Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

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in principle but where as a result of the current Covid-19 related restrictions, the offers are not being progressed or withdrawn; his views on whether an extension of the standard mortgage approval period of six months is required given the notable delays in the construction of new homes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]

Institutes of Technology

Ged Nash

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]

Institutes of Technology

Ged Nash

182. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of financial support provided by his Department to Dundalk Institute of Technology to assist in the purchase of a building (details supplied); if conditions were attached to the provision of funds in terms of a requirement to return monies to the State in the event that the building would be sold by the Institute in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33605/21]

Driver Test

Ged Nash

184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase the RSA driver theory test to 50,000 per month in order to clear the current Covid-19-related backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33090/21]

Financial Services

Ged Nash

227. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the issues that arise in terms of the ability of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman to investigate complaints against financial institutions in situations in which joint accounts may be involved and the consent to allow the Ombudsman to investigate matters may be withheld by one party; his views on whether the relevant legislation should be reviewed to allow certain cases to be investigated by the Ombudsman in cases in which one party may decide to withhold their consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33427/21]

Special Educational Needs

Ged Nash

364. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if it will be ensured that a freeze on the loss of teachers and SNA allocations is introduced for special schools to bring them into line with the policy applied to mainstream schools in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; her views on whether the case for such a move is strong given the lengthy waiting times involved in children receiving face to face assessments through the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33079/21]

Public Services Provision

Ged Nash

117. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the work his Department has undertaken to date to deliver on the plain language requirement on all public service communication as referenced in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32344/21]

Freedom of Information

Ged Nash

118. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to enhance freedom of information legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32343/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

121. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the proposed work placement experience programme as cited in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; his plans to ensure that participants of the programme are appropriately remunerated under the proposed scheme; if he will engage with a union (details supplied) on the design and governance of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32346/21]

Departmental Circulars

Ged Nash

128. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the promotion of the green and social procurement agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32345/21]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

131. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a recent Fiscal Advisory Council report (details supplied) which states that the Government has failed to deliver on its commitment to publish a credible medium-term strategy with SPU 2021, that the recent SPU is based on poorly-founded medium-term spending forecasts and does not incorporate major policy commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32347/21]

Departmental Policies

Ged Nash

94. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the proposed development of a shared Government data centre to support the digitalisation of Government services as part of the draft national recovery and resilience plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32294/21]

Civil Service

Ged Nash

95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a recent remote working report (details supplied) in which 88% of civil servants surveyed indicated that they feel as effective when working remotely as they are during normal working arrangements and that three-quarters of staff surveyed indicated that they would like to continue to access remote working in the future if given the choice; his plans to provide such choice for flexible and remote working for civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32295/21]

Economic and Social Research Institute

Ged Nash

82. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent ESRI report (details supplied); his further views on whether, given the expected strong post-Covid-19 performance of the Irish economy and the likely continued low cost of sovereign debt, the adoption of a consistently negative Government primary balance can be pursued under a prudent and sustainable set of conditions which would be specifically for capital expenditure purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31609/21]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent IFAC report (details supplied) which states that the Government has failed to deliver on its commitment to publish a credible medium-term strategy in terms of the SPU 2021; his further views on the view that the recent SPU is based on poorly founded medium-term spending forecasts and does not incorporate major policy commitments referenced in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31608/21]

Fiscal Policy

Ged Nash

96. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address aggressive tax planning as part the Government’s priority reform commitments made under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; the way this will impact on the bottom line of the Exchequer and on budget forecasts; his views on a recent IFAC report which states the loss to the Exchequer due to international changes in corporation tax rules could be €3.5 billion; if he plans to instruct his Department to provide an updated forecast report on the potential loss to the Exchequer due to international changes in corporation tax rules and the options for replacing these tax revenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31607/21]

Tax Code

Ged Nash

116. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the global corporation tax reform proposals as discussed at the G7 meeting he attended as President of the Eurogroup; the implications for Ireland if an agreement along the lines of that proposal are ultimately adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31606/21]

Economic and Social Research Institute

Ged Nash

123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent ESRI report (details supplied); his further views on whether the recurrent tax levied on wealth and assets could raise substantial amounts of revenue; his plans to conduct an analysis into the additional revenue which could be raised for the Exchequer through targeted growth-friendly wealth taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31610/21]

Driver Licences

Ged Nash

226. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to provide an extension to the expiry date of driver licences beyond the current cut-off date of June 2021; his views on whether an extension for learner permits due to expire in 2021 is particularly necessary given the significant driver lesson and test backlog due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30690/21]

Banking Sector

Ged Nash

317. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the concerns of an association (details supplied) that the future viability of the plans to operate services of a bank from post offices is in serious doubt; if he plans to issue a statement requesting the bank to pause any branch closures until businesses have had an opportunity to reopen and adjust after Covid-19 restrictions are lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30549/21]