Parliamentary questions

397. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider raising the borrowing cap for local authorities to facilitate the delivery of new housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11030/25]

398. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance if all persons recruited to work in his Department and all the related agencies of his Department are fully vetted before they are employed by his Department and or said agencies. [11083/25]

399. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Finance for an update on the situation regarding a clinic (details supplied) which faces closure due to the recent tax law clarification; if a legislative exemption will be reconsidered to ensure the clinic’s continued operation and prevent further harm to those who rely on it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11127/25]

400. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to examine the case for a review of the rules governing insurance premiums (details supplied). [11216/25]

401. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if clear guidance will be issued for taxi drivers who will be affected by the tax implications of the ‘reverse charge’ model operated by taxi app companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11271/25]

402. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Finance whether recently announced ReArm Europe plans by Ursula von der Leyen, particularly the announcement of more flexible use of EU funding towards defence investment, will result in Irish taxpayers' money being used to fund arms manufacturing, lethal military aid, and other potential breaches of Ireland's military neutrality at an EU level; and…

403. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the legislation or regulations that govern the provision of safe deposit boxes and their contents in financial institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11373/25]

404. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers to date that have applied to have their flat-rate expenses reinstated; the number in each category, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/25]

405. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to further expand the inheritance thresholds, particularly where it relates to the estates of single individuals; if he will acknowledge that single people with no children are at a disadvantage while estate planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11430/25]

406. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of instances of persons having marriage tax credits claimed during their separation being recouped following the finalisation of their divorce, given that persons are still married during the period of separation; if he will instruct his Department to end this recouperation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11437/…

407. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of reducing the VAT rate applicable to each of bike rental and short-term car rental sectors from 13.5% to 9%. [11485/25]

408. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Finance the number of newly purchased buses for which VAT refunds were applied for and granted, under the VAT71 scheme, in each of the past five years. [11490/25]

409. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Finance if he will commit to reintroducing tax relief on trade union subscriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11498/25]

410. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance for a list of all contracts that a company (details supplied) has with his Department. [11518/25]

411. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Finance to address the discrimination childless adults are experiencing regarding inheritance tax (details supplied) as a matter of extreme urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11554/25]

412. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance following changes to how flat rate expense tax credit can be claimed, the number of taxpayers to date that have applied to have their flat rate expenses reinstated; the numbers in each staff category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11615/25]

413. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance to provide the volume of gold or gold receivables held by the Central Bank at the end of each year since 2014, in tabular form; the value of that holding as of that year end; where the gold is currently held; the annual cost of securing the holding; the current market value of the gold holdings; when the last disposal of gold occurred; the amount…

414. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance to outline the value of foreign exchange reserves by Ireland as of end-2024; to provide a breakdown by currency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11724/25]

415. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to make changes to the taxation of cohabiting couples to recognise them as equal to married couples. [11730/25]

416. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Finance the annual amount claimed by special advisers attached to him or his Department outside of their regular salary, since 1 March 2020 to date in 2025, by mileage claim and amount, subsistence, other vouched expenses and unvouched expenses; and if the travel episode and or journey related to same will be included in the response. [11762/25]

417. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance to list the buildings occupied or vacant on land in Dublin 8, 10 or 12 which his Department owns or is leasing, and have been identified as surplus to requirements now or in the near future or that are underutilised; the plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/25]

418. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the number of complaints submitted to the Financial Services Ombudsman in each of the past five years; if there is a backlog of cases to be dealt with; if so, the number of cases in this backlog; the length of time each has been waiting for a decision; if he will provide details of the delay in processing a complaint submitted by a company…

419. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Finance the engagement his Department has had with mortgage lenders regarding Irish mortgage rates, in light of the ECB cutting rates over the past nine months. [11813/25]

420. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Finance the reason ECB interest rate cuts are not being passed onto variable mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11926/25]

421. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to other State agencies and if his own Government Department have used any of the same IT services providers as the Arts Council (details supplied) and have experienced cost overruns or encountered delays or other issues with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11932/25]