Alan Kelly
Question:197. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport in which quarter of which year he expects the new Shannon crossing to be opened. [26279/23]
View answerRoad Projects
Questions (197)
Written answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants.
The Shannon Crossing, Killaloe Bypass and R494 Upgrade scheme is one of the limited number of strategic regional and local road improvement schemes being undertaken under the National Development Plan.
Implementation of the Shannon Crossing, Killaloe Bypass and R494 Upgrade scheme is the responsibility of Clare County Council. Following the conclusion of the tender process for the main construction contract for the scheme, the contract was awarded in 2022 and the construction programme is underway. My understanding is that the scheme is scheduled to be completed in Q3 2025.
Greenways Provision
Questions (198)
Alan Kelly
Question:198. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport in what quarter of which year he expects the south Kerry greenway to be fully completed. [26280/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.
The planning, design and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise 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
Public Transport
Questions (199)
Ivana Bacik
Question:199. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that the public transport network is accessible for persons with disabilities and to eliminate the requirement to provide 24 hours' notice for access to ramps and lifts. [26283/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network.
The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Irish Rail and Bus Éireann, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
As the specific issues raised in relation to advance notice requirements, are operational matters for both Irish Rail and Bus Éireann in the first instance, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to both companies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response from either company within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Electric Vehicles
Questions (200)
Sorca Clarke
Question:200. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric vehicle grants provided for vehicles in 2022 in the price ranges of €30,000 to €40,000, €40,000 to €50,000, and over €50,000, in tabular form. [26349/23]
View answerWritten answers
Electric vehicles (EVs) are a prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2023 Climate Action Plan and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 945,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is challenging but indicates the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets in the coming years.
As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive suite of measures is available to EV drivers, including purchase grants for private car owners and taxi drivers, VRT relief, reduced tolls, home charger grants, favourable motor and BIK tax rates, as well as a comprehensive charging network. These measures have collectively contributed to increased take up of EVs in Ireland in recent years, to almost 88,000 at the end of April 2023.
These and related infrastructure supports will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand.
In addition a national EV charging infrastructure strategy was published in January this year which sets out the Government's plan to ensure sufficient infrastructure to support drivers to transition. A number of new destination charging schemes are being rolled out this year. In addition, ZEVI is working closely with its stakeholders to develop national plans in respect of local and en-route charging for publication later this year.
The table below details the price entered by the vehicle dealership when submitting the grant application to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
|
Price Range |
Number of grants provided |
|
€30,000-€40,000 |
1,640 |
|
€40,001-€50,000 |
3,795 |
|
€50k+ |
5,437 |
Prices were taken into account prior to grant reduction or any other rebate reduction.
Road Network
Questions (201)
Patricia Ryan
Question:201. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if the Government has any plans for the development and installation of motion sensor street lighting on Irish streets and roads. [26356/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Under Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 to 2015, the improvement and maintenance of public regional and local roads, including public lighting, is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority. In this context, policy and decisions in relation to new public lighting installations is a matter for local authorities.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
National Car Test
Questions (202)
Patricia Ryan
Question:202. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the number of cars currently awaiting NCT tests in Kildare; the availability of timely appointments; the earliest appointment available at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26358/23]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the Authority holds the information sought by the Deputy. I have referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Financial Services
Questions (203)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:203. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned with lifetime loan products being provided to older people by companies (details supplied) where such loans end up in default, resulting in the potential loss of a person's home; if he will undertake a review of such products, noting the levels of risk involved for the borrower; and if the advertising of such loans and the communication of terms and conditions should be regulated in a manner as to ensure the highest possible protection for borrowers. [25557/23]
View answerWritten answers
Seniors Money Mortgages (Ireland) Designated Activity Company, trading as Seniors Money/Spry/Spry Finance is authorised by the Central Bank as a Retail Credit Firm (RCF).
RCFs are required to comply with all relevant requirements of financial services legislation, including the regulatory requirements set out in the Central Bank's existing codes of conduct and regulations. These include:
• the Consumer Protection Code 2012,
• the Code of Conduct for Mortgage Arrears 2013,
• the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (Section 48) (Lending to Small and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) Regulations 2015 (SME Regulations),
• the Fitness and Probity Regime,
• the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (Section 48(1))
• Minimum Competency Regulations 2017, and
• the Minimum Competency Code 2017.
The Central Bank Consumer Protection Code set out a number of specific requirements, which relate to advertising, warnings, suitability and the provision of information, that specifically apply to lifetime mortgages.
For example, prior to offering, recommending, arranging or providing a lifetime mortgage to a personal consumer, a regulated entity must inform the personal consumer of the consequences of purchasing a lifetime mortgage and the consumer must be provided with the following:
• the circumstances in which the loan will have to be repaid;
• details of the interest rate that will be charged;
• an explanation of the impact of the rolling up of the interest over the duration of the loan;
• an indication of the amount required to repay the loan at maturity;
• the effect on the existing mortgage, if any, and
• an indication of the likely early redemption costs which would be incurred if the loan was redeemed on the third and fifth anniversary of the loan and at five yearly intervals thereafter.
Any documents received by a consumer and advertisements for lifetime mortgages must contain relevant warning statements as outlined in the Code and, in addition, a consumer must be made aware of the importance of seeking independent legal advice regarding the taking a lifetime mortgage.
RCFs are required to comply with authorisation requirements and standards which require that RCFs must be able to demonstrate that they are in a position to conduct their affairs in a manner that ensures the best interests of their customers are protected.
Tax Exemptions
Questions (204)
Michael Collins
Question:204. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Finance if he will sanction a derogation regarding a registration requirement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25608/23]
View answerWritten answers
Anti-money laundering legislation requires each EU Member State to establish a Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Trusts (CRBOT). The purpose of the Register is to help prevent money laundering and terrorist financing by improving transparency on who ultimately owns and controls Irish trusts. Trustees have a legal obligation to register details of relevant trusts and their beneficial owners on the CRBOT portal, which is administered by Revenue.
Irish sporting organisations, where not incorporated, will usually have a trust structure to hold assets, such as a bank account. This trust is commonly created by the organisation’s constitution. For sporting clubs and associations, it is the members of the unincorporated body who are the beneficial owners of the trust.
Regulation 3(6) of Statutory Instrument No. 194 of 2021 (www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/194/made/en/print) provides for reduced filing requirements for certain sporting bodies, removing the requirement for all beneficial owners to register on the CRBOT. Rather the legislation stipulates that club trustees, the committee or other governing body and any other individual who has control over the trust, register on the CRBOT. In the absence of the specific legislation introduced, all members of a GAA club would have been required to register their details, as they are considered to be beneficiaries of the club trust.
At the time of putting in place the necessary legislation, the Department of Finance recognised the fact that the trusts provisions of the anti-money laundering Directive would be particularly onerous for Ireland and many of the trusts structures, including sports clubs, that exist here. Therefore the Department worked to ensure, in so far as possible, that the obligations introduced were proportionate to the aims of the Directive. Extensive engagement took place with the Attorney General and the European Commission at the time. The proportionate approach which resulted included the reduced filing requirements for certain sporting bodies outlined above.
The beneficial ownership information to be provided includes personal information such as name, nationality, address, date of birth and PPSN. Any information registered on the CRBOT is only accessible by the club trustees and by designated persons and competent authorities in limited circumstances. Members of the public can access restricted information on the CRBOT when they can demonstrate a legitimate interest that they are engaged in the prevention, detection or investigation of money laundering or terrorist financing offences and that the subject of the access request is connected with persons convicted of an associated offence or holds assets in a high-risk third country. Any request for access by a member of the public is required to be accompanied by information and documents demonstrating such a right of access.
It is relevant to mention that since the Regulations were introduced in April 2021, the CRBOT team has engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders, particularly sectors that may be unaware of their obligations or may have little interaction with Revenue systems. A working group of relevant stakeholders was established in 2021 that included representation from Sports Ireland, the Charity Regulator and The Wheel. The Working Group provided a forum for the various stakeholders to engage directly with the CRBOT team on queries and to highlight any issues that may require further clarification.
To support community, voluntary and sporting clubs in their compliance with the Regulations, the Trust Register team contacted the governing body of 74 sporting bodies in Ireland and issued 611 letters to individual sports clubs outlining the obligations and offering assistance to their members in meeting their obligations. Further engagement has also taken place with any governing body that requested further assistance or clarification.
The Trust Register team has engaged with GAA Headquarters specifically on a number of occasions, particularly in relation to exploring ways of simplifying the filing requirements for clubs, including discussions on the GAA’s collection of the data via the GAA ‘Foireann’ app. The CRBOT team composed a letter for GAA Headquarters to issue to individual clubs, outlining their obligations along with material to assist club members in navigating Revenue’s systems and included contact details for the Trust Register team. The Trust Register team has highlighted to the GAA and Ladies Gaelic Football Association its willingness to engage in outreach events at any time suitable for their members.
The GAA and LGFA have recently issued correspondence to their members outlining their responsibility to register and this correspondence provided contact details for the Trust Register team, who have received multiple customer contacts and have endeavoured to assist club members with their registrations. Revenue’s website provides extensive information for trustees to assist in meeting their obligations and highlights the reduced filing obligations for sports clubs and charities.
In light of the reduced filing requirements which have already been put in place for certain sporting bodies and others as well as the significant outreach work engaged in by the CRBOT team as outlined above, the sanctioning of a derogation from the filing requirements is not under consideration at this time. However, negotiations are currently underway on a package of revised EU anti-money laundering legislation. As part of this process, Irish officials are working to ensure that the equivalent obligations in the new legislation will be proportionate to the aims and will have due regard to Ireland’s situation, where trusts are used for a wide variety of purposes.
Further details about the CRBOT are available on the Revenue website at: www.revenue.ie/en/crbot/index.aspx. Should the Deputy require further clarification in respect of the CRBOT or a specific sporting organisation or Trust, the Trust Register team can be contacted at trustregister@revenue.ie.
EU Budgets
Questions (205)
Ged Nash
Question:205. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance what Ireland’s contribution to the EU budget is expected to be in 2023; the expected funding Ireland will receive in EU grants and supports this year; if he will provide details of the funds received and contribution made to the EU in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25625/23]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’s projected contribution to the EU Budget in 2023 is currently forecasted to be €3.750 billion. Ireland’s contribution to the EU Budget in 2022 was €3.557 billion.
Data on Ireland’s EU Budget receipts are published annually, for the previous year, in my Department’s Budgetary Statistics in the second half of each year – exact 2022 receipts data will be published in autumn or winter of 2023. That said, my Department currently estimates that our receipts from the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework will be in the region of approximately €2-2.5 billion each year. The Deputy will appreciate that such figures remain forecasts and are contingent on a number of factors.
National Treasury Management Agency
Questions (206)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:206. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if Exchequer notes held in the National Reserve Fund are counted by the NTMA as cash and other financial assets when calculating gross national debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25628/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) uses two measures of National Debt. The first is Gross National Debt which is the debt incurred by the Exchequer before the deduction of cash and other financial assets. The second is Net National Debt which is the net debt incurred by the Exchequer after the deduction of cash and other financial assets. Exchequer Notes, including those held by the National Reserve Fund (NRF), are a liability of the Exchequer and are classified as a form of short-term paper debt. They are part of Gross National Debt.
Exchequer Payments
Questions (207)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:207. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of Exchequer notes held within the general government sector, either through the NRF, NTF or SIF or other vehicle, in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25629/23]
View answerWritten answers
Exchequer Notes outstanding at each year-end from 2016 to 2022 are listed in the table below. These figures are taken from the financial statements of the National Debt, as compiled by the National Treasury Management Agency.
The table below also shows the amount of those Exchequer Notes held by bodies classified within the General Government sector. This information has been provided by the Central Statistics Office, and reflects the current composition of the General Government sector. The scope of the General Government sector is reviewed regularly and potential retrospective reclassifications of bodies into the sector could require the data as presented below to be updated.
|
Exchequer Notes €m |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Total as per National Debt Financial Statements |
1,858 |
2,061 |
3,629 |
7,339 |
4,761 |
3,916 |
7,521* |
|
Of which, held by General Government bodies |
961 |
1,801 |
3,246 |
7,028 |
4,295 |
3,497 |
7,185 |
*Provisional unaudited figure
Exchequer Payments
Questions (208)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:208. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if the monies used to purchase Exchequer notes by the NRF, NTF or SIF or other vehicle then enters general government spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25630/23]
View answerWritten answers
A purchase of Exchequer Notes by a general government body (such as NRF, NTF, SIF, etc.) would have no impact on general government spending as it is a financial transaction. When compiling the general government accounts, financial transactions are excluded in the calculation of general government receipts, expenditure and subsequently the surplus/deficit. The transaction would simply be an exchange of one asset (such as cash) for another in the financial account having no impact on the general government balance.
Tax Collection
Questions (209, 210, 211, 212, 213)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:209. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the level of compliance with the local property tax this year compared with previous years, including figures and percentages. [25735/23]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:210. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance to outline in tabular form the level of compliance for local property tax per year in percentages since its inception. [25736/23]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:211. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue collected from local property tax since 2013, per year and in total, in tabular from. [25737/23]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:212. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the total revenue collected from local property tax by each local authority since 2013, per year, with levels of compliance, in tabular form. [25738/23]
View answerFergus O'Dowd
Question:213. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance to provide details on the outlook of local property tax for the coming years. [25739/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 209, 210, 211, 212 and 213 together.
Local Property Tax (LPT) is a self-assessed tax charged on the market value of residential properties in the State. LPT is collected by Revenue.
LPT is estimated to yield over €500 million in 2023. It is anticipated that the LPT yield will increase marginally annually, as new housing units are completed and enter the scope of the tax.
The Deputy may wish to note that Revenue publishes a comprehensive range of quarterly and annual statistics relating to LPT on its website, including information regarding exemptions from the tax, at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/local-property-tax/index.aspx.
I am advised by Revenue that the tables below provide the collection amounts and payment compliance rates for the years 2013-2022. The Deputy may wish to note that 2022 figures are provisional and subject to revision.
Compliance rate (%)
Local Property Tax Collection Amounts (€m)