Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Tax Code

Damien English

94. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 11 September 2023, if he is aware and if he will agree that the Revenue Commissioners methodology of taxpayer units includes all unearned income and part-time workers, and that if unearned income was removed along with part-time workers, the amount of the population that pays the top rate of tax at 40% would be higher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44523/23]

Turf Cutting

Damien English

826. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of recipients of compensation for the non-cutting of turf in Barrougher, SAC bog in County Galway and Moonveenlagh, SAC bog in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37402/23]

Departmental Data

Damien English

827. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of raised bogs designated as SAC’s in the Republic of Ireland; if he will confirm if an application has been made to the EU Commission to have any of these bogs designated because of continuing turf-cutting on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37403/23]

Credit Unions

Damien English

151. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the progress of the Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022; to outline the engagement at ministerial and official level with the credit union representative bodies this year on the Bill; the way in which the Bill will assist the modernisation of credit unions and help to future-proof financial services for their members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29816/23]

Credit Unions

Damien English

152. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, by county, in tabular form, the name of each credit union, the euro amount of assets for each credit union, the euro value of loans on issue by each credit union, and the loan-to-asset ratio in each instance; how he envisages additional lending by credit unions to be enabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29815/23]

Trade Missions

Damien English

256. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance to provide a report on the Ministerial Trade Visit to Money2020 Europe 2023 in Amsterdam; the way in which he supported the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to achieve their objectives on this visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29817/23]

EU Bodies

Damien English

257. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance his views on Ireland’s bid to host the new EU AML Authority; if Ireland having a strong AML, legal and administrative framework will assist in this bid; the next steps that will be taken in order to advance Ireland’s bid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29818/23]

Insurance Industry

Damien English

258. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance to detail the progress of the Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market as it continues to work to help to attract new entrants into the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/23]

Financial Services

Damien English

259. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the extent of the domestic financial services and the international financial services sectors in Ireland in terms of the number of people employed and the value to the Exchequer by way of corporation taxation; his views on the future growth of both these sectors in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29820/23]

Credit Unions

Damien English

260. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance for an update on credit union mortgage-lending in the State; the plans he has to assist credit unions in reaching an increased number of first-time home buyers with their mortgage offering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29821/23]

Credit Unions

Damien English

261. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance for an update on credit union SME lending in the State; the plans he has to assist credit unions in reaching an increased number of SMEs with their lending offering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29822/23]

Insurance Industry

Damien English

262. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the impact that fraudulent claims are having on insurance premiums in the private motor, home and public liability insurance for businesses in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29823/23]

Gender Balance

Damien English

263. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with progress to date on the Women in Finance Charter, which was developed in partnership with several stakeholders (details supplied) whereby signatories of the Charter commit their organisations to improving the number of women in management and board-level positions to achieve better gender balance and a more inclusive working environment. [29824/23]

Tax Code

Damien English

264. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the details of the flat-rate expense allowances for the building industry allowed by Revenue, to include an itemised list for all the sub trades of this sector; the way in which apprentices are treated for flat-rate expenses in the building industry; if he will rebalance any variances upwards for all those workers operating in the building industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29825/23]

Insurance Industry

Damien English

265. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the impact that ‘micro sectoring’ by the insurance industry in Ireland is having on the availability of insurance cover for niche markets, such as thatched cottages, adventure tourism, and play centres; the way in which a fairer balance can be achieved in these instances in order that cover can be provided for those seeking insurance in such niche markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29826/23]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Damien English

311. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the issue whereby 153 of approximately 660 young adults with an intellectual disability and or autism who leave school receive no further education, training, or day service placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31436/14]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Damien English

312. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31466/14]

School Accommodation

Damien English

313. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the provision of additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31467/14]

School Accommodation

Damien English

314. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the provision of additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31468/14]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Damien English

353. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update of efforts by Government to develop the social enterprise sector following the publication of a Forfás report in 2013 which illustrated that the sector has the capacity to double employment by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31432/14]

Social Insurance

Damien English

395. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how plans by her Department in respect of the provision of supports for persons who are self-employed, similar to those of PAYE workers, are developing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31433/14]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Damien English

396. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the recent proposals made by the Carers Association in relation to the contributory State pension entitlement for lifetime family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31435/14]

Social Welfare Benefits

Damien English

397. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the improvements made in relation to domiciliary care allowance can be extended to carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant, as recommended by the Carers Association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31437/14]

Hospital Procedures

Damien English

681. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive have plans for surgical correction of exstrophy-episadias complex to be made available to children here; the action parents of children must currently take in order to have such corrective surgery carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31434/14]

Equality Issues

Damien English

617. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline any body of work that she has carried out to date on the issue of introducing shared parental leave; her views that a more flexible system is needed for parents of new born babies to allow them to choose the best work and family balance for their lives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29427/14]

Taxi Regulations

Damien English

829. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the advisory committee of the National Transport Authority has come to a decision regarding the establishment of a new category of small public service vehicle, SPSV, licence for situations where non-standard taxi, hackney and limousine services are to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29627/14]

Taxi Regulations

Damien English

830. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on adopting a similar approach to that taken in London regarding the possible establishment of a new category of small public service vehicle, SPSV, licence for situations where non-standard taxi, hackney and limousine services are to be provided, whereby both taxi and private hire regulations exist, which govern both taxi and non-taxi vehicles operating in a public service capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29628/14]

Financial Services Ombudsman Data

Damien English

113. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the number of appeals to the Financial Services Ombudsman in the past three years relating to lenders not complying fully or partially with the various statutory codes regarding borrowing by private and business persons; the number of such appeals that were either successful or unsuccessful; the number of such appeals currently awaiting a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27815/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Damien English

311. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will make recommendations to the CER and-or Irish Water that additional living costs, borne by persons living in hard water areas, are accounted for and reflected in the water charge they incur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27928/14]

Free Travel Scheme Payments

Damien English

86. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost to the State of providing a travel pass to a person in receipt of the carer's allowance irrespective of whether the carer uses the travel pass or not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26426/14]

Broadband Service Provision

Damien English

107. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with respect to the roll out of high speed broadband services for rural areas of County Meath, when he expects the completion of the formal mapping exercise to determine the final list of areas in need of State subsidy for the provision of such services; for areas that will be determined not to be in need of State subsidy to provide high speed broadband, will there be time based targets for the roll out of such services that can be easily identified by those persons who reside or have businesses in these rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26427/14]

Closed Circuit Television Systems

Damien English

144. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the funding available to support the installation of CCTV cameras in two areas (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26374/14]

Road Projects Status

Damien English

206. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the plans for road realignment works planned for the N52 from Billistown to Cloghan, whereby such works would lead to the provision of a safer section of national route for road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26341/14]

Driver Licences

Damien English

756. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department have had discussions with the Canadian authorities regarding the introduction of a reciprocal agreement where holders of driving licences from both jurisdictions can simply apply to transfer their licences without the requirement of sitting the test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25341/14]

Commemorative Events

Damien English

138. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the commemorative activities he will undertake in September 2014 to mark the centenary of the passage into law of the Home Rule Act on 18 September 1914; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25161/14]

Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Damien English

410. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of recent residential rental price increases reported, her plans to reflect such increases that those in receipt of rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22649/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Damien English

515. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the case of dependent children aged over 18, for example, those attending college, his plans to facilitate a water allowance for households containing such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22125/14]

Taxi Regulations

Damien English

978. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the establishment of a new category of SPSV licence for situations where non-standard taxi, hackney and limousine services are to be provided, such as the introduction of SPSV licence for tuk-tuk style vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/14]

Waste Management

Damien English

492. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to waste management targets, if he is satisfied that progress is being achieved on the reduction of waste production and on the elimination of illegal disposal of waste in unauthorised sites around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19508/14]

Waste Management

Damien English

493. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current estimated total volume of non-agricultural waste produced annually here; the percentage of which is classed as construction and demolition waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19509/14]

Waste Management

Damien English

494. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the promotion of the use of recycled building materials in new construction projects here; the way in which this compares to the European norms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19510/14]

Waste Management

Damien English

495. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to construction demolition and waste management policy, his views on introducing a target of using 50% minimum recycled materials for the construction of local authority-social housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19511/14]

Waste Management

Damien English

496. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the supports available to the construction industry to opt for a more recycled approach in terms of construction demolition and waste management that is good for the environment and meets current legislation requirements and is more financially viable to the companies in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19512/14]

Courts Service

Damien English

591. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to the collection of fines by the Courts Service of Ireland for 2011, 2012 and 2013, the number of fines that were collected as issued to importers of illicit tobacco products and sellers of illicit tobacco products in each of the years; the total value in monetary value of such fines that were paid in each of the years; the amount in monetary value of outstanding fines for each of the years; if he is satisfied with the level of compliance with such fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19434/14]

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Damien English

868. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the need for a new approach to the provision of services for persons with neurological conditions was recognised and that the national policy and strategy for provision of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland 2011-2015 was published in November 2011, his views on the way services can be bettered for those families living and coping with caring for those with such neurological conditions; his proposals to improve this national plan and strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19343/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Damien English

240. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the provision of a site for a new school build (details supplied) in County Meath; the timeframe required to develop on this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17620/14]

Fallen Animal Collection Scheme

Damien English

534. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the introduction of the revised terms and conditions for the fallen animal TSE subsidy scheme, if he will provide an update of the review process by his Department into the implementation of the scheme; the extent to which his Department is consulting the farming community, the animal collectors association and knackeries; the process that such organisations can pursue to feed into his Departmental review; if his Department has considered remedies for those animal collectors-knackeries who, due to clause 7.8 of the scheme, have seen a substantial increase in the costs of rendering plant services available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17989/14]

Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists

Damien English

606. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health if he will evaluate the prospects of reducing the unacceptable length of time patients aged under 14 years must wait to receive surgery at the orthodontic department of the oral surgery clinic in Louth County Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17642/14]

Tax Code

Damien English

45. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the appeals system for tax matters as announced in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16915/14]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

118. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on an application (details supplied); when he expects moneys to be made available for draw down to the successful applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16877/14]