Parliamentary questions

Road Traffic Offences Data

Brendan Griffin

115. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of speeding penalties over the past five years in 60 km/h, 100 km/h and 120 km/h zones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8796/17]

EU Funding

Pearse Doherty

116. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the EU funds her Department accesses; the plans she is putting in place to access these funds to a greater degree in view of Brexit; if she will outline initiatives she is pursuing to establish access to new funds in view of the challenge of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8810/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Fitzmaurice

117. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to set out in tabular form the public funding supplied to trade unions and representative bodies in 2015 and 2016 from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9100/17]

Disabled Drivers Grant

Colm Brophy

118. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Finance to outline the financial supports available to assist a wheelchair user to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8231/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

119. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance to outline his plans to include first-time buyers that are buying second-hand homes in the help-to-buy scheme; if not, the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8346/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Data

Pearse Doherty

120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to set down the number of applications to date for the help-to-buy scheme as announced in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8086/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Data

Pearse Doherty

121. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to set out the number of applications for the help-to-buy scheme that have been deemed valid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8087/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Data

Pearse Doherty

122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to set out in tabular form the number of successful or pending applications for the help-to-buy scheme in categories (details supplied); and the total potential cost of the scheme in each category. [8088/17]

Help-To-Buy Scheme Data

Pearse Doherty

123. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance to set out the total anticipated cost of the help-to-buy scheme based on the applications to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8089/17]

Tax Reliefs Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

124. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance to set down the savings and yield to the Exchequer from standardising at 20% the rate at which all persons receive tax relief on contributions to occupational pension schemes, RACs and PRSAs. [8090/17]

Tax Reliefs Data

Maureen O'Sullivan

125. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance to set down the savings and yield to the Exchequer from reducing the earnings cap for pension tax relief on contributions to occupational pension schemes, RACs and PRSAs from €115,000 per annum to €75,000. [8091/17]

NAMA Accounts

Barry Cowen

126. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance to outline the spending commitments or paying down of debt that the Government has entered into with regard to the profits arising from the winding down of NAMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8107/17]

Banking Sector

Barry Cowen

127. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance to outline the spending commitments or paying down of debt the Government has entered into with regard to the profits arising from the partial sale of the State's stake in a bank (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8108/17]

Betting Licences Data

Catherine Murphy

128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance to set down in tabular form the amount of funding granted to Horse Racing Ireland directly from betting receipts for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8120/17]

Additional Voluntary Contributions

Brendan Griffin

129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if additional access will be given to persons who have built up funds through voluntary contributions towards their occupational pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8155/17]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

130. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 2 February 2017 if he will provide the definition of "consultation" in this case; if it involves feedback or instruction from him or if it only involves communication to him informing him of the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8170/17]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

131. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 2 February 2017 if he expects to be consulted if the sale by a bank of certain non-performing loan books were divided in such a way that the individual proceeds would be below €100 million but taken together would be equal to or exceeding €100 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8171/17]

Banking Sector

Michael McGrath

132. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance whether a bank (details supplied) has expressed its intention to sell on performing loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8172/17]

NAMA Staff Remuneration

Michael McGrath

133. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if any staff members of the National Treasury Management Agency or National Asset Management Agency are to receive a bonus payment for 2016; if so, the total amount being paid out in bonuses by the NTMA in respect of 2016; the number of staff that are to receive a bonus; the highest individual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8174/17]

NAMA Expenditure

Michael McGrath

134. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to outline the amount paid by the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Asset Management Agency for public relations in 2016; the amount paid to each firm; the rates that apply; when the main public relations contracts for the two agencies are up for renewal; his views on whether the contract provides value for money for the two agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8175/17]

Exchequer Revenue

Noel Rock

135. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance to set down the total amount of revenue received by the State in 2016 through the entertainment industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8184/17]

Exchequer Revenue

Noel Rock

136. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance to set down the total amount of revenue received by the State in 2016 through domestic artists in the entertainment industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8185/17]

Construction Industry

Noel Rock

137. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the study by a company (details supplied) which reported that nearly half of the office space leased in Dublin during the last quarter of 2016 has not been built yet; the actions being taken by his Department to tackle the scarcity of new office space in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8187/17]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Noel Rock

138. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance if he will be monitoring proposed regulations in the UK on payments to bank executives; if he will introduce similar measures after reports showed that 26 bankers received €50 million in salaries and bonuses in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8189/17]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Dara Calleary

139. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that insurance companies are discriminating against certain professions (details supplied) in refusing to insure them; his plans to tackle these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8233/17]

Betting Licences Data

Catherine Murphy

140. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance to set down in tabular form the amount of betting intermediary duty collected from bets made from track-side bookmakers in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/17]

Betting Licences Data

Catherine Murphy

141. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance to set down in tabular form the amount of betting intermediary duty collected from bets made instore and online with bookmakers in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8235/17]

VAT Rate Application

Pearse Doherty

142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the services and sectors that attract a 9% VAT rate due to the fact they are related to the tourism sector; the tax foregone to date and in the past year as a result of each service attracting the reduced rate of 9%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8244/17]

Primary Medical Certificates Eligibility

Fergus O'Dowd

143. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance his plans to expand the constrained assessment criteria for primary medical certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8254/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

144. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of all costs due to consultancy and other external contracts with regard to his Department's financial services policy division, including a description in each case of the purpose of the contract in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8261/17]

Vehicle Registration

Pearse Doherty

145. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of cherished numbers registered with the Revenue Commissioners in each of the past ten years; the cost and the revenue associated with this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8271/17]

Property Tax Administration

Brendan Griffin

146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if local property tax deduction at source will be extended to persons over 66 years of age in receipt of deserted wives benefit in view of its availability to State pension recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8278/17]

Betting Legislation

Pearse Doherty

147. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the legal basis on which on-course bookmakers are treated differently for tax purposes from high street bookmakers; if there is any impediment to implementing a similar differentiation for smaller bookmakers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8280/17]

Home Repossessions Rate

Fiona O'Loughlin

148. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacant homes State-backed banks have in their possession as of 14 February 2017 by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8290/17]

Home Repossessions Rate

Fiona O'Loughlin

149. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacant homes State-backed banks have given or sold to the Housing Agency or any other State body in each of the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8291/17]

Revenue Commissioners

Tom Neville

150. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Finance if he will address an issue in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8295/17]

Financial Services Regulation

Pearse Doherty

151. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the estimated savings that would accrue from moving the entire cost of regulation of the financial sector onto the industry, as opposed to the current 50%; and his plans in this regard. [8296/17]

Tax Credits

Seán Barrett

152. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing a tax credit at the standard rate for renters to help alleviate the pressure on persons who find themselves paying a large portion of their monthly salaries on rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8302/17]

Tax Settlements

Michael McGrath

153. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the maximum period of time that a person can be given for a repayment schedule in which exceptional personal circumstances apply in relation to the repayment of tax relief at source, TRS, owed to the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8315/17]

Tax Reliefs Abolition

Pat Deering

154. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to tax relief at source, TRS, ending in 2017; the other avenues of financial support open to persons (details supplied) who purchased their homes at the height of the property price boom and are still in negative equity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8334/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Pearse Doherty

155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total amount claimed in each of the years 2009 to 2016, inclusive, with regard to tax relief on the full cost of maintaining a person in a nursing home which may be allowed in cases in which the person has not been reimbursed in tabular form. [8335/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Pearse Doherty

156. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total amount claimed, number of claimants and associated job creation in 2015 and 2016 with regard to tax relief through the employment investment incentive in nursing homes in tabular form. [8336/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Pearse Doherty

157. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total amount claimed, number of claimants and associated job creation in each of the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive, regarding tax relief through the employment investment incentive in tabular form. [8337/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Pearse Doherty

158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total amount and number of claimants in each of the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive, regarding tax relief on retirement for certain income of sportspersons in tabular form. [8338/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Pearse Doherty

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total amount and number of claimants in each of the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive, regarding the artist exemption on certain profits or gains earned by writers, composers, visual artists and sculptors from the sale of their work in certain circumstances in tabular form. [8339/17]

Consultancy Contracts

Pearse Doherty

160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the external consultants paid by his Department to aid in the preparation of the Central Bank consolidation Bill; the amount of moneys paid to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8398/17]

Departmental Correspondence

Charlie McConalogue

161. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance when a reply will issue to an interim response (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8436/17]

Tax Avoidance

Pearse Doherty

162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of voluntary disclosures made and received to date since the Finance Act that are related to offshore tax evasion; the estimated total in penalties that would have been collected had those disclosures not happened during the window in which no penalties were imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8474/17]

Tax Reliefs Data

Pearse Doherty

163. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have availed of the rent-a-room relief in each of the past five years; the number who have applied since the increase in the threshold to €14,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8485/17]

VAT Exemptions

Michael Harty

164. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Finance if voluntary community organisations involved in the extension and maintenance of local graveyards can be exempted from VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8495/17]

VAT Exemptions

Michael Harty

165. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Finance if voluntary community organisations involved in the extension and maintenance of local graveyards can be exempted from VAT, as in a case (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8510/17]

Customs and Excise Controls

Pearse Doherty

166. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the steps the Revenue Commissioners have taken to identify possible customs posts on the Border; the locations that have been examined for these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8539/17]

National Postcode System Implementation

Catherine Murphy

167. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the cost of upgrading information technology systems and-or databases to incorporate the use of Eircode postcodes; if the use of Eircode postcodes is mandatory in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8632/17]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

168. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is appropriate for accounting companies (details supplied) to advertise the facilitation of payment of 0% tax rates to foreign companies that may wish to do business here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8659/17]

Motor Insurance Regulation

Michael Healy-Rae

169. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will address an issue with regard to spiralling insurance costs for the road passenger industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8679/17]

NAMA Assets Sale

Michael McGrath

170. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if NAMA has been requested to provide information to the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2016 or to date in 2017 in relation to certain sales it has been party to regarding the closed, non-competitive nature of the sales process; if so, the details of each such transaction and the information which has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8683/17]

Customs and Excise Controls

Gerry Adams

171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if officials from the Revenue Commissioners have been engaged in examination and identification of locations for full Border checkpoints with red and green channel facilities in counties Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal and on the M1 motorway between Dublin and Belfast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8710/17]

Brexit Issues

Gerry Adams

172. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the documentation regarding the agreement he referred to with the British Government that there will be no return to the Border of the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8711/17]

Pension Provisions

Jim Daly

173. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has plans to reduce the threshold of €12,800 to qualify for an approved minimum retirement fund pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8723/17]

EU Funding

Pearse Doherty

174. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the EU funds his Department accesses; the plans he is putting in place to access these funds to a greater degree in view of Brexit; if he will outline the initiatives he is pursuing to establish access to new funds in view of the challenge of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8806/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

David Cullinane

175. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if persons are required to hold a valid construction skills certification scheme trainee card during the time they are building up their six months' experience on their desired plant or machine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

David Cullinane

176. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the persons within SOLAS, the approved training centres and the Health and Safety Authority, who are responsible for checking that CSCS trainee cards are issued and held for a minimum of six months before persons attend training centres for certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

David Cullinane

177. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that are or will be put in place to ensure that operators are only being certified after having held a trainee card for at least six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/17]

DEIS Data

John Curran

178. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names and addresses of the 110 schools he plans to provide with additional supports through the DEIS programme 2017 which he announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8070/17]

School Enrolments

Clare Daly

179. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to relieve high levels of over-subscription in schools in the Swords area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8097/17]

Teacher Recruitment

Bobby Aylward

180. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any of the permanent teaching posts announced in budget 2017, in particular special needs assistance or resource teaching, will be advertised in open competition for teachers with or without panel rights, to afford employment opportunities to those with specialised qualifications in this field during the recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8102/17]

Teacher Exchange Scheme

Bobby Aylward

181. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate the possibility of a specialised transfer system in teaching to allow a change in location for permanent teachers, due to personal circumstances, without incurring the loss of panel rights; if an avenue of appeal exists within his Department or designated offices for special consideration to be given to teachers who have exchanged or transferred to another location but cannot return to their original placement due to extenuating circumstances and seek permanency in a new location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8103/17]

DEIS Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

182. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide all of the information used in the assessment of primary schools in County Tipperary under the new DEIS programme; the reason the five primary schools in Tipperary town were excluded from the programme; if these schools can be re-examined for inclusion under the DEIS programme in view of the level of disadvantage in Tipperary town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8118/17]

Scoileanna Oileáin

Éamon Ó Cuív

183. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist aige an leithroinnt múinteoirí ex cuóta speisialta do mheánscoileanna ar oileáin a mhéadú ó aon mhúinteoir amháin go 2.5 mhúinteoir ag pointe scála bunúsach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [8134/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

184. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the July provision scheme for autistic children to children with Down's syndrome in 2017, in view of their urgent need for such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8147/17]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

John McGuinness

185. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a SUSI grant application in respect of a person (details supplied). [8153/17]

DEIS Data

Niamh Smyth

186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that are in the DEIS programme by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/17]

DEIS Data

Pat the Cope Gallagher

187. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the schools in County Donegal that were unsuccessful in obtaining DEIS status following the recent designation; the reason each school was unsuccessful in tabular form; the appeals mechanism open to those schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8236/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Niamh Smyth

188. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if this person is entitled to one to one support; if he will provide clarity on an issue regarding this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8293/17]

Adult Education Provision

Dara Calleary

189. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that are available to persons suffering from dyslexia who are returning to adult education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8340/17]

Schools Amalgamation

Billy Kelleher

190. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a school (details supplied) following amalgamation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8355/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Bobby Aylward

191. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the summer works scheme application from a school (details supplied); when decisions on applications for summer works scheme will be returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/17]

DEIS Status

Pearse Doherty

192. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Donegal had its DEIS status withdrawn some years ago; the reason the school has not been included as part of the recently expanded programme; if consideration will be given to including the school in DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8374/17]

DEIS Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

193. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full details of assessment relating to the DEIS criteria regarding a school (details supplied); the reason the school missed out on qualifying for DEIS status; if an appeal system will be put in place in order that the school's situation can be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8377/17]

Schools Refurbishment

Charlie McConalogue

194. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine a request for funding by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8384/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

195. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extra provision available for students already enrolled who now present with a specific diagnosis from this point forward with regard to the new model allocation for resource teacher hours; and if this provision must come out of the school's existing allocation. [8388/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

196. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extra provision available for students who will start school from September 2017 with a specific diagnosis either in junior infants or transferring from another school with regard to the new model allocation for resource teacher hours. [8389/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

197. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the detail of the criteria for admission of schools to DEIS. [8390/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

198. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools that do not qualify for the scheme will be removed from DEIS. [8391/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

199. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the admission criteria to DEIS have been finalised; and if not, when they will be. [8392/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Joan Burton

200. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will grant full funding to a school (details supplied) as applied for under the summer works scheme 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8406/17]

DEIS Scheme

Dara Calleary

201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact criteria used by his Department in determining the eligibility of additional schools to be added to the DEIS scheme; if eligibility is determined under certain and specific headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8484/17]

Education and Training Boards Administration

John Brassil

202. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on the acquisition of a suitable location for the shared payroll service centre for the education training boards in Dublin; the cost of acquiring a suitable location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8488/17]

Education and Training Boards Staff

John Brassil

203. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made in the resourcing of suitable staff to work in the shared payroll service centre for all education training boards in Dublin; the number of these staff who are existing public servants; the number of new recruits who will have to be employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8489/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

204. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will be putting in place an independent review mechanism, as was put in place after the initial assessment for DEIS in 2006, to address the concerns of schools that did not qualify for inclusion in DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage which was of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme; and if not, the reason. [8496/17]

DEIS Scheme

Thomas Byrne

205. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the role of the Educational Research Centre in the DEIS status assessment process; and the reason its involvement in the assessment process was minimised, in view of this organisation's previous involvement and experience in DEIS. [8497/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

206. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address concerns of some schools over the new resource and learning support teaching hours allocation model, in particular concerns that the NCSE will not review allocation of support teachers until 2019; and the position with regard to schools that require an increase in hours due to having additional pupils requiring SEN support while it is acknowledged that schools will not lose resource teaching hours. [8498/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

207. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address concerns of school principals that they have not been given enough information on the way the allocations of resource and learning support teaching will be allocated for the 2017-18 school term; and if he will further address concerns that schools which experience a rise in identified special needs in 2017-18 will have to consequently reduce current pupils' contact time in order that new special needs pupils can be supported. [8499/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

208. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address concerns that the NCSE is not accepting applications from schools for SEN supports for children with complex needs in 2017; and the way the NCSE expects to be informed in decisions made over resource teaching allocations without information submitted by schools on individual students' complex needs. [8500/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

209. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address concerns that under the new NCSE allocation model for resource teaching hours, allocations will become reactive to students' needs due to the reliance on standarised tests; if he will further address fears that schools with strong performance on standardised tests might receive a worse allocation even though they have a high number of children with special education needs. [8501/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

210. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address concerns that under the new NCSE allocation model for resource teaching hours, allocations will be based on socioeconomic background, which is not directly related to assessed conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, ASD or speech and language difficulties. [8502/17]

Industrial Disputes

Thomas Byrne

211. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that a number of schools will not meet the minimum of 167 teaching days in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8503/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

212. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the evidence his Department or a body under its aegis has to support the claim made by the NCSE that the current allocation model for resource teaching and learning supports is driving an over-diagnosis and over-labelling of children as having behavioural conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, or developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, ASD . [8504/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Frank O'Rourke

213. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the letter of intent to the successful contractor for the building of a school (details supplied) will be issued; when the contracts will be signed and building works will commence; the estimated time from commencement of building works to completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8509/17]

School Accommodation Provision

Darragh O'Brien

214. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the serious lack of primary school places in Swords, County Dublin, where hundreds of children cannot gain access to junior infants; the steps he and his Department are taking to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8536/17]