48. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the details of any impact assessment on the property market carried out by his Department in respect of the help to buy tax rebate for first time buyers; the person or body that carried out such an assessment; if he will publish the assessment; the other analysis that was completed by his Department on this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31167/16]
269. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is his Department's policy and plan to address the disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents in having to provide funding for a free primary education system, as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30869/16]
207. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the expected outcome if a person availing of the help to buy scheme for first-time buyers announced in the budget does not live in the property for five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30889/16]
206. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of first-time buyers his Department expects to avail of the help to buy scheme, announced in the budget, in 2016, 2017 and 2018; if he is putting any cap on the maximum cost to the Exchequer in respect of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30888/16]
205. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to explore the possibility of establishing a national hedging strategy, involving the expertise of the NTMA, which may be able to give practical assistance to Irish SMEs dependent on the UK export market which are currently suffering from the fall in sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30887/16]
204. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the gain for the Exchequer in 2017 through the non-indexation of the taxation system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30886/16]
203. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce for SMEs generally a loan scheme similar to the €150 million loan fund for the agri-sector announced as part of budget 2017; the reasons for his position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30885/16]
202. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has a detailed plan on the way to achieve the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio to 45% by the mid-2020s as outlined in budget 2017; if he will provide specific details of the growth and other projections underpinning this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30884/16]
201. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason full-year yield and cost figures were not included in the summary of 2017 budget measures and policy changes; if he will provide these figures, for each item, as has been the case in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30883/16]
200. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he has given consideration to a suggestion in terms of pension access (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30880/16]
198. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the way in which the fiscal space for 2017 moved from expected circa €1 billion to circa €1.2 billion on budget day in view of his previous comments that the fiscal space for 2017 could not change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30818/16]
35. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 27 September 2016, the status of discussions with the Brazilian authorities in relation to their decision to designate Ireland as a tax haven; his views on the implications of the decision for Irish businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30151/16]
80. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is any further recourse open to a person (details supplied) relating to a certain appeal concerning 2014 SPS area over-declaration. [29971/16]
68. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the awarding of a contract for the provision of taxi services in Cork city and county by the HSE will next be put out to tender or be the subject of a mini competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29970/16]
450. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if there has been a change of policy in respect of the supports to children diagnosed by a service provider after a certain date (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29685/16]
148. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the preschool special ASD classes in Cork city and county; his plans to roll out further such classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29682/16]
103. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out details on the preschool special autistic spectrum disorder classes in Cork city and county; his plans to roll out further classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29683/16]
88. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the potential risks to the Irish banking sector and the economy as a whole given the recent issues facing a bank (details supplied) and the wider instability in the European banking industry; his views on whether this is likely to affect the financial performance of Irish banks, and, if so, the extent to which progress has been made on a European level in enhancing a stronger European regulatory framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29597/16]
182. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the public sector pension levy provided for in the FEMPI legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29092/16]
87. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position relating to equity release loans on a person's home; if they are permitted by the Central Bank; if so, if he will provide a list of regulated entities that provide them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/16]
86. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if receipt by a beneficiary of €3,000 annually by way of a gift in line with the annual exemption from a donor, has any impact on the amount that beneficiary can receive tax free (in accordance with the relevant threshold) by way of inheritance on the death of the same donor, under gift tax legislation. [29108/16]
522. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to strengthen the law to tackle abuses to animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28311/16]
458. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 28 April 2015, the current status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28521/16]
457. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has a policy of outsourcing the home help service to private contractors; the total number of home help hours expected to be provided in 2016; the number provided in this regard by home help assistants employed by the HSE, by private companies or contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28519/16]
262. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the clarification his Department received from the European Commission in June 2016 on the requirement for the Marine Survey Office to accept UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency certificates of proficiency issued outside of the UK in another member state in respect of seafarers' certificates; his current position on the key issue of mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates within the EU in line with the requirements of Directive 2005/45/EC, if he accepts this mutual recognition requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27887/16]
148. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the Christmas bonus paid in 2015; his plans to pay a Christmas bonus in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27810/16]
146. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to the payment of a Christmas bonus to social protection recipients in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27811/16]
141. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there is a monetary cap on the purchase price that local authorities can pay for a private dwelling on the open market; if so, the cap amounts for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27869/16]
82. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that progressive credit unions that have the necessary skills and infrastructure to issue mortgages and who have evidence of significant demand are restricted in the amount they can lend as mortgages under the new regulations to just 5% of their current member shares. [27886/16]
81. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some financial institutions have already started charging credit unions for holding their funds. [27885/16]
80. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of surplus funds credit unions have available to lend at the moment; the amount permissible under current term limits as mortgages with terms less than ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27884/16]
79. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of credit unions that have expressed an interest in providing mortgages to members; and if the Central Bank has any knowledge of the type of demand there might be for mortgages from credit union members. [27883/16]
78. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that credit unions compete with banks and the State has a declared interest in ensuring that Irish banks remain viable and profitable, he will consider the establishment of an oversight body to ensure that the regulations are being implemented in a proportionate, fair and equitable manner.
[27882/16]
77. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that extensive powers were devolved to the registrar in the Credit Union Act 1997 (Regulatory Requirements) Regulations 2016, he will consider providing for an appeals mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27881/16]
76. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the registrar has received proposals from credit unions for business model changes since the new regulation making powers came into effect; and the number of amendments to the regulations made to facilitate these. [27880/16]
74. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the public consultation exercise undertaken in 2015 by his Department on the tax treatment of expenses of travel and subsistence for employees and office holders; his plans to introduce any changes to legislation governing the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27821/16]
73. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if, in relation to the current rules that apply to the home renovation incentive scheme, in a circumstance where a person has planning permission in place before 31 December 2016, commences the construction work after 1 January 2017 and has the work fully completed and paid for by 31 March 2017, the person can avail of the incentive scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27812/16]
44. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the status of the flood insurance models considered by his Department; the preferred option and timeframe for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27551/16]
43. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider an amendment to the legislation governing credit unions that would specifically allow them lend to approved housing bodies and local authorities for social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27552/16]
38. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the status of the State's preparations for the submission of an appeal to the European Courts against the European Commission's ruling concerning a company (details supplied) ; his plans for the escrow account which will hold the funds pending the outcome of the appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27548/16]
33. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the mandate of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund; if he would like to see greater investments being made; his plans to introduce changes to the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27550/16]
10. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his plans in relation to the possible sale of a stake in a bank (details supplied); the estimate of the amount which would be received for a sale of a 20% stake in the bank; the use the proceeds would be put to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27549/16]
3. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the par value of the remaining loan assets on the books of NAMA; if he will outline NAMA's strategy for the disposal of same and provide an update on planned portfolio sales; his plans to strengthen the existing oversight mechanisms for future loan sale transactions or introduce new mechanisms in view of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the sale of Project Eagle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27796/16]
1. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the work of the task force in his Department examining the spiralling cost of motor insurance; when the task force will report; if he is committed to implementing its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27795/16]
193. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if funding is available for the provision of a certain therapy for a child with dyspraxia (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27640/16]
142. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of a 10% reduction and, separately, a 20% reduction in motor tax for all private vehicles registered before 1 July 2008 with an engine size of not greater than 2,000 cc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27733/16]
141. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of a 10% reduction and separately a 20% reduction in motor tax for all private vehicles registered before 1 July 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27732/16]
140. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government , further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 8 June 2016, if he is considering any changes to the high motor tax burden placed on the owners of private vehicles registered before 1 July 2008; the average motor tax per pre-July 2008 vehicle is €545 and the average motor tax per post-July 2008 vehicle is €307; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27731/16]
128. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to provide data for each of the following independent options for changes to the USC, both the year one cost and the full year cost of changing the amount of income subject to the 1% rate to €15,000; reducing the 3% rate by 0.5%; reducing the 5.5% rate by 0.5%; and changing the amount of income subject to the 3% rate from the next €6,656 to the next €9,156. [27738/16]
127. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the year one and full year cost of a 10% increase, for each group, in the group A, group B and group C capital acquisitions tax thresholds, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27737/16]