Parliamentary questions

VAT Rate Increases

Brendan Griffin

159. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the increase in VRT and VAT on new car sales in 2014 compared to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1502/15]

Property Tax Collection

Jerry Buttimer

160. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the reason a surcharge of 1.3% is applied when paying local property tax by credit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1511/15]

VAT Rate Application

Jerry Buttimer

161. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the reason there has been a change in the VAT classification of smoothies made of frozen yoghurt; the reason frozen yoghurt is no longer classified as milk and preparations and extracts derived from milk and thereby zero rated for VAT; his views that applying the standard rate of VAT to these smoothies in contrast to the zero rate of VAT which applies to less healthy drinks and foods contradicts Government health policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1512/15]

EU Directives

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

162. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the actions that will be undertaken by his Department to transpose the EU directive on the comparability of fees related to payment accounts, payment account switching and access to payment accounts with basic features into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1614/15]

State Bodies Mergers

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

163. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the progress towards the amalgamation of the offices of the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Pensions Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1615/15]

General Government Debt

Jerry Buttimer

164. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the general budget deficit in each of the past eight years; his forecast for the budget deficit over each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1633/15]

Fiscal Policy

Jerry Buttimer

165. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance if he envisages that further tax increases or spending reductions will be required over the next three years to meet the Government’s commitment to reduce the budget deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1634/15]

Banks Recapitalisation

Catherine Murphy

166. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if it is still his policy to seek retrospective recapitalisation of formerly guaranteed institutions; the progress made to date; his views on comments made last month (details supplied) that the health of such banks now points towards a partial selling off of Government stakes; if this course of action is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/15]

Financial Services Regulation

Tom Fleming

167. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will facilitate an initiative enabling an alliance of post offices and credit unions to grant loans to the general public, as together they could provide special social and community focused banking and this would be of mutual benefit to the existence of both services and it would help revitalise rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1656/15]

Consultancy Contracts

Tom Fleming

168. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all consultancy firms engaged by his Department during 2014; if he will also provide details of all the relevant fees paid to those firms during the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1667/15]

Disabled Drivers Grant

Pearse Doherty

169. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when the amendment to section 92 of Finance Act 1989, tax concessions for disabled drivers and so on in the Finance Act recently passed will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1676/15]

Deposit Interest Rates

Seamus Kirk

170. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the announcement of a DIRT refund for first-time buyers, announced in budget 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1709/15]

Tax Collection

Jack Wall

171. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) has had an increase in their PAYE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1712/15]

Banks Recapitalisation

Catherine Murphy

172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if an application under the direct recapitalisation instrument of the European Stability Mechanism treaty to attain a retrospective recapitalisation of certain Irish financial institutions since the treaty has been constituted; if not, his plans to do so; when it will happen; if this option has been ruled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1717/15]

Exchequer Returns

Michael McGrath

173. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown by company of the €475 million in dividends received from the State companies in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1732/15]

Exchequer Returns

Michael McGrath

174. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown by property of the €407 million received from the sale of State properties in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1733/15]

Property Tax Yield

Michael McGrath

175. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason local property tax receipts were 10.8% below target in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/15]

Tax Yield

Michael McGrath

176. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of taxation raised from motorists in 2013 and 2014 from mineral oil tax, VRT, VAT, carbon tax and driver licensing receipts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1736/15]

Tax Yield

Michael McGrath

177. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the excise per litre charged on different categories of petrol, auto-diesel, kerosene, residual fuel oil for the manufacture of alumina, residual fuel oil for generation of electricity and for other purposes; and the revenue generated from each category. [1737/15]

Tax Code

Michael McGrath

178. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the State of reducing excise duty on petrol and diesel by 10% in each case; the impact per litre, including VAT, this would have on the retail selling price ceteris paribus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1742/15]

Local Government Fund

Catherine Murphy

179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all transfers which have taken place from the local government fund to the Central Fund in 2014 by date and amount concerned; all transfers which took place in the reverse by date and amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1750/15]

IBRC Liquidation

Catherine Murphy

180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance in view of the proceeds from the sale of the combined portfolio off floating rate notes and fixed rate bonds which had been acquired by the Central Bank of Ireland following the liquidation of IBRC, the amount of these proceeds which were destroyed in 2014; the dates this occurred; the amount of interest which was paid in 2014 on the elements of the bond portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1778/15]

Banks Recapitalisation

Catherine Murphy

181. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the discussions and or meetings he has held in the past six months with the European Central Bank and eurozone Ministers for Finance regarding the stated Government policy of seeking retrospective recapitalisation of formerly covered financial institutions; if he has conveyed any change in policy in this regard to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1780/15]

EU Directives

Brendan Smith

182. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of EU directives which remain to be implemented within his Department; the name of these directives; the timeframe for the implementation of these directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1793/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Barry Cowen

183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the number of secondments from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and his Department respectively to external accountancy firms and consultancy firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1804/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Barry Cowen

184. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the number of secondments from external accountancy firms and consultancy firms currently on secondment within the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and his Department respectively; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1805/15]

Legislative Programme

Micheál Martin

185. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [1814/15]

Legislative Programme

Micheál Martin

186. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department since September 2013. [1829/15]

Departmental Staff

Michael Fitzmaurice

187. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason workforce de-layering has not yet been achieved within his Department as it has in the Health Service Executive in line with section 3.11 (Workforce Restructuring) of the Haddington Road Agreement and section 4.2.1 - iii. (Develop options for workforce de-layering, Start Q1 2014, End Q4 2014) of the action plan, appendix 1 of the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016; if he will initiate workforce de-layering within his Department with immediate effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49651/14]

State Properties

Anne Ferris

188. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that exist for the restoration by the Office of Public Works of the now derelict State-owned Kilmacurragh House, County Wicklow as an important heritage site and to enhance the tourism industry in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49683/14]

Road Improvement Schemes

Seán Kyne

189. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if advance works have been or will be approved for raising roads at a location (details supplied) in County Galway as part of a scheme in the area. [1803/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Tom Fleming

190. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that all gates erected by the Office of Public Works on the public right of way on the banks of the River Loune river at Callinafercy West on the river bank opposite Ballykissan Pier, County Kerry are left unlocked and accessible as per when they were recently erected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49507/14]

Freedom of Information Remit

Mary Lou McDonald

191. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of his stated commitment to transparency and accountability in the spending of public moneys, his views that it is acceptable for a public body fully funded by the Exchequer to withhold from the public record details of public service pension arrangements on retirement for senior managers; and if he will legislate to require all publicly funded bodies to make such information public in the interests of open Government. [49527/14]

Irish Language

Tom Fleming

192. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will review the policy of including Irish language translation as part of awarding overall translation contracts of minority language translation here as with this practice the Irish language becomes a mere addendum and afterthought to contracts providing for the behemoth languages in the EU and an insignificant designation among a long list of other languages which command bigger populations and therefore greater attention as it will be disastrous for the future of Irish language translation and also result in substantial job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49587/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

193. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out the contractors' pay and conditions of employment clause attached to public works contracts; if these conditions are applicable to subcontractors employed by the main contractor with whom the Department or State agency is contracted by. [49621/14]

Public Procurement Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

194. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the enforcement procedures the Office of Government Procurement pursues when breaches of the pay and conditions of employment clause attached to public works contracts are reported; the mechanism the OGP employ to ensure that full compliance of these conditions are attached to such contracts. [49622/14]

Public Sector Staff Data

Peadar Tóibín

195. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the current number of whole time equivalent workers employed in public sector. [49624/14]

Artists' Remuneration

Patrick O'Donovan

196. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the locations of properties that were leased to accommodate the decentralisation during 1997 and 2011; the agreed duration of each lease agreed; the annual amounts paid in respect of each one, the number of decentralised personnel assigned to each location on 31 December 2011 and 31 December 2014. [1006/15]

Departmental Bodies Data

Patrick O'Donovan

197. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within, funded by or established by his Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1019/15]

Decentralisation Programme

Patrick O'Donovan

198. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the agencies or sections from his Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011; the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1034/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Brendan Griffin

199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the advice he will provide to persons wishing to contribute their expertise and experience to the improvement of the board of a State agency; the up to date application and appointment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1060/15]

State Pensions Reform

Finian McGrath

200. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will not cut the basic rates of State pension as this will have dire consequences for those pensioners who are rapidly reaching the poverty line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1074/15]

Consultancy Contracts

Dara Calleary

201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount of moneys paid by his Department to external consultants, professional companies or advisers relating to the jobs action plan in each year since and including 2012; if he will provide in a tabular form the list of those organisations which received money; his Department's procurement policy regarding this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/15]

Roads Maintenance

Brendan Griffin

202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a road at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will be repaired following its deterioration due to heavy vehicle use for the Office of Public Works' embankment reinstatement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1224/15]

Ferry Services Provision

Brendan Griffin

203. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a tendering process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/15]

Property Transfers

Brendan Griffin

204. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the transfer of a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry to a community group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1226/15]

Drainage Schemes

Brendan Griffin

205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of staffing plans on a scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1227/15]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Michael Moynihan

206. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if community child care facilities which operate on a not-for-profit basis, and have charitable status from the Revenue Commissioners, will be exempted from commercial rates following the recent amendment to the Valuation Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1282/15]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brendan Griffin

207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the methodology and marking system used to decide tenders for State contracts for jobs such as cleaning of Garda stations and so on; if positive consideration is given to local tenderers over larger firms; if good reputation, best price and positive service history is taken into account; his views that these merits should have heavier weighting than the wording used in methodology statements, for example; his further views that red tape such as less impressively worded methodology statements, is preventing some small local firms from securing contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1310/15]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brendan Griffin

208. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all firms seeking to secure State contracts for jobs such as the cleaning of Garda stations and so on will need ISO9000 rating in the future; if so, the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1311/15]