Parliamentary questions

Financial Services

Pearse Doherty

214. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of complaints made against credit servicing firms to the FSPO which were not investigated on the grounds of the conduct occurring prior to 8 July 2015, with respect to complaints in each of the years 2013 to 2023. [7567/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Pearse Doherty

227. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he plans to address the issue with flooding in Castlefinn, County Donegal, along the N15; if the solution to the problem presented to his Department by this Deputy at the Oireachtas finance committee recently will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7405/24]

Health Services Staff

Pearse Doherty

595. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the community neurorehabilitation team in CHO1 is operating with less than a third of the minimum recommended staffing; his plans to address this understaffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7865/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Pearse Doherty

616. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a replacement hearing aid from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7998/24]

Vacant Properties

Pearse Doherty

78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the situation with respect to six houses in Annagry, County Donegal, lying vacant; if he and his Department have plans to address their vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6962/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pearse Doherty

137. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update regarding the issue of mortgageability as it relates to homeowners impacted by defective concrete blocks and the defective concrete block redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Pearse Doherty

180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 17 January 2024, regarding the decision by the Tax Appeal Commissioners that the Revenue Commissioners had been applying the wrong test for normal residence in VRT cases with the Revenue Commissioners confirming that the same test had been applied in similar cases; how many persons have had the wrong test for normal residence applied; how many persons have paid penalties or tax as a result of this wrong test being applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7207/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost, through tax revenue foregone, of the BIK exemption for employer contributions for PRSAs which was introduced through section 22 of the Finance Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7396/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

184. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if, with respect to Committee Stage of the Finance Act 2022, with regard to what was then section 18 of the Finance Bill 2018 regarding the removal of benefit-in-kind charge from employer contributions to PRSAs and PEPPs, his views and response regarding queries made by this Deputy that this provision of the legislation would provide an opportunity for aggressive tax planning by proprietary directors; his assessment of whether the then Minister for Finance provided an accurate response with respect to the issue raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7397/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the maximum amount, in nominal terms, that a company or proprietary director can fund a single PRSA through an employer contribution in a single year with full tax deductibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7399/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

186. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the recommendation of the Report of the Interdepartmental Pensions Reform and Taxation Group of 2020, that “the differential treatment of the PRSA for funding purposes should be abolished, employer contributions should not be subject to BIK”, was implemented in whole or in part; his views on whether the manner in which this recommendation was partially implemented in Finance Act 2022 by the then Minister for Finance created an opportunity for aggressive tax planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7401/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

187. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department have received any correspondence from the Revenue Commissioners or any other body regarding section 22 of the Finance Act 2022 in relation to the opportunity it creates for aggressive tax planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7402/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

188. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on the appropriateness of a company or proprietary director withdrawing up to €2.15 million from a company in a single year through an employer contribution to a PRSA, and availing of full tax deductibility, including corporation tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7404/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Pearse Doherty

189. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if flood relief plans or river drainage works are planned to deal with the repeated flooding of the area between Ballyshannon and Belleek, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7400/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pearse Doherty

153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be granted an ASD unit on its premises; if she is aware of the importance of this matter given that the closest school with an ASD room will no longer have spaces in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6841/24]

Mental Health Services

Pearse Doherty

301. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if Donegal Mental Health Intellectual Disability Service will provide help and support for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6728/24]

School Accommodation

Pearse Doherty

97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the urgency in finding a resolution to the issue of children and parents crossing the road to attend a school (details supplied) in Donegal, given that another near fatal incident occurred recently; if she plans to deal with the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6039/24]

School Accommodation

Pearse Doherty

126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay with the promised SEN provision for a school in Donegal (details supplied), which includes an extension to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6390/24]

School Accommodation

Pearse Doherty

267. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 21 November 2023, if she will provide an update and a timeframe for an extension to a school (details supplied) consisting of an additional modular classroom, which was approved in March 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6087/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pearse Doherty

274. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay with the promised SEN provision for a school (details supplied), which includes an extension to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6140/24]

Tax Credits

Pearse Doherty

454. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on commitments made to introduce a mortgage interest supplement for those with insufficient income tax liability to avail of the mortgage interest tax credit introduced in the Finance Act 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6554/24]

Hospital Services

Pearse Doherty

583. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a bed can be provided for a person in St Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar, County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6294/24]

Further and Higher Education

Pearse Doherty

615. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1814 and 1813 of 17 January 2024, when full responses will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6327/24]

Financial Services

Pearse Doherty

166. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total number of complaints made with regard to the operation and services provided by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively; and if he will consider the value of introducing an independent assessor in order to independently assess complaints and make recommendations to the FSPO and the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6013/24]

Financial Services

Pearse Doherty

167. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the jurisdiction of the FSPO with respect to complaints made regarding entities that were not regulated by the Central Bank prior to a particular date, where the complaint concerns a time prior to that date; and if legislative provisions are possible to address this. [6019/24]

Financial Services

Pearse Doherty

168. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of complaints (case) handlers operating in the Financial Services and Pension Ombudsman in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively; the number of current vacancies for the role of complaint (case) handler at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6020/24]

Financial Services

Pearse Doherty

169. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of complaints submitted to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman which are yet to be allocated to a complaint handler, disaggregated by the number of weeks since they were first submitted; the number of complaints submitted to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman which are yet to have a preliminary decision issued disaggregated, by the number of weeks since they were first submitted; the number of complaints submitted to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman which are yet to have a final decision issued disaggregated by the number of weeks since they were first submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6021/24]

Public Sector Pay

Pearse Doherty

171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the first year cost of the recently announced and proposed public sector pay deal; and if, following its implementation, it will require a further revised estimate for 2024. [5897/24]

Legislative Measures

Pearse Doherty

190. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the provisions of the Digital Services Act with respect to online platforms which platform fraudulent advertising on their channels, the requirements, obligations and sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5899/24]

School Transport

Pearse Doherty

205. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education when a response will issue to communication regarding school transport for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5891/24]

Television Licence Fee

Pearse Doherty

210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of summonses applied for, and the number of cases brought to court, respectively, with respect to non-payment of the TV license in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [5895/24]

Crime Prevention

Pearse Doherty

249. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice if her Department is considering the establishment of a shared fraud information database to permit financial service providers to share information on accounts or payments which are suspected or known to result from fraudulent activity; if her Department is considering legislative provisions to give effect to the establishment of a shared fraud information database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5898/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

100. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if ACRES payments, both under the general and co-operation projects, are subject to income tax and USC, his views on same, if he will comment on scenarios where an individual receiving two ACRES payments in 2024 will be subject to a greater level of taxation than would otherwise have been the case had ACRES payments been paid in 2023 and 2024 as previously announced, and, as a consequence, will receive a lower level of after-tax support under ACRES, if he is considering action to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5025/24]

National Minimum Wage

Pearse Doherty

158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated number of workers who benefitted from the increase in the minimum wage in 2024; the number of workers who will benefit from the second step in moving towards the living wage in 2025; and the number of workers who will benefit from the third step in moving towards the living wage in 2026. [5689/24]

School Facilities

Pearse Doherty

193. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education when the summer works scheme will open; if she is aware of how important the opening of the scheme is for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5219/24]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Pearse Doherty

321. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice the reason Tusla have not yet committed to a budget for the Donegal Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre for the following year, if she can provide any assurances to staff who still await confirmation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4978/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Pearse Doherty

384. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if ACRES payments, both under the general and co-operation projects, are subject to income tax and USC, his views on same, if he will comment on scenarios where an individual receiving two ACRES payments in 2024 will be subject to a greater level of taxation than would otherwise have been the case had ACRES payments been paid in 2023 and 2024 as previously announced, and, as a consequence, will receive a lower level of after-tax support under ACRES, if he is considering action to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5026/24]

General Practitioner Services

Pearse Doherty

486. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be allocated a GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/24]

Home Help Service

Pearse Doherty

523. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if home help support can be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal following an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5253/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pearse Doherty

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance for an update on his engagement with an organisation (details supplied) and his Department with respect to the defective concrete blocks redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4692/24]

Tax Reliefs

Pearse Doherty

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the estimated deadweight costs associated with the rented residential relief introduced in the Finance Act 2023; his views of the costs, inequity and effectiveness of the measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4693/24]

State Bodies

Pearse Doherty

104. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his response to the recent letter from the Chairperson of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council with respect to a proposal to reduce the rate of pay associated with the chairperson role; if he has concerns that such a proposal risks diminishing the role and capacity of the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4622/24]

Financial Services

Pearse Doherty

120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he and his Department are considering measures to tackle financial fraud and scams; to outline policy considerations in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4620/24]

Tax Exemptions

Pearse Doherty

126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on the small benefit exemption and, in particular the restriction by which only the first two benefits qualify for the exemption, regardless of their combined value falling beneath the threshold of €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4618/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the rate and reducing the threshold at which the 10% stamp duty with respect to the purchase of certain residential property applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4619/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

143. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of Revenue no longer accepting certain items of expenditure for the construction, extension, alteration or reconstruction of farm buildings or structures with respect to VAT refunds for unregistered farmers; if he has engaged with Revenue on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4621/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

218. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of reducing the rate of VAT applying to the hospitality and tourism sectors from 13.5 to 9% to end-2024 and in full-year terms, respectively. [4835/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

219. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of reducing the rate of VAT applying to the hospitality and tourism sectors from 13.5% to 9% excluding hotel and other accommodation, to end-2024 and in full-year terms, respectively. [4837/24]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

222. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of reducing the rate of VAT from 13.5% to 9% with respect to services (details supplied) of the kind normally supplied in fairgrounds or amusement parks and hairdressing services, to end-2024 and in full-year terms, respectively, disaggregated by service type listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4842/24]

Passport Services

Pearse Doherty

6. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if passports will issue for children (details supplied) in County Donegal in time for a travel date of 14 February 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4331/24]