth Castle runs from mid-May to end September. In recent years the Castle has been open for five days a week for this period. I am pleased to announce that for the 2018 visitor season Maynooth Castle will be open to the public for seven days a week.
184. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the flood risk management plans including the eastern CFRAM have been finalised; if the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works has submitted them to him for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2984/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans.
The CFRAM Programme focussed on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas, mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. The proposed feasible measures, both structural and non-structural, identified for AFAs are outlined in the Flood Risk Management Plans.
The Draft Flood Risk Management Plans were published for public consultation in 2016 and a significant volume of submissions were received for consideration. In Summer 2017, the OPW finalised all Plans, including the Eastern CFRAM, and each Plan was submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for an independent review of the environmental assessments. This independent review is nearing completion, after which the Final Plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval, in accordance with the statutory requirements.
I am in the process of seeking approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the Flood Risk Management Plans developed under the CFRAM process.
185. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 11 September 2017, the information gathered from the installation of hydrometric gauges in the Hazelhatch and Celbridge areas of County Kildare; the further studies now being arranged based on the data gathered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data gathered from the recently installed Hydrometric Gauge on the Hazelhatch Stream has assisted and informed the OPW and Kildare County Council engineers in analysing and identifying the causes of recent flooding in the area.
The OPW understands that the more frequent flooding experienced in the area was due to a blockage of the culverts at Willow Dale and Willow Avenue respectively. Some interim works already carried out by Kildare County Council will help to address this more frequent flooding but more works are required at the culverts at these locations to provide greater protection from the more frequent flooding that has been experienced. In this regard, I understand that Kildare County Council is considering lodging an application under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake works or studies, costing less than €750,000, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The Minor Works proposed in this area will involve site investigations and further assessment to examine the current conveyance capacity of the culvert at Willow Dale, and the replacement of the existing debris screen to the culvert at Willow Avenue. This work is intended to address and alleviate the more frequent flooding experienced at these locations, and will inform the next steps.
In Summer 2017, the OPW finalised the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. All Plans, including the Eastern CFRAM, were submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for an independent review of the environmental assessments. This independent review is nearing completion, after which the Final Plans will be formally submitted to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval in the coming weeks, in accordance with the statutory requirements.
In relation to further or future measures to address flood risk in this area, Kildare County Council and the OPW will continue to engage constructively in relation to the options for Celbridge/Hazelhatch identified in the East CFRAM study.
186. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the benefits contained in the new public service pay agreement for existing public service pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020, which was ratified by Government and by public service trade unions and representative associations, sets out the policy on public service pension increases adopted by Government for the duration of that agreement (to end-2020).
Specifically, section 6.2 of this agreement indicates that pension increases in the public service will be guided by the following three elements:
- First, the need to adopt an equitable approach to the various public service pensioner cohorts differentiated by date of retirement (in particular pre and post end-February 2012) is affirmed.
- Second, for those who retired or will retire post end-February 2012, to the extent that they retired on reduced salaries for pension award purposes, they will receive pension increases in line with pay increases received by their peers currently in employment in accordance with the terms of the collective agreement.
- Third, when alignment is achieved between pre and post end-February 2012 pensioners, as will happen progressively for salary ranges up to €70,000 in 2020 under the proposed collective agreement, pay increases will continue to benefit pensions in payment for the duration of the agreement.
This means that, in general, the pay increases awarded under the PSSA over the period 2018-2020 will be passed through to qualifying pensions in payment. Those public servants who have retired from 1 March 2012 (post-February 2012 retirees) will benefit from the pay increases awarded under the PSSA in nearly all cases.
Public servants who retired before 1 March 2012 (pre-March 2012 retirees) will benefit from the pay increases under the PSSA only where the current equivalent salary (paid to serving staff) is above, or moves above, the salary on which that pension is based.
In addition to this, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides for the significant further lessening of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), occurring by way of threshold and rate changes to apply on 1 January 2019 and 1 January 2020.
This scheduled further lessening of the PSPR impact on pensions will mean that from 1 January 2019 all pensions up to €39,000 per annum will be exempt from PSPR, removing some 12,000 pensioners from the impact of PSPR.
From 1 January 2020, further PSPR-amelioration will mean that all pensions up to €54,000 per annum will be exempt from PSPR, removing some 10,500 additional pensioners from the impact of PSPR.
When fully in place from the beginning of 2020, these changes will mean that the vast majority of public service retirees - approximately 97% - comprising everyone with occupational pension values up to at least €54,000, will be entirely free of PSPR. For those who retired since end-February 2012 that threshold will be even higher at €60,000.
187. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contracts his Department or agencies under his remit has with a company (details supplied); the status of these contracts; the contingency plans that may now be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3151/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department or any of the bodies under its aegis do not have any contracts with the company named in the Deputy’s question.
188. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 16 January 2018, the amount of legal fees incurred by the State Claims Agency in respect of personal injuries claims in each of the years 2010 to 2017, by relevant State body, inclusive and exclusive of clinical personal injury claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3382/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question, I am advised by the State Claims Agency that the report, available at the following link, has been extracted from the National Incident Management System.
189. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 16 January 2018, the number of personal injury claims that the State Claims Agency has paid out on for each of the years 2010 to 2017, by relevant State body, inclusive and exclusive of clinical personal injury claims; the number of claims settled outside of court proceedings in each of these years; the number of claims settled as a result of a court judgement in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3383/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question, I am advised by the State Claims Agency that the report, available at the following link, has been extracted from the National Incident Management System.
