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For Written Answer on : 21/05/2019 Question Number(s): 135 Question Reference(s): 21837/19 Department: Finance Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D. ______________________________________________ QUESTION To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which his Department has used the funds the State received from the sale of its stake in a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Aer Lingus REPLY The proceeds of the sale of the state's shareholding in Aer Lingus have been used to establish the Connectivity Fund which is managed by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). The Connectivity Fund is being invested on a commercial basis as a sub portfolio of the ISIF fund, and consistent with the overall ISIF double bottom line mandate i.e. investing for both commercial return and economic impact. The ISIF have advised me that it has completed four investments under the Connectivity Fund, namely:
These investments bring the total deployed under the Connectivity Fund to over €90 million. ISIF have informed me that there are a range of further pipeline connectivity-based investments on which it is currently working. ISIF’s refocused strategy targets five priority themes, one of which is investment to support regional development. As such, the ISIF have advised that the Connectivity Fund will henceforth be focused on commercial investments that support improved regional connectivity. ______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 21/05/2019 Question Number(s): 419,331 Question Reference(s): 21828/19, 21829/19 Department: Health Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D. ______________________________________________ QUESTION * To ask the Minister for Health when the gratuity payment due to certain home help workers will be made in lieu of pension payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21 May, 2019. * To ask the Minister for Health the reason her Department has not paid the gratuity due to certain home help workers in lieu of pension payments in line with recommendations of the Labour Court to date. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21 May, 2019. REPLY The Deputy is referring to Home Help workers who are employed by voluntary providers of home help services which are funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. As these home help workers are not employed by the HSE, the HSE and the Department have no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff including any pension arrangements. A joint working group was established, as agreed as part of the 2015 Lansdowne Road talks, to consider a number of issues in relation to section 39 organisations. Unfortunately it was not possible to reach an agreement between the parties on the issue of gratuity payments. ______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 21/05/2019 Question Number(s): 581 Question Reference(s): 21838/19 Department: Transport, Tourism and Sport Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D. ______________________________________________ QUESTION To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the substantial cuts imposed on members of a scheme (details supplied) in advance of the sale of the stake of the State in a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) the IASS Pension scheme, Aer Lingus REPLY The Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS) is currently the subject of on-going legal proceedings. As this matter is sub judice it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on the issue. ______________________________________________ For Written Answer on : 21/05/2019 Question Number(s): 632,633 Question Reference(s): 21836/19, 21840/19 Department: Employment Affairs and Social Protection Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D. ______________________________________________ QUESTION * To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will establish an independent review group within her Department to assess the level and impact of cuts suffered by all categories of members in a scheme (details supplied) due to changes in legislation and in particular the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014 and subsequent reductions in members benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21 May, 2019. * To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the substantial cuts imposed on members of a scheme (details supplied) in advance of the sale of the stake of the State in a company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 21 May, 2019. REPLY I am aware of the reduction in pension benefits for members of the IASS pension scheme. However, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot intervene in, or comment on, the pension arrangements applying to a particular pension scheme as such arrangements are a matter for the pension scheme trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. As the Deputy is aware, there is currently a case before the Courts in relation to the IASS pension scheme. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on this matter. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the budget for disability services in CHO 9 is allocated without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications which have been received to date in 2019 in respect of the VAT compensation scheme for charities which he announced in Budget 2018; the steps he is taking to promote the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY The VAT Compensation Scheme for Charities was introduced in Budget 2018 to reduce the tax burden on Charities and partially compensate them for the VAT incurred in delivering on their charitable purpose. Under the Scheme, Charities are entitled to claim a refund of a proportion of their VAT costs based on their level of non-public funding. The Scheme applies to VAT incurred on or after 1 January 2018 and will be paid one year in arrears. For example, in 2019, Charities can reclaim some element of the VAT paid in 2018, but VAT paid in prior years cannot be claimed. A total annual capped fund of €5m is available for payment under the Scheme, which will be subject to review after three years. Where the total amount of eligible claims from all Charities in a year exceeds the capped amount, claims will be paid on a pro-rata basis. Detailed information regarding the VAT Compensation Scheme for Charities is available on the Revenue Commissioners website at the following link: https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/value-added-tax/part12-refunds-and-repayments-of-tax/vat-compensation-scheme/vat-compensation-scheme-guidelines.pdf Since 1 January 2019, 101 claims have been received by Revenue from Charities amounting to €1.5m. The closing date for submissions in respect of 2018 is 30 June 2019. Once the closing date has passed, Revenue will review the claims received and issue refunds later in the year in accordance with the rules of the Scheme. Charities wishing to submit a claim in respect of 2018 can do so through the Revenue Online Service (ROS) at any stage between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2019. The minimum claim amount that can be submitted is €500. A ‘linked’ agent may also make the claim on ROS on behalf of the Charity. Regarding the overall communications strategy for the Scheme, I am aware that Revenue has, in addition to publishing the detailed information on its website, engaged directly with Charities to explain the operational administration and issued reminder notifications in January 2019 advising of its commencement. Revenue also issued an e-Brief to tax practitioners in December 2018 setting out the details of the Scheme and how it will operate and has worked with the Charities representative bodies to prepare a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Furthermore, Revenue plans to publish a further notification in early May reminding Charities of the 30 June 2019 closing date. |
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January 2020
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