Questions

277. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views regarding the merits of introducing incentives to encourage persons to use means of international transport other than air travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70242/25]

278. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the subsidies which are available for transport by ferry on and off the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70243/25]

279. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport to provide the percentage calculation for the contribution to Ireland’s green house gas emissions from aviation; if this figure will be broken down by cargo, passenger and private aviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70244/25]

280. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to reviewing the decision of the return journey of a proposed new route (details supplied) of the BusConnects Cork Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70248/25]

281. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the average time over the past six years it has taken to produce a stamped final bill in his Department from the time when his Department has received government approval for the general scheme and the heads of a bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70282/25]

282. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a schedule of all funding and grant aid provided by heading and subhead to Kildare, Wicklow and Meath local authorities in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the amount returned and or not expended over the same period. [70318/25]

283. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the current VAT policy in respect of UK customers purchasing livestock animals in Ireland for export to the UK; and the reason UK buyers are required to pay VAT upfront and subsequently claim a refund given that the animals are being exported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69037/25]

284. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will commission a review of Budget 2026's impact on disabled households, particularly during the winter months, compared with what Budget 2025 offered in comparison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69592/25]

285. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of employees currently employed in the offices of the Comptroller and Auditor General; the number of staff per year since 2015, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70287/25]

286. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the plans to support motorists who will be affected by recently announced road toll charge increases; if Department has any plans to encourage employer reimbursement schemes for employees who regularly use tolls to commute to and from work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69006/25]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department produced any analysis in advance of Budget 2026 on the net financial position of disabled households after the withdrawal of once off supports including the electricity credits, fuel lump sums, disability cost-of-living payment and living alone lump sum; and if he will publish this analysis. [69175/25]

288. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to consider expanding the criteria for car adaptation grants, to ensure those most in need are not excluded as they do not meet the limited criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69180/25]

289. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures to reduce insurance premiums, including public liability insurance premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69292/25]

290. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the engagement he has had with the Central Bank regarding how customers affected by the tracker mortgage scandal can be assisted by the State; whether legislation to outlaw confidentiality agreements between banks and those who win their appeals is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69293/25]

291. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to clarify whether Revenue classifies tax refunds, tax credits (including the rent tax credit), and medical-expense relief refunds strictly as adjustments to tax liability rather than earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69301/25]

292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the Government’s current assessment of the main contributors to inflation in 2024 and 2025, including food, energy, transport and taxation-related factors; the measures being taken by his Department to reduce price pressures on households and small businesses; any analysis undertaken by his Department on the impact of carbon-tax increases on consumer…

293. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to state if he has abandoned the pledge to gradually increase the threshold for the top rate of tax to €50,000, and if not, to state the timeframe in which he now expects this pledge to be fulfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69344/25]

294. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the exemptions and reductions available for local property tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69454/25]

295. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will open a full investigation into the serious matters of fraud within NAMA outlined in Dáil Éireann by this Deputy on 25 November 2025 (details supplied); if he will engage with NAMA on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69463/25]

296. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have been instructed by the Department of Social Protection to automatically apply tax to carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit from January 2026; the practical steps Revenue Commissioners will take; if any exemptions or hardship protections will apply for low-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

297. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to review the VAT regime for cattle haulage in Ireland to ensure parity with other agricultural services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69555/25]

298. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to improve access to affordable credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in regional towns; and if he will outline how Government schemes such as the credit guarantee scheme are being utilised by businesses in Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69556/25]

299. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way in which his Department is supporting investment in green infrastructure and sustainability projects through tax incentives or funding mechanisms; and the opportunities for counties such as Laois to benefit from these initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69557/25]

300. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a date has been confirmed for the informal ECOFIN meeting to be held during Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69558/25]

301. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of supervisory inspections carried out by the Financial Regulator on each Irish retail and commercial bank in every year from 2004 to 2008, including the number of onsite inspections, thematic inspections and governance reviews conducted during that period, in tabular form. [69662/25]