Written Answers Nos. 207-231
207. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the details of engagements, meetings or correspondence that each Minister of State in his Department has had with a person (details supplied) in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45458/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt was not possible for my Department to provide the information sought in the time available and, therefore, I will make arrangements to provide the information in line with Standing Orders.
211. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 25 October 2018, if he will examine options in which line managers of persons who do not use the Internet are entitled to request postal communication for employees that are unable to request such contact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45598/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed that the Deputy’s Question relates specifically to situations where managers of some community based schemes feel they should be able to engage with Revenue on behalf of employees in certain circumstances.
I am assured that while Revenue actively encourages taxpayers to use its online services as the quickest, easiest and most convenient way to manage their tax affairs, it fully appreciates that some customers are unable to avail of these facilities for different reasons and require additional support.
In the context of PAYE Modernisation and as outlined in my reply to Parliamentary Question 88 of 25 October 2018, Revenue has put alternate arrangements in place for taxpayers experiencing difficulties accessing or using its online services. These arrangements include the ability to request hard copies of End of Year statements by telephone, written correspondence or by calling into a Revenue public office.
While Revenue must always be cognisant of taxpayer confidentiality and general data protection regulations it is accepted that occasions will arise where a person requires another individual to act on his or her behalf (with Revenue) in respect of their tax affairs. In such circumstances, Revenue will engage with a nominated representative providing that person can clearly prove that the taxpayer has authorised him/her to operate in that capacity.
In the specific circumstances that I believe the Deputy is highlighting, it could be that the request for an End of Year statement is made to Revenue by a line manager and the hard-copy documentation is sent directly to the taxpayer in question thereby ensuring against any breach of confidentiality.
212. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who availed of the partial and full deferral of local property tax, LPT, liability since LPT was introduced on properties an annual basis to date; the amount collected by the Revenue Commissioners in interest charges applicable due to deferrals; if consideration has been given to the abolition of charging 4% extra on persons that qualify for a deferral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons paying LPT by way of deduction at source from salary or occupational pension on a yearly basis since LPT was introduced; the yearly amounts collected by this method; if he will differentiate those paying from pensions and those paying from working salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45677/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the amount of LPT collected on a yearly basis since LPT was introduced that has been paid via payment service providers; the procedure in place for collection if a person fails to make a payment via this method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45678/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 214, inclusive, together.
Regarding Question 45676, the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) provides for a deferral or partial deferral (50%) of LPT where certain specified circumstances exist. These circumstances include ‘Income Level’, ‘Hardship’, ‘Personal Insolvency’ and ‘Personal Representative of a Deceased Person’.
Once granted, a deferral normally remains in place for the duration of the ‘valuation period’, which is currently 1 May 2013 to 31 October 2019. However, property owners can opt to pay the outstanding liability at any time and discontinue with the deferral. Where a deferral is in place, the outstanding liability remains as a charge on the property and must be paid before a sale or transfer can be completed. Interest is also charged on the deferred amount at a rate of 4% per annum. There are currently over 59,000 properties with LPT deferrals in place, most of which are in respect of the entire Valuation Period (2013-2019). Table 1 below sets out the numbers and values of properties with deferred liabilities for each year since the commencement of LPT.
Table 1
No of Taxpayers with LPT Deferrals
|
Deferrals |
Full |
Partial |
Total |
|
Liability Year |
,000 |
,000 |
,000 |
|
2013 |
30 |
2 |
32 |
|
2014 |
38 |
2 |
40 |
|
2015 |
46 |
2 |
48 |
|
2016 |
55 |
2 |
57 |
|
2017 |
58 |
2 |
60 |
|
2018 |
57 |
2 |
59 |
The accumulated deferral interest amount charged for the entire Valuation Period (2013-2019) is in the region of more than €7m. It is not possible to provide the exact amount of this interest that has been collected to date because some elements are at different points in the collection cycle while other elements are still reflected as charges against the properties in question. However, Revenue is confident that the full amount will be collected over time. I have no plans to abolish the reduced interest rate of 4% on deferred liabilities.
Regarding Question 45677, I am advised by Revenue that there are a range of options available to pay LPT, including the options to pay by deduction at source (DaS). DaS allows a property owner to pay LPT in equal amounts over the year, from either an employment, occupational pension, a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) payment, or a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) payment. Specific data relating to deductions from occupational pensions is not available as these payments are categorised on Revenue records as deriving from employment. The overall numbers including the total amount collected each year from all DaS sources are set out in Table 2 below.
Table 2
|
Liability Year |
Number of employees / occupational pensioners on DaS |
Total Amount of Payments |
|
,000 |
m |
|
|
2013 |
87 |
€14 |
|
2014 |
142 |
€55 |
|
2015 |
161 |
€53 |
|
2016 |
176 |
€57 |
|
2017 |
187 |
€60 |
|
2018 |
195 |
€61 (by year end) |
Regarding Question 45678, I am advised by Revenue that payments made via Service Providers (An Post, Payzone and Omnivend) enables property owners to make either a single LPT payment or to pay on a phased basis over the year. Single payments are due by the LPT deadline in January each year while phased payments can be made on a weekly or monthly basis to suit an individual’s circumstances. The various service providers are commercial operations and levy transaction charges that are outside of Revenue’s control. The amount of LPT collected each year via Service Providers since the commencement of LPT is set out in Table 3 below:
Table 3
|
Liability Year |
LPT Collected via Service Provider (m) |
|
2013 |
€21 |
|
2014 |
€44 |
|
2015 |
€44 |
|
2016 |
€44 |
|
2017 |
€47 |
|
2018 To Date |
€42 |
Finally, property owners who fail to comply with their LPT obligations, regardless of the payment methods selected, may be subject to a range of collection and enforcement options that are provided to Revenue under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) including:
- Mandatory deduction from employment income, occupational pension or certain Government payments.
- Referral of the outstanding debt to a Sheriff or Solicitor for collection.
- Placing of an Attachment order on a bank account or 3rd party debt owed to the defaulting taxpayer.
- A surcharge on Income Tax, Corporation Tax or Capital Gains Tax Returns.
- Interest charges of 8% per annum applied from the due date to the date of the payment.
- A charge on the property, which must be paid before any sale or transfer of ownership can take place.
- Withholding of Tax Clearance certification.
- Offset of any refunds due in other taxes to outstanding LPT/Household Charge liabilities.
215. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance his views on the possibility of reintroducing tax-free shopping following Brexit. [45690/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCouncil Directive 2007/74/EC and Council Directive 2007/74/EC and the European Communities (Tax Exemption for Certain Non-Commercial Goods Imported in the Personal Luggage of Travellers from Third Countries) Regulations 2008 (Statutory Instrument 480 of 2008), provide the legislative basis for the exemption from value added tax and excise duty on goods imported by persons travelling to and from outside of the EU. The exemptions set out restrictions on the value of goods and quantitative limits on excisable products.
Ireland has been clear that it wants the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK, including on trade, in order to minimise the impact on our trade and economy.
While the framework of the future relationship is being discussed with a view to agreeing a Political Declaration alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, detailed negotiations on the exact nature of the future relationship cannot begin until after the UK formally ceases to be an EU Member State on 29 March 2019. A transition period is being agreed within the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, in order to allow additional time for the EU and the UK to finalise the details of the future relationship.
Taxation and level playing field issues will form part of the future relationship discussions. It is therefore too early to speculate on the detail of a future relationship whilst negotiations are ongoing.
216. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to make changes to the single parent tax credit; if he will consider putting in place an amendment to the rules by which both parents deemed to be providing substantial care to a child can be in receipt of this tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45764/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Single Person Child Carer Credit (SPCCC) of €1,650 per annum is given where a person has a “qualifying child” resident with him or her for the whole or greater part of the year of assessment and the other conditions of the relief are also satisfied.
Only one credit is available is respect of any qualifying child, and an individual who is a primary claimant in respect of more than one qualifying child can only receive one credit.
Agreement as to who will be the primary carer of a child is a matter for the parents or guardians. Where the custody of a child is shared equally between two individuals, the legislation provides that the primary claimant shall be the person in receipt of the child benefit payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
In circumstances where the primary carer cannot utilise the credit – for example, because of insufficient taxable income - the primary carer may relinquish the credit and a secondary claimant may claim it. The requirement for a primary claimant to relinquish the credit before a claim from a secondary claimant can be considered is necessary, as only one credit is available in respect of a qualifying child or children and depending on individual circumstances, an individual might wish to retain the credit in order to offset any tax liability that might arise as a result of a review of their income tax liabilities in any of the years concerned.
On the question of whether there are any plans to amend the current rules of the SPCCC, I appreciate that it may not always be a straightforward determination between parents or guardians, but there are no firm plans at present. That said, on foot of engagement with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in 2018, I have asked my officials to look at this measure in 2019 and in that context, any proposals for how to better allocate the tax credit are always welcome.
In the meantime, I am satisfied that the SPCCC is targeting limited resources to where they are most needed, noting that in 2016 the credit costs €90.3m and was claimed by 65,700 families.
217. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the amount which will be spent on official development assistance in 2018; the recipients of this ODA; and the amount each recipient will receive. [45771/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below relates to funding provided by my Department which is returned as Official Development Assistance (ODA). As you will be aware Ireland, as a member of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC), must report, on an annual basis, a detailed statistical analysis of total Official Development Assistance (ODA). This composite return, which is co-ordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is usually prepared in the first quarter of the subsequent year and accordingly the official figures for 2018 are not yet available. I have therefore included the figures for 2017 for my Department, the latest figures available, for the Deputy’s information.
|
Category |
Organisation |
Amount of ODA €m |
|
World Bank |
International Development Association (IDA) |
€24.57 |
|
World Bank |
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) |
€2.73 |
|
Regional Development Bank |
Asian Development Fund (ADF) |
€3.40 |
|
Regional Development Bank |
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)* |
€3.85 |
|
Total |
€34.55 |
*The OECD Development Assistance Committee have decreed that 85% of contributions to the AIIB are eligible to be recorded as ODA. The figure shows the amount reckonable for ODA purpose out of an overall contribution of €4.54m.
218. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the amount the Revenue Commissioners will spend on official development assistance in 2018; the recipients of this ODA; and the amount each recipient will receive. [45772/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that, while it does not contribute financially to official development assistance, Revenue does regularly respond to requests for its officers to provide direct technical assistance to tax authorities in both developing and developed countries.
In the last number of years Revenue has organised workshops for visiting tax officials from Oman, Namibia, Moldova, Croatia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Kenya and Albania. In 2018 visiting delegations were from developed countries – Japan, Malaysia and Denmark – and these working visits addressed a variety of subject areas, including data management, debt management, training and digital services.
In 2018 Revenue provided speakers to participate in the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administration (CATA) Senior Leadership Programme. CATA helps its 46 participating countries to develop effective tax administrations that promote sustained development and good governance. In 2018 also, Revenue officers provided training to tax officers from a wide variety of developing countries through the OECD’s Global Relations Programme. These training sessions addressed international tax dispute resolution, negotiation of double tax agreements, and exchange of information between tax authorities. The participants in these training courses were mainly tax auditors from African and Asian countries.
219. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a formal engagement with his Dutch counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45835/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI met my Dutch counterpart, Minister Wopke Hoekstra, in the margins of the Eurogroup and ECOFIN Council meetings in Brussels, on 6 November. We both also attended a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic plus Ireland and The Netherlands group of Finance Ministers in Brussels on 5 November.
220. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the allocation in 2019 to North-South bodies in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45897/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have responsibility for any North-South Bodies, and consequently, did not allocate funding to any of them in 2019.
221. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the amount his Department has spent in 2018 on carrying out commissions of investigation and State inquiries as recommended by the independent review mechanism and State tribunals; the number and name of these investigations; the individual costs in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45911/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not the specified Minister in respect of any Commissions of Investigation conducted during the course of 2018, nor am I directly responsible for any ongoing Tribunals of Inquiry. Therefore I have not incurred any costs in carrying out any such Commissions of Investigation or State Inquiries during 2018.
However, my Department has been asked to provide information to the Commission of Investigation relating to IBRC and to the Commission of Investigation relating to NAMA. Some expenditure has arisen in responding to those requests for information.
222. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on an annual basis in public sector pensions to retired State employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44677/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have direct responsibility for Vote 12: Superannuation and Retired allowances which reflects the pension costs in respect of retired Civil Service employees only and therefore I can only reply on this basis.
The total audited gross expenditure on Vote 12 in 2017 amounted to €535.5 million.
This includes regular pension payments, lump sum costs, death gratuities etc.
223. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a building (details supplied) is owned by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45286/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe former Garda Station on Mary Street, County Limerick is owned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, acting on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are currently in negotiations with Limerick City and County Council regarding an exchange of lands for two State owned properties in Limerick. One of the State owned properties is the former Garda Station on Mary Street, County Limerick.
224. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount his Department has spent in 2018 on carrying out commissions of investigation and State inquiries as recommended by the independent review mechanism and State tribunals; the number and name of these investigations; the individual costs in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44596/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not had any expenditure in this regard in 2018.
225. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the land under the remit of the Office of Public Works, OPW, in County Meath; the location of same; the use to which the land is being put; the location of land that is vacant, not in use or being used for agricultural purposes; the land which has been made available to Meath County Council or other housing agencies for the purpose of house building; and the amount of this land that could be made available for housing in tabular form. [44613/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the properties under the remit of the OPW in County Meath; the location of same; the use to which properties are being put; and the location of the properties that are vacant or not in use in tabular form. [44686/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 228 together.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages a diverse property portfolio on behalf of the State, primarily ranging from office accommodation, Garda stations, heritage properties and visitors centres. As part of an internal system of information sharing, the OPW highlights all properties, including land, that it considers surplus to its requirements to other State bodies. Information on such surplus properties is available to Meath County Council.
As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of on the open market until other State bodies or the local authority sector, including Meath County Council, are advised of its availability. If the local authority express an interest then there is a protocol for the transfer of that land or property at a value set independently by the Valuation Office. While the OPW and Meath County Council are in discussions relating to two properties, there is no land transfer proposed for the specific purpose of house building at present.
In relation to properties in County Meath, the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, (CPW), own a number of heritage properties with large land banks throughout the county such as Trim Castle, Newgrange, the Hill of Tara, and the Oldbridge Estate, which are open to the public. The following table lists the information requested by the Deputy.
OPW Properties in County Meath
|
Location |
Name |
Occupation |
Status |
|
Ashbourne |
Ashbourne GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Athboy |
Athboy GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Ballivor |
Ballivor GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Clonee |
17 & 18 Bracetown Business Park |
Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
Leased |
|
Duleek |
Duleek GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Duleek |
Duleek Nanny River Pump Site |
OPW |
Owned |
|
Dunboyne |
Dunboyne GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Dunshaughlin |
Dubshaughlin GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Enfield |
Enfield GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Enfield |
Enfield Former ESB Site |
Vacant (Discussions with Meath County Council) |
Owned |
|
Grange |
Grange EU Office |
The European Commission, Food and Veterinary Office |
Owned |
|
Kells |
Kells CWS |
Community Welfare Service |
Leased |
|
Kells |
Kells GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Kells |
Kells SWO |
Department of Social Protection |
Leased |
|
Laytown |
Laytown GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Longwood |
Longwood GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Navan |
Abbey Mall |
Revenue CommissionersThe Property Regulator |
Leased |
|
Navan |
Athlumney House |
Department of Justice |
Leased |
|
Navan |
Navan GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Navan |
Navan Government Offices Kells Road |
Vacant (Discussions with Meath County Council) |
Owned |
|
Navan |
Navan Government Offices Kilcairn |
Agriculture Food & The MarineCulture, Heritage & the GaeltachtEducation & SkillsNational Education Welfare BoardNational Council for Special EducationThe Probation ServiceTransport, Tourism & Sport |
Owned |
|
Navan |
Navan SWO |
Department of Social Protection |
Leased |
|
Navan |
Newgrange |
Visitor Centre/National Monument |
Owned |
|
Nobber |
Nobber GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Oldbridge |
Oldbridge Estate |
Visitor Centre/Historic Property |
Owned |
|
Oldcastle |
Oldcastle GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Leased |
|
Slane |
Slane GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Stirrupstown |
Stirrupstown Former RIC Barracks Site |
Leased to tenant. 18 years left to run on lease. |
Owned |
|
Summerhill |
Summerhill GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Tara |
Hill of Tara Church |
National Monument |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Trim Boyne CDS HQ |
OPW Office |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Trim GS |
An Garda Síochána |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Trim NCSE |
Education & Skills |
Leased |
|
Trim |
Trim OPW HQ |
OPW Office |
Owned |
|
Trim |
2 Forts |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Ardmulchan |
Ardmulchan Passage Grave |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Reask |
Athcarne White Cross |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Athlumney |
Athlumney Castle |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Carrickdexter |
Baronstown Cross |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Ninch |
Barrow |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Bective |
Bective Abbey –NDP |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Ardsallagh |
Cannistown/Ardsallagh Church |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Athcarne |
Castle |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Donore |
Castle |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Dumoe |
Castle |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Robertstown |
Castle |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Castlekeeran |
Chapel Cross |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Skreen |
Church, 2 Crosses |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Cruicetown |
Church Cross |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Rathmore |
Church, Cross and Base |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Donaghmore |
Church Round Tower |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Balrath |
Cross |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Danestown |
Danestown |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Dowth |
Dowth Tumuli |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Duleek |
Duleek Cross |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Duleek |
Duleek Priory Church |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Dunshaughlin |
Dunshaughlin Medieval Church |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Hoards Town |
Earthworks (Slieve Breagh) |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Loughbracken |
Fort |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Slane |
Friary |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Knowth |
Habitation Complex |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Castleboy |
Hill of Tara |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Castleboy/Castletown Tara |
Hill of Tara Earthworks |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Wardstown |
Hill of Ward Earthworks |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Kells |
Kells Round Tower |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Kileen |
Kileen Church |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Knowth |
Knowth Passage Grave |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Corstown |
Loughcrew |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Gaulstown |
Mound |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Nangle Castle |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Newtown Trim Cathedral |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Fourknocks |
Passage Grave |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Odder |
Rathmaeve, Tara Hill |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Ardmulchan |
Ringfort |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Realtoge |
Ringfort |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Robertstown |
Ringfort |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Sarsfieldtown |
Sarsfieldtown Cross |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Duleek |
St. Cianan’s Church |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Calliaghstown |
St. Colmcille’s Well |
Heritage Site |
Guardianship |
|
Trim |
St. John’s Priory |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Kells |
St. Columb’s House |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Dunsany |
St. Nicholas’ Church |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Trim Castle |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Trim Schedule |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Trim |
Trim Town Wall |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Dowth |
Tumulus |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
|
Knowth |
Tumulus |
Heritage Site |
Owned |
OPW Land in County Meath
|
Location |
Name |
Occupation |
Acreage |
|
Slane |
Dowth |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
15 Acres |
|
Oldcastle |
Loughcrew |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
49 Acres |
|
Donore |
Knowth |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
29 Acres |
|
Donore |
Knowth |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
30 Acres |
|
Slane |
Mountfortescue |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
40 Acres |
|
Skreen |
Tara |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
100 Acres |
|
Donore |
Brú na Bóinne |
Agricultural Grazing Licence |
2.8 Acres |
|
Oldbridge |
Oldbridge Estate |
Grazing Licence |
211.10 Acres |
|
Oldbridge |
Oldbridge Estate |
Grazing Licence |
45 Acres |
226. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of completely unwinding financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, measures by 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. [44674/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply PQ 35053/18 on the 24th of July 2018.
227. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position on the unwinding of FEMPI cuts to public service pensioners; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44685/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 (as amended) imposed a reduction on public service pensions (the PSPR) which exceed specified values; pensions below those values are exempt from PSPR.
The PSPR imposition on affected pensioners has been considerably eased, and will be further eased, by legislative changes in recent years, which have already had the following beneficial effects on pension income:
- many pensions previously reduced by PSPR are now paid without any such reduction;
- pensions which continue to be affected by PSPR in 2018 are higher than they were (or would have been) at the “peak” PSPR reduction rates which applied up to end-2015
This substantial easing of the PSPR burden on pensioners is due to changes contained in two laws:
(i) The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 set out a three-stage partial reversal of PSPR, with changes applying on 1 January in each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
(ii) The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 put in place a further partial reversal of PSPR, with changes due on 1 January 2019 and 1 January 2020. This Act also requires the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to make an order, no later than 31 December 2020, setting a date for the complete elimination of PSPR from all public service pensions.
Detailed tables of the PSPR rates applying in 2018, 2019 and from 2020 as a result of these legislated changes are in Appendix 3 of D/PER Circular 02/2018. The following points concerning PSPR liability on public service pensions are covered in those tables. For those who retired before February 2012
- At present (2018), pensions with values up to at least €34,132 are free of PSPR.
- Throughout 2019, pensions with values up to at least €39,000 will be free of PSPR.
- From 1 January 2020, pensions with values up to at least €54,000 will be free of PSPR.
Those who retired after February 2012 or are yet to retire are entitled to a higher exemption threshold which is €60,000.
229. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he, his departmental officials or his ministerial predecessors have met companies and an organisation (details supplied) and-or representatives of same in the past three years to date; if so, if a schedule of those meetings and the associated minutes will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44781/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not had any meetings with the organisations in question.
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, which is a Division of my Department, has not met with the Irish Infrastructure Fund. Officials from the OGCIO did meet enet on nine occasions during that time to discuss network operational issues. This was because OGCIO is responsible for Government Networks and enet is one of the contractors for the delivery of same. OGCIO routinely meet all providers of operational services impacting Government Networks.
OGCIO have also had three technical telephone conversations with enet to discuss how their proposed National Broadband solution might interface with Government Networks. This is in line with good procurement practice that at pre-defined procurement stages, potential suppliers can be given the opportunity to resolve possible uncertainties around their solution.
Finally, OGCIO met enet and one of their partners on two occasions, to discuss outline plans for the State Data Centre solution. This is standard procedure and several other suppliers have had similar meetings with OGCIO on this issue.
230. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the location of the submissions made to the consultations undertaken by his Department in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44864/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra231. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the consultations undertaken by his Department in each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44882/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.
In response to the Deputy’s questions, the table below details the consultations undertaken by my Department since its establishment in 2011:
|
Year |
Title of Consultation |
|
2011 |
Regulation of Lobbying Bill |
|
Comprehensive Review of Expenditure |
|
|
2012 |
None |
|
2013 |
Review of Public Works Contracts |
|
2014 |
Comprehensive Review of Expenditure |
|
Transposition of the EU Public Procurement Directives |
|
|
Open Government Partnership: Consultation with Civil Society Representatives and Citizens on Ireland's Participation in the Open Government Partnership |
|
|
Consultation process on the development of a foundation document for an Open Data Strategy |
|
|
Statute Law Revision Bill |
|
|
Data Sharing and Governance policy paper |
|
|
Civil Service Accountability Consultation Process |
|
|
2015 |
Government Contracts Committee on Construction Information Sessions on the forthcoming amendments to the Public Works Contracts (held in 5 locations nationwide). |
|
Draft Consultation Principles / Guidance for Public Consultation |
|
|
Commissioning for Better Outcomes |
|
|
Freedom of Information Publication Scheme |
|
|
Guidance for Public Bodies on the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
|
|
Draft Corporate Governance Standards for central Government Departments |
|
|
Statute Law Revision Bill |
|
|
Consultation on Open Data Licencing |
|
|
General Scheme of Public Sector Standards Bill |
|
|
2016 |
Open Government Partnership - four consultations on (i) Ireland’s Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2014-2016: End-term Self-Assessment Report; (ii) Open Government Partnership Ireland: Have Your Say - 2016-2018; (iii) Ireland's Draft Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018; and (iv) Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018: Implementation Review |
|
Review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 |
|
|
The Role and Methodology of the Public Service Pay Commission |
|
|
2017 |
Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan - Consultative Forum |
|
Open Government Partnership National Action Plan 2016-2018: Implementation Review |
|
|
Employer-Exchequer Investment Mechanism to fund Higher and Further Education (Joint DPER / DES Consultation and Meeting) |
|
|
Adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on public works projects |
|
|
Our Public Service 2020 |
|
|
Draft National Open Data Strategy 2017-2022 |
|
|
Review of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
|
|
2018 |
Dialogue on Effective Prevention and Early Intervention Approaches in Human Services |
|
Public Consultation on the European Directive 2014/55/EU on electronic invoicing in public procurement |
|
|
Public Consultation on Considering Cloud Services |
With regard to the location of the submissions received, information pertinent to these consultations is stored and retained on the Department's files, in line with its Records Management Guidelines.
