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Wednesday, 23 Jun 2021

Written Answers Nos. 83-101

Air Services

Ceisteanna (83)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

83. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of passenger journeys in Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Kerry, Ireland West and Donegal Airports in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [33832/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I would like to advise the Deputy that aviation statistics are published on the Department's website at the following link.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/b61012-aviation-statistics/

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (84)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

84. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on the paper on e-scooters by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33934/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have recently received a paper from the Irish Wheelchair Association in relation to e-scooters. This paper is a follow-up on a previous response by the Association to a stakeholder consultation e-scooter policy.

Officials in my Department will consider the paper before I issue a definitive response.

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (85)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

85. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the NTA reverses its decision to move from yellow coloured bus poles in Dublin which are of significant benefit to visually impaired and older persons to silver coloured poles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33935/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and shelters. 

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (86)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

86. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the number of public buses that have been purchased annually since 2015; the number of buses it is planned to purchase in 2022 and 2023; the number of those purchased since 2015 that have two wheelchair spaces; the plans there are to retrofit buses with only one wheelchair space to create two wheelchair spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33936/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the procurement of the national PSO bus fleet.

The Deputy may wish to be aware that the NTA publishes a comprehensive statistical bulletin in relation to publicly subvented bus and rail services each year on its website as can be viewed through this link:

www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NTA-Bus-and-Rail-Statistics-Final-for-Web.pdf  

The bulletin includes details of the number of buses in the fleet and details of the percentage of the fleet that is wheelchair accessible. 

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter and the specific issues raised which are not covered in the published documentation, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Programme for Government

Ceisteanna (87)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

87. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to run a pilot to examine the potential for ride sharing apps to improve rural connectivity. [33938/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy may wish to be aware that a pilot to examine the potential for ride-hailing services to improve rural connectivity will be established as part of Action 91 of Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025. This action will be progressed after the COVID-19 pandemic has abated.

Road Network

Ceisteanna (88)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

88. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will open the Khyber Pass pedestrian bridge to the public (details supplied). [33940/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the DART+ programme which I understand references the matter raised by the Deputy.

In view of the NTA's statutory responsibility regarding the specific issues raised, I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (89, 90, 91, 92)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

89. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding allocated in 2020 and 2021 to the employment wage subsidy scheme; the amount drawn down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33688/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

90. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding allocated in 2020 and 2021 to the temporary wage subsidy scheme; and the amount drawn down in tabular form. [33689/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

91. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding allocated in 2020 and 2021 to the employment wage subsidy scheme for ECCE pay; and the amount of this allocation drawn down in tabular form. [33733/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

92. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding allocated in 2020 and 2021 to the employment wage subsidy scheme for NCS pay; and the amount of this allocation drawn down in tabular form. [33734/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 92, inclusive, together.

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was in place for 22 weeks between 26 March and 31 August 2020. It was introduced as an emergency income support for eligible employees where the employer’s business activities were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 66,600 employers received a subsidy under the TWSS with payments of €2.8 billion paid out to a total of 664,500 workers. The scheme operated until 31 August 2020 and was replaced by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) from 1 September 2020.

Section 28B of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provides for the operation of the EWSS, which is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s payroll and charges a reduced rate of employer PRSI of 0.5% on wages paid which are eligible for the subsidy payment.

To date, EWSS payments of over €3.521 billion and PRSI credit of over €575 million have been granted to over 50,000 employers in respect of over 583,000 employees.

While the criteria for eligibility for business in general is based on a reduction in turnover, as a result of the pandemic and having regard to the importance of maintaining the provision of childcare facilities so as to enable parents to continue in, or to take up, position of employment, the legislation provided that childcare businesses in possession of tax clearance and registered in accordance with Section 58C of the Childcare Act 1991 are eligible for the EWSS.

The objective of scheme is to support all employment and maintain the link between the employer and employee insofar as is possible. The EWSS has been a key component of the Government’s response to the continued Covid-19 crisis to support viable firms and encourage employment in the midst of these very challenging times.

I have been clear that there will be no cliff-edge to the EWSS and, as the Deputy will be aware from announcements made on Tuesday 1st June, it has been decided that the scheme is now to be extended until the end of December 2021.

With the agreement by Government on the revised plan, COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead, a cautious and measured approach will be taken as we lay the foundations for the full recovery of social life, public services and the economy. It is therefore appropriate that key business supports should remain in place until the end of December 2021.

As the revised plan is implemented, the EWSS will play an important role in getting people back to work as public health restrictions are eased, thereby reducing the numbers dependent on social welfare payments over time, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

For Q3 2021, the Government has decided to broadly maintain the status quo for EWSS, including the enhanced rates of support, with a modification to widen eligibility, and maintaining the reduced rate of Employers’ PRSI of 0.5%. There are no changes in respect of the qualification criteria for EWSS eligibility for the childcare sector.

The Government has approved the extension of the EWSS for Q4 2021, however, it is considered too early as yet to prescribe the precise operational parameters of the scheme that should apply for that quarter. Decisions in that regard will be taken closer to the time, possibly around the end of August/early September, with the benefit of more up-to-date information on a number of variables, including the overall epidemiological situation, progress made in reopening all sectors of the economy, the vaccine efficacy, as well as the operation of the EWSS during the early parts of Q3. As such, no decisions have yet been taken on any changes to the scheme for Q4 2021.

It is important that, as the recovery gains further momentum, supports are further recalibrated in the longer-term interests of businesses that are in receipt of those supports and in the interests of the wider body of taxpayers. As such and as already signalled, for Q4, consideration will be given to a future change to EWSS which will require an employer contribution towards employee wages. As with all firms that will benefit from the scheme in the months ahead, businesses in the childcare sector also would be subject to the impact of this potential change.

With regard to the Deputy’s questions in relation to the amount of funding allocated to the EWSS generally and for specific childcare sub-sectors, the position is that it is a demand led scheme and as such the cost is driven by the number of employers and employees supported by the scheme. This was also the case for its predecessor, the TWSS. My Department develops cost estimates to inform the Government in good time in advance of any specific decisions being made in respect of the scheme. The process involves liaison and cooperation, as appropriate, with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and with the Department of Social Protection.

However, due to the fact that EWSS operates as a demand led scheme, a particular amount of funding is not allocated to any specific sector, including the childcare sector. This was the case in relation to the TWSS also. The EWSS is administered by Revenue and is paid for by funds allocated to the Department of Social Protection.

To assist the Deputy in understanding the extent to which the TWSS and EWSS supported the childcare sector, the table below provided by Revenue, gives an indication of the number of employers supported and the amount of subsidies paid out under the EWSS and TWSS to employers in the childcare sector, from inception of each scheme to May 2021 (the latest available data). This data is based on businesses classified to the childcare sector using the NACE code classification system.

Number(Employers)

€m

TWSS

March 2020

420

2.7

April 2020

2,100

25.6

May 2020

2,210

23.0

June 2020

2,230

20.4

July 2020

1,640

19.6

August 2020

1,610

16.8

EWSS

July/August 2020

360

1.1

September 2020

2,310

16.5

October 2020

2,400

25.0

November 2020

2,410

27.0

December 2020

2,400

29.5

January 2021

2,440

27.8

February 2021

2,480

26.0

March 2021

2.520

28.1

April 2021

2,470

30.6

May 2021

2,460

28.1

Approved Housing Bodies

Ceisteanna (93)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

93. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the borrowing and spending by approved housing bodies for the delivery of social housing assisted through the CALF scheme and affordable cost rental housing assisted through the CREL scheme are treated in the Government accounts with particular respect to the impact on the spending and borrowing limits set out under the terms of the EU fiscal rules and periodic economic statements. [33773/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since 2018, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have been classified in the General Government sector by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Consequently, all AHBs revenue and expenditure is classified as general government revenue and general government expenditure while borrowing by the AHBs, from outside the General Government sector i.e. the private sector, will add to the general government debt. As the schemes highlighted by the Deputy finance AHBs for various services, they are consolidated within the general government accounts as flows between general government bodies, but as the AHB’s spend these monies, general government expenditures are recorded.

As the Deputy is aware, the EU’s fiscal rules, as set out in the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), are an integral part of the EU’s broader economic governance framework. The key components of the fiscal rules are a 3 per cent of GDP threshold for the headline (General Government) deficit, a 60 per cent debt-to-GDP threshold, a balanced budget after adjusting for the economic cycle (measured by the structural balance) and the expenditure benchmark. As the AHBs are classified in the General Government sector, all AHBs revenue and expenditure fall under the scope of the EU fiscal rules framework.

The normal operation of the EU fiscal rules has been suspended since March 2020, when the so-called General Escape Clause (GEC) of the SGP was activated. This clause allows Member States to depart from the regular budgetary requirements under the Pact in order to allow them to take all necessary measures to effectively address the pandemic, sustain the economy and support the ensuing recovery. While the activation of the GEC means the regular fiscal requirements have been temporarily suspended, it must be noted that the Pact itself has not been suspended or revoked but remains in place, providing an important anchor for fiscal policy over the medium-term. As part of the recent announcement by the European Commission of its 2021 Spring Package, the Commission confirmed that the General Escape Clause of the Pact will remain in force in 2022, and is expected to be de-activated in 2023.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (94)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

94. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33945/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The rate of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) payable to individuals is a matter for the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

I am advised by Revenue that, regarding taxation, PUP payments are classed as income and as such are liable to tax but not PRSI or Universal Social Charge (USC). In 2020, PUP was taxed at year end rather than in the normal real-time manner due to the urgent requirement to get payments to people as quickly as possible. For PAYE employees, where tax liabilities remain for 2020 after all tax credits and entitlements are allocated, the amount due can be collected, interest free, over four years from 1 January 2022 by reducing their tax credits.

The situation for self-employed workers is different in that the tax due on PUP payments received in 2020 is accounted for by completing the usual self-assessed tax return by 31 October 2021 and paying the amount due (17 November 2021 if filing and paying via ROS). In situations where a self-assessed taxpayer cannot pay the tax due it may be possible to avail of the Debt Warehousing Scheme or a suitable phased payment arrangement. Further information on the Debt Warehousing Scheme is available on the Revenue website.

The continuation of the PUP into 2021 has re-established the practice of operating PAYE in the normal (real-time) manner for such payments. However, people receiving PUP payments in 2021 will only pay tax when they return to work. The tax due is collected over the remaining pay periods in 2021 by reducing the person’s tax credits. For self-employed people, with no income taxed under PAYE, the tax due on PUP payments received in 2021 will not fall due until October 2022.

Revenue further advise me that the person in question is self-employed and is also in receipt of an occupational pension. The tax due on the PUP payments received in 2021 is being collected by reducing the tax credits allocated to his occupational pension. The tax due on the PUP payments received in 2020 should be included in his 2020 tax return. If he is unable to pay the amount due, Revenue has assured me that it will engage with him regarding the situation. This will include the possibility of warehousing the debt, assuming he meets the eligibility criteria for that scheme, or alternatively providing him with a phased payment option that best suits his circumstances, thereby ensuring any financial hardship is minimised to the greatest extent possible.    

Banking Sector

Ceisteanna (95, 97)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the banking industry to offer an extension of time to those who have received mortgage approval in principle but where as a result of the current Covid-19 related restrictions, the offers are not being progressed or withdrawn; his views on whether an extension of the standard mortgage approval period of six months is required given the notable delays in the construction of new homes and limited market supply of affordable housing for prospective homebuyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33644/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

97. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if he will engage with lenders to ensure flexibility in order that mortgage approvals can be extended until 2022 for first-time buyers due to delays in delivery caused by the restrictions on the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33828/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 97 together.

There are certain legal and regulatory requirements which govern the provision of mortgage credit to consumers.  For example, the European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (CMCAR) provide that, before concluding a mortgage credit agreement, a lender must make a thorough assessment of the consumer’s creditworthiness with a view to verifying the prospect of the consumer being able to meet his or her obligations under the credit agreement.  The CMCAR further provide that a lender should only make credit available to a consumer where the result of the creditworthiness assessment indicates that the consumer’s obligations resulting from the credit agreement are likely to be met in the manner required under that agreement. 

In addition, the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code 2012 imposes ‘Knowing the Consumer and Suitability’ requirements on lenders to assess affordability of credit and the suitability of a product or service based on the individual circumstances of each borrower.  Furthermore, the Code also provides that, where a regulated entity offers a mortgage to a consumer, the lender must include certain information in the offer document including the length of time for which the mortgage offer is valid.  Within this overall regulatory framework, decisions on mortgage applications, including the duration period of a mortgage approval (either an 'approval in principle' or a mortgage offer) or any extension to the duration period of an existing mortgage offer, are commercial and business matters for individual lenders. 

However, if a mortgage applicant is not satisfied with how a regulated firm is dealing with them in relation to an application for credit or the drawn down of credit, or they believe that the regulated firm is not following the requirements of the Central Bank’s codes and regulations or other financial services law, they should make a complaint directly to the regulated firm. Furthermore, if the mortgage applicant is still not satisfied with the response from the regulated firm, he or she can refer the complaint to the statutory Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.

Tax Reliefs

Ceisteanna (96)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

96. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of full tax relief on trade union subscriptions. [33722/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tax relief for Trade Union subscriptions was previously provided for under section 472C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The relief was introduced in 2001 and abolished from 2011 onwards.

A review of the appropriate treatment for tax purposes of trade union subscriptions and professional body fees was carried out by my Department in 2016 and included in the 2016 report on tax expenditures published on Budget day 2016.

The review concluded that:

"...analysis of the scheme using the principles laid down by the Department’s Tax Expenditure Guidelines shows that it fails to reach the evaluation threshold to warrant introduction in this manner.

The reinstatement of this tax relief would have no justifiable policy rationale and does not express a defined policy objective. Given that individuals join trade unions largely for the well-known benefits of membership, and the potential value of the relief to an individual would equate to just over €1 per week, this scheme would have little to no incentive effect on the numbers choosing to join. There is no specific market failure that needs to be addressed by such a scheme, and it would consist largely of deadweight."

I am advised by Revenue that there are no current data available from tax returns on the number of taxpayers with union subscriptions or the cost of their individual union subscriptions. Therefore, there is no basis for Revenue on which to estimate a cost for this measure.

The following table sets out details of the cost of the tax relief for trade union subscriptions in the seven years immediately prior to its end:

 

Year

Cost (€ million)

No. of  Claims   

2004

10.7

248,300

2005

11.8

272,100

2006

19.2

294,300

2007

20.7

316,300

2008

26.4

341,900

2009

26.7

345,800

2010

26.0

337,500

Question No. 97 answered with Question No. 95.

Public Sector Pay

Ceisteanna (98)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

98. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of a €10 per day allowance for public sector workers working from home in circumstances (details supplied) in tabular form. [33716/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not have data on the specific work locations of public servants. However, many staff involved in delivering key services to the public in sectors such as Health, Education, An Garda Síochána, Defence and Prisons are not primarily office based. Providing an allowance of this nature to administrative staff who are not attending the workplace may have broader consequential implications and costs for other groups.

The table below takes the Civil Service as an example in order to provide an estimate of the cost of providing a working from home allowance of €10 per day. These estimates are based on full time equivalent (FTE) staff numbers of 42,715 at Q4 2020 and assume that all Civil Servants are office workers with a working year of 47 weeks net of annual leave and an employer PRSI rate of 7.8%.

Payment Days per week

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Est. Annual Cost (incl ER PRSI)

 

€21.6m

 

€32.5m

 

€43.3m

 

€54.1m

 

€64.9m

 

€75.7m

 

€86.6m

 

€97.4m

 

€108.2m

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (99)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

99. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the funding behind the Economic Recovery Plan 2021 under the headings of EU funding, July Stimulus funding, Budget 2021 funding, new moneys and other in tabular form. [33726/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in tabular form below.

 Funding Envelopes

Details

 National Recovery and Resilience Plan

Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan includes a set of sixteen investment projects and nine reform measures, to a total value of around €1 billion, to be supported by grants from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

 

The Plan includes a suite of projects focussing on: 

- advancing the green transition (€503m approx.);

- accelerating and expanding digital reforms and transformation (€295m approx.); and

- social and economic recovery and job creation (€181m approx.).

Other Measures Announced in the Economic Recovery Plan

A number of measures were announced as part of the Economic Recovery Plan which have an associated gross cost above the pre-existing policy position:

- The extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme for quarter 3 of 2021 (€1,220m);

- The extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to February 2022 (€450m);

- The extension of the Commercial Rates Waiver to end-September 2021 (€160m);

- The extension and enhancement of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (€100m);

- Assistance to provide supports for the 2021/2022 academic year for students impacted by Covid-19 (€10m).

The continuation of the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit scheme and the Business Resumption Support Scheme are demand based schemes for which it is difficult to produce robust cost estimates.

The above does not include tax measures which were announced as part of the Economic Recovery Plan.

 

Office of Public Works

Ceisteanna (100)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the grounds on which the OPW felled five mature trees on its property in Schull, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33933/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have been advised by my officials that the trees in question were felled by a third party without the permission of the Commissioners of Public Works. 

 An examination of the circumstances relating to this matter is being carried out.

Institutes of Technology

Ceisteanna (101)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

101. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a building (details supplied) is currently vacant despite the fact that it was purchased by Dundalk Institute of Technology with the support of State moneys; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that an association has been involved in a three-year process with Dundalk Institute of Technology to purchase or lease the only facility of its kind and standard in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33606/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I met with representatives of the association mentioned by the Deputy on 23 April and they outlined the efforts they have been making to secure a suitable facility for their sport, including discussions with Dundalk Institute of Technology regarding a lease on the building referred to by the Deputy. Those discussions are a matter between the two parties involved and neither my Department nor Sport Ireland has any involvement. 

With regard to the association, I welcome the efforts they are making to secure a permanent facility in Ireland and their strategic approach to growing their sport and increasing participation at all levels. The association has identified the provision of a permanent facility as being vital to their strategic plans to grow their sport. I am aware that Sport Ireland, the statutory agency tasked with promoting sport in Ireland, has been working in close partnership with the association and is committed to supporting the long-term strategic development of the sport in Ireland.

I can also inform the Deputy that Sport Ireland is in the early stages of conducting a feasibility study on the development of a permanent facility for this sport as part of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus.  As part of this process, Sport Ireland met with a number of relevant stakeholders including the association and will continue to engage with the association as the feasibility study progresses.

Questions regarding the purchase or use of the building by Dundalk Institute of Technology are a matter for my colleague Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

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