Parliamentary questions

74. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with colleagues across Government regarding investment in STEM and STEAM education, digital skills and innovation programmes at local authority level (details supplied); his views on whether such investment is necessary to future-proof employment opportunities for younger generations; and if he will m…

75. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the contingency planning he is making for the potential €28 billion in fines that Ireland may owe due to missing our climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48314/26]

76. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to address the difficulty SMEs are facing accessing credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48196/26]

247. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will review the unfair charging to local authorities of the RZLT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48301/26]

248. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated annual cost of increasing the VAT flat rate for farmers to 5.1% [48440/26]

249. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated full year cost if the guide dog allowance increased to €1,000 based on 2025 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48461/26]

250. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to increase the €400 per year tax-free exemption from selling surplus solar electricity back to the grid as an incentive to encourage more households to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48588/26]

251. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on the removal of stamp duty on second hand homes for first-time buyers. [48750/26]

252. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if savers will be liable to tax each year on assets they have not sold or realised any gain on (details supplied); the details of the tax-free threshold and the flat rate he is considering; and the way in which will this treatment compare to the UK ISA model, under which no such annual charge applies. [48373/26]

253. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to banks that have refused to take carer's allowance payments into account when calculating household income and when assessing mortgage applications; if this is standard practice across banks and lending institutions; the actions he will take to ensure this practice is ended; and if he will ma…

254. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide an update on the September 2026 deadline for the annual approval of the prospectus for Israeli war bonds. [48430/26]

255. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to the National Financial Literacy Strategy Annual Review and Action Plan 2026-2027, whether the development of the proposed Government Investment Account will include age-specific or child-focused investment options, aimed at supporting long-term saving for children; if he will outline any related plans under conside…

256. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has undertaken any analysis in relation to child-specific savings or investment vehicles, including tax-free account or trust-based models; the expected timeline for decisions in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48524/26]

257. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of complaints made by his Department to social media or online marketing companies about specific online posts or accounts for each year from 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026. [48612/26]

258. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he can provide an update on the outstanding commitments from the Funds 2030; the timeline for progress on the outstanding items, including aligning the current rate of investment undertaking tax (IUT) with capital gains tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48720/26]

154. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his Department’s position on the current EU allocation under the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the AgoraEU programme considering the key role that civil society, independent journalism and culture play in safeguarding a Europe where democracy can thrive; and whether Ireland will be seeking an increase in thi…

218. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons currently awaiting an appeal assessment under the primary medical certificate scheme; the average waiting time from the date an appeal is lodged to the completion of an appeal assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46802/26]

219. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures being taken to reduce delays in the appeals process for the primary medical certificate; the status of proposals to provide appeal assessments in regional locations outside of Dublin; the expected timeline for the implementation of such arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46803/26]

220. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted an assessment on the additional hardship imposed on persons with significant physical disabilities who are required to travel considerable distances to Dublin for a primary medical certificate appeal assessment, often after lengthy waiting periods; the steps being taken to establish regional assessm…

221. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals received in each of the past five years; the current size of appeals awaiting assessment per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46805/26]

222. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a review of the primary medical certificate appeals process is underway; the measures being considered to improve accessibility, reduce waiting times and ensure timely decisions for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46806/26]

223. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons currently awaiting an appeal assessment under the primary medical certificate scheme; the average waiting time from the date an appeal is lodged to the completion of an appeal assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46807/26]

224. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures being taken to reduce delays in the appeals process for the primary medical certificate; the status of proposals to provide appeal assessments in regional locations outside of Dublin; the expected timeline for the implementation of such arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46808/26]

225. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out an assessment on the additional hardship imposed on persons with significant physical disabilities who are required to travel considerable distances to Dublin for a primary medical certificate appeal assessment, often after lengthy waiting periods; the steps being taken to establish regional asses…

226. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals received in each of the past five years; the current size of appeals awaiting assessment per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46810/26]