Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

VAT Rate Application

Olivia Mitchell

210. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the inconsistency that exists between the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 and the Revenue Commissioners' leaflet on VAT for veterinary services, which is of great concern to the professional dog groomers industry; if he will review the inconsistency and allow professional dog groomers to charge the 13.5% VAT rate which is available to veterinary practices that provide dog grooming services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4145/14]

Water Meters

Olivia Mitchell

553. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is the intention of Irish Water, as reported recently, to charge apartment dwellers on an average use basis rather than a metered basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4137/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Olivia Mitchell

554. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reconsider the proposed amendment S.I No. 9 of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 which if introduced could discourage the tradition of self-builders here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4147/14]

Tax Code

Olivia Mitchell

84. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the cases where the loss of the single person child carer credit results in the secondary carer moving into a higher tax band, as the loss of income caused is much larger than €1,650 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2122/14]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Olivia Mitchell

119. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the revised incremental salary scales will be published to address the imbalance between those who entered the public service since 2011 and those who entered before that date, as referenced in the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1929/14]

Pension Fund Fees

Olivia Mitchell

143. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a statutory limit on the amount of fees that a pension fund can charge as is proposed in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2087/14]

Banking Operations

Olivia Mitchell

125. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if the debt write-off by Allied Irish Banks to Independent News and Media was sanctioned by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1093/14]

School Funding

Olivia Mitchell

242. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 18 December 2013, when the capitation grant and the ancillary services grant are expected to be merged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1421/14]

School Accommodation

Olivia Mitchell

248. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a temporary site has been sought for the gaelcholáiste to serve the general Ballinteer/Stepaside area that will commence operation in 2014 under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán Ghaeilge, due to the urgency of this matter and the concerns of students, parents and teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1668/14]

Building Regulations Amendments

Olivia Mitchell

509. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending S.I. No. 80/2013 - Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 to include architectural technologist in the schedule of those eligible to certify under this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1247/14]

School Funding

Olivia Mitchell

95. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in order to improve difficult cash flow problems being faced by primary schools, if the capitation grant and the ancillary services grants will be paid earlier in the school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54576/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Olivia Mitchell

235. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address overcrowding and long waiting lists in a school (details supplied). [54183/13]

Middle East Issues

Olivia Mitchell

29. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that he will take to help avert the looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the closure of its only power point and increased tightening of the blockade of Gaza, making the area as described by UNRWA as quickly becoming uninhabitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53210/13]

Liquor Licensing Laws

Olivia Mitchell

117. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his view on the suggestion that a condition of the granting of drink licences to pubs and restaurants would be the mandatory stocking of non-alcoholic beer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53178/13]

Budget Targets

Olivia Mitchell

121. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the reason neither GNP nor GDP is used as a key denominator to measure State costs in order to receive more accurate readings on public spending key performance indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52924/13]

Social Welfare Benefits

Olivia Mitchell

247. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the restrictions on access to benefits and housing to be introduced in the UK, if similar measures will now be required here on 1 January when citizens of both Romania and Bulgaria will have completely free mobility throughout the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53177/13]

Pensions Legislation

Olivia Mitchell

258. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the changes to the allocation of funds proposed in the pensions Bill could be extended to include funds currently in wind-up but where the funds have not yet been distributed by the time of enactment. [52644/13]

Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Olivia Mitchell

44. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the decision to confine early intervention services for children aged between two and four years with a diagnosis of autism, including the home tuition scheme, to primary school teachers registered with the Teaching Council to the exclusion of psychologists with specific training and experience in working with early childhood autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51983/13]

Economic Data

Olivia Mitchell

33. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Taoiseach if in future, earnings and labour cost reports will continue to use the baseline year 2008 for table No. 1, and throughout the report in view of the fact that for the foreseeable future, progress or otherwise should be measured against the peak year of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51787/13]

Pensions Levy

Olivia Mitchell

59. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the situation affecting existing employees of Permanent TSB whose insolvent fund was wound up in May last, but who now find themselves part of a defined contribution scheme as a result of bank efforts to reduce its cost by 8% as requested by him, and consequently find their greatly depleted funds are liable for the pension levy, though the fund itself still has all the liabilities of a defined benefit pension for existing retirees; and if he will consider an exemption for those nearing retirement in view of the fact that they meet two of the three requirements for exemption to the tax under the Protection of Employees Employment Insolvency Act 1984. [51339/13]