226. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to provide an extension to the expiry date of driver licences beyond the current cut-off date of June 2021; his views on whether an extension for learner permits due to expire in 2021 is particularly necessary given the significant driver lesson and test backlog due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30690/21]
123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent ESRI report (details supplied); his further views on whether the recurrent tax levied on wealth and assets could raise substantial amounts of revenue; his plans to conduct an analysis into the additional revenue which could be raised for the Exchequer through targeted growth-friendly wealth taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31610/21]
116. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on the global corporation tax reform proposals as discussed at the G7 meeting he attended as President of the Eurogroup; the implications for Ireland if an agreement along the lines of that proposal are ultimately adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31606/21]
96. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address aggressive tax planning as part the Government’s priority reform commitments made under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; the way this will impact on the bottom line of the Exchequer and on budget forecasts; his views on a recent IFAC report which states the loss to the Exchequer due to international changes in corporation tax rules could be €3.5 billion; if he plans to instruct his Department to provide an updated forecast report on the potential loss to the Exchequer due to international changes in corporation tax rules and the options for replacing these tax revenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31607/21]
91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent IFAC report (details supplied) which states that the Government has failed to deliver on its commitment to publish a credible medium-term strategy in terms of the SPU 2021; his further views on the view that the recent SPU is based on poorly founded medium-term spending forecasts and does not incorporate major policy commitments referenced in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31608/21]
82. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance his views on a recent ESRI report (details supplied); his further views on whether, given the expected strong post-Covid-19 performance of the Irish economy and the likely continued low cost of sovereign debt, the adoption of a consistently negative Government primary balance can be pursued under a prudent and sustainable set of conditions which would be specifically for capital expenditure purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31609/21]
151. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans in relation to the proposed tendering process for local employment, activation and support services; if this process and the tender process currently under consideration seeks to replace the current services provided by existing jobs clubs and local employment services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30020/21]
138. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her Department has agreed to allocate additional places for first year students at a school (details supplied) for the 2021-2022 school year; the number of first year places that will be allocated to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30022/21]
137. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her officials have met with Meath County Council to commence the pre-planning process for additional buildings at a school (details supplied) and the pre-planning process for the permanent school building on the site; if an update will be provided on the purchase by her Department of the site; if she will agree to commence the planning process for the permanent building in parallel with the process for the additional temporary facilities; when the permanent building is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30021/21]
98. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the amount raised by the 1% insurance levy each year since its introduction; if he is currently reviewing the operation of the levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30023/21]
329. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the recently announced changes to stamp duty in respect of the bulk buying by investment funds of houses, on organisations active in the mortgage to rent sector (details supplied) and that are in the process of purchasing homes under the mortgage to rent scheme in order to lease back to distressed homeowners; if he has been in contact with the Minister for Finance with regard to identifying a way in which such organisations may be exempted from the new stamp duty regime under certain circumstances and informed by the way in which approved housing bodies have been exempted under the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29478/21]
261. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the impact of the recently announced changes to stamp duty in respect of the bulk buying by investment funds of houses on organisations active in the mortgage to rent sector (details supplied) and that are in the process of purchasing homes under the mortgage to rent scheme in order to lease back to distressed homeowners; if he has been in contact with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to identifying a way in which such organisations may be exempted from the new stamp duty regime under certain circumstances and informed by the way in which approved housing bodies have been exempted under the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29479/21]
176. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the action Ireland has taken on foot of the European Commission recommendation of 14 July 2020 (C(2020) 4885 final) on making State financial support to undertakings conditional on the absence of links, up to the beneficial owner, to non-co-operative jurisdictions for tax purposes, so-called blacklist jurisdictions, pursuant to point 7 of the recommendation; the information he has already provided to the Commission regarding measures taken to implement the recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27489/21]
175. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the status of the ratification by Ireland of the Council Decisions (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the European Union and repealing Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27488/21]
174. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance , further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 284 to 287, inclusive, of 28 April, the number of convictions that related to income tax, value-added tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, and capital acquisitions tax or stamp duty, respectively, in each of the years 2011 to 2020. [27486/21]
173. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance , further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 235 and 236 of 11 May, the criteria applied in concluding that the Revenue Commissioners programme of investigations with a view to prosecution has achieved a considerable level of success, and is an effective deterrent to tax evasion and fraud. [27485/21]
156. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to restore the SUSI adjacent distance payment to 50km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26781/21]
139. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that has been made available to higher education institutions to complete mandated consent training for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26780/21]
138. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship trainees that have had their qualification completion delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic; the supports planned by his Department to assist with catch up for their apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26782/21]
76. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to amend the earnings disregard for qualification for a SUSI grant to include support received by students who have received pandemic unemployment payment support as a consequence of the loss of a job during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26777/21]
172. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that has been allocated for spending on grants and supports and structural funding for blue sky research in higher education institutions in each of the years 2019 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26818/21]
630. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25546/21]
268. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the long-standing proposal to develop the northern port access route north of Drogheda town; if he plans to initiate a specific funding programme for infrastructure of this nature that, if built, would enable road access to planned lands for the development of in excess of 4,000 homes in north Drogheda; if his Department will work with Louth County Council to identify funding sources for the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26425/21]
696. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his plans to reallocate appointments to those who have missed their scheduled vaccine appointment slot; the process for allocating new appointments to persons who have fallen between two vaccination cohorts between the time of registration and the time of allocating an appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23682/21]
695. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the vaccine registration process for pregnant women in view of the recent NIAC recommendation; the way in which, when and by whom pregnant women will be contacted with regard to their vaccine appointment; if pregnant women will be able to register on the current vaccination portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23681/21]
645. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if she will meet and engage with the legal representatives of the families who lost loved ones in the Stardust tragedy to ensure that there are no further delays in starting the Stardust inquest; if she will provide free and non-means tested legal aid to the families of the Stardust fire victims in order that the inquests into the deaths of their loved ones can commence as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24125/21]
619. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice if investment into sporting clubs (details supplied) is eligible under the immigrant investment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23645/21]
496. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the reason an instruction to retender the Drogheda LMETB headquarters project given by her Department in June 2018 has not been executed; the clear steps that will be taken by the devolved section of the building unit of her Department to compel compliance with its instruction of June 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24342/21]
495. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the effective obstacles placed in the way of the commencement of the Drogheda LMETB headquarters project by the ETB in respect of security concerns and subsequently in terms of the size and scale of the planned building since the ETB was instructed in 2017 by her Department to accept the lowest tender for the project; her views on whether this process and the ongoing slow progress of the eight year project with the knowledge her Department raises question marks in terms of the use and effective application of public moneys; her further views on the ongoing delays in delivery which run contrary to the principles of the speedy and efficient delivery of devolved buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24341/21]
494. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in February 2017 her Department gave the go ahead to LMETB to issue letters of intent to contractors clearing the way for the Drogheda LMETB headquarters project to commence; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that the devolved section of the building unit of her Department instructed LMETB to retender the entire project in June 2018; her views on the fact the project has seen expenditure of €400,000 of public funding spent on design team fees and related matters to date without any building having commenced on the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24340/21]
493. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on the fact that the Drogheda LMETB headquarters project has not formally commenced despite the allocation of funds made by her Department in 2014 under devolved projects for the fully designed project in view of the fact that planning permission was granted for the project in 2016 and in further view of the fact that that her Department approved the project to go to tender and tenders were received in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24339/21]
492. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the LMETB does not have a single head office building as per a Government decision of 2013; if she is concerned that eight years after a decision was made to develop a headquarters building for the LMETB in Drogheda, the project has still not commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24338/21]
459. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her plans to include Irish Sign Language as a school curriculum subject to ensure equality and inclusivity for the considerable proportion of Ireland's population who are deaf, hard of hearing or non-verbal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24006/21]
236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 284 to 287 of 28 April 2021, if he is satisfied that the programme for prosecuting those offences constitutes an effective deterrent to tax evasion and fraud in view of the significantly reduced number of convictions for serious offences under section 1078 of the Taxes Consolidation Act in the period from 2016 to 2020 compared with the previous five year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24275/21]
235. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 284 to 287 of 28 April 2021, the reason the number of convictions for serious offences under section 1078 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 was considerably lower in the period 2016 to 2020 than in the period 2011 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24274/21]
139. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of plans by his Department and or the agencies under his aegis to roll-out pilot programmes with businesses and in workplaces as a consequence of the report and suggestions by the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group and in respect of the use of rapid antigen testing in workplaces and in other environments; the way in which firms will be selected to participate in any pilot programme under consideration; if firms will be enabled to make expressions of interest in terms of participation in any such programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24556/21]
708. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she plans to formally reopen the application process for the community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22851/21]
513. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting time for homecare packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22649/21]
512. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his plans for a community intervention team with a multidisciplinary team in County Meath; his plans for an older person integrated care team in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22648/21]
510. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when a Covid-19 vaccination appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22603/21]
508. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when a Covid-19 home vaccination will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22598/21]
378. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite plans to build the proposed permanent building for a school (details supplied); if she will instruct her officials to submit a full planning application to Meath County Council for the permanent school building on the site before the end of the 2020-2021 school term; the reason the school will not be built and opened in time for September 2022; the reason her Department is of the view that it will take until 2024 to complete the permanent school building project; the anticipated cost involved in the hiring of temporary accommodation on the site and other associated works until such time as the permanent school building becomes operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22910/21]
377. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her plans to reconsider the five-day rule for substitute teachers (details supplied) due to the impact of Covid-19 on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22901/21]
273. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position of his Department on the recent gorse fires in Killarney, County Kerry; if his Department is considering additional practical measures or additional legislative or regulatory measures in relation to the protection of sensitive and biodiverse areas that may be under threat from such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22600/21]
212. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will encourage a bank (details supplied) to fully honour the transfer of undertakings under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations as they relate to the pay and terms and conditions of transferring staff in the event of any transfer of the business that may occur of staff from another bank to the bank in the context of ongoing negotiations between both entities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22847/21]
164. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport the status of plans to develop a by-pass for Julianstown, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/21]
Bill entitled an Act to provide for greater transparency in relation to charges that may be imposed in the administration of pension schemes, for that purpose to amend the Pensions Act 1990, and to provide for related matters.
1015. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to protect residents in any facilities in which there have been any positive Covid-19 cases post vaccination; if he will ensure that all residents in these facilities are now tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21859/21]
1014. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to investigate occurrences in the facilities in which there have been any positive Covid-19 cases post vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21858/21]
1013. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of instances in which a Covid-19 case has been reported among staff or residents of nursing homes since vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/21]