Written Answers

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised].

Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, answered orally.

Shared Ownership Scheme

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

10 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the degree to which the shared ownership mortgage scheme is continuing to develop with particular reference to the degree to which those who obtain such mortgages are penalised by way of increased value of rental part of the equity thereby resulting in a situation wherein people who were deemed eligible for such loans on the basis of their income have been penalised on the grounds of annual rental increase plus mortgage increase plus notice to the effect that purchase of the remaining equity must be effected within the term of the original loan; if his attention has been drawn to the concern and hardship now being caused in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22166/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

Under the Shared Ownership scheme the rent charged on the local authority's equity in a shared ownership transaction is to cover the funding costs to the Housing Finance Agency which are based on borrowings at the prevailing interest rates. Any difference between the rent and prevailing interest rate is reflected in the capital outstanding on the property, i.e. if the rent charged in any period is greater than the prevailing mortgage interest due on the local authority's share the purchase price of the outstanding equity will be reduced accordingly.

Local authority mortgage holders — including those who purchased under shared ownership — also benefit from extremely keenly priced interest rates which generally run at around 0.5% lower than the best rates available in the market and currently stand at around 1.5% below average variable rates available in the market. This is a very substantial differential. To take account of the current housing market conditions, the Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes, including shared ownership, will be informed by that review which will shortly commence.

Local Authority Housing

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

11 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he is continuing to encourage the local authorities to return to the concept of providing a reasonable number of local authority houses in each local authority area throughout the country thereby reducing the extent of reliance on rent support as a means of augmenting the local authority housing programme; if particular attention can be paid to the total number of persons currently on local authority housing waiting lists; the annual recurring cost of rent support and the obvious benefit to the Exchequer of reducing such a liability in the traditional manner by providing local authority houses for rent and or purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22167/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The social housing capital budget has been reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to just over €333.7m this year. The financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. Nevertheless, the Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing.

Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government's objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

Water Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

12 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed breakdown and timeframe for the cost of running Irish Water. [22119/12]

Willie O'Dea

Question:

15 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the other State agencies that were reviewed in the independent internal assessment of agencies to take over Irish Water; the agencies that were requested to make and that made submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22085/12]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

18 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed cost for the establishment of Irish Water. [22123/12]

Niall Collins

Question:

57 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the role of NewERA in Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21907/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Fergus O’Dowd)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 15, 18 and 57 together.

The Programme for Government includes a proposal to establish Irish Water, a State-owned water company that will take over the water investment and maintenance programmes of the 34 city and county councils who act as water services authorities. The Programme of Financial Support for Ireland with the EU/IMF/ECB also requires the preparation of proposals for implementation of the recommendations of an independent assessment of the transfer of responsibility for water service provision to a water utility and that water charges would be introduced.

The Government decided in December 2011, based on the recommendations of the independent assessment undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers, to establish a public water utility company to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. The Government also decided that certain issues raised in the independent assessment in regard to whether Irish Water should be established as a new State Agency or whether the role of Irish Water should be assigned to an existing State Agency should be analysed further with a view to ensuring that existing resources and capabilities in the State sector were used to best effect. This approach is also in line with Government plans to support economic growth by eliminating waste and duplication in public spending through rationalising state agencies.

The further analysis was undertaken by a team comprising my Department and NewERA, in consultation with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The process involved an assessment of the capacity and capabilities of a number of State agencies from amongst those identified in the independent assessment as having the potential to incorporate a new water utility. It was not a tendering process culminating in the award of a contract. The process involved the making of detailed submissions and presentations by Bord na Móna and Bord Gáis Éireann based on identified capabilities required for the establishment and operation of Irish Water. The outcome of this analysis is that Irish Water should be established as an independent state owned company within the Bord Gáis Group. This was agreed by Government at its meeting on 17 April 2012. Irish Water will be a public utility, wholly owned by the State, with water services remaining in public ownership.

The initial transition strategy for the establishment of Irish Water as a public utility, as recommended in the independent assessment, envisages a staged approach involving local authorities acting as agents of Irish Water for a period with Irish Water taking over their operations on a phased basis from January 2015, and the full transfer of operations being completed by end 2017, at the earliest. A more detailed implementation strategy for Irish Water is now being developed to give further effect to the Government decision of 17 April. NewERA are participating in the steering group to develop this strategy.

A detailed breakdown for the cost of establishing and running Irish Water is not at present available. The Government has also decided that the Commission for Energy Regulation will be responsible for the independent regulation of Irish Water and that the Commission will be responsible for determining the cost of water services to the consumer. The finalisation of the implementation strategy will focus on implementation and transformation issues involved in the creation of the new public water utility and will recommend appropriate transitional arrangements. The strategy will also focus on maintaining the delivery of a critical public service during and following a restructuring process, and will give further clarity on the next steps that will be taken in this reform process.

Ministerial Appointments

Pearse Doherty

Question:

13 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will explain the appointment of two special advisers to the Minister of State with responsibility for housing; and the roles they will be fulfilling. [22176/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

In accordance with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, and in line with the Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil, Ministers of State who regularly attend Cabinet are permitted to appoint two Special Advisers. In this regard, I have appointed Mr. Aidan Culhane as a Special Adviser and I am currently arranging for the appointment of a second Special Adviser.

In addition to my cabinet role, I have delegated responsibility for the substantial policies and programmes associated with the housing and physical planning functions of the Department, including implementation of the Government's Housing Policy Framework. Special Advisers assigned to me are required to perform any duties, which are assigned to them from time to time as appropriate to the position of Special Adviser as set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Their primary functions include the provision of advice and the monitoring, facilitation and provision of assistance in securing Government objectives that relate to the Department. They also assist in keeping me informed and advising me on a wide range of Government business, financial, political and media matters. Special Advisers are appointed to temporary, unestablished positions in the Civil Service and their term of office ceases on the date of expiration of my assignment as Minister of State to the Department.

Building Regulations

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

14 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he was last briefed by Dublin City Council senior management in terms of all outstanding issues for Priory Hall residents. Dublin, including on the proposed resolution process chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Joseph Finnegan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22186/12]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

49 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a full update on his actions to urgently and fully resolve all outstanding legal, financial and housing for Priory Hall residents, Dublin; if he has been briefed on the proposed resolution process chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Joseph Finnegan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22185/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 49 together.

I and my Department are being kept informed by Dublin City Council of developments with regard to the resolution of issues at Priory Hall. At my request, the Department has assisted the Council, in consultation with NAMA, in securing alternative temporary accommodation for many of the residents. My Department has made a contribution towards the costs necessarily incurred by Dublin City Council, in the context of a judgment of the High Court, in providing temporary accommodation for households evacuated from Priory Hall. Dublin City Council is the designated authority with powers to enforce the statutory requirements arising under the Fire Safety Act, the Building Control Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which are at issue in relation to Priory Hall. The Council is also the designated Housing Authority under the Housing Acts.

My own responsibility as Minister is to ensure that appropriate statutory requirements, technical standards and administrative provisions are put in place under the various acts. This responsibility has been fulfilled and is not in dispute. While I sympathise with the residents who have been placed in a very difficult position, and wish to see their difficulties resolved as quickly as possible, I have no role in relation to enforcement activity or in relation to the direct provision of housing services. The appropriate statutory powers in this case rest with Dublin City Council and neither I nor the Department has a statutory function in relation to enforcement activity or in determining the provision of services in individual cases. It is important that I as Minister act appropriately and within the powers given to me, particularly in a case such as this which is already the subject of legal proceedings.

The recent adjournment of those legal proceedings for a period of three months to allow for a conciliation process chaired by Justice Finnegan provides an appropriate context for the parties concerned to work together towards identifying a way forward in relation to this complex problem. I would strongly encourage the financial institutions, the residents of Priory Hall and Dublin City Council to engage fully with this new process to give it every chance to succeed. It is important that all concerned now afford Mr. Justice Finnegan the opportunity to complete the task which he has been given. Dublin City Council has made commendable efforts to provide for the needs of residents to date and continues to work proactively on their behalf towards achieving the much needed resolution of the issues at Priory Hall.

Question No. 15 answered with Question No. 12.

Question No. 16 answered with Question No. 8.

Question No. 17 answered with Question No. 6.

Question No. 18 answered with Question No. 12.

Household Charge

Dessie Ellis

Question:

19 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to refund the household charge to residents of Priory Hall, Belmayne and pyrite contaminated housing who paid the charge and exempt them and residents of these houses who have not paid the charge but are liable. [22171/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, published by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows:

Category one, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where no serious public safety issues exist;

Category two, where a receiver has been appointed;

Category three, where a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and

Category four, where the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

Households in developments in categories three and four are eligible for the waiver from payment of the household charge. This list of developments in which households are eligible for the waiver in 2012 is set out under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012. Priory Hall is included on the list of those estates within which residents qualify for a waiver in 2012. Any residents who may have inadvertently paid the Annual Household Charge can apply for a refund at www.householdcharge.ie.

The independent Pyrite Panel is due to submit its report to me in the near future. On receipt of the report I will give careful consideration to the content of the report and any recommendations it may contain in relation to the position of home owners whose homes are affected by pyrite. The identification of dwellings affected by pyrite is complex, and this issue can only be given full consideration following receipt of the Panel's report.

Question No. 20 answered with Question No. 6.

Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, when commenced, will replace existing enactments in relation to differential rent schemes. Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities to give effect to section 31 are currently in preparation in my Department. When these are made, section 31 will be commenced and authorities will have one year in which to put in place a differential rent scheme under the new provisions. While it is not the intention to introduce a national standardised differential rent scheme, the regulations to be made will more clearly set out the matters that may be included in a local rents scheme, including—

the level, type and sources of household income that may be assessed for rent purposes;

how dependents will be accounted for in calculating rent;

the manner in which the size, standard, etc., of any class or classes of dwellings are to be taken into account in determining rent, having regard to the market rent in respect of dwellings of similar size, standard, etc., in the administrative area concerned; and

procedures for rent reviews.

Waste Management

Pearse Doherty

Question:

26 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the regulatory impact analysis of domestic waste collection; and when he will be in a position to submit final proposals in regulation of this industry to Government. [22127/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, under which service providers would bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service, a system otherwise known as ‘franchise-bidding.’ A public consultation designed to inform the policy development process concluded in September 2011. A large number of responses were received from a broad spectrum of interests. A consensus is not apparent and, on almost all of the relevant issues, a considerable breadth of opinion was expressed. All of the responses received, in addition to a summary document, are available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie.

My Department is currently finalising a regulatory impact analysis to examine the costs, benefits and other impacts of options for change, and to inform how best to regulate the household waste collection market. The analysis has been informed by the outcomes of the public consultation process and by information subsequently provided by consultees, including relevant economic information. I intend to publish the regulatory impact analysis concerning the regulation of household waste collection subsequent to Government's consideration of the issues.

Household waste collection is a service of critical importance to every household in the country. My intention is to ensure that household waste collection is regulated so that, as a society, our collective welfare is maximised. I wish to see competitive, high quality, and efficient services provided to households in all areas of the country, and I wish to see the best possible environmental outcomes achieved. I expect to be in a position to finalise proposals for Government in relation to household waste collection in the coming weeks. All policy proposals, including franchise-bidding, will be carefully considered by Government and will take account of the full range of issues and perspectives, including our obligations under the Landfill Directive and the Waste Framework Directive, the impact on consumers and the industry of potential changes to market structures, competition issues and the matter of waivers for low income households.

Social and Affordable Housing

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

27 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop a strategy for dealing with almost 100,000 persons currently on the waiting lists for social housing. [22179/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The social housing capital budget has reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to just over €333.7m this year, and the financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. Nevertheless, the Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing.

Household Charge

Sean Fleming

Question:

28 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the ongoing communication campaign in relation to payment of the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22094/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The communication and advertising campaign is a matter for the LGMA and the county and city councils.

Following the 31 March payment deadline, national and local radio advertisements were undertaken to remind persons of their obligations under the household charge legislation. In particular, this campaign was aimed at reminding householders that late payment penalties applied after 31 March and that unpaid household charges and late payment penalties remain as a charge against the property concerned and will have to be discharged in the event of the transfer or sale of the property. In addition, local authorities are also taking other local initiatives to remind persons of their obligations under the legislation. Further local and national communications and advertising will be undertaken by the LGMA and local authorities as considered appropriate.

Property Tax

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

29 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken in relation to the establishment of a property tax; the proposed type of tax involved; the timeline for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22113/12]

Micheál Martin

Question:

58 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the recent ESRI report on the way property charges should be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 58 together.

An independently chaired Inter-Departmental expert Group has been established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Economic and Social Research Institute has been engaged to assist the Group in its deliberations. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the full property tax as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the structure and modalities of the full property tax.

Strategy on Homelessness

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

30 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to a target of providing 1,600 housing units for homeless persons this year and next year to help end long-term homelessness by the end of 2013; and his plans to achieve this target. [22174/12]

Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

While the target set in the National Homeless Strategy 2008-2013, A Way Home, of ending long term homelessness was not met, progress in achieving this challenging ambition is a principal objective of national housing policy. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. In this context a more devolved allocation-based system for the provision of accommodation-related funding to housing authorities is being put in place and will result in increased decision making at local level, in lieu of the existing individual project based arrangements. It strives to improve overall efficiency and value for money and will provide a more planned approach to the delivery locally and regionally of homeless services. The system has been put in place in the Dublin region since 1 January 2012 and it is to be extended nationally to the other regions by the end of 2012.

There is no single solution to increasing the level of social housing supply for the homeless, and maximising delivery will require flexible and diverse approaches. The initial emphasis in the Dublin region, where there is a greater concentration of those accessing homelessness services, will be on moving away from the current over reliance on emergency accommodation provision to a more permanent accommodation solution to be achieved through a number of measures including:

directly linking the provision of funding with specific targets and outcomes;

making better use of the existing available accommodation units in the local authorities and in the voluntary sector;

additional social housing provision through acquisitions and remedial works/upgrading of vacant local authority housing stock and a leasing programme;

ongoing engagement with NAMA to secure properties;

targeted use of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS);

an enhanced role for the private rental sector; and

better co-ordination with the voluntary and cooperative housing sector.

The Programme for Government committed to reviewing the national homeless strategy and to implementing a housing led approach to homelessness. The draft of the review is being considered by my Department and it is intended shortly to present it to the Cross Departmental Team on Homelessness and the Homeless Consultative Committee for consultation. The review will take account of demands on existing housing and will assess how best to continue providing services in a manner consistent with the elimination of existing homelessness and to ensure more effective prevention strategies. On its conclusion, I will be indicating what I expect from housing authorities and other stakeholders in accelerating progress towards realising the ambition of eliminating involuntary long-term homelessness.

Question No. 31 answered with Question No. 8.

Household Charge

Billy Kelleher

Question:

32 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons who have paid the household charge to date; his plans, if any, to compensate the local government fund for the shortfall in projected revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22097/12]

Dessie Ellis

Question:

34 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households that have paid the household charge; the number of these that are entitled to waivers; and the action he will take to meet the shortfall in the funding of local authorities. [22128/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 34 together.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an owner of a residential property on the liability date to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. I understand, from data provided by the LGMA, that as of 30 April, 2012, a total of 931,446 declarations have been received for the household charge. 15,336 declarations have been received where a waiver from payment of the household charge has been claimed. I will be keeping the income being generated from the household charge under constant review and I and local authorities will take any necessary measures, as appropriate, in regard to compliance with the legislation.

National Drugs Strategy

Brian Stanley

Question:

33 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress made in accessing funding for an organisation (details supplied). [22116/12]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

47 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the funding situation of the three mainstream development workers funded under social inclusion in the canals area of Dublin. [22115/12]

Seán Crowe

Question:

53 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reconsider his decision to withdraw his Department’s representative from the drug advisory group. [22118/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 47 and 53 together.

As part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the 2012 estimates process, difficult decisions had to be taken in relation to prioritising funding for core services in all programme areas. The funding estimate to support the mainstreamed drugs projects under my Department's Housing programme for 2012 was €100,000, compared with €400,000 in 2011. In view of this, my Department informed the relevant local authority that it would not be possible to continue funding the projects concerned throughout 2012. Pro rata funding will be provided to fund the projects concerned until end June 2012 in order to allow the projects and other bodies to explore alternative funding mechanisms and identify resources to deliver on the overall objectives of the projects beyond end June 2012.

More broadly, and in the context of a public funding provision of €260 million for drugs programmes across all Departments and agencies in 2011, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, is currently undertaking a review of the structures that underpin the National Drugs Strategy at local, regional and national level, including how the current funding structures can be improved or streamlined, particularly in relation to local and regional drugs task forces. The outcomes of this review are expected shortly and will clarify, inter alia, the position on the most appropriate funding mechanisms for community based drugs projects.

In relation to my Department's representation on the Drugs Advisory Group, this matter is being kept under review in the context of overall Departmental resources and priorities. In the meantime, my Department continues to facilitate full engagement with the Department of Health in relation to any relevant issues arising under the National Drugs Strategy.

Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 32.

Private Rented Accommodation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

35 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the planned reforms in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill; and if a provision for a deposit retention scheme is being considered. [22175/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. My Department conducted a review of the Act in 2009 with a specific emphasis on whether the Act best supports the PRTB's key functions and on whether legislative amendments would support either the achievement of additional operational efficiencies by the PRTB in the delivery of those functions or the broader good working of the private rented sector. The drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill was approved by Government in July 2011 and the Bill is currently in preparation by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in collaboration with my Department.

Among the main issues that will be addressed by the amending legislation are—

a statutory objective of 6 months to be set for the issuing of determination orders arising out of dispute resolution applications;

the Board of the PRTB to be reduced from 15 to 12 members;

measures to address non-payment of rent by tenants during a dispute process, in particular to introduce scope for the legal termination of such a tenancy;

the separation of the governance and quasi-judicial functions of the Board;

the inclusion within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act of segments of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector that most closely parallel its current remit.

The Programme for Government 2011 also commits to the introduction of a deposit protection scheme and it is important that action in this regard is taken in the context of a strong evidence base. I have therefore asked the PRTB to commission cost benefit analysis-based research on such a scheme and to report back to me with recommendations. I understand that the PRTB has recently awarded the tender for this research and I expect that the Board will revert to me with detailed research and recommendations in the autumn.

Building Regulations

Clare Daly

Question:

36 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the reported failure to comply with building regulations on fire safety in apartment buildings at Priory Hall and Belmayne, Dublin, if his attention has been drawn to similar non-compliance in other apartment buildings; and the action he will take to ensure fire safety in these buildings. [22168/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

Local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under current legislation and have used such powers on a number of occasions including the high profile case at Priory Hall. Concerns in relation to a number of developments are already in the public domain, and I have urged local authorities to continue to use all of the powers currently available to them to address issues of building standards compliance, including in relation to fire safety.

Social and Affordable Housing

Seán Crowe

Question:

37 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rent scales and terms which he plans to be part of lease agreements with the National Asset Management Agency developers’ properties being used for social housing. [22172/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The units being advanced through NAMA will in general be provided through the Social Housing Leasing Initiative under the standard terms and conditions that apply. It is not possible at this stage to estimate the cost of leasing these properties. Lease costs are determined by negotiation using a standard discounted market price which may vary to reflect the circumstances of a particular case and the terms of the contractual agreement. I can say that the current average annual cost of units leased from the private or voluntary sector under the leasing scheme generally is approximately €7,400.

Appointments to State Boards

Mick Wallace

Question:

38 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the report published on 25 April last by the Institute of Directors in Ireland which found that insufficient consideration is being given to the skills required when appointments are made to State boards, if he will outline the criteria and process by which new members, including the new chairperson, were selected and appointed to An Bord Pleanála in view of the fact that there is only one architect sitting on the appeals board and no member holds a professional qualification in conservation or urban design; if any of these new members were direct appointments made by him under section 106(1)(e) of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/12]

Mick Wallace

Question:

52 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the report by the Institute of Directors published on 25 April last which stated that a majority of its directors do not believe that the process of appointments to State boards is fair and transparent; if he will state whether the most recent appointments, including the new Chairperson, to An Bord Pleanála were made under section 106(1) or section 106(7) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and if he will specify the criteria used in both the nomination and the appointment process; if he will name the organisations which participated in the nomination process if new members were appointed under section 106(1); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22162/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 52 together.

The Planning and Development Acts 2000-11 provide that the Board comprises a Chairperson and up to 9 ordinary members. The processes for the appointment of the Chair and ordinary Board Members are clearly and transparently set out under sections 105-107 of the Act and associated regulations.

In relation to the position of Chairperson, the appointment is made by Government from candidates selected by an independent statutory selection committee. The composition of this committee is set out under section 105 of the Act and, where a vacancy arises, the committee is required to select a maximum of three suitable candidates from among those who compete in a publicly advertised open competition. The selection committee established in accordance with the Act includes:

the President of the High Court

the Chairperson of An Taisce

the Cathaoirleach of the General Council of County Councils

the President of the Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Dr. Mary Kelly was appointed in May 2011 on foot of this process.

The appointment process for ordinary Board Members, set out under section 106 of the Act, provides that appointments are made by the Minister from nominees put forward by four representative panels of nominating bodies prescribed for this purpose. The organisations which make up these nominating panels are set out in Article 64 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended. These bodies represent a wide range of interests so that potential appointees are drawn from a balanced group of people, with diverse backgrounds, who can reach a balanced view on the issues with which the Board is concerned. Each body in each panel was invited to nominate two candidates for consideration for appointment to the Board.

Arising from four recent appointments made by Minister Hogan, the Board will shortly comprise eight members including the Chair. In making these appointments cognisance was taken of the balance of skill sets and expertise required by Board members for the effective discharge of An Bord Pleanála's complex and wide ranging functions, as well as the balance of skill sets and qualifications held by existing Board members. None of the recent appointments was made under section 106(1)(e). I am satisfied that the current nomination and appointment process is fair and transparent.

Private Rented Accommodation

Sandra McLellan

Question:

39 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give details of his plans for reform of the rent supplement scheme when it comes under his Department’s control and any minimum standards he hopes to introduce. [22181/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The Government recently announced its decision in principle to support proposals to transfer responsibility for households in receipt of rent supplement, but with an established long-term social housing need, from the Department of Social Protection to the housing authorities. Housing authorities will provide this service using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). This joint proposal, between the two Departments, reflects a commitment in the Programme for Government to review the operation of the rent supplement scheme due to concerns over the evolution of rent supplement from a short-term income support into a long-term housing support. It was also one of the key reforms announced in my Department's Housing Policy Statement in June 2011.

The detail of the proposed transfer and any standards or criteria to be introduced are in the process of being developed and agreed through an established Steering Group, chaired by my Department, and a number of specific working groups. It is hoped, however, that the proposals will deliver a number of benefits for householders, the State and housing authorities, including:

enabling job take-up by tenants who have been caught by poverty traps until now;

allowing local authorities more flexibility in assisting those in need of social housing support;

providing greater security of tenure for tenants, greater stability in the private rented market and contributing towards the creation of a higher quality, private rented sector through improved standards;

providing a more integrated and streamlined service for households seeking support from the State to meet housing costs;

delivering value for money for the taxpayer for the resources invested.

The proposed reform of the rent supplement scheme constitutes a major development in the provision of housing services and will require careful planning and consultation with interested parties. I hope to be in a position to announce further details of the new arrangements later in the year.

Foreshore Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

40 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on his deliberations on a foreshore application in respect of a company (details supplied); and if at this stage he will consider a public inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The application from Providence Resources for a foreshore licence in respect of site investigations and the drilling of an exploratory well off Dalkey is currently being assessed by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee. I will consider the recommendation of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee and my Department in due course in making a determination on the licence application. As indicated in reply to previous Questions on this matter, I do not consider that a public inquiry is warranted. Without prejudging my eventual determination of the current application, it is important to recognise that should the project progress to commercial exploitation it would be the subject of further formal applications for consents from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in the first instance, and then An Bord Pleanála under the Planning Acts, and a full lease or licence under the Foreshore Acts, all of which will require an Environmental Impact Assessment, including full public consultation and, where appropriate, oral hearing.

Private Rented Accommodation

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

41 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that rents being paid as part of the rental accommodation scheme are more regularly revised down to reflect market trends. [22180/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

One of the main features of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is that local authorities, in sourcing accommodation for households, enter into contractual arrangements with private sector landlords to secure medium to long-term availability of rented accommodation. The level of rents payable under RAS is determined by negotiations between the landlord and the local authority, taking account of rent supplement levels and local market conditions. In negotiating with landlords to bring properties into RAS, local authorities obtain reductions on existing rents where possible. Guidance which has issued by my Department advises that a discount of at least eight per cent below market rent is recommended.

As part of their negotiation process, local authorities may agree, at their discretion, periodic rent reviews with landlords in line with the prevailing market conditions at the time. My Department has issued guidance to authorities advising them to ensure that rent reviews are undertaken where provided for and also advising authorities of the need to obtain value for money and have regard to local market conditions when entering into new agreements. The achievement of value for money is the primary focus of authorities when negotiating costs and other associated terms and conditions provided for in agreements under the Scheme. Information in relation to the value of savings made resulting from negotiated contracts entered into by individual local authorities is not available in my Department. A Value for Money and Policy Review has been carried out on the RAS which provides general information on discounts achieved based on a sample of local authorities. This study will be available shortly.

Building Regulations

Denis Naughten

Question:

42 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to revise building regulations to regulate the retro fitting of septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22188/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The design and installation of wastewater treatment systems for single houses is addressed in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Code of Practice in respect of Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (2009). On foot of a comprehensive review and public consultation, Part H (Drainage and Wastewater Disposal) of the Building Regulations and its accompanying Technical Guidance Document H (TGD H 2010) were amended in the latter half of 2010 to reflect the relevant parts of the EPA's Code of Practice.

The Technical Guidance Document H (TGD H 2010) further stipulates that the design and commissioning of wastewater treatment systems should be carried out and/or supervised by a suitably qualified person and that the owner of the building should be provided with sufficient, clear and comprehensive information on any continuing maintenance required to facilitate the effective operation of the system in order to protect human health and the environment. The Building Regulations normally apply to new dwellings and existing dwellings where a material change is being carried out. Where a service is being replaced, the requirements of the Building Regulations specific to the replacement apply. Repair or renewals works do not normally come within the scope of the Building Regulations.

In relation to the use of septic tanks in particular, TGD H 2010 states that "Septic Tanks must conform to I.S. EN 12566 Part 1 or 4 including their national annexes and comply with the EPA Code of Practice — Section 7." The national annexes were recently completed and published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, in consultation with my Department and others. They set out clearly the performance required by septic tanks when used in Ireland, and tested in accordance with I.S. EN 12566 Parts 1 or 4. Given that the current regulations and related guidance already set out clearly the requirements in respect of septic tanks, I have no plans to further amend Part H of the Building Regulations.

Question No. 43 answered with Question No. 8.

Question No. 44 answered with Question No. 6.

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Denis Naughten

Question:

45 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to enhance the group sewerage scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22189/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The rate of grant available for Group Sewerage Schemes is €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. I have accepted a proposal from the National Rural Water Services Committee, who have a role in advising me on rural water policy, that the rate of grant be reviewed during 2012. They will be examining this issue, taking into account, inter alia, the results of a pilot programme funded by my Department to test a range of small-scale wastewater collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions.

Planning Issues

Gerry Adams

Question:

46 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to encourage use of renewable energy by businesses by making a requirement for inclusion of some renewable energy source in industrial and large commercial planning applications. [22173/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

My Department is aware that a number of planning authorities have incorporated Renewable Energy Strategies into their Development Plans, and a further number are in the process of so doing. The Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland (SEAI), as part of its brief to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy, hosted a number of regional wind energy workshops in 2010, targeted at local authority planners and other officials and stakeholders involved in the delivery of wind energy. At the workshops a number of stakeholders stated that they would welcome assistance in the preparation of more comprehensive Renewable Energy Strategies for their areas. Following this SEAI decided to prepare a methodology or template to act as a guide to assist local authorities in the preparation of renewable energy strategies. This will act as a guideline for local authorities when developing a Renewable Energy Strategy, including the matters to be taken into consideration and the information, resources and bodies that may be of assistance.

SEAI appointed consultants to assist in the preparation of the methodology, which is under way and it also set up a Project Steering Committee to input into its development. The committee includes representation from my Department, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Irish Planning Institute, the City and County Managers Association, the Regional Authorities, EirGrid, ESB Networks, the Commission for Energy Regulation and the Dublin Institute of Technology.

My Department has also encouraged the provision of certain renewable technologies through the exempted development Regulations. The Planning and Development Regulations 2007, which came into effect from 28 February 2007, provide exemptions from planning permission requirements in respect of certain classes of micro-renewable technologies for use in the home i.e. solar panels and other micro-renewable technologies such as wind turbines, heat pumps and biomass, subject to certain conditions in each case. The Planning and Development Regulations 2008, which came into effect from 2 July 2008, provide exemptions from planning permission requirements in respect of certain classes of renewable technologies for use in industrial buildings, business premises and agricultural holdings, including combined heat and power, wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps and biomass, subject to certain conditions in each case.

In relation to the Building Regulations, Part L — Conservation of Fuel and Energy for Buildings other than Dwellings is scheduled for review in the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2013. The review process will involve an industry stakeholder group review and a public consultation. The review process will also take account of the Recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requirements to achieve nearly zero energy buildings where "the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby;" for new public buildings by 2018 and for all new buildings by 2020.

Part L of the Regulations — Dwellings — requires renewable energy sources to provide a reasonable proportion of the energy consumption to meet the energy performance for new dwellings since 1 July 2008 (subject to a transition period). This will also be a factor to be taken into consideration in the review of Part L Buildings other than Dwellings. While I do not consider that it would be appropriate to require the inclusion of some renewable energy source in industrial and large commercial planning permissions by means of planning conditions, my Department will continue to pursue all appropriate measures to contribute to the achievement of national renewable energy targets.

Question No. 47 answered with Question No. 33.

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

Question:

48 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he plans to introduce, if any, to assist the licensed Irish road hauliers who are struggling as a result of the price increases in motor tax; if he will consider eliminating motor tax for registered road hauliers and introduce a pay as you drive system of motor tax as used in Europe for road hauliers which could also generate revenue from foreign trucks coming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17161/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 779 of 18 April, 2012 which sets out the position in this matter.

Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 14.

Water Services

John Halligan

Question:

50 Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider investing in the water infrastructure as both a water saving measure and a job creation measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20887/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I refer to the replies to Question No. 106 of 2 May 2012 and Questions Nos. 8, 16, 21, 24, 31 and 43 on today's order paper which sets out the position in this matter.

Building Regulations

Arthur Spring

Question:

51 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will appoint nominees to an independent professional conduct committee in view of the fact that legislation was introduced in the Building Control Act 2008 to provide for the establishment of a professional conduct committee on a statutory basis to deal with the registration and regulation of architects. [22187/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

Arrangements for the appointment of the Chairperson and the nomination of the majority of non-architect members to the Professional Conduct Committee in line with Section 23 of the Building Control Act 2007 are currently in hand and I expect this matter to be finalised in the near future.

Question No. 52 answered with Question No. 38.

Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 33.

Local Government Reform

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

54 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the report on the realignment of local government; and when same will be published. [22117/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

In the context of ongoing work on the reform of local government, I am currently considering the key findings and recommendations provided to me by the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group, with a view to determining the arrangements that will deliver the maximum benefit for local communities and people. Building on a range of reforms already under way, I intend to bring policy proposals to Government in the near future.

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

Question:

55 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends, specifically with regard to the recommendations of the final report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, Mahon tribunal, to appoint a politically independent planning regulator to place the national development plan and the national spatial strategy on a statutory footing to ensure that local authority councillors are required to explain their reasoning when directing county managers to grant planning applications against the advice of professional planners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22165/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The Government considered the findings of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal at its meeting on 27 March and agreed that the relevant Government Departments, working with associated agencies under their aegis, as appropriate, should consider as a matter of urgency the recommendations contained in the Report and revert to my Department with proposed actions to be taken on foot of the specific recommendations and a timeframe for their implementation, to enable Minister Hogan and me to report back to Government during May. In that context, my Department is currently examining the Report's relevant recommendations, including, inter alia, the recommendation for the establishment of an independent planning regulator, with a view to developing comprehensive responses to them.

Building Regulations

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

56 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the progress in dealing with Priory Hall, Dublin and the making safe of unfinished estates. [22183/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

Dublin City Council is the designated authority with powers to enforce the statutory requirements arising under the Fire Safety Act, the Building Control Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which are at issue in relation to Priory Hall. The Council is also the designated Housing Authority under the Housing Acts. My responsibility as Minister is to ensure that appropriate statutory requirements, technical standards and administrative provisions are put in place under the various acts. This responsibility has been fulfilled and is not in dispute. I have no role in relation to enforcement activity or in relation to the direct provision of housing services.

The reply to question No. 162 of 1 March 2012 set out the position in relation to the inspection undertaken by the Housing Inspectorate of my Department following an application by the developer of the Priory Hall complex for floor Area compliance Certificates (FACCs) as introduced by section 72 of the 2004 Finance Act. Residents at Priory Hall and their representatives have at all times been advised of the clear division of responsibilities outlined above. The appropriate statutory powers in this case rest with Dublin City Council and neither I, as Minister, nor the Department has a statutory function in relation to enforcement activity or in determining the provision of services in individual cases.

Question No. 57 answered with Question No. 12.

Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 29.

Human Rights Issues

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

59 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng in discussions with his European partners; if he has individually or together with his European partners made representations to the Chinese authorities seeking reassurances in relation to the well being of Chen Guangcheng and his family; if he has further sought the release of this man from house arrest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22466/12]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

The case of Chen Guangcheng has been raised frequently by the European Union including at the EU-China human rights dialogue on 16 June 2011. Mr. Chen, a blind human rights defence lawyer was, until recently, being held under house arrest in Shandong Province in China. Currently, reports indicate that he escaped from house arrest last week, was at the US Embassy in Beijing for a number of days and was yesterday admitted to a medical facility in Beijing where he is receiving treatment.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

60 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan under that country’s blasphemy law, either individually or collectively with his European partners seeking reassurances that she will not be executed and indeed made representations seeking her release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22467/12]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

The Government remains concerned about the case of Mrs. Asia Bibi. In November 2010 a Punjab court found Mrs. Bibi guilty of blasphemy, sentencing her to death by hanging. This is the first time that a woman has been sentenced to death in Pakistan under its blasphemy law. When the case came to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ambassador accredited to Pakistan at the time called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad to convey our concern at the conviction and sentence. He also expressed our disquiet at the nature of Pakistan's blasphemy law. Since that time, a number of representations have been made to the Embassy of Pakistan by senior officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mrs. Bibi's case and Pakistan's blasphemy laws were discussed at length during bilateral political consultations in Dublin in 2011 which were held with the Pakistani Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe. In the course of these consultations our concerns about the conviction, sentence and the nature of Pakistan's blasphemy laws were again strongly expressed. At the European level, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, has also expressed her concerns at the Bibi judgement and others like it, and called on Pakistan to respect human rights as guaranteed under international conventions to which it is a party.

The EU engages in regular dialogue with Pakistan on human rights and democratic principles, including religious discrimination. The EU has called on the Pakistani authorities, at the highest level, to adopt measures to protect individual and minority rights in line with its Constitution and with international human rights standards and conventions. The EU has made clear to the Government of Pakistan that under its constitutional and international requirements it has a responsibility to protect its citizens regardless of their faith.

Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief. We are well aware of the vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan and will continue to raise the case of Asia Bibi and others bilaterally with the Pakistan Government as well as through the framework and mechanisms of the European Union and the United Nations.

Diplomatic Representation

John Deasy

Question:

61 Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the cost of running the Irish Embassy in Washington DC per annum. [22567/12]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

The administrative costs associated with running the Embassy in Washington DC from 2008 to 2011 to date are provided below. This budget is considered to be the locally-devolved administrative (day-to-day) budget including local staff salaries but not salaries of diplomatic staff, which are a charge on the Headquarters budget. In line with overall Departmental cost-containment policies, the Mission constantly monitors its budget and the costs for 2011 are less than those incurred in the preceding years. Our Mission in Washington is actively engaged in representing and advancing Irish government policies in the United States and maintaining and further developing our excellent bilateral relationship with the United States, one of our most important relationships both politically and economically. US investment in Ireland continues to be crucial to our economy and the US friendship and support has been hugely important in the success of the peace process over many years.

The Embassy in Washington is putting an ever increasing focus on developing Ireland's bilateral economic relations, and trade and investment links and engaging with the US. The Embassy maintains strong relations with the US Administration and Congress on issues likely to affect Ireland's exports, inward investment and other key interests. The Embassy also promotes business and economic ties, for example this year through its promotion of the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) 2012 Dublin City of Science in the US and through the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between US Department Energy and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for co-operation in marine and hydrokinetic energy technologies.

The Embassy also provides frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens. In conjunction with Ireland's friends on Capitol Hill and throughout the Irish-American community, it also seeks to identify and promote solutions on immigration issues as they affect Irish people and undocumented Irish migrants in particular. It engages with the Irish and Irish American communities and harnesses the resource they offer in assisting economic recovery. The Embassy also contributes to promoting Irish arts and culture in the US.

	2008	2009	2010	2011
Administrative Costs for Embassy Washington	€1,170,402	€1,200,800	€1,236,780	€1,072,065

Departmental Staff

John Deasy

Question:

62 Deputy John Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23008/12]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

My Department does not have an office in County Waterford. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

State Banking Sector

Niall Collins

Question:

63 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the efforts that he intends taking to ensure that State supported banks engage in the Priory Hall conciliation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22372/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Relationship Frameworks, the banks are run on a commercial basis and I have no role in the day-to-day management or commercial decisions of the banks including matters relating to residential mortgage books. Nonetheless, the Government understands the severe difficulties that the residents of Priory Hall are facing. My Department has been in contact with the State supported banks regarding the resolution process set up under former Supreme Court Justice Finnegan. Banks have already indicated that they are open to engaging in this new process. However, what will be involved in the process has yet to be clarified.

Tax Code

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

64 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Finance if he will expedite an application for a rebate of the universal social charge in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22295/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they do not have sufficient details to process the claim and have contacted the person concerned in relation to the matter.

Tax Reliefs

Michael McGrath

Question:

65 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to provide tax relief for persons who improve the energy efficiency in their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22306/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

Section 13 of Finance Act 2011 provided for income tax relief at the standard rate for expenditure incurred by individuals on a range of works carried out to improve the energy efficiency of residential premises situated in the State. The underpinning legislation for the scheme was subject to Commencement Order. However, that legislation, on review, was found to have flaws and would have required amendment before it could be implemented.

As part of the announcement in the Jobs Initiative in May 2011, the Government undertook to provide further funding for the grants available under the Better Energy Homes scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Because of these circumstances, I decided to review the requirement for a co-existing tax incentive for similar works and, following this review, I decided not to proceed with the introduction of the tax relief scheme.

National Asset Management Agency

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

66 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance if Weston Aerodrome, County Dublin, is part of the portfolio of the National Asset Management Agency; the up to date position regarding plans by NAMA for this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22374/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am advised by NAMA that details relating to Weston Aerodrome, which is subject to enforcement action, are provided on its website, www.nama.ie. KPMG is the appointed receiver and the property is currently available for sale through the sales agent, Savills.

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

67 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the up to date position regarding social dividend provisions in the legislation for the National Asset Management Agency and has anything been delivered under these provisions to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22375/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

Taking account of its overriding commercial mandate as set out in Section 10 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, NAMA has demonstrated its commitment and contribution to the achievement of wider social and economic policy objectives in line with Section 2 of the Act. This includes NAMA's policy to give first option to public bodies on the purchase of property which may be suitable for their purposes. NAMA also facilitates dialogue between its debtors/receivers and third parties which has enabled the latter to acquire suitable properties for civic, community and sporting purposes.

In December 2011, NAMA identified over 2,000 properties as being available for social housing, representing, potentially, one of the largest housing allocations made in the history of the State. The primary onus is now on local authorities and voluntary and co-operative housing bodies to match their needs against the units which have been identified as available by NAMA. The Deputy may be aware that NAMA also concluded the sale of 58 housing units in Sandyford, Co. Dublin to the Clúid Housing Association in 2011, marking the first time that stock controlled by NAMA was used for the delivery of permanent new social housing. Other such sales are in process.

I am also informed by NAMA that there is significant engagement between the Agency, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE to identify sites for Primary Health Care Centres and other step-down and community health care facilities. The Deputy may also be aware that NAMA has identified 11 sites as being potentially suitable for the location of the Government's planned National Children's Hospital and the Minister for Health and Children is on the public record as saying that he will look at these sites in this context and in the context of the Department's other pressing requirements.

NAMA further informs me that there has been a constructive engagement between the Agency and the Department of Education and Skills, which has already resulted in the identification and sale of lands for schools and to accommodate planned development by certain universities. This engagement is ongoing as is NAMA's interaction with other public bodies, including local authorities. The Agency also works to facilitate engagement between interested parties, including community and sporting organisations, and its debtors/receivers/sales agents and this has led to a number of positive outcomes for both parties.

Liquor Licences

John Deasy

Question:

68 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of licensed public houses that have had their licences revoked in Waterford city and county over the past five years. [22427/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are responsible for the administration of the issue or renewal of Public House Licences. Revenue may only facilitate the issue of a Publican's licence where the appropriate certificate has been issued by a District or Circuit Court, and therefore do not have the authority to revoke a licence once issued. As the authority to revoke a Public House Licence rests with the District or Circuit Court the Revenue Commissioners do not record the numbers of revocations in any particular period.

Tax Collection

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

69 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayers in receipt of a Department of Social Protection pension who are due refunds and the amount of money to be refunded; and his views on whether all taxpayers in this category are made aware that they may be due outstanding overpayments. [22441/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that approximately 20,000 taxpayers were originally notified by letter in January 2012 that they might have a potential refund of tax due for 2011, and that Revenue would automatically carry out a review. This process could not begin until the pay and tax deducted details in respect of 2011 were submitted by employers on the annual P35 form and processed by Revenue. Of these, the tax affairs of some 12,000 taxpayers have already been reviewed. To date, I am further advised that some €2 million has already been refunded to approximately 7,000 taxpayers and in the rest of these cases no refund of tax was actually due. A further programme of reviews will be run over the coming weeks for the remaining 8,000 taxpayers, once all of the information required by the Commissioners to carry out these reviews is available. In this regard, the 2011 form P35s are still awaited in some cases or are currently being processed in other cases.

I am further advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have taken a number of steps to inform potential refund recipients. Firstly, as indicated earlier, any taxpayer who was potentially over-taxed on their DSP pension received a letter in late December 2011 explaining that Revenue would be reviewing their tax affairs for 2011 with a view to making any relevant refund for that year. Secondly, Revenue has, through its contacts with representative bodies acting for the elderly, continued to reinforce the message that anyone who feels that they may be due a refund should contact the Commissioners directly. Thirdly, Revenue has published extensive frequently asked questions on its website on the taxation of DSP pensions and addresses the issue of potential refunds within that. Taking all of these measures into account, as well as the direct contacts that Revenue staff has with DSP pension recipients through handling telephone contacts and public office visits and the extent of the publicity on the matter of pensioners and tax, I am satisfied that anyone who may be due a refund is aware of the steps they need to take to make a claim.

Banks Recapitalisation

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

70 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if the decision by EUROSTAT recently to consider the investment in AIB and Bank of Ireland and other covered institutions in 2011 as national debt will have long term repercussions under the fiscal compact treaty if passed, particularly in relation to achieving of the 60% debt/GDP ratio; if it will, when will these impacts arise and the magnitude of the extra payments each year that will arise as a result of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22451/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

In July 2011 a net amount of €16.5 billion was injected into Irish financial institutions. At the time of the end-September Maastricht return, it was indicated publicly that a full examination of the deficit-impacting amount of this transfer would be made before the next notification. The outcome of this exercise is that of the €16.5 billion injected in June 2011, €5.8 billion is classified as a deficit-increasing capital transfer. This adds 3.7 per cent of GDP to the deficit for 2011 only. However, the full net recapitalisation of €16.5 billion in July 2011 was fully reflected in Ireland's forecast General Government Debt for end-2011 reported to Eurostat in September 2011. It is also included in the end-March 2012 Maastricht return in respect of the end-2011 debt position. The statistical reclassification from financial transaction to capital transfer affects the general government deficit only. Therefore there is no impact on our debt to GDP ratio as a result of this statistical reclassification.

Clare Daly

Question:

71 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an estimate of the financial loss to the State and taxpayer arising from the unsafe loan undertakings provided by solicitors to banks, made public by the National Asset Management Agency during March 2012. [22473/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am advised by NAMA that the estimated value of downward adjustments applied to the consideration paid to banks in respect of the acquisition of loans as a result of security defects identified in legal due diligence is €477 million. Only a minor part of this relates to legal undertakings provided by solicitors. I understand that as a consequence of the defects identified during the legal due diligence, the valuation of the assets was reduced and a lesser amount was paid by NAMA. NAMA advise me that it does not expect to suffer a loss on these acquisitions arising from the solicitors undertakings.

National Asset Management Agency

Michael McGrath

Question:

72 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent disposal by Irish Life investment managers of its stake in the National Asset Management Agency special purpose vehicle; the implications of this for the accounting treatment of the NAMA bonds in the general Government debt; his views on the operation of the special purpose vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22510/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

The NAMA SPV was established with Eurostat approval and with Irish Life as one of the private owners. However, as Irish Life is now in public ownership, Eurostat attached a reservation to our Maastricht Returns in which it raised concerns about the private sector ownership of the NAMA SPV and consequently the treatment of NAMA for the purposes of calculating General Government Debt. I am advised that the sale of the Irish Life shareholding in the NAMA SPV to private investors has been agreed and it is anticipated that the transaction will be completed in the coming weeks. As a consequence, we expect that the General Government Debt treatment of the NAMA SPV will be unchanged.

Michael McGrath

Question:

73 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties that have been sold, that is, legally binding contracts in place by the National Asset Management Agency or by agents acting on behalf of NAMA and, of this number, if he will confirm the number and total value of such properties which were up for sale on the open market and publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22511/12]

Michael McGrath

Question:

74 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the sale of all properties by or on behalf of the National Asset Management Agency are required to be put up for sale on the open market and publicly advertised. [22512/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.

I am informed by NAMA that other than for land which is under its direct control, NAMA itself does not sell property securing its loans. I am advised by NAMA that, up to end-March 2012, its debtors and receivers have completed 663 legally binding sales transactions of property located in Ireland, some of which relate to multiple properties such as apartment blocks, with a total value of €508 million. I am advised that the NAMA Board has issued guidelines to be followed by its debtors and receivers in terms of the disposal of assets, which require, wherever feasible, their sale on the open market and their public advertisement. I am advised by NAMA that this covers the vast majority of such sales.

International Agreements

Michael McGrath

Question:

75 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm whether he has a veto on the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22513/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

A Treaty to establish the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) has been agreed among euro area countries. This is an intergovernmental treaty that stands outside the EU Treaty framework. The ESM Treaty will enter into force when ratified by signatories whose subscriptions represent 90% of the total initial subscriptions. The target date for the Treaty entering into force is 1 July 2012. Ireland's subscription will be 1.5922% of the total initial subscription. The Government considers that it is strongly in Ireland's best interests for the ESM Treaty to enter into force as soon as possible.

Michael McGrath

Question:

76 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the anticipated date that the European Financial Stability Facility will no longer accept new applications for funding and will be formally wound up. [22514/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

The EFSF has been created as a temporary institution. The EFSF Framework agreement as amended provides that "Euro-area Member States which are potential Borrowers may only request and enter into Loan Facility Agreements up to 30 June 2013 (provided that Loans may be disbursed after this date under Loan Facility Agreements entered into prior to this date)." It also provides that EFSF guarantors shall only be required to issue a guarantee to facilitate the financing under Loan Facility Agreements entered into on or prior to 30 June 2013.

In accordance with its Articles of Association, the EFSF will be liquidated on the earliest date after 30 June 2013 on which there are no longer loans outstanding to a euro-area Member State and all Funding Instruments issued by EFSF and any reimbursement amounts due to Guarantors have been repaid in full. This means that after June 2013, EFSF would not enter into any new programmes but will continue the management and repayment of any outstanding debt and will close down once all outstanding debt has been repaid.

The Eurogroup's statement of 30 March 2012, provides that the ESM will be the main instrument to finance new programmes as from July 2012. The EFSF will, as a rule, only remain active in financing programmes that have started before that date. For a transitional period until mid-2013, it may engage in new programmes in order to ensure a full fresh lending capacity of EUR 500 billion for the ESM.

These arrangements form part of a number of initiatives. All these initiatives were made to improve the governance of the euro area through enhancements of the Stability and Growth Pact, the new macro-economic imbalances procedure, the Euro Plus Pact and the Fiscal Compact enshrined in the new Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. Finally, robust firewalls have been established. This comprehensive strategy has paid off and led to a significant improvement of market conditions.

National Asset Management Agency

Michael McGrath

Question:

77 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he has any concerns that an agent, acting on behalf of the National Asset Management Agency has concluded a deal for the sale of a 450 acre landbank in County Cork (details supplied) without putting the landbank on the open market effectively excluding potential bidders from the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22515/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

In relation to the particular transaction to which the Deputy refers, NAMA has advised me that the sales agent was acting on behalf of the debtor and that a competitive sales process was undertaken. The debtor was not in liquidation. I understand from NAMA that the sale was managed and implemented on behalf of the debtor by a firm of professional sales agents. Following wide engagement with viable interested parties, a special purchaser emerged in respect of the entire holding of 450 acres at a price considerably in excess of that guided by the retained professionals. It was the considered advice of the sales agent that the offer from this purchaser would be accepted.

I further understand that NAMA, on receipt of this information, commissioned a second independent report by another professional firm, which agreed with the original guide price. On the basis of this independent valuation advice, which established that the price offered was 40% in excess of the 2 independent valuations and taking account of the fact that the offer was for the entire holding rather than for individual land plots within it, NAMA granted its approval to the debtor to proceed with the sale on the advised terms on the basis that this maximised the recovery for the taxpayer. I understand from NAMA that this site, like all sites, would have been advertised except that the special purchaser emerged offering 40% over the independent valuations of the site's worth.

Departmental Correspondence

Michael McGrath

Question:

78 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the communications he has had with the German authorities in relation to the leaking of the European Commission’s economic adjustment programme for Ireland document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22516/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am assuming the Deputy is referring to the unfortunate and unacceptable leak which took place on February 29th this year. The document which leaked in February was the EU Commission Services Staff report on their assessment of the 5th review of Ireland's EU-IMF Programme of support. As a Commission document, the content of the staff report is the responsibility of the Commission staff, as is the publication of the report. This document was circulated to senior EU Finance Ministry officials in advance of the relevant EU Officials discussion that were to take place that week which is normal practice for all programme countries. The report which was published as scheduled the next day, March 1st, was substantially the same as that circulated for officials.

It is my understanding that Commission staff had appended to it the updated programme documents that were prepared following the 5th review — specifically — the Letter of Intent to the EU authorities, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP), the Technical Memorandum of Understanding (TMU). These updated programme documents, along with the Letter of Intent to the IMF, had already been made publicly available shortly after being issued by the Minister for Finance, by being laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, and placed on the Department of Finance website, on 14th February last.

On becoming aware of the leak, and the internal Commission process that they have in place, my officials raised our serious concerns with the Commission. I also contacted Commissioner Olli Rehn to express my disappointment regarding the leak and to enquire about steps taken to ensure confidentiality of documents in the future. The issue has also been raised at senior official level with the German authorities. We must nevertheless recognise that we remain in a Programme, and continue to rely on the support of the External Partners. In expressing our concern, we need also to continue working with our partners.

National Pensions Reserve Fund

Michael McGrath

Question:

79 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the value of the discretionary portfolio including cash balances held by the National Pensions Reserve Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22517/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency, as Manager of the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF), that the provisional total value of the Fund at 30 March 2012 was €15.1 billion, and the value of the Discretionary Portfolio was €5.8 billion including cash balances of €0.9 billion. Final valuations of the Discretionary Portfolio and the Directed Portfolio as at 31 December 2011 will be provided in the NPRF Commission's Annual Report for 2011 which is expected to be published in July 2012.

Tax Yield

Michael McGrath

Question:

80 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the revenue that will be raised by the carbon levy in respect of each product on which it is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22518/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the forecast for Carbon Tax 2012 and estimated VAT in respect of each category is as follows:

2012	Carbon Tax	Estimated VAT
	€m	€m
Auto Diesel	130.63	3.00
Petrol	79.07	18.19
Aviation Gasoline	0.04	0.01
Fuel Oil	2.76	0.00
MGO	54.86	7.41
Kerosene	44.41	6.00
Auto LPG	0.20	0.05
LPG (Other)	3.94	0.53
Natural Gas	54.80	4.44
Total	370.70	39.62

The Carbon Tax figures shown are a breakdown of the Carbon Tax forecast for 2012. However, the VAT figures are estimates based on the expected Carbon receipts in each category. Please note that the VAT receipts are estimated, as the VAT returns do not require the yield from a particular sector or sub-sector of trade to be identified and the actual VAT yield for each category cannot therefore be determined.

Unsafe Loan Undertakings

Clare Daly

Question:

81 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will accept that unsafe loan undertakings provided by solicitors to banks, made public by the National Asset Management Agency during March 2010, are in reality property transactions to which principles of moral hazard apply. [22565/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

I presume the Deputy is referring to information made public by NAMA in March 2012. I am advised by NAMA that the estimated value of downward adjustments applied to the consideration paid to banks in respect of the acquisition of loans as a result of security defects identified in legal due diligence is €477 million. I cannot comment on particular transactions, however, I am assured by NAMA that only a minor part of the adjustment to valuations related to legal undertakings provided by solicitors.

Clare Daly

Question:

82 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance as the holder on behalf of Irish citizens of majority share holdings in Allied Irish Banks and the bank formerly known as Anglo Irish Bank and significant shareholding in the Bank of Ireland, the number of civil proceedings in respect of false loan undertakings provided by solicitors to these banks that have been initiated; the identities of defendants and the number of settlements if any. [22566/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Relationship Frameworks, the Boards of the Banks are responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the respective institutions including decisions regarding civil proceedings taken and I have no role in this matter. The question of whether an undertaking provided by a solicitor to a bank is ‘false' is a matter of determination by a court of law (with involvement of Gardaí and supervisory authorities if fraud is asserted) and AIB, Bank of Ireland and IBRC cannot therefore estimate the extent to which such findings will be arrived at by a court of law. The banks have confirmed that, in appropriate cases, solicitors who have not fulfilled their undertakings to them have been and will be pursued. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for the banks to name defendants in such cases.

Departmental Staff

John Deasy

Question:

83 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23007/12]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan)

My Department does not have any office in Waterford city or county. However, I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a total of thirteen staff retired from their offices in Waterford since 1 January 2012. Three of the thirteen staff had reached their normal course retirement age, nine of the staff availed of Cost Neutral Early Retirement and one retired on grounds of ill-health.

School Staffing

Seán Crowe

Question:

84 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the total number of teaching posts to be cut at schools (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will confirm the dates on which these posts will be lost to both schools. [22292/12]

Tom Fleming

Question:

105 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 13 March 2012, if he will provide an update on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22445/12]

John McGuinness

Question:

144 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the situation regarding teacher numbers at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 following the appeal review recently completed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22555/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 105 and 144 together.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met on 18th and 19th April. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board took the following approach in dealing with the appeals from the 37 schools that were losing 3 or more posts:

Schools that were due to lose 3 or 4 posts will now lose a maximum of 2 posts in the 2012/13 school year. The loss of the remaining posts will be deferred to the subsequent school year.

Schools that were due to lose 5 or more posts will now lose a maximum of 3 posts in the 2012/13 school year. The loss of the remaining posts will be deferred to the subsequent school year.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 to 93, inclusive, and 95 and 96 together.

Schools that were due to lose 3 or 4 posts will now lose a maximum of 2 posts in the 2012/13 school year. The loss of the remaining posts will be deferred to the subsequent school year.

Schools that were due to lose 5 or more posts will now lose a maximum of 3 posts in the 2012/13 school year. The loss of the remaining posts will be deferred to the subsequent school year.

Languages Programme

Patrick Nulty

Question:

94 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on progress in implementing the Barcelona agreement on the teaching of modern languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22334/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

99 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the continuation of the fee remissions schemes for the children of university staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22366/12]

Brendan Smith

Question:

100 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total cost of the fee remissions scheme in each university in each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22367/12]

Brendan Smith

Question:

101 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the fee remissions scheme for the children of university staff is being considered as part of the review of public service allowances being carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22368/12]

Brendan Smith

Question:

102 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of young persons who are the children of university staff who benefitted from the fee remissions scheme in each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102, inclusive, together.

The fee remission scheme for family members of full time employees of universities is a historical one which was sought to be discontinued by Government in 1982. Following a claim on behalf of affected staff, the Labour Court issued a recommendation in May 1986 stating that arrangements for existing staff should continue. In making this recommendation the Labour Court stated that it had been influenced by the fact that concessions in the matter of fees were either expressed or implied terms of the conditions of employment of the staff concerned over many years. In relation to new staff the Labour Court recommended that all parties should enter into detailed discussions on the matter. Following this recommendation a Conciliation Conference took place in 1991 with agreement reached that while the fee remission scheme would apply to those employed prior to September 1992 it would not apply to staff recruited after that date.

Details in relation to the costs and the numbers who benefited under the scheme are not readily available in my Department. I have asked the Higher Education Authority to contact each institution concerned seeking such details and I will arrange to have same forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Schools Building Projects

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

103 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the stage the planning for a new school building for a school (details supplied) is at and when is it expected construction of the building will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22385/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that approval for a new 16 classroom primary school was recently announced on my Department's five year school building programme. Plans for this school are progressing and subject to securing the necessary local authority approvals this school should be ready to proceed to construction in 2013.

Higher Education Grants

Michael McGrath

Question:

104 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person can receive a maintenance grant in respect of a third level degree course when that person already holds a primary degree but did not avail of the grant in respect of their first degree. [22443/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place.

In the scenario presented by the Deputy, a student who already holds a Level 8 undergraduate qualification and intends to pursue a second undergraduate degree at the same level is not considered to be in progression and cannot be considered for funding, regardless of whether grant aid was made available to pursue the previous qualification. However, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners.

Question No. 105 answered with Question No. 84.

Schools Building Projects

109 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills for the purpose of establishing automatic qualification for rural school transport, if he will identify the nearest qualifying secondary school to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22475/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.

Question:

113 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the money spent on home and foreign travel. [22521/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.

An analysis of payments made in respect of travel and subsistence in my Department during 2011 shows an average payment of €461 per claimant for Foreign Travel and €1,718 per claimant for Domestic Travel. The payment of Travel and Subsistence by officers within my Department in connection with official business is made in accordance with Department of Finance Circular 11/82 and such expenses are paid only in respect of necessary absence from headquarters. Officers are required to ensure that subsistence and other expenses are kept to a minimum, including using public transport as a preferred method of travel and where meals are provided, including in-flight provision, deductions are made accordingly. Evidence of all expenses, e.g. receipts, must also be submitted with each claim.

Travel and subsistence expenditure incurred during travel generally relates to subsistence, mileage, public transport, tolls/car parking fees. It can also include reimbursement in relation to visa and inoculation expenditure where required for foreign travel. The table provides a breakdown of expenditure during 2011 on domestic and foreign travel by category.

Expense Paid	Subhead A.2 Domestic Travel Dept Staff (Incl. Inspectorate)	Subhead A2. Foreign Travel (Incl. EU and International Travel)	A.9 NEPS Domestic Travel
Subsistence	466,146.76	46,113.25	157,206.54
Mileage	704,433.23	3,358.93	395,085.32
Hotel Accommodation	1,739.50	38,786.96	—
Flights	678.89	29,810.86	1,621.66
Taxis	18,647.75	6,331.76	463.75
Public Tranpsort	81,470.97	5,123.43	13,057.99
Tolls/Carparking	7,885.49	7,468.19	747.53
Car Hire	—	725.00	—
Other Misc Fees*	—	1,618.9	—
	1,281,002.59	139,337.28	568,182.79

Seán Crowe

Question:

114 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the type of events paid for under entertainment expenses. [22522/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I attach a breakdown outlining details of expenditure from my Department's administrative budget subhead A3.1 (Official Entertainment) in 2011:

Cost Centre:	Payment:	Description:
Higher Education PRS	€314.00	Lunch hosted by Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan)
Minister	€89.00	Credit Card Charge — Hotel Meeting — Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan)
Minister	€70.00	Hotel Accommodation — Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan)
Minister	€82.80	Credit Card Charge — Hotel Meeting — Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan)
Minister	€64.16	Reception for Mr. Patrick Scott
Minister	€48.33	Lunch with the Indian Ambassador
Minister	€296.75	Dinner on the retirement of Dr. John Hegarty Provost of Trinity College
Minister	€349.90	Dinner for Tom Jago and guests
Minister	€149.00	Lunch with the Chinese Ambassador
Minister	€136.82	Lunch in recognition of Dr. Kenneth Milne’s contribution to the Irish Education System
Minister	€1,017.22	Credit Card bill (including Accommodation costs and Dinners)
Minister	€2.54	Credit Card Charges
Minister	€30.00	Credit Card Charges
Minister	€106.70	Miscellaneous meeting refreshment costs — Minister
Minister of State	€108.75	Lunch for the members of the SOLAS Implementation Group
Minister of State	€63.95	Gift
Minister of State	€31.00	Credit Card Charges
Minister of State	€31.00	Credit Card Charges
Minister of State	€30.00	Credit Card Charges
Secretary General	€19.25	Refreshments for Meeting with HEA
Total	€3,041.17

Seán Crowe

Question:

115 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a figure for the amount of money spent on uniforms and the type of uniforms bought by his Department. [22523/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The total expenditure on uniforms by my Department in 2011 was €4,174.27. This expenditure is in respect of uniforms (including a footwear allowance) for my Department's service officers.

Seán Crowe

Question:

116 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a 10% increase in the cost of postal and telecommunication services. [22524/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The overall allocation for postal and telecommunications services in my Department for 2012 is €2.64 million. This funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A4. The 2012 allocation represents an increase of approximately 10% over actual expenditure in 2011. The reason for the increased provision in 2012 is twofold:

a) Some flexibility is required in relation to the cost of postal services due to the fact that the volume of materials posted to schools can fluctuate significantly from year to year.

b) The 2012 allocation also includes, for the first time, funding for the postal and telecommunications cost of a number of regional offices. Prior to 2012 the administrative costs of the regional offices in question were provided for in a separate subhead which has now been discontinued and the funding has been allocated instead to a number of other subheads including subhead A4.

Seán Crowe

Question:

117 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a 43% increase in office premises expenses; and the efforts being made to make offices more energy efficient. [22525/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The allocation for my Department's office premises expenses for 2012 is €2.34 million. The funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A6. The 2012 allocation for subhead A6 represents an increase of approximately 43% over actual expenditure in 2011 (€1.635 million). The reasons for this level of provision in 2012 are as follows:

a) An allocation of some €0.4 million has been provided to allow essential building works to be carried out in my Department's premises in Athlone, Dublin and Tullamore.

b) Additional funding of some €0.138 million has been allocated to provide for the cost of security services in my Department's Marlborough Street premises. The additional funding for 2012 is required in order to provide for the cost of this service for a full year. Prior to June 2011 the Office of Public Works met the cost of security services in Marlborough St.

c) The 2012 allocation also includes some €0.171 million to meet the office premises expenses of a number of regional offices. Prior to 2012 the administrative costs of the regional offices in question were provided for in a separate subhead which has now been discontinued and the funding has been allocated instead to a number of other subheads including subhead A6.

Officals in my Department engage with the Office of Public Works an ongoing basis and in relation to energy efficiency matters.

Seán Crowe

Question:

118 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultancy services and value for money reviews that have been paid for by his Department; and the way their findings have been implemented. [22526/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The information requested is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Psychological Service

Seán Crowe

Question:

119 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown on the provision of psychological services at primary and post-primary level. [22527/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved and paid for by NEPS.

In addition to psychological assessment NEPS provides assistance to all schools and school communities that experience critical incidents regardless of whether or not they have a NEPS psychologist assigned to them and processes applications for Reasonable Accommodation in Certificate Examinations, on behalf of the state Examinations Commission,. NEPS also provides a service to children with visual impairment irrespective of the school which they attend. The main focus of NEPS is on early intervention with pupils and staff in schools in order to maximise pupil potential, to combat school failure and to avoid acute crises for children and young people.

In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximize positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention.

NEPS has a regional structure with some 23 offices nationwide providing service to schools where NEPS psychologists individually would normally be assigned to a mix of both Primary and Post-Primary schools in the immediate catchment area. In December 2011, with a complement of some 173 staff, NEPS psychologists provided direct service to 86% of primary schools (representing 91% of pupils) and 93% of post-primary schools (representing 94% of pupils) nationally. As previously stated the remaining schools received assessment services under the SCPA. Overall expenditure on the Service amounted to €17.63m (€14.92m staff pay, SCPA €0.57m and €2.1m on N/Pay costs).

Departmental Expenditure

Seán Crowe

Question:

120 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide additional information detailing the amount that was spent in preparation for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. [22528/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

A9 is a new subhead for 2012 to cover costs to my Department of our Presidency of the EU in 2013. The provision of €175,000 is made up of €137,000 for pay costs and €38,000 for non-pay costs. The pay provision is for additional full time and part-time staff for the Presidency, including two interns who are to take up duty in the Irish Permanent Representation in Brussels from July of this year and will be reporting to the Education Attaché. No expenditure has been incurred from this pay provision to date. The non-pay costs are mainly for Presidency-related foreign travel, associated with attendance at preparatory meetings with the Commission, Council Secretariat, Presidency Trio colleagues and other stakeholders, on which expenditure of some €7,000 has been incurred to date.

Seán Crowe

Question:

121 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes resulting from the implementation of the qualifications and assurances Bill likely to lead to a reduction in current expenditure and the projected saving when the Bill is implemented. [22529/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) had a combined exchequer outturn for current expenditure of €12.935m in 2008, when the decision to amalgamate those agencies into a single qualifications and quality assurance body was announced. Their 2011 exchequer outturn for current expenditure amounted to €6.918m, a reduction since 2008 of 46.5%. Closer co-operation and sharing of resources in preparation for amalgamation has been one of the factors that has enabled the agencies absorb the reduced exchequer allocation.

The increase in the 2012 allocation for current expenditure over and above the outturn for 2011 is to meet unavoidable once-off costs arising from the amalgamation, in particular relating to accommodation and ICT. Overall, the annual savings directly attributable to amalgamation are expected to be in the order of €1 million. Some of these savings have already taken place, for example through the appointment of a single Chief Executive Officer for all of the agencies concerned, and further significant savings are being achieved through shared accommodation and corporate services.

School Transport

Seán Crowe

Question:

122 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of subsidised bus routes that have been cut to make the 1% savings in transport services. [22530/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

A number of changes to the School Transport Schemes were introduced from the 2011/12 school year and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the School Transport Scheme. As a consequence of the combined changes a number of services were withdrawn in respect of the 2011/12 school year. In such cases, families of eligible children may still apply for the remote area transport grant. These changes form part of the overall requirement to deliver savings of €17 million on the school transport budget by 2014. Similarly, the reduction in the School Transport Allocation for 2012 does not refer solely to a cut in the number of school transport services but rather is part of these savings and efficiency measures.

Departmental Expenditure

Seán Crowe

Question:

123 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the international activities and conferences funded by his Department. [22531/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Funding is provided from my Department's Subhead B.3 to support the following activities:

The costs of Ireland's participation in the education and training related work of the OECD and the Council of Europe.

A financial contribution to the College of Europe, including scholarships for Irish students.

Scholarships for Irish students and for the expenses involved in Ireland's participation in the European University Institute.

Support for Irish participation in the World Schools Debating Championships and in the International Mathematical Olympiads.

The hosting in Ireland of international educational conferences. In 2011 this included the Asia-Europe Classroom Network Conference (AEC-NET) and the General Assembly of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).

UNESCO Contribution

Seán Crowe

Question:

124 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the nationality, age profile and gender of the students and teachers who benefitted from the UNESCO contribution and international exchanges; and the schools with pupils who benefitted from the scheme. [22532/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The purpose of UNESCO contribution in subhead B.4 is to meet the costs arising from Ireland's membership of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, by way of the payment of a membership contribution. The subhead also provides for international exchange programmes.

The Teacher Exchanges programme for second-level teachers

France:

2 Irish teachers visited second-level schools in France under the French/Irish Professional Visit Scheme for 2011/12. Both were female. 18 teachers from France visited second-level schools in Ireland; the personal details of these teachers are not available as they make a direct application to the French Cultural Services in Paris.

Foreign Language Assistant Scheme 2011/12

Foreign Language Assistants are undergraduates or recent graduates who study modern languages. A total of 110 assistants come to second-level schools in Ireland each year under bilateral cultural agreements. They receive a monthly allowance from my Department. The most recent intake was 60 French, 30 German, 2 Austrian, 12 Spanish and 6 Italian. The Foreign Language Assistants are selected by the cultural services in their own countries. Irish undergraduates serve as Language Assistants in these countries. They receive monthly allowances from the host countries. A breakdown by age or gender is not readily available.

Postgraduate scholarships

My Department also funds a one-year reciprocal postgraduate scholarship scheme for international students. To date, the purpose has been to meet the terms of international agreements and educational exchange agreements with Ireland's international partners. Ireland has concluded cultural agreements with Belgium, Czech Republic, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, and Spain. Ireland also has educational exchanges with Australia, Chile, Japan, Hungary, Switzerland and Turkey.

11 postgraduate scholarships were offered annually to non-EEA countries and 23 postgraduate scholarships to EU countries but take-up varied year by year. Last year, 5 scholarships in total were awarded to Chinese, Mexican and Japanese students.

From 2012, this programme is being amended in line with this Government's International Education Strategy 2010- 2015, with the purpose of more effectively using the scholarships as a means to promote Ireland as a centre for international education in high-growth markets.

Research Funding

Seán Crowe

Question:

125 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the research and development activities and EU pilot projects provided by funding (details supplied). [22533/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The B.5 subhead, entitled "Research and Development Activities" has two components.

1. Research and development.

2. EU projects.

1. Research and development. The purpose of the Research and Development subhead (B5.1) is to fund individual researchers and research institutes for specific educational research projects. A Departmental Research and Development Committee assesses applications for funding, reviews progress of research projects supported by the Committee, and considers means for dissemination of results obtained. Expenditure totalling €150,823.22 was incurred in 2011. This included funding for two research projects:

Valuing Visibility: an exploration of how sexual orientation issues arise and are addressed in post-primary schools.

Action Research project to develop a religious education curriculum for delivery in Community National Schools. The project commenced in July 2008 and it is envisaged that the project will continue until a religious education programme has been developed for all classes from junior infants to sixth class.

2. EU projects. The main purpose of this provision is to make a national contribution towards the administrative costs of the national agency which administers the EU Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland, which is Léargas, the Exchange Bureau. The Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 (LLP) comprises four sub-programmes supporting cross-border mobility, networking and sharing of best practice. Erasmus deals with mobility activities for those participating in third level education.

Leonardo daVinci is the vocational education and training action. It funds mobility and project activities for trainers and trainees. Funding under this action is available to public and private bodies and institutions involved in vocational education and training.

Grundtvig covers activities by adult trainers and learners. Comenius deals with activities by schools, teachers and pupils.

Under the Lifelong Learning Programme, the European Commission provides funding to beneficiaries and project promoters and partners. This funding is administered by the national agencies in the member states in the case of decentralised actions and by the Commission in the case of centralised actions. Expenditure from this subhead on EU projects relates to the administrative costs of Léargas in running the Lifelong Learning Programme, rather than to the costs of the programme itself which are fully funded by the Commission. There is no co-funding requirement.

Inservice Training

Seán Crowe

Question:

126 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the in-career development and training provided to teachers in the first, second and further education sectors; the average time spent by teachers in career development and the training provided by parents and school management involved at first and second levels. [22534/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

In 2011 there were 130,679 training places provided by my Department funded support services for teachers. This figure includes the primary and post primary sector. Each year Vocational Education Committees (VEC) are allocated funding for the delivery of a Continuing Professional Development programme for Youthreach, Senior Traveller Training Centre (STTC) and Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) staff. The most recent returns from VECs indicate that 44,636 training hours were provided.

The amount of time a teacher spends on in-service varies in accordance with school and Departmental priorities and the availability of resources. Current priorities include Project Maths and literacy and numeracy. My Department also provides funding to the Management Bodies and the National Parent Councils for the provision of training to parents and Boards of Management. In 2011 there were 1,486 training places provided in both Primary and Post Primary sectors. There will be an increase in the number of participants in 2012 given that there are new Boards of Management in place at primary level.

School Curriculum

Seán Crowe

Question:

127 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provision, if any, that has been made for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to implement reform of the junior certificate curriculum. [22535/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The NCCA's 2012 allocation reflects an increase of €.077m (8%) on the 2011 outturn which my Department considers sufficient to allow the Council to continue to fulfil its statutory obligations as laid out in the Education Act 1998. A core element of its work for 2012 is to continue to support Junior Cycle reform. It is important to note that reform will be introduced on a phased basis. The reform will commence for students beginning junior cycle in September 2014 and the first examination of the reformed Junior Certificate will be in 2017.

National Drugs Strategy

Seán Crowe

Question:

128 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the six projects funded under the drugs task force areas and his plans to expand the scheme. [22536/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

There are six projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas which receive allocations from subhead B8 of my Department's Vote. Four of the projects are administered by the VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County (2) and Dun Laoghaire; my Department also provides each VEC with an allocation towards administration costs. The remaining two projects are administered directly by my Department. The attached table shows details of the allocations provided to the six projects in 2011 and 2012.

A review of the six projects was carried out in 2011. As a result of the review, four of the projects have received allocations in 2012 similar to their allocations in 2011. Two of the projects have had their 2011 allocations reduced by 10%. These projects involve outside facilitators delivering the substance use aspect of the Social, Personal and Health Education curriculum in schools. Following the review, it was considered that, in line with best practice guidelines issued to schools by my Department, the classroom teacher is the best placed professional to work consistently with students on the SPHE programme. There are no plans to extend funding to other projects under subhead B8 of my Department's Vote.

Projects Receiving Allocations under Subhead B8, Vote 26.
Department of Education and Skills
Local Drugs Task Force Area	Project	Administered by	2011 Allocation	2012 Allocation
North Inner City	Salesian Youth Enterprises	City of Dublin Youth Services Board, under City of Dublin VEC	€52,041	€52,040
Blanchardstown	Blanchardstown Early School Leavers Project	County Dublin VEC	€59,677	€59,670
Ballyfermot	Familiscope	D/Education and Skills	€67,402	€67,400
Dublin North East	Rehabilitation and Support Programme (RASP)	D/Education and Skills	€138,847	€138,840
Tallaght	Killinarden Drug Primary Prevention	County Dublin VEC	€64,426	€57,980
Dun Laoghaire	Drug Education and Training	Dun Laoghaire VEC	€16,000	€14,400

Disadvantaged Status

Seán Crowe

Question:

129 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the projects and schemes that have failed to access funding under educational disadvantage schemes. [22537/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

There were no projects or schemes that failed to access funding under educational disadvantage schemes administered by my Department in 2011 or 2012. The 1% decrease alluded to in the Deputy's question refers to the allocation for B10 Educational Disadvantage (Dormant Accounts Funding) in 2012, of €1.6 million. This allocation is some €13,000 or 0.81% less than the outturn under B10 Educational Disadvantage (Dormant Accounts Funding) in 2011, but is sufficient to cover existing commitments. There are currently three Educational Disadvantaged Schemes administered by my Department, namely:

1. Scheme to enable DEIS Schools in Limerick City to open after school hours;

2. Access Programmes in the Institutes of Technology;

3. Pre-Schools Education Initiative- Equality and Diversity Training.

All of the above schemes will conclude in 2012, once all the approved funding has been drawn down by recipients.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Seán Crowe

Question:

130 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have availed of the residential institutions redress scheme; their ages, gender and country of residence; if he will provide an exact figure paid to the survivors of abuse and a breakdown of money paid to the legal profession and advocacy groups. [22538/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

At the end of December 2011 the Redress Board had accepted 15,404 applications of which 14,855 had been processed resulting in 13,915 awards. A total of €866.58m was paid out in awards and €166.34m was paid in legal and associated costs. The Board's annual report provides a more detailed breakdown of the legal payments to solicitors in any one year. At end 2011, the Redress Board had a further 1,474 late submissions to be considered.

At the end of 2011, further expenditure associated with the Indemnity Agreement amounted to €9.6 in respect of court awards, settlements and associated costs. I have provided a breakdown of the age profile, gender profile and country of residence.

Up to the end of 2011, a total of approximately €2.79 million in funding was provided by my Department to Irish based groups representing survivors of institutional abuse. In the same period, just over €5.14 million was paid to the Survivor Outreach Services based in the UK. In addition to this, approximately €36,000 was paid in miscellaneous expenditure, primarily to groups who were not in receipt of regular annual funding from my Department but who would have been involved in various meetings with Government in the context of redress related issues.

Note:

All figures provided are up to 31st December 2011

Reports on Age, Gender and Country of Residence are based on the 15,341 cases which had been registered on the Case Management System by the 31st December 2011. 63 cases had not yet been registered due to insufficient information provided.

1. Total Number of Applications Received — 15,404.

2. Breakdown of applications by decade of birth:

Age Group	Number of Apps	Percentage
Prior to 1920	99	0.65%
1920-1929	776	5.06%
1930-1939	2,896	18.88%
1940-1949	4,374	28.51%
1950-1959	4,066	26.50%
1960-1969	2,012	13.12%
1970-1979	911	5.94%
1980-	196	1.28%
No DOB Provided	11	0.07%
Total	15,341	100.00%

5. Breakdown of applications by country of residence

Country of Residence	Total Applications Received	% of Total Received
Ireland	9,227	60.15%
Great Britain	5,093	33.20%
USA	327	2.13%
Australia	321	2.09%
Northern Ireland	137	0.89%
Canada	101	0.66%
Spain	32	0.21%
New Zealand	21	0.14%
Germany	18	0.12%
The Netherlands	15	0.10%
France	9	0.06%
Sweden	6	0.04%
Denmark	5	0.03%
South Africa	4	0.03%
Channel Islands	3	0.02%
Belgium	2	0.01%
Italy	3	0.02%
Portugal	2	0.01%
Austria	1	0.01%
China	1	0.01%
Cyprus	1	0.01%
Finland	1	0.01%
Malta	1	0.01%
Morocco	1	0.01%
Nigeria	1	0.01%
Norway	1	0.01%
Republic of Panama	1	0.01%
Sri Lanka	1	0.01%
Thailand	1	0.01%
The Philippines	1	0.01%
United Arab Emirates (UAE)	1	0.01%
West Indies	1	0.01%
Zimbabwe	1	0.01%
Total	15,341	100.00%

6. Breakdown of applications by gender

Gender	Number	Percentage
Male	9,212	60.05%
Female	6,129	39.95%
Total	15,341	100.00%

Good Friday Agreement

Seán Crowe

Question:

131 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the initiatives in the field of education that have benefitted from North South cooperation funding and the names of schools where children who have benefitted from the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 2011 have attended. [22539/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement there are four designated areas of cooperation in the area of education; special education needs, educational underachievement, teacher mobility and school, youth and teachers exchanges. My Department funds a number of initiatives in these four areas. A list of projects currently funded is attached as Appendix A for the deputy's information. In relation to the George Mitchell Scholarship Programme, this programme provides third level scholarships to enable US university graduates to pursue a year of study at institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. A list of the third level institutions which George Mitchell scholars have attended is attached as Appendix B.

North South Co-operation Unit Projects and Programmes Funding 2012
Name	Source of Funding	Other Source(s) of Funding
	Republic of Ireland	Northern Ireland and USA
School, Youth and Teachers
Cinemagic	Dept. Education and Skills	— Dept. of Culture, Arts and Leisure NI— Northern Ireland Screen
Civic Link	Dept. Education and Skills	N/A*
Dissolving Boundaries	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
European Studies Project	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
History Teachers Association of Ireland (HTAI) Visit to Belfast	Dept. Education and Skills (NSCU and Teacher Education Section)	N/A
Irish Science Olympiad	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
Maths Week Ireland	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
Coordinating Training Tool (for English as an additional language and integration)	Dept. Education and Skills	N/A
Pushkin Prizes	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland
North South Ministerial Council Working Groups (Literacy Conference)	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. Education Northern Ireland

3rd Level
Dare to be Digital	Dept. Education and Skills	Belfast City Council
Glór na nGael	Dept. Education and Skills	N/A
SCoTENS Teacher Education Conference	Dept. Education and Skills	— Dept. Education Northern Ireland— Dept. of Employment and Learning NI
Universities Ireland	Dept. Education and Skills	Dept. of Employment and Learning NI
Washington Ireland Programme	Dept. Education and Skills	Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister Northern Ireland

Other
Centre for Cross Border Studies	Dept. Education and Skills	N/A

Table 2
Breakdown of George Mitchell Scholars by Institution and Programme
Year	Scholars	Institutions	Programme
2001	12	Dublin City University	Financial and Industrial Mathematics
		National University of Ireland Galway	International Law and Human Rights
		National University of Ireland Galway	Culture and Colonialism
		National University of Ireland Maynooth	Medieval Irish History
		Queen’s University Belfast	Irish Studies
		Queens University Belfast	Human Rights and Law
		Trinity College Dublin	Peace Studies
		Trinity College Dublin	Multimedia Systems
		University College Cork	English
		University College Dublin	Mathematical Studies
		University of Limerick	Peace and Developmental Studies
		University of Ulster	Biomedical Sciences

2002	12	Dublin City University	International Relations
		Queen’s University Belfast	Classics
		Queen’s University Belfast	Comparative Ethnic Conflict
		Trinity College Dublin	Ethnic and Racial Studies
		Trinity College Dublin	Anglo-Irish Literature
		University College Cork	Government
		University College Cork	Applied Social Studies
		University College Dublin	Computer Science
		University College Dublin	Politics
		University of Limerick	Peace and Development studies
		University of Limerick	International Relations
		University of Ulster	Biotechnology

2003	12	Dublin City University	Political Communications
		NUI Galway	Human Rights Law
		NUI Galway	International Human Rights Law
		NUI Maynooth	Geography
		Queen’s University Belfast	Human Rights Law
		Queen’s University Belfast	Creative Writing
		Trinity College Dublin	Community Health
		Trinity College Dublin	History of Art
		University College Dublin	Anglo-Irish Literature
		University College Dublin	Anglo-Irish Literature
		University of Ulster	Peace and Conflict Studies
		University of Ulster	Political Communications and Public Affairs

2004	11	National University of Ireland Galway	Health Promotion
		National University of Ireland Galway and Queens University Belfast	Human Rights Law
		Queen’s University Belfast	Comparative Ethnic Conflict
		Queen’s University Belfast	Human Rights and Criminal Justice
		Trinity College Dublin	Irish Theatre and Film
		Trinity College Dublin	International Peace Studies
		University College Cork	Economic Science
		University College Cork	International Relations
		University College Dublin	Anglo-Irish literature
		University College Dublin	Equality Studies
		University of Limerick	International Studies

2005	12	Dublin City University	International Relations
		National University of Ireland Galway	Economic Policy Evaluation
		National University of Ireland Galway	Zoology
		Queen’s University Belfast	Comparative Ethnic Conflict
		Queen’s University Belfast	Comparative Ethnic Conflict
		Trinity College Dublin	Civil Engineering
		Trinity College Dublin	Drama Studies
		University College Dublin	Equality Studies
		University College Dublin	Politics
		University of Limerick	International Studies
		University of Limerick	International Studies
		University of Ulster	Peace and Conflict Studies

2006	11	Dublin City University	International Security and Conflict Studies
		National University of Ireland Galway	Economic Policy Evaluation
		Queen’s University Belfast	Music Composition
		Queen’s University Belfast	Comparative Ethnic Conflict
		Trinity College Dublin	Ecumenics
		Trinity College Dublin	Fire Engineering
		University College Cork	Applied Science
		University College Dublin	Equality Studies
		University of Limerick	Biomedical Engineering
		University of Ulster	Peace and conflict studies
		University of Ulster	Irish History and politics

2007	11	Dublin City University	Journalism
		Dublin City University	International Security and Conflict Studies
		National University of Ireland Galway	Biomedical Science
		National University of Ireland Galway and Queens University Belfast	Human Rights and Criminal Justice
		Queen’s University Belfast	International Politics
		Trinity College Dublin	International Peace Studies
		Trinity College Dublin	Creative Writing
		University College Dublin	Anglo-Irish Literature
		University of Limerick	Peace and Development Studies
		University of Limerick	International Studies
		University of Ulster	Peace and Conflict Studies

2008	12	Dublin City University	International Security and Conflict Studies
		National University of Ireland Galway	International Human Rights Law
		National University of Ireland Maynooth	Musicology
		Queen’s University Belfast	Ethnic Conflict
		Queen’s University Belfast	Theory, culture and identity
		Trinity College Dublin	Applied Social Research
		Trinity College Dublin	Environmental Science
		University College Cork	Contemporary Migration/Diaspora studies
		University College Cork	Politics
		University College Dublin	Meteorology
		University College Dublin	Development Studies
		University College Dublin	Cultural Policy and Arts management

2009	12	National University of Ireland Galway	Public Advocacy and Activism
		University College Dublin	Sociology
		Queen’s University Belfast	Human Rights
		Trinity College Dublin	Environmental Science
		University College Dublin	Neuroscience
		University of Ulster	Peace Studies
		National University of Ireland Maynooth	Anthropology and Development
		Dublin City University	Political Communication
		Dublin City University	Development Studies
		Trinity College Dublin	Creative Writing
		Queen’s University Belfast	Violence, Terrorism and Security
		University College Cork	Mobile Networking and Computing

2010	12	Trinity College Dublin	Masters in Neuroscience
		University College Cork	Public Health
		University of Limerick	Music Therapy
		Queen’s University Belfast	Masters in Environmental Science
		Queen’s University Belfast and National University of Ireland Galway	Masters in Human Rights Law
		National University of Ireland Maynooth	Immunology and Global Health
		Trinity College Dublin	Playwriting
		Queen’s University Belfast	Rural Development
		National University of Ireland Galway	Masters in Gender, Globalization and Development
		University College Dublin	Equality Studies
		Trinity College Dublin	Mathematical Physics
		National University of Ireland Galway	International Human Rights Law

2011	9	University College Dublin	Global Health
		University of Ulster	Peace and Conflict Studies
		Dublin City University	International Security and Conflict Studies
		NUI Galway	Political Science and Sociology
		University of Limerick	Sociology
		University College Dublin	Public Health
		NUI Galway	Writing
		Queen’s University Belfast	Violence Terrorism and Security
		NUI Maynooth	Military History and Strategic Studies

2012	12	NUI Galway	Economic Policy Evaluation
		NUI Maynooth	Equalty and Social Activism
		Queen’s University Belfast	Corporate Governance
		Dublin City University	Intercultural Studies
		University College Dublin	Anglo-Irish Lit and Drama
		University College Dublin	Development Practice
		Trinity College Dublin	Gender and Women’s Studies
		University of Ulster	Human Rights Law
		University of Ulster	Health Communication
		NUI Galway	Theatre
		Queen’s University Belfast	Human Geography
		Trinity College Dublin	Theatre and Performance
Total	138

Computerisation Programme

Seán Crowe

Question:

132 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of schools that are currently waiting for the upgrading to the school broadband service; and the percentage of the amount paid on wages to those persons employed to upgrade the school broadband scheme. [22540/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Under the Schools Broadband Programme services are secured by my Department on behalf of schools through a public tendering process. All schools wishing to avail of broadband under the Programme are currently in receipt of the best available connections within resources. As the Deputy will be aware, broadband capacity can vary due to geographical location. However, since the commencement of the Schools Broadband Programme there has been a significant increase in bandwidth capacity. This is due to improved bandwidth speeds being made available to schools and the substantial reduction in the number of schools who are connected via satellite. Schools are only offered satellite connections where no alternative was offered during the procurement process.

The schools Broadband Programme has been re-tendered and an evaluation of responses is currently taking place. New contracts for the supply of services will be awarded shortly. It is expected that under the new contracts there will be further increases in the overall availability of bandwidth provided to schools within the current budget.

In 2011 €3m was paid to internet service providers. Information regarding the element of the broadband contracts which relates to providers' wage costs is not available. In addition to the current broadband scheme, the Government has approved the roll out of 100Mbit/s broadband to all post primary schools. This is a joint initiative between this Department and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The national roll-out will be completed over three stages with 203 schools being connected by September 2012, a further 200 being connected next year and the remaining 250 schools being connected in 2014.

Under the agreed arrangements, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will provide the capital investment and current costs for each school for the year of installation and also for the first calendar year. My Department will pay the current costs for connectivity thereafter which is estimated at €8.1m. For this year, this Department will pay €1.2m which is the current costs for the 78 schools that were in the pilot project and this amount is included in the 2012 Estimate for my Department.

Teachers’ Remuneration

Seán Crowe

Question:

133 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of teachers’ wages under basic pay scales, 1-25; the amount spent on substitution/supervision and those involved in the part-time teaching schemes for special needs and disadvantaged children and adults. [22541/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Teachers in Primary Schools are paid salary in accordance with the Common Basic Salary Scale. This scale ranges from €30,904 to €59,359 for those whose first appointment was prior to 1st January 2011 (full details in Circular 04/2010). For those Primary Teachers whose first appointment was on or after 1st January 2011, the salary scale ranges from €27,814 to €53,423 (full details in Circular 40/2011). The cost of the Supervision and Substitution scheme in 2011 was €61.2m including Employers PRSI. The amount spent on part-time teaching schemes for special needs in 2011 was €20.83 million.

Capitation Grants

Seán Crowe

Question:

134 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the reduction in school capitation grants has resulted in the loss of caretaker or secretarial services. [22542/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

As the Deputy is aware Budget 2012 provided for a 2% reduction in the funding for capitation and related grants to primary and second level schools in both 2012 and 2013 and a further 1% in 2014 and 2015. Due to my decision of 21st February last, to retain posts from previous disadvantage schemes in DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools, it was necessary to generate alternative savings within the primary education budget. This has been achieved by bringing forward to this year 1.5% of the 2% reduction in overall capitation funding originally scheduled for 2013.

The Boards of Management of schools are responsible for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers and it is a matter for each school to determine the level of secretarial and caretaking needs required for the school. Funding to cater for these needs is made available from my Department under two separate schemes. One is the 1978/79 scheme under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and the school secretaries are paid directly through my Department's payroll. The 1978/79 scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. The 1978/79 scheme has been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme towards the funding of ancillary services in schools. While these specific ancillary services grants were not reduced in Budget 2011 the overall capitation funding available to schools was reduced.

The Deputy will be aware that Circular 0040/2009 provides that capitation funding paid to schools for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. I cannot provide specific information on the effect, if any, the reduction in capitation funding to schools has had on the provision of secretarial and caretaking services. However, my Department has not received any communication from schools that would indicate any reduction is such services.

School Accommodation

Seán Crowe

Question:

135 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the temporary school premises being rented by his Department. [22543/12]

Seán Crowe

Question:

139 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the temporary post-primary school accommodation rented by his Department. [22547/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 139 together.

The amount spent on renting temporary accommodation at primary and post-primary level, including — but not limited to — prefabricated accommodation has reduced in recent years as outlined below:

Year	€m
2012	€29.3m (allocation)
2011	€28.9m
2010	€29.3m
2009	€39m

As the Deputy is aware I announced an initiative to replace rented prefabs in schools in March of this year. Almost 200 schools were offered an opportunity to replace rented prefabs with permanent accommodation. A total of €35 million has been allocated for this initiative in 2012. Approximately 80 schools have now been given approval to proceed with the replacement of their rented prefabs at a cost of €14m and the remaining 110 schools will be finalised in the coming weeks. This new initiative will provide additional savings on the rental of prefabs in these schools in the coming years.

Details of school accommodation currently being rented by primary and post-primary schools is outlined on a county by county basis in the following table. Please note that one prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation.

Listing of Temporary Accommodation : Primary and Post Primary-May 2012
Roll No.	School Name	Town/ Townland	County	Desc. of rental	No. of Prefab Units
04077I	St Brigids NS	Tullow	Carlow	Prefab	1
11135K	St Mary’s NS	Bagenalstown	Carlow	Prefab	1
16080N	St Phadraig Naofa	Tullow	Carlow	Prefab	2
17501Q	Bennekerry NS	Bennekerry	Carlow	Prefab	2
17514C	Clonegal NS	Clonegal	Carlow	Prefab	1
17994T	SN Fhoirtcheim	Muinebeag	Carlow	Prefab	2
20295K	Carlow Educate Tog	Graiguecullen	Carlow	Building and Land
20370V	Saplings School	Carlow	Carlow	Building and Prefab	1
61140K	St. Leo’s College	Dublin Road	Carlow	Prefab	6
08453H	Crubany NS	Crubany	Cavan	Prefab	2
08490N	St Clare’s PS	Ardmhuire	Cavan	Prefab	3
16057S	Convent of Mercy NS	Belturbet	Cavan	Prefab	2
16083T	St Mary’s NS	Virginia	Cavan	Prefab	8
16959M	Curravagh NS	Glangevlin	Cavan	Prefab	1
17326B	St Felim’s NS	Farnham St	Cavan	Prefab	1
17625L	Knocktemple NS	Virginia	Cavan	Prefab	1
18857O	Carrigabruise NS	Virginia	Cavan	Prefab	1
19439B	Holy Family NS	Cootehill	Cavan	Building
19608V	St Kilian’s NS	Mullagh	Cavan	Prefab	8
19871N	Scoil Naomh Padraig	Blackloin	Cavan	Prefab	1
70380I	Breifne College		Cavan	Prefab	4
04919H	St John’s NS	Cratloe	Clare	Prefab	2
14111L	Cross NS	Kilrush	Clare	Prefab	1
14757N	Scoil na Mainstreach	Quin	Clare	Prefab	1
15301V	Kildysart NS	Ennis	Clare	Prefab	2
16186G	Inch NS	Ennis	Clare	Prefab	1
16677C	CBS Bunscoil Inis Senior School	Ennis	Clare	Prefab	5
16908S	Sixmilebridge NS	Sixmilebridge	Clare	Prefab	4
16946D	Parteen NS	Parteen	Clare	Prefab	2
17583V	Knockanean NS	Knockanean	Clare	Prefab	5
18639E	Ballynacally NS	Ennis	Clare	Prefab	1
19274S	St. Conaire’s NS	Shannon	Clare	Prefab	3
19849U	GS Donncha Rua	Sionna	Clare	Prefab	4
19999Q	GS Uí Choimín	Cill Rois	Clare	Building
20041C	St. Senan’s Conv	Kilrush	Clare	Prefab	3
20075T	St. Mochulla’s NS	Tulla	Clare	Prefab	1
20086B	Ennis Educate Together NS	Ennis	Clare	Land and Prefabs	9
20312H	Raheen Wood Steiner NS	Tuamgraney	Clare	Buildings
20313J	Mol an Oige NS	Ennistymon	Clare	Land and Prefabs	6
70840Q	Ennistymon VEC	Ennistymon	Clare	Prefab	2
01272O	Glandore NS	Glandore	Cork	Prefab	1
02114B	Ballygiblin NS	Mitchelstown	Cork	Prefab	1
04118T	Bishop Ahern NS	Leamlara	Cork	Prefab	1
07242M	Cloghroe NS	Cloghroe	Cork	Prefab	4
10047I	Macroom Convent NS (St Joseph’s)	Macroom	Cork	Prefab	5
10523O	Fermoy Adair NS	Fermoy	Cork	Prefab	1
10724B	South Abbey NS	Youghal	Cork	Building
11992I	Whitegate Mixed NS	Midleton	Cork	Prefab	2
12004A	Mallon No1 NS	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	1
12041G	St. John the Baptist, Midleton NS	Midleton	Cork	Prefab	2
12446J	Glenahulla NS		Cork	Prefab	1
12447L	Baltydaniel NS	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	1
12473M	Scoil Mhuire na nGrós (Greenmount Monastery NS)	Green Street	Cork	Prefab	5
12505W	Kilbarry NS	Macroom	Cork	Prefab	1
13234W	Cloughduv NS	Crookstown	Cork	Prefab	2
13375R	Scoil Bhríde	Bandon	Cork	Prefab	3
13450F	Rushbrooke NS	Cobh	Cork	Prefab	8
13512B	Scoil Mhuire Lourdes	Carrigaline	Cork	Prefab	4
13728B	Castletownshend NS	Skibbereen	Cork	Prefab	2
13779S	Dromahane NS	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	2
13828F	St. Columba’s Boys NS	Douglas	Cork	Building
13889C	Shanbally NS	Ringaskiddy	Cork	Prefab	1
13976U	St Matthias National School	Ballydehob	Cork	Prefab	1
14052V	St Colmans BNS	Kanturk	Cork	Prefab	1
14839P	Clondrohid NS	Macroom	Cork	Prefab	2
15165Q	Ballintotas NS	Castlemartyr	Cork	Prefab	2
15484J	SN an Chroí Naofa	Glounthaune	Cork	Prefab	5
15594Q	Grange NS	Fermoy	Cork	Prefab	3
15646J	Coomhala NS	Bantry	Cork	Prefab	1
15701O	Bartlemy NS	Fermoy	Cork	Prefab	1
15781P	Ballintemple NS	Ballintemple	Cork	Prefab	1
15792U	SN Naomh Micheál	White’s Cross	Cork	Prefab	1
16087E	Kealkil NS	Bantry	Cork	Prefab	2
16271U	Watergrasshill NS	Watergrasshill	Cork	Prefab	3
16339F	St Joseph’s NS	The Mardyke	Cork	Prefab	2
17011W	St Mochomóg’s NS	Bantry	Cork	Prefab	1
17103E	Scoil Chlochair Mhuire	Carrigtwohill	Cork	Prefab	2
17112F	Ballyhea NS	Charleville	Cork	Prefab	1
17152R	Knockskeagh NS	Clonakilty	Cork	Prefab	1
17168J	SN Inis Eoghain	Innishannon	Cork	Prefab	1
17281F	Togher NS	Dunmanway	Cork	Prefab	1
17297U	St Fergal’s NS	Killeagh	Cork	Prefab	2
17360B	SN Mhuire	Mallow Rd	Cork	Prefab	2
17505B	Brooklodge NS	Glanmire	Cork	Prefab	1
17533G	Rahan NS	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	4
17600S	Scartleigh NS	Midleton	Cork	Prefab	5
17609N	Rathcormac NS	Rathcormac	Cork	Prefab	1
17639W	CBS PS	Mitchelstown	Cork	Prefab	3
17667E	Whitechurch NS	Whitechurch	Cork	Prefab	2
17804L	SN Cnoc Na Manach	Minane Bridge	Cork	Prefab	1
17823P	Glantane NS	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	1
17972J	Killmurry NS	Lissarda	Cork	Prefab	1
17993R	Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál (B) (Glasheen BNS)	Glasheen	Cork	Prefab	3
18000W	Scoil Mhuire Naofa	Carrigtwohill	Cork	Prefab	3
18128C	Scoil Mhuire NS	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	1
18217B	Scoil Padre Pio	Churchfield	Cork	Prefab	2
18246I	Ballymoney NS	Ballineen	Cork	Prefab	1
18279A	Carrigaline No3 NS	Carrigaline	Cork	Prefab	2
18377A	St Joseph’s NS	Fermoy	Cork	Prefab	1
18428O	Bailenóra NS	Tobar an Iarla	Cork	Prefab	3
18468D	St Mary’s NS	Drimoleague	Cork	Prefab	1
18483W	School of the Divine Child	Ballintemple	Cork	Prefab	2
18497K	Scoil Inse Ratha	Little Island	Cork	Prefab	2
18535P	St John’s GNS	Carrigaline	Cork	Prefab	6
19256Q	Scoil Ghobnatan	Mallow	Cork	Prefab	1
19351K	Cill Chriodain	Ladysbridge	Cork	Prefab	3
19381T	Rathmore NS	Skibereen	Cork	Prefab	1
19404F	Scoil Mhuire SN	Ballyhooly	Cork	Prefab	2
19415K	Scoil an Athar Tadhg	Carraig na bhFear	Cork	Prefab	5
19557H	Caheragh NS	Drimoleague	Cork	Prefab	1
19637F	Scoil Fhionnbarra	Béal Athan Ghaorthaidh	Cork	Prefab	2
19760E	Scoil Triest	Glanmire	Cork	Prefab	3
19761G	St Peter’s NS	Dungourney	Cork	Prefab	1
19801P	Drimoleague Junior School	Drimoleague	Cork	Prefab	2
19839R	GS Ui Riordain	Baile an Chollaigh	Cork	Building, Land and Prefabs	6
19851H	GS de Hide	Fermoy	Cork	Building
19881Q	GS Charraig Uí Leighin	Carraig Uí Leighin	Cork	Prefab	6
19906G	Cork School Project NS	Grattan St	Cork	Prefab	1
19909M	GS Pheig Sayers	New Mallow Rd	Cork	Building
19978I	Maulatrahane Central NS	Skibereen	Cork	Prefab	1
19993E	GS an Ghoirt Alainn	Gort Alainn	Cork	Land
20006A	GS Chloch na gCoillte	Cloch nagCoillte	Cork	Building
20025E	GS Droichead na Banndan	Droichead na Banndan	Cork	Building
20049S	Ringaskiddy Lower Harbour NS	Ringaskiddy	Cork	Prefab	3
20074R	St Gabriel’s Spec School	Bishopstown	Cork	Building
20106E	Scoil Niocláis	Cork	Cork	Prefab	17
20107G	Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann	Mainistir na Corann	Cork	Buildings and Prefabs	7
20151J	Gaelscoil Mhuscrai	An Bhlarna	Cork	Building and Land
20182U	St Enda’s NS	Dunmanway	Cork	Prefab	1
20204E	Kilworth National School	Killworth	Cork	Prefab	1
20222G	Scoil Chuil-Aodha/Barr dInse	Maghcromtha	Cork	Prefab	1
20239A	Gaelscoil Ui Drisceoil	Rathchuanna, GleannMaglair	Cork	Building
20265B	Gaelscoil Chionn tSaile	Kinsale	Cork	Land and Prefabs	3
20310D	Carrigaline Ed Tog NS	Mountain Rd	Cork	Buildings
20336V	Midleton Educate Together NS	Midleton	Cork	Building
20354A	Cara Jnr School	Glanmire	Cork	Building	3
62050O	The Hamilton High School	Bandon	Cork	Prefab	2
62170B	Sacred Heart Sec School	Clonakilty	Cork	Prefab	1
62421A	Presentation Sec School	Mitchelstown	Cork	Prefab	1
62460K	St Francis College	Rochestown	Cork	Prefab	4
62730N	St Patricks College	Gardiners Hill	Cork	Prefab	1
91499E	Kinsale Community School	Kinsale	Cork	Prefab	1
07143K	Monreagh NS	Lifford	Donegal	Prefab	1
11843O	Niall Mor NS	Killybegs	Donegal	Prefab	1
12077E	Scoil Naomh Fiachra	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	4
13755E	Gartan NS	Chruchill	Donegal	Prefab	1
16672P	Lurgybrack NS	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	1
16821G	St Patricks GNS	Carndonagh	Donegal	Prefab	1
16903I	Faugher NS	Duntanaghy	Donegal	Building
17721H	Scoil Treasa Naofa	Lifford	Donegal	Prefab	1
17728V	SN Talamh na Coitle	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	1
18052S	Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	1
18520C	Scoil Phadraig	Clonmany	Donegal	Prefab	1
18625Q	Scoil Cholmcille	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	2
18737E	Scoil Bhride	Leifear	Donegal	Prefab	1
19313C	Glenswilly NS	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	3
19343L	SN Dhubhthaigh	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	1
19724A	Little Angels Special School	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	1
19927O	Scoil Mhuire	Stranorlar	Donegal	Prefab	4
19967D	Scoil Iosagain	Buncrana	Donegal	Prefab	6
19971R	Gaelscoil Adhamhnain	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	2
20097G	Gaelscoil Bhun Chranncha	Bhun Chranncha	Donegal	Building
20144M	Gaelscoil Chois Feabhaill	Bun an Phobail	Donegal	Building and Land
20167B	Gaelscoil Eirne	Baile Átha Seanaidh	Donegal	Building and Land
20235P	Letterkenny Educate Together	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	12
62830R	St. Eunan’s College	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	4
71140Q	Crana College	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	3
76081F	Colaiste Ailigh	Letterkenny	Donegal	Prefab	5
76107U	Gaelcholaiste Bhun Cranncha	Letterkenny	Donegal	Building
00752A	Central Model Senior Mixed NS	Marlborough St	Dublin	Prefab	1
01170G	Naul National School	Naul	Dublin	Prefab	3
01795A	Central Model Infants School	Marlborough St	Dublin	Prefab	3
03359N	Ballyroan Boys NS	Rathfarnham	Dublin	Prefab	1
06200O	St Mary’s BNS	Boosterstown	Dublin	Prefab	1
07546J	Our Lady of Lourdes NS	Inchicore	Dublin	Prefab	7
11583O	St. Andrew’s NS	Malahide	Dublin	Building
12014D	St Andrew’s NS	Lucan	Dublin	Prefab	3
14180H	Holmpatrick NS	Skerries	Dublin	Prefab	1
16333Q	St. Patricks JNS	Skerries	Dublin	Prefab	2
16461C	St Finian’s NS	Newcastle Lyons	Dublin	Prefab	4
16675V	Mulhuddart NS	Tyrrelstown	Dublin	Prefab	6
16860Q	Corpus Christi NS	Drumcondra	Dublin	Prefab	1
16972E	SS Peter and Paul JNS	Balbriggan	Dublin	Prefab	3
17055T	Scoil Naomh Mhuire	Saggart	Dublin	Prefab	4
17083B	Scoil Mhuire gan Smal	Dublin 8	Dublin	Prefab	1
17472M	Hedgestown NS	Lusk	Dublin	Prefab	1
17559B	St. Mary’s NS	Garristown	Dublin	Prefab	1
17569E	St Oliver Plunkett NS	Balbriggan	Dublin	Prefab	2
17691E	Lusk NS	Lusk	Dublin	Prefab	1
17912O	St John Boscos SBS	Navan Rd	Dublin	Prefab	5
17953F	Edmondstown NS	Rathfarnham	Dublin	Prefab	1
17961E	Lusk NS	Lusk	Dublin	Prefab	15
17977T	Scoil Aine	Raheny	Dublin	Prefab	1
17978V	Naiscoil Ide	Raheny	Dublin	Prefab	2
18046A	Scoil Bhríde BNS	Blanchardstown	Dublin	Prefab	3
18047C	Scoil Bhride GNS	Blanchardstown	Dublin	Prefab	4
18210K	St Michaels House Special School	Baldoyle	Dublin	Prefab	8
18386B	Marist NS	Crumlin	Dublin	Prefab	2
18411U	St Marys NS	Tallaght	Dublin	Prefab	3
18412W	Scoil Phadraic C	Donabate	Dublin	Prefab	1
18632N	SN Eoin Bosco	Navan Rd	Dublin	Prefab	1
18671A	St Michaels House	Rathgar	Dublin	Building
18763F	St Michaels Special NS	Ballymun Rd	Dublin	Prefab	3
18778S	St. Mochta’s NS	Clonsilla	Dublin	Prefab	7
18815V	Our Lady of Lourds	Dun Laogharie	Dublin	Prefab	1
18976W	St Colmcilles BNS	Swords	Dublin	Prefab	5
19066L	Loreto Primary	Dalkey	Dublin	Prefab	1
19220S	Scoil Ide	Clondalkin	Dublin	Prefab	2
19221U	Scoil Aine	Clondalkin	Dublin	Prefab	3
19259W	St. Patricks GNS	Foxrock	Dublin	Prefab	1
19281P	Mater Special School	James Joyce St	Dublin	Building
19374W	Our Lady’s Grove NS	Goatstown	Dublin	Prefab	4
19390U	St. Marks SNS	Tallaght	Dublin	Prefab	1
19435Q	St Francis Xavier JNS	Castleknock	Dublin	Prefab	5
19472W	St Marks JNS	Tallaght	Dublin	Prefab	5
19509T / 19510E	Talbot SNS	Clondalkin	Dublin	Prefab	3
19515O	St. Teresa’s NS	Balbriggan	Dublin	Prefab	4
19535U	St Cronan’s SNS	Swords	Dublin	Prefab	5
19545A	St Patricks JNS	Blanchardstown	Dublin	Prefab	1
19574H	Divine Word NS	Rathfarnham	Dublin	Prefab	2
19594N	St Pauls Youth Encounter Project	Finglas	Dublin	Building
19601H	St Philip the Apostle JNS	Clonsilla	Dublin	Prefab	1
19605P	Scoil Mhuire JNS	Blakestown	Dublin	Prefab	1
19624T	St Catherine’s NS	Rush	Dublin	Prefab	3
19625V	Scoil Realt na Mara	Skerries	Dublin	Prefab	3
19628E	St Fiachras SNS	Beaumount	Dublin	Prefab	3
19636D	St Patricks SNS	Blanchardstown	Dublin	Prefab	5
19652B	Sacred Heart NS	Tallaght	Dublin	Prefab	1
19660A	Rush NS	Rush	Dublin	Prefab	4
19662E	St Michael’s Primary School	Ballyfermot	Dublin	Prefab	1
19676P	Scoil Aine Naofa	Lucan	Dublin	Prefab	2
19705T	Catherine McAuley NS	19 Lr Baggot St.	Dublin	Building
19757P	St Michaels Special NS	Skerries	Dublin	Prefab	1
19782O	St Brigids JNS	Tallaght	Dublin	Prefab	5
19817H	Scoil Mhuire	Lucan	Dublin	Prefab	4
19834H	St Aidans NS	Brookfield	Dublin	Prefab	4
19877C	Holy Family SNS	Swords	Dublin	Prefab	2
19878E	Holy Rosary PS	Firhouse	Dublin	Prefab	9
19907I	Gaelscoil Mologa	Charleville Road	Dublin	Prefab	1
19926M	Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire	Bac 1	Dublin	Building and Land
19935N	Scoil Eoin Abacus	Kilbarrack	Dublin	Building
19949B	Muslim NS	Clonskeagh	Dublin	Prefab	1
19991A	Ghaelscoil na Camoige	Clondalkin	Dublin	Building
20012S	Griffith Barracks Multi D School	South Circular Rd	Dublin	Prefab	2
20021T	Henrietta St School	8 Henrietta St	Dublin	Building
20028K	Setanta Special School	Stillorgan	Dublin	Prefab	4
20035H	St. Gabriels NS	Cowper St	Dublin	Prefab	1
20043G	Gaelscoil Chnoc liamhna	Cnoc Liamhna	Dublin	Prefab	1
20047O	Gaelscoil Bharra	Cabra	Dublin	Land and Prefabs	2
20103V	John Scottus NS	47/49 Northumberland Rd	Dublin	Building
20139T	Inchicore NS	Inchicore	Dublin	Prefab	3
20152L	North Dublin Muslim School	Navan Road	Dublin	Building and Prefabs	3
20168D	Glasnevin Educate Together NS	Glasnevin	Dublin	Prefab	2
20190T	Holy Trinity NS	Leopardstown	Dublin	Prefab	15
20220C	Gs Ui hEarcain	Glasanaon Road Finglas	Dublin	Building
20223I	Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada	Leamhcan	Dublin	Building and Prefabs	2
20304I	St Francis of Assisi	Belmayne	Dublin	Land and Prefab	1
20308Q	Belmayne ETNS	Belmayne	Dublin	Land and Prefab	1
20334R	Gaelscoil Ros Eo	Rush	Dublin	Land and Prefabs	3
20348F	Hollywell ETNS	Swords	Dublin	Prefab	5
20372C	ABA Facility (Saplings)	Rathfarnham	Dublin	Building
20378O	St Kevins (Abacus Unit)	Kilnamanagh	Dublin	Building
20381D	Red Door Learning Centre	Monkstown	Dublin	Building
60092U	Clonkeen College	Blackrock	Dublin	Prefab	3
60343T	St Josephs Sec School	Rush	Dublin	Prefab	3
60370W	St Fintan’s High School	Sutton	Dublin	Prefab	1
60450U	Coláiste Mhuire	Bothar Rath Tó	Dublin	Building
70010V	Balbriggan Community College	Balbriggan	Dublin	Prefab	2
70230M	Killester College	Collins Avenue	Dublin	Prefab	1
76062B	Castleknock Community College	Castleknock	Dublin	Prefab	2
76085N	Gaelcholaiste Reachrann	Donaghmede	Dublin	Prefab	4
76130P	Luttrellstown Community College	Luttrellstown	Dublin	Prefab	7
81002K	Mount Temple Comprehensive School	Malahide Road	Dublin	Prefab	3
03607G	Leitrim NS	Loughrea	Galway	Prefab	1
04506F	Oranmore BNS	Oranmore	Galway	Prefab	7
05754G	SN Chreachmhaoil	Craughwell	Galway	Prefab	3
07551C	Ballinderreen NS	Kilcolgan	Galway	Prefab	2
09833W	Lettergesh NS	Renvyle	Galway	Prefab	1
10095T	Scoil Naomh Treasa	Ahascragh	Galway	Prefab	1
11675T	Annagh BNS	Tuam	Galway	Prefab	2
12954F	Scoil Bhride	Turloughmore	Galway	Prefab	2
13208V	Convent Primary School	Gort	Galway	Prefab	2
13365O	Scoil Mhuire	Oranmore	Galway	Prefab	6
13856K	St James’ NS	Bushypark	Galway	Prefab	4
13914V	SN Sheosaimh	Bearna	Galway	Prefab	1
15228O	Corgary NS	Mountbellew	Galway	Prefab	1
16293H	Kilrickle NS	Loughrea	Galway	Prefab	1
16804G	SN Chlair na Gaillimhe	Baile Clar na Gaillimhe	Galway	Prefab	2
17444H	Scoil Seosaimh NS	Athenry	Galway	Prefab	2
17613E	Scoil Chaitriona Naofa	Ballinasloe	Galway	Prefab	2
17668G	Scoil na bhForbacha	Spiddal	Galway	Prefab	1
17759J	Scoil Bhride	Castlebar	Galway	Prefab	1
17782E	Scoil Bhride	Shantalla	Galway	Prefab	6
17807R	Cahergal NS	Tuam	Galway	Prefab	2
18089S	Scoil Mhuire an Gharran	Oranmore	Galway	Prefab	1
18112K	Scoil Eanna	Loughrea	Galway	Land and Prefabs	3
19544V	Kilchreest NS	Loughrea	Galway	Prefab	2
19567K	St Anne’s School	Merlin Park	Galway	Building
19803T	Scoil Sheamais Naofa	Bearna	Galway	Prefab	1
19965W	Scoil Mhuire	Clarinbridge	Galway	Prefab	2
19994G	GS Mhic Amhlaigh	Bothar na gCeapach, Cnoc na Cathrach	Galway	Prefab	3
19996K	St Brendan’s NS	Portumna	Galway	Prefab	2
19998O	GS De hIde	Oranmore	Galway	Building, Land and Prefabs	10
20000L	Galway Educate Together	Newcastle	Galway	Prefab	2
20042E	Scoil an Chroi Naofa Ballinasloe	Ballinasloe	Galway	Prefab	7
20061I	GS Iarfhlatha	Tuam	Galway	Building
20070J	Rosedale School	Renmore	Galway	Prefab	7
20123E	Gaelscoil Riabhach	Baile Locha Riach	Galway	Land and Prefabs	4
20199O	Oughterard NS	Oughterard	Galway	Prefab	1
20211B	Claregalway ETNS	Claregalway	Galway	Building, Land and Prefabs	2
20237T	Gaelscoil Riada	Athenry	Galway	Building and Prefabs	7
20264W	GS na bhFili	Gort Inse Guaire	Galway	Building
20326S	Kilcolgan Educate Together	Kilcolgan	Galway	Building, Land and Prefabs	3
20328W	St Teresa’s Sp School	Ballinasloe	Galway	Building
20350P	Merlin Woods Primary School	Doughiska Road	Galway	Land
20371A	Abalta School	Galway	Galway	Building
62870G	Presentation College	Athenry	Galway	Prefab	10
62880J	St Joseph’s College	Ballinasloe	Galway	Prefab	1
62960H	St Joseph’s Patrician College	Nuns Island	Galway	Building
71330V	Colaiste na Coirbe	Bothar Thuama	Galway	Building and Prefabs	3
02849C	Kenmare BNS	Kenmare	Kerry	Prefab	1
03132I	Sliabh A’Mhadra NS	Ballyduff	Kerry	Prefab	1
04062S	Listowel Convent PS	Listowel	Kerry	Prefab	1
07841L	Kilgobnet N S	Kilarney	Kerry	Prefab	1
08320L	St Clare’s GNS	Kenmare	Kerry	Prefab	1
09708T	Scoil Mhuire	Knocknagoshel	Kerry	Prefab	1
13615L	Scoil Eoin	Tralee	Kerry	Prefab	1
15592M	Scoil Cheann Tra	Tralee	Kerry	Prefab	1
16217O	Scoil Bhreac Chluain	Annascaul	Kerry	Prefab	1
16898S	SN Breandan Naofa	Tralee	Kerry	Prefab	1
17915U	Freastogail Mhuire Mixed NS	Abbeydorney	Kerry	Prefab	1
18247K	CBS Tralee	Tralee	Kerry	Prefab	8
18702I	Spa NS	Tralee	Kerry	Prefab	1
19448C	Scoil Realt na Mara	Tuosist	Kerry	Prefab	1
19487M	Holy Cross Mercy NS	Killarney	Kerry	Prefab	1
19512I	St Oliver’s NS	Killarney	Kerry	Prefab	7
19547E	St Francis Spec School	Beaufort	Kerry	Prefab	1
19986H	Scoil Naomh Eoin Baiste	Tralee	Kerry	Building
20013U	GS Lios Tuathail	Listowel	Kerry	Prefab	1
20158A	Tralee ETNS	Oakpark, Tralee	Kerry	Building and Land
61410N	Presentation Secondary School	Miltown	Kerry	Prefab	1

08099P	St. Laurences N S	Sallins	Kildare	Prefab	2
09414C	St Laurence’s N S	Athy	Kildare	Prefab	2
12747A	Scoil na Mainistream De La Salle	Kildare	Kildare	Prefab	1
15040T	Mercy Convent Primary School	Naas	Kildare	Prefab	6
15599D	St. Brigid’s Primary School	Kildare Town	Kildare	Prefab	1
15957D	St. Patrick’s Boys Primary School	Rathangan	Kildare	Prefab	1
16706G	St Joseph B.N.S	Kilcock	Kildare	Prefab	5
16707I	St Peter’s BNS	Monasterevin	Kildare	Prefab	3
16845U	St Mochuo’s N S	Naas	Kildare	Prefab	4
17254C	St Corbans	Naas	Kildare	Prefab	4
17674B	St Anne’s NS	Kill	Kildare	Prefab	1
17968S	Two Mile House NS	Naas	Kildare	Prefab	3
18018S	Scoil Bhride NS	Rathangan	Kildare	Prefab	4
18288B	Scoil Mhichil Naofa	Athy	Kildare	Prefab	14
18449W	St. Conleth’s NS	Carbury	Kildare	Prefab	6
18515J	Scoil an Lenbh Iosa	Naas	Kildare	Prefab	1
18644U	Straffan NS	Straffan	Kildare	Prefab	1
18988G	St. Raphaels SS	Celbridge	Kildare	Prefab	3
19675N	Scoil Bhride	Kilcullen	Kildare	Prefab	4
19796C	Scoil Phadraig	Clane	Kildare	Prefab	2
20058T	Gaelscoil Ui Fhiaich	Maigh Nuad	Kildare	Prefab	9
20114D	Scoil Bhride	Naas	Kildare	Prefab	3
20257C	St Patrick’s NS	Celbridge	Kildare	Building
00788V	Lisdowney NS	Ballyragget	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
01300Q	St Michael’s NS	Danesfort	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
15632V	St Joseph’s GNS	Kilmacow	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
16140F	Skeaghvasteen NS	Skeaghvasteen	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
16875G	St Patricks NS	Kilmacow	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
17093E	St Brendans NS	Ballyfoyle	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
17108O	St Johns Junior NS	Michael St	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
18660S	St Nicholas NS	Windgap	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
19344N	St Aidans NS	Kilmanagh	Kilkenny	Prefab	1
19626A	St Canices Co-Ed NS	Kilkenny	Kilkenny	Prefab	2
19856R	Gaelscoil Osraí	Kilkenny	Kilkenny	Prefab	5
20132F	High Support Special School	Callan Road	Kilkenny	Building
20380B	Jonah Special School	Slieverue	Kilkenny	Building
01556F	Scoil Bhride NS	Ballyroan	Laois	Prefab	1
07183W	St Josephs GNS	Mountmellick	Laois	Prefab	2
07636K	St Fintan BNS	Mountrath	Laois	Prefab	1
12231L	Rushall NS	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	1
13741Q	Rath NS	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	1
14838N	Maryboro NS	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	1
15446B	Gaelscoil Thromaire	Mountrath	Laois	Prefab	1
15556I	Presentation Convent Primary School	Portarlington	Laois	Prefab	1
17064U	St Patrick’s NS	Ballylinan	Laois	Prefab	3
17557U	St Abbans NS	Mageney	Laois	Prefab	2
17617M	Scoil Chomhghain Naofa	Killeshin	Laois	Building and Prefabs	2
18150S	Scoil an Fraoich Mhoir	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	3
18547W	Faolan Naofa NS	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	1
18828H	St Pauls Primary	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	5
19747M	Scoil Bhride NS	Portlaoise	Laois	Prefab	9
20224K	Gaelscoil an tSli Dala	Buirios Mor Osrai	Laois	Prefab	2
20347D	Portlaoise Educate Together NS	Portlaoise	Laois	Building
16474L	St. Mary’s NS	Carrigallen	Leitrim	Prefab	1
17233R	St Clare’s NS	Manorhamilton	Leitrim	Prefab	1
19423J	St. Patrick’s NS	Drumshambo	Leitrim	Prefab	2
20212D	Gaelscoil Liatroma	Cora Droma Ruisc	Leitrim	Land
20260O	Gaelscoil Chluainin	Cluainin Ui Ruairc	Leitrim	Building
02007A	Cronagh National School Rathleale	Rathkeale	Limerick	Prefab	1
06539H	Knockea NS	Ballyneety	Limerick	Prefab	1
07857D	Killinure NS	Brittas, Boher	Limerick	Prefab	1
09296W	Our Ladys Abbey NS	Adare	Limerick	Prefab	1
11422N	Mahoonagh	Castlemahon	Limerick	Prefab	1
16264A	St Marys Boys National School	Abbeyfeale	Limerick	Prefab	3
16443A	Scoil Phádraig Naofa Buachaillí	Dublin Road	Limerick	Prefab	1
16508C	Ahane NS	Lisnagry	Limerick	Prefab	1
16712B	Scoil Naomh Iosaf	Adare	Limerick	Prefab	1
17937H	Monaleen NS	Castletroy	Limerick	Prefab	1
18161A	Castleconnell NS	Castleconnell	Limerick	Prefab	2
18177P	St Annes Primary	Rathkeale	Limerick	Prefab	3
18426K	Scoil Ide Naofa	Ballagh	Limerick	Prefab	1
18653V	St Josephs BNS	Rathkeale	Limerick	Prefab	1
18692I	Catherine McAuley School. (SS)	Asbourne Ave	Limerick	Prefab	1
18991S	John F. Kennedy Memorial School	Ennis Road	Limerick	Prefab	2
19336O	St Pauls NS	Dooradoyle	Limerick	Prefab	10
19475F	St Brigids NS	Singland	Limerick	Prefab	2
19956V	Gaelscoil Sairseal	Sraid an Droichid	Limerick	Buildings
20148U	Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh	Moin a Lin	Limerick	Building, Land and Prefabs	8
20175A	Limerick East Educate Together NS	Mungret	Limerick	Building and Prefabs	2
20181S	Gaelscoil an Raithin	Tuar an Daill	Limerick	Building, Land and Prefabs	5
20185D	St Marys Boys National School	Island Road	Limerick	Prefab	2
20311F	Redhills NS	Patrickswell	Limerick	Prefab	4
76101I	Gaelscholaiste Luimnigh	Meal Sior Anrai	Limerick	Building
00860D	Forgney NS	Ballymahon	Longford	Land
19429V	St. Christopher’s Special School	Longford	Longford	Building
20083S	Gaelscoil Longfoirt	Fearann ui Dhuagain	Longford	Land
20124G	St Marys NS	Edgeworthstown	Longford	Building and Prefabs	5
20128O	St Matthews NS	Ballymahon	Longford	Prefab	4
00851C	Presentation Primary School	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	1
01434O	St Colmcilles NS	Togher	Louth	Prefab	2
01553W	Louth NS	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	1
01554B	Ballapousta NS	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	3
08052M	Scoil Mhuire Fatima	Drogheda	Louth	Building and Prefabs	2
14069P	Dun Dealgan NS	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	1
14651U	Castletown GNS	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	1
15259C	St Malachys Girls Sch	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	3
16208N	Termonfeckin Mixed NS	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	2
17059E	Iosaif na mBraithre	Droich	Louth	Prefab	1
17195M	CBS Primary Dundalk	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	3
17856H	Scoil Naomh Mhuire	Donore	Louth (see Meath for file)	Prefab	1
17865I	St Mary’s BNS	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	2
17949D	SN Padraig Naofa	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	3
17965M	SN Bhride	Omeath	Louth	Prefab	1
18098T	Scoil N Bhride C	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	2
18101F	Rampark NS	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	1
18148I	Scoil Bhride Lann Leire	Dunleer	Louth	Prefab	2
18504E	St Malachys Boys	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	2
18635T	St Buite’s NS	Dunleer	Louth	Prefab	2
19215C	SN Ard Mhuire	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	5
19223B	SN Padraig Naofa	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	2
19479N	Rathmullen NS	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	9
19673J	St Josephs NS	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	7
19678T	St Pauls Senior NS	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	5
20171P	Ardee Educate Together NS	Ardee	Louth	Building, Land and Prefabs	3
20259G	St Francis NS	Blackrock	Louth	Building and Prefabs	5
20339E	Realt na Mara School	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	1
20349H	Scoil Oilibheir Naofa	Drogheda	Louth	Land and Prefabs	4
20374G	ABA Facility	Drogheda	Louth	Building
63870L	Drogheda Grammar School	Drogheda	Louth	Prefab	1
63900R	St Vincents Secondary School	Dundalk	Louth	Prefab	1
71770D	O’Fiaich College	Dundalk	Louth	Building
91441T	Ardee Community College	Ardee	Louth	Prefab	1
04796R	Brackloon NS	Westport	Mayo	Prefab	3
07054L	Scoil Naomh Bríd	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	4
11725I	Behymore NS	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	4
12206M	SN Padraig	Knockmore, Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
13659I	Bekan NS	Claremorris	Mayo	Prefab	1
13667H	St. Josephs NS	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	2
13758K	Templemary NS	Killala	Mayo	Prefab	1
13945J	Eskeragh NS	Bellalorick, Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
14400S	Richmond NS	Crossmolina	Mayo	Prefab	1
15539I	St Johns NS	Claremorris	Mayo	Prefab	1
15555G	Breaffy NS	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
16122D	Scoil Mhuire	Claremorris	Mayo	Prefab	1
16170O	Cloghans NS	Knockmore, Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
16173U	Kinaffe Ns	Swinford	Mayo	Prefab	1
16283E	Pullathomas National School	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
16904K	Lankill NS	Liscarney	Mayo	Prefab	1
16911H	Lahardane NS	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
17082W	SN Chomain Naofa	Roundfort	Mayo	Prefab	1
17209U	Caoneal NS	Ballina	Mayo	Prefab	1
18070U	Muire Gan Smal	Claremorris	Mayo	Prefab	3
18145C	St Tiernans NS	Ballyhaunis	Mayo	Prefab	1
19375B	St Brid’s Spec NS	Castlebar	Mayo	Prefab	3
19402B	Ballyvary Central NS	Castlebar	Mayo	Prefab	2
19451O	Holy Family NS	Newport	Mayo	Prefab	1
19972T	GS Uileog de Burca	Mhuiris	Mayo	Prefab	7
20084U	Scoil na gCeithre Maol	Beal an Atha	Mayo	Building
20142I	Scoil Iosa	Ballyhaunis	Mayo	Prefab	2
20230F	Scoil Phadraig	Westport	Mayo	Prefab	2
64570E	Our Lady’s Sec School	Belmullet	Mayo	Prefab	5
64690O	Scoil Mhuire and Padraig	Swinford	Mayo	Building
00883P	St Annes	Navan	Meath	Prefab	1
01309L	St Patricks NS	Navan	Meath	Prefab	1
02905J	SN Naomh Padraig	Baconstown	Meath	Prefab	1
04210H	St Josephs NS (Kilmessan Mxd NS)	Kilmessan	Meath	Prefab	2
05630L	St Michaels NS Trim	Trim	Meath	Prefab	1
11039O	Kilbeg NS	Carlonstown, Kells	Meath	Prefab	1
15104T	Scoil Bhride	Navan	Meath	Prefab	2
16100Q	St Josephs Mercy P.S	Navan	Meath	Prefab	6
16549Q	Scoil Naoimh Pio	Beauparc	Meath	Prefab	1
17520U	Robinstown NS	Navan	Meath	Prefab	2
17623H	O’Growney NS	Athboy	Meath	Prefab	4
17705J	Whitecross Primary School	Julianstown	Meath	Prefab	7
17821L	St Marys, Enfield	Enfield	Meath	Prefab	13
17839H	Duleek BNS	Duleek	Meath	Prefab	2
17840P	Scoil Bhainin Naofa/Duleek GNS	Duleek	Meath	Prefab	2
18106P	Lismullen NS	Navan	Meath	Prefab	3
18132Q	Scoil Mhuire	Kells	Meath	Prefab	1
18448U	Rathbeggan NS	Dunshaughlin	Meath	Prefab	1
18762D	Realt na Mara BNS	Donacarney	Meath	Prefab	3
18767N	Realt na Mara GNS	Mornington	Meath	Prefab	10
19560T	Saint Marys Special School	Navan	Meath	Prefab	2
19768U	St Marys NS	Asbourne	Meath	Prefab	1
20032B	Dunboyne Junior School	Dunboyne	Meath	Prefab	5
20051F	Gaelscoil na Boinne	Trim	Meath	Building
20082Q	Gaelscoil Thulach na nOg	Dun Buinne	Meath	Building and Prefab	1
20164S	Navan Educate Together NS	Navan	Meath	Building and Prefabs	4
20191V	St Peters National School, Church Of Ireland	Dunboyne	Meath	Prefab	7
20200T	Ratoath Senior NS	Ratoath	Meath	Prefab	2
20352T	Ard Ri Community NS	Navan	Meath	Building
20379Q	Stepping Stones Special School	Kilcloon	Meath	Building
20382F	Gaelscoil na Mí	Ashbourne	Meath	Building
91508C	Boyne Community School	Trim	Meath	Prefab	1
15142E	Donaghmoyne NS	Carrickmacross	Monaghan	Prefab	1
16769H	Latnamard NS	Smithboro	Monaghan	Prefab	1
16923O	SN iorball Sionnaigh	An Bhoth	Monaghan	Prefab	1
16954C	St Michaels NS	Castlehare	Monaghan	Prefab	1
17099Q	St. Josephs NS	Carrickmacross	Monaghan	Prefab	3
17686I	Scoil Mhuire BNS	Castleblaney	Monaghan	Prefab	2
19936P	Gaelscoil Ultain	An Cnoc	Monaghan	Prefab	2
20055N	GS Eois	Lios Darach	Monaghan	Building
20327U	Gaelscoil Lorgan	15 Cloverhill	Monaghan	Building
72170H	Ballybay Community School	Ballybay	Monaghan	Prefab	4
07949I	Oxmantown NS	Birr	Offaly	Prefab	1
17637S	St Joseph’s NS	Tullamore	Offaly	Prefab	1
17827A	St Patrick’s NS	Portarlington	Offaly	Prefab	4
18057F	Scoil Mhuire NS	Tullamore	Offaly	Prefab	1
18364O	Scoil Muire Banrion	Edenderry	Offaly	Prefab	1
18406E	St Francis BNS	Clara	Offaly	Prefab	1
18797W	SN Naomh Iosef	Tullamore	Offaly	Prefab	2
20099K	Offaly School of Special Education	Tullamore	Offaly	Building
20267F	Scoil Bhride PS	Edenderry	Offaly	Land and Prefabs	6
20332N	Gaelscoil Eadan Doire	Edenderry	Offaly	Buildings
65582Q	St. Mary’s Secondary School	Edenderry	Offaly	Prefab	4
65620V	Sacred Heart School	Tullamore	Offaly	Prefab	2
14356S	Lisaniskey NS	Donamon	Roscommon	Prefab	1
16816N	Attyrory NS	Ballinaloe	Roscommon	Prefab	1
17266J	St. Mary’s NS	Ballinagore	Roscommon	Prefab	1
18395C	Cloonakilla NS	Athlone	Roscommon	Prefab	1
19789F	St. Michaels School	Castlerea	Roscommon	Building	1
20126K	GS De hIde	Galway Rd	Roscommon	Building	1
65100S	Scoil Mhuire	Strokestown	Roscommon	Prefab	2
04487E	Achonry NS	Tubbercurry	Sligo	Prefab	1
14636B	Scoil Naomh Eanna	Carraroe	Sligo	Prefab	1
18053U	Sooey NS	via Boyle	Sligo	Prefab	1
18298E	Culfadda NS	Ballymote	Sligo	Prefab	1
18334F	Knockminna	Ballymote	Sligo	Prefab	1
18575E	Scoil Naomh Molaise	Grange	Sligo	Prefab	4
18979F	Scoil Ursula	Strandhill Rd	Sligo	Prefab	2
20044I	Gaelscoil Chnoc Na Re	Baile Ui Dhugain	Sligo	Building, Land and Prefabs	7
00590A	Borrisoleigh BNS	Thurles	Tipperary	Prefab	1
01594N	Scoil Eoin Naofa	Roscrea	Tipperary	Prefab	2
09190G	Boher NS	Ballina	Tipperary	Prefab	1
10120P	Our Lady of Mercy NS	Cahir	Tipperary	Prefab	2
11872V	Presentation Primary School	Carrick-on-Suir	Tipperary	Prefab	3
12540B	Clonmore NS	Templemore	Tipperary	Prefab	1
16077B	Ardfinnan NS	Clonmel	Tipperary	Prefab	1
16211C	Scoil Mochaomhog Naofa	Thurles	Tipperary	Prefab	1
16276H	Carrig NS	Nenagh	Tipperary	Prefab	2
17779P	Powerstown NS	Clonmel	Tipperary	Prefab	4
18062V	Grange NS	Clonmel	Tipperary	Prefab	2
18345K	Scoil Iosef Naofa	Roscrea	Tipperary	Prefab	4
18716T	Cahir BNS	Cahir	Tipperary	Prefab	3
19230V	Scoil Chormaic	Cashel	Tipperary	Building and Prefabs	5
19615S	Scoil Aonghusa	Cashel	Tipperary	Building
20085W	GS Charraig Na Siuire	Carrick-on-Suir	Tipperary	Building and Prefabs	7
72400V	Comeragh College	Clonmel	Tipperary	Building
14686	Jonah Project ABA school	via Waterford	Waterford	Building
01395H	Aglish National School	Cappoquin	Waterford	Prefab	1
17159I	Garranbane NS	Dungarvan	Waterford	Prefab	1
17525H	Light of Christ School	Dunmore East	Waterford	Prefab	1
17535K	S.N. Fionnabhair (Fenor NS)	Fenor	Waterford	Prefab	4
18094L	Scoil Mhuire	Dungarvan	Waterford	Prefab	2
18235D	St Marys BNS	Ferrybank	Waterford	Prefab	3
19108B	St Martins Special School	Ballytrunkle Road	Waterford	Prefab	2
19885B	Gaelscoil Philib Barun	Tra Mhor	Waterford	Prefab	4
20050D	Gaelscoil na nDeise	Bothar Grasta De	Waterford	Land
20143K	Waterpark National School	Park Road	Waterford	Prefab	1
20160K	Waterford Educate Together NS	Tycor	Waterford	Building
20170N	Bunscoil Chill Mhic Thomaisin	Kilmacthomas	Waterford	Prefab	4
64922J	Stella Maris Sec School	Tramore	Waterford	Prefab	4
64923L	CBS Secondary School	Tramore	Waterford	Prefab	6
64970U	Presentation Secondary School	Cannon Street	Waterford	Prefab	4
68078U	Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge	Bothar Kilbarry	Waterford	Building and Land
91509E	Blackwater Community School	Lismore	Waterford	Prefab	1
05916G	St Annes Ns Tyrrellspass	Tyrrellspass	Westmeath	Prefab	1
14603J	Convent Primary School	Rochfortbridge	Westmeath	Prefab	2
17025K	The Downs NS	Mullingar	Westmeath	Prefab	1
17102C	Cluain Buinne	Athlone	Westmeath	Prefab	1
17327D	Curraghmore NS	Mullingar	Westmeath	Prefab	6
17903N	Cornamaddy NS	Athlone	Westmeath	Prefab	1
18262G	SN Lochan a’Bhealaigh	Mullingar	Westmeath	Prefab	1
18405C	St Paul’s NS	Athlone	Westmeath	Prefab	1
18505G	St Clares NS	Athlone	Westmeath	Prefab	2
18640M	St Josephs NS	Killucan	Westmeath	Prefab	4
18864L	Coosan NS	Athlone	Westmeath	Prefab	3
19848S	St Etchens NS	Kinnegad NS	Westmeath	Prefab	3
20063M	Scoil an Chlochair	Kilbeggan	Westmeath	Prefab	2
20073P	St Marys NS	Athlone	Westmeath	Prefab	1
20238V	GS an Choillin	Mullingar	Westmeath	Building, Land and Prefabs	5
20373E	ABA School (Saplings)	Mullingar	Westmeath	Building
03633H	Our Lady of Lourdes NS	Bunclody	Wexford	Prefab	3
05070W	Scoil Chroi Ro Naofa	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	4
08221J	St Senans Primary	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	14
11986N	Mercy National School	Kennedy Park	Wexford	Prefab	3
16409A	St Marys NS	Gorey	Wexford	Prefab	1
16605A	Kilrane NS	Rosslare Harbour	Wexford	Prefab	2
16828U	Oylegate NS	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	2
17450C	Poulfour NS	New Ross	Wexford	Prefab	1
17610V	Scoil Baile Fada	Gorey	Wexford	Prefab	1
17768K	Castletown NS	Gorey	Wexford	Prefab	2
17800D	Bree NS	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	2
17841R	Scoil Mhuire	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	1
17913Q	Our Lady of Fatima NS	Barntown	Wexford	Prefab	3
18280I	St Josephs Boys Primary	Gorey	Wexford	Prefab	2
18336J	Boolavogue NS	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	1
18558E	Piercestown NS	Drinagh	Wexford	Prefab	2
19240B	St. Patrick’s Special School	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Buildings	6
20003R	St Aidans Primary	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Prefab	10
20057R	GS Inis Córthaidh	Inis Corthaidh	Wexford	Prefab	8
20333P	Wexford ETNS	Wexford	Wexford	Building
63640R	CBS Wexford	Wexford	Wexford	Prefab	1
68080H	Meanscoil Gharman	Enniscorthy	Wexford	Building
01782O	SN Padraig	Arklow	Wicklow	Prefab	1
11372B	Scoil Mhuire Realt Na Mara	Brittas Bay	Wicklow	Prefab	1
12529N	St Saviour’s NS	Rathdrum	Wicklow	Prefab	1
13932A	St Michaels GNS	Arklow	Wicklow	Prefab	1
14398L	Glebe NS	Wicklow Town	Wicklow	Prefab	3
16573N	St Brigid’s NS	Greystones	Wicklow	Prefab	4
16634H	St Laurence O’Toole’s NS	Roundwood	Wicklow	Prefab	1
16874E	St Joseph’s GNS	Rathnew	Wicklow	Prefab	1
17181B	St Joseph’s NS	Arklow	Wicklow	Prefab	10
17826V	Na Coroine Mhuire Mixed	Ashford	Wicklow	Prefab	2
18365Q	Kilmacanogue NS	Bray	Wicklow	Prefab	1
18502A	Talbotstown NS	Kiltegan	Wicklow	Prefab	2
18962L	St Ernan’s BNS	Rathnew	Wicklow	Prefab	1
19522L	St Catherine’s Spec School	Newcastle	Wicklow	Building and Prefabs	6
19573F	St Laurence’s NS	Greystones	Wicklow	Prefab	1
19734D	St Francis’s NS	Newcastle	Wicklow	Prefab	2
20045K	Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain	Rath Naoi	Wicklow	Prefab	10
20080M	GS An Inbhir Mhoir	An t-Inbhear Mor	Wicklow	Building and Land
20178G	Wicklow ETNS	The Murragh	Wicklow	Building
20242M	Blessington ETNS	Blessington	Wicklow	Building
20243O	GS Na Lochanna	Kilmalum	Wicklow	Land
70740M	Arklow Community College	Arklow	Wicklow	Prefab	2
70790E	Colaiste Bhride	Carnew	Wicklow	Prefab	5
76106S	Gaelcholaiste na Mara	Wicklow Town	Wicklow	Building and Land

Pension Provisions

Seán Crowe

Question:

136 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the teachers and their salary grades who availed of pension payments under the national school teachers’ superannuation scheme. [22544/12]

Seán Crowe

Question:

138 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a percentage breakdown of the teacher grades that availed of pension payments under the secondary teachers’ superannuation scheme. [22546/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 138 together.

The number of retired teachers in receipt of pension benefit under the Primary School Teachers Pension Scheme is in excess of 13,000. The number of retired teachers in receipt of pension benefit under the Secondary, Community and Comprehensive School Teachers Pension Scheme is in excess of 9,500.

The Pension Unit of my Department is currently compiling detailed statistical data on the number of teachers who retired in the period up to February 2012. When compiled, this data will be published on my Department's website.

School Staffing

Seán Crowe

Question:

137 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching posts that have been cut as a result of the 2% reduction in spending for second level teaching salaries and the percentage of this budget that is paid to teachers teaching within the private school sector. [22545/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

This Government has protected education as much as it can. Far greater reductions in expenditure and in the number of public servants are being made in other sectors relative to those in schools. But there are limits to the level of expenditure on education and the number of teaching posts we can afford.

The Budget 2012 measures in relation to the post-primary sector are set out in the documentation that was published by my Department last December. This envisages a net overall reduction of about 450 posts at post-primary level between the current school year and the 2012/13 school year. This net reduction in posts takes account of the impact of the budget measures, demographics and the budget decision to shelter all the DEIS post-primary schools through a reduced staffing schedule of 18.25:1.

The final overall staffing position for all schools at post primary level will ultimately not be known until the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and any appeals to the Staffing Appeal Board will have been considered.

Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 136.

Question No. 139 answered with Question No. 135.

Third Level Progression

Seán Crowe

Question:

140 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide figures for the numbers of students who dropped out of third level education as a result of a cut or decrease resulting in the higher education grants scheme, the VEC’s scholarship scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grants scheme for PLC students. [22548/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The HEA is responsible for the collection of data on student progression. The most recent report by the HEA entitled ‘A study of Progression in Higher Education', published in October 2010, is available on the HEA website.

The proportion of new entrants in 2007/08 who were not present one year later was 15% on average across all sectors and NFQ Levels.

However, the Deputy will appreciate that a number of factors influence progression in higher education, and the study shows that prior educational attainment is a significant factor. My Department does not collect data in relation to the impact of reductions in the student grant on retention rates in further and higher education.

In the context of the current economic circumstances, difficult choices have been made by the Government to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability. Despite the difficult circumstances in our public finances, my priority as Minister for Education and Skills is to preserve access, to the greatest extent possible, for the most disadvantaged students to further and higher education.

It is worth emphasising that 41% of all undergraduate students currently receive a grant and pay no student contributions. In addition, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.

Non-Presence Rates for New Entrants by Sector and NFQ Level (2008/09)
Sector	Level	Most Common Points Attained	% Not Present
Institutes of Technology	Level 6	250-300	25%
Level 7	250-300	26%
Level 8	300-350	16%
L8 3 yr duration	300-350	16%
L8 4 yr duration	300-350	16%
L8 4+ yr duration	450-500	10%
All New Entrants	300-350	22%
Universities	Level 8	400-450	9%
L8 3 yr duration	350-400	10%
L8 4 yr duration	450-500	9%
L8 4+ yr duration	550-600	3%
Other Colleges	Level 8	450-500	4%
L8 3 yr duration	450-500	2%
L8 4 yr duration	400-450	7%
All Institutions	Level 8	350-400	11%
All Institutions	All New Entrants	350-400	15%

Question No. 141 withdrawn.

State Agencies

Seán Crowe

Question:

142 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the FÁS personnel who are paid an annual wage of €80,000 or more. [22551/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

There are 49 FÁS staff currently in receipt of salaries in excess of €80,000 per annum as follows:

Table
Grade 1	1 (equivalent to Secretary General)
Grade 3	3 (equivalent to Assistant Secretary)
Grade 4	13 (equivalent to PO)
Grade 6	32 (equivalent to AP)
Total	49

FÁS Training Programmes

Seán Crowe

Question:

143 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who benefitted from FÁS training and supports from 2010 onwards. [22552/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

FÁS funds its training from a mixture of funding provided by the Exchequer and the National Training Fund. The table attached sets out the amounts allocated for FÁS training for the three years 2010 to 2012.

In 2010, 89,500 training places were provided on FÁS training programmes; this includes the Technical Employment Support Grant.

In 2011, according to the provisional outturn, 95,989 training places were provided on FÁS training programmes. This includes the Technical Employment Support Grant.

In 2012 up to 81,500 FÁS training places are being provided which included 6,500 under the new Labour Market Education and Training Programme. This excludes the Technical Employment Support Grant which is now under the remit of the Department of Social Protection.

Funding	2012 Estimate	2011 Outturn	2010 Outturn
	€’000	€’000	€’000
Exchequer	23,057	40,267	16,324
NTF	295,860	271,955	343,908
Total	318,917	312,222	360,232

Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 85.

Departmental Staff

John Deasy

Question:

145 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23005/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The number of teachers who retired from primary and secondary schools in the months of January and February 2012 is 1166. The compulsory retirement age where applicable is generally attained at the end of the school year in which the teacher reaches age 65 years. Accordingly, no compulsory retirements are included in this figure. Information is not available on a regional basis. The Pension Unit of my Department is currently compiling detailed statistical data on teacher retirements for the months of January and February 2012. This information will be published on my Department's website.

Historical Sites

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

146 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is intended to provide all year tours and guides at Pearse’s cottage Rosmuc, County Galway, in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22453/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brian Hayes)

Pearse's Cottage, Rosmuc is open to visitors between Easter and end of August each year and on weekends only until end September. Preparations for commemoration of 2016 are ongoing and consideration will be given to Pearse's Cottage in that context. However it is improbable that visitor numbers, particularly in winter months, would warrant extending the extent of guide service currently provided.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

147 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is intended to provide sign boards at Pearse’s cottage in order that visitors who call during the closed season can get information on the significance of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22454/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brian Hayes)

Information panels will be developed for Pearse's Cottage to address the issue of interpretation during the closed season.

Retirement Age

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

148 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on requests from public servants to allow them to postpone retirement beyond the current 65 years cut off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22324/12]

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin)

Staff who joined the Civil Service prior to 1 April 2004 are required under current legislation to retire at the maximum retirement age which is 65 years of age. Staff who joined the Civil Service after 1 April 2004 and are classed as new entrants, as defined in section 2 of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, are not required to retire at 65 as the maximum retirement age was removed under this Act. There are changes proposed, which will change the retirement age for all civil and public servants in the new Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011. However, these changes will only apply to new entrants from a specific future date. In addition we are required under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with the EU/ECB/IMF to reduce numbers in the Public Service. Allowing staff to stay beyond age 65 would significantly impact on our ability to reduce the overall numbers in the Public Service as retirement has been the primary driver in reducing numbers.

Flood Relief

Catherine Murphy

Question:

149 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has the necessary funding available to address the severe flooding events that persist in the area of Alasty, Killeenmore and Turnings, near Straffan in County Kildare, where many homes, businesses, roads and the Dublin-Cork rail-line are impacted downstream of Johnstown and the M7 motorway; if there are initiatives that can be undertaken in the short-term to provide relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22400/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brian Hayes)

Kildare County Council prepared a Pre-Feasibility Report in relation to the provision of a flood relief scheme for the Lower Morrell River, which includes the Alasty, Killeenmore and Turnings area, near Straffan, earlier this year. Following discussions with Office of Public Works officials, it was agreed that the council should apply to the OPW for funding to undertake a full feasibility and cost benefit analysis for the scheme. The council submitted a formal application to the OPW last month and a decision will made shortly in this regard. The viability or cost of possible mitigation measures is not known at this stage.

Kildare County Council, in consultation with the OPW, has investigated the possibility of carrying out interim flood relief works to alleviate flooding in the area but the council has not been able to identify an engineering solution which was economically viable and environmentally sustainable. The OPW understands however that the council will undertake a programme of light maintenance works on the channel later this year, which should help the situation.

Public Sector Staff

John Deasy

Question:

150 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [22428/12]

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin)

My Department does not have any offices in Waterford city or county. Questions in relation to such offices should be put to the relevant Department.

An Coimisinéir Teanga

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

151 D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe cén uair a bheidh athbhreithniú déanta aige ar na moltai atá curtha ar aghaidh ag an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí chuige agus a ndearnadh tagairt dóibh i bhfreagra ar cheist pharlaiminte Uimhir 117 an 26ú Aibreán 2012; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [22429/12]

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin)

Tá mo Roinn ag déanamh breithnithe ar mholtaí an Choimisinéara Teanga maidir leis an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí agus déanfaidh mo Roinn cinneadh i leith an chur chuige cuí sna míonna atá amach romhainn.

My Department is considering the recommendations made by the Language Commissioner to the Department of Social Protection and will be deciding on the most appropriate approach in the coming months.

Credit Guarantee Scheme

Patrick Nulty

Question:

152 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on his plans to implement the credit guarantee scheme to support small and medium enterprises; when the scheme will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22355/12]

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton)

I published the Credit Guarantee Bill on Tuesday 3rd April, and I will be progressing this legislation through the various stages in the Oireachtas over the coming weeks. In terms of timelines, the Government hopes to enact the legislation by the end of May. Following the enactment of the legislation, it is envisaged that the Scheme will be going live shortly thereafter. A contractor was selected in February to operate the scheme, a Maynooth based company called Capita Asset Services Ltd, following a public tendering process.

The Scheme is intended to address two distinct barriers to lending; inadequacy of collateral (Pillar 1) and inadequacy of understanding of the novelty of a business model, market, sector or technology (Pillar 2). It will be exclusively targeted to address these particular market failures. Commercially viable, well performing micro, small and medium enterprises that have a solid business plan and a defined market for their products or services, thereby demonstrating their ability to repay the loan are the target of the scheme.

This Scheme will support new lending, encourage investment and company growth, save jobs and facilitate the creation of new jobs, and will boost trade. Term loans, other instruments with term loan-like structures, performance bonds and invoice finance will be covered by the Scheme. The minimum permissible loan value will be €10,000 and the maximum will be €1,000,000. Use of the Scheme is focussed on facilitating additional new lending, with refinancing of existing debt explicitly excluded.

The Scheme will facilitate up to €150 million of additional lending per annum. The benefits forecast to arise from this intervention in each year of operation, on the basis of each tranche of €150m of additional lending to SMEs, include:

Over 1,300 jobs created.

Over €25m of exchequer benefits in tax revenues and welfare cost savings.

Participation in the Scheme is open to all lending institutions who are able to satisfy a series of accreditation criteria focused on regulatory status and compliance, relevant SME lending activities, capacity to undertake additional lending and a commitment to behavioural change leading to greater innovation in SME lending. The accreditation process will be managed by the Operator.

Copyright Law

Brendan Griffin

Question:

153 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter regarding copyright (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22398/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Sean Sherlock)

I wish to acknowledge the concerns that have been expressed by your constituent regarding the introduction of the European Union (Copyright and Related Rights) Regulations 2012 which were signed into law on 29 February, 2012. However, I would like to explain that this legislative measure concerning injunctions against intermediaries has been introduced to clarify the situation that arose following a High Court Judgment in the case of EMI and others -v- UPC. This judgment held that by reason of provisions of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, an injunction is not available in cases of transient communications, and that Ireland did not comply with EU law. As you will appreciate, non-compliance with EU law is a very serious matter.

I am satisfied that the High Court now has significant guidance in the implementation of the legislative measure which has been introduced arising from the underpinning EU Directives, as interpreted by the recent Court of Justice of the European Union case law, to ensure that any remedy provided will uphold the following principles:

Freedom to conduct a business enjoyed by operators such as ISPs;

The absolute requirement that an ISP cannot be required to carry out general monitoring on the information it carries on its network;

Any measures must be fair and proportionate and not be unnecessarily complicated or costly;

The fundamental rights of an ISPs' customers must be respected, namely their right to protection of their personal data and their freedom to receive or impart information.

I would like to point out that I am determined to ensure that Ireland will be a premier location where innovation can flourish and where innovation is facilitated by our copyright laws. In this regard, I am committed to reviewing and updating the Copyright legislation currently in place in order to strike the right balance between encouraging innovation and protecting creativity.

In this context, please note that the Copyright Review Committee published a wide-ranging Consultation Paper on 29 February, 2012 which examines the current Copyright legislative framework to identify any areas of the legislation that might be deemed to create barriers to innovation. The Consultation Paper is a discussion document which sets out issues and concerns which were expressed to the Committee in submissions from a broad spectrum of interested parties on foot of an initial consultation process held during the summer of 2011 (in the region of 100 submissions were received during the initial consultation process).

The fundamental aim of this Paper is to begin the process of sketching reforms to Irish copyright law to further innovation without denying protection to those who need copyright law to innovate. I would specifically refer to Chapter 6 of the Review Committee's Consultation Paper which is concerned with intermediaries and it is stated that "One of the main questions for the present Review is whether the copyright balance between rights-holders and intermediaries now requires further amendment, in particular to incentivise innovation." If any interested party has any concerns in this regard, I would suggest that they engage with this review process.

Industrial Development

John Deasy

Question:

154 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency site visits in Waterford city and county by the IDA since the 500 job losses at Talk Talk in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22435/12]

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton)

I am informed by IDA Ireland that in the seven month period since the announcement of the closure of Talk Talk in September 2011 there have been 12 IDA sponsored site visits by potential investors to Waterford city and county. There were a total of 11 such visits to Waterford in each of 2010 and 2011. Following on from the Talk Talk closure announcement, I directed that a report be prepared to investigate the particular issues affecting Waterford City and its hinterland and to outline a list of actions to be taken over the short and medium/long term to seek to address those issues. I launched the South East Employment Action Plan, which contains specific actions to address the specific unemployment problems affecting the South East, on 2nd December last and it is my intention to meet regularly with a forum representing the agencies and stakeholders to progress the implementation of the Plan.

The reality is that the structural challenges that the South East region faces have built up over many years and will not be reversed with a simple set of actions. What is required is to build a stronger enterprise base in the region as a whole. The Action Plan identifies many actions that can help deliver on that ambition of having a stronger local enterprise base, but this will achieve only so much. There are challenges for all agencies in the region to help build up the region's competitive advantage and then to promote it in a coordinated manner. In fact, one of the key issues that no single agency or Government Department can hope to address is the issue of the overall coherence of the region's "value proposition" to investors from home or abroad. What has arisen again and again in consultation with all the relevant stakeholders and agencies in the region is the need for greater co-ordination of effort from all those with an interest in improving the enterprise potential of the region.

In the case of IDA site visits, a company is generally shown three or four locations within a Gateway Economic Region that can meet its requirements. The South East Employment Action Plan includes a commitment by the agencies to assign a clear priority to the South East region. In selecting locations to market to client companies, IDA Ireland will endeavour to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. Whilst IDA Ireland seeks to influence the selection of a location, the final decision on where to visit and where to locate is taken in all cases by the investor. Meanwhile, we must not lose sight of the fact that at present there are 31 IDA Ireland client companies employing 5,196 people in Waterford city and county.

Public Sector Staff

John Deasy

Question:

155 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23010/12]

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Richard Bruton)

In the period 1st January 2012 to date, 43 people retired from my Department, none of whom resided in Waterford City or County Waterford at the time of retirement. Of the 43, 19 were at minimum retirement age, 3 were compulsory retirements and 21 were early retirements. I have asked the agencies under the remit of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy in the matter.

Social Welfare Appeals

Jack Wall

Question:

156 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to refuse an application for carer’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22290/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10th January 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 15th February 2012 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Redundancy Payments

Jack Wall

Question:

157 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for statutory redundancy in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22302/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

A redundancy lump sum claim in respect of the person concerned was received on 5 March 2012. It is expected that the claim will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Question No. 158 withdrawn.

Paschal Donohoe

Question:

159 Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a redundancy claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22307/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

A redundancy lump sum claim in respect of the person concerned was received on 31 August 2011. Redundancy lump sum claims received in July 2011 are currently being processed.

I confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the person in question. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

166 Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will expedite the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22354/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

I confirm that the department is in receipt of an application for carer's allowance from the person in question. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of her case a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Willie Penrose

Question:

167 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22357/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

There is no record of an application for domiciliary care allowance having been received from the person concerned.

Social Welfare Appeals

Pat Breen

Question:

168 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22381/12]

Domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was originally introduced in the early 1970's in recognition of the extra care and attention provided by parents of children with a severe disability, who are cared for in their own home. The qualifying conditions for the scheme require that the child is under 16 years of age and has a disability so severe that it requires care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full-time, so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

Eligibility for the DCA is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind necessitating the degree of extra care and attention required. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted and no specific condition or disability rules a child in or out of qualifying for the allowance. It is important to point out that applications for children with autism are processed in exactly the same manner as applications for children with other types of disability.

Prior to the transfer of the DCA scheme from the HSE in 2009, an expert medical group examined the scheme and made recommendations on how it should operate within the Department. These recommendations included the need for a review process and the minimum term that should apply to such reviews. A review policy is an integral part of all social welfare schemes and is necessary to ensure that payments continue to be made only to those customers who meet the qualifying conditions.

DCA cases are routinely reviewed to ensure that all the conditions for receipt of the payment continue to be met. Cases are reviewed based on either (i) a scheduled review on the recommendation of the medical assessor when the claim is initially processed or (ii) on information received about a change of circumstances which potentially affects the continued entitlement of a case already in payment.

Scheduled reviews, on the recommendation of the medical assessor, are based on the prognosis of the child's disability and how their care needs may change over time. Customers who are reviewed are asked to provide relevant up-to-date medical evidence and details of the additional care needs of their child versus a child of the same age who doesn't have their disability. This information is assessed by a medical advisor and a decision is made based on the medical opinion they provide. Where payment is stopped as a result of a review, the customer is invited to submit any further information they may wish to have considered and that information is further examined and/or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

Community Employment Schemes

Jack Wall

Question:

173 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Laois has an entitlement to a further discretionary year on the community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22410/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The person will complete 4 years on Community Employment in August 2012, and therefore after this date is no longer eligible to participate under the rules governing the programme. The person concerned should contact his local Employment Services Office to discuss other options that may be available to him.

Pension Provisions

Jack Wall

Question:

174 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a submission (details supplied) regarding State pensions; her plans to address the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22417/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

I understand that the person in question has been in touch with my Department on a number of occasions and that a reply has issued to her on the queries raised by her which are similar to those raised here in this question. I also answered a parliamentary question on April 18th 2012 in relation to issues raised. I would again like to take this opportunity to outline why changes have to be made to pension provision. Social structures in Ireland are changing rapidly and the structures of our social support need to change to accommodate this.

The decision to make changes to State pension provision was taken in a budgetary context together with the changing demographics in Ireland and the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives. The number of people over age 65 is projected to treble by mid-century, by which time it is also expected that there will be less than 2 people of working age to every person aged 65 or over (compared to 6 today) with the associated increased in expenditure on State Pensions. It is for these reasons that State pension provision has to change and the change to the rate bands is one of the measures planned which aims to increase the sustainability of the Irish pension system. Ireland is facing the same challenges other countries are facing and has taking similar steps.

Considerable consultation has taken place in relation to the State pension including a Green Paper on Pensions which was published in 2007 followed by a national consultation. Furthermore I have commissioned the OECD to review the long term pension policy in Ireland. A core principle of sustainable social protection systems in advanced economies is that citizens receive benefits in proportion to their contributions.

Recognising that the State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives thereby ensuring equity in the social welfare system. This has always been part of our pensions system and changes to State pension contributory provision which were announced in Budget 2012 put an increased emphasis on this. Recipients of the State pension contributory who have contributed more will receive a more generous pension. For example, currently a person with an average of between 20 and 47 PRSI contributions per year over their working life receives a weekly State pension contributory of only €4.50 less than a person with a yearly average of 48 or more PRSI contributions. This is neither fair nor equitable.

To address this, a change to the rate bands was one of the reform measures announced in Budget 2012. The rate of State pension contributory paid to new applicants will be proportionate to the rate band appropriate to the average number of contributions paid. Those who have fewer contributions will receive a lower rate of pension. Furthermore, the principle that the amount of pension paid should reflect the PRSI contributions paid over a working life needs to be adhered to if we are to be able to fund pensions into the future. By aligning the rate of pension paid with the number of contributions paid ensures that those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with lesser contributions. This is fair and equitable and puts us on a more financially sustainable track.

With effect from September 2012, the rate band of between 20 and 47 (24 and 47 for State pension transition) yearly average contributions will be replaced with new rate bands of between:

40 and 47 yearly average contributions,

30 and 39 yearly average contribution, and

20 and 29 yearly average contributions.

Therefore, the rate of State pension transition or State pension contributory paid to new applicants will be more appropriate to the average number of contributions paid over a working life. Those who have fewer contributions will receive a lower rate of pension. The maximum rate is unchanged as is the rate for those with yearly average contributions of between 40 and 47. While existing pension recipients are unaffected, the changes proposed will apply to new claimants from September 2012.

The total contributions approach, due to be implemented in 2020 and referred to in the question, will mean that the rate of pension payment made will be directly related to contributions made over a working life. The changes to rate bands due to commence in September 2012 goes somewhat towards this process. However, the averaging system, which is currently used will remain in place until the total contributions approach is implemented in full in 2020.

The homemaker scheme referred to, makes qualification for the State pension contributory easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme was introduced in and took effect from 1994. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes. This scheme can be more beneficial to women as they are more likely to have periods of caring for children or incapacitated persons.

The homemaker disregard (or credit) will not, of itself, qualify a person for a pension. The standard qualifying conditions, which require a person to enter insurance ten years before pension age, pay a minimum of 520 contributions at the correct rate and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions on their record from the time they enter insurance until they reach pension age, must also be satisfied. I have no plans to back date this scheme. In relation to raising awareness of the changes to State pension, an information campaign has been undertaken by my Department where the changes to State pension have been extensively outlined to all of the representative organisations and members of the public.

Social Welfare Appeals

Willie Penrose

Question:

175 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to the disallowance of his illness benefit claim and if same can now be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22419/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 August 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 27 January 2012 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Social Welfare Benefits

Jack Wall

Question:

176 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22433/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The person concerned has made an application for rent supplement and was requested to provide further information on 20 April 2012. The referral for further information was sent to the person's new address. We have now been advised that the person concerned has not moved to the new address despite lease stating tenancy commenced 4 April 2012. A second request for further information will now be sent to person's current accommodation and a decision will be made on her application when the information is provided.

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

177 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding mortgage interest relief in respect of a person (details supplied). [22434/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The person concerned is a casual worker and is also in receipt of a jobseeker's payment. She applied for a mortgage interest relief supplement in September 2011 and was disallowed as her means exceeded the limit. If her circumstances have changed, she may seek a review of the decision. Alternatively, she may, of course, appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. If she experiencing financial hardship, she can discuss the situation with an officer in the local community welfare service who may be in a position to indicate whether there are any other supports that may be available to her.

Redundancy Payments

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

178 Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for statutory redundancy in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22465/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

A redundancy lump sum claim in respect of the person concerned was received on 15 August 2011. Redundancy lump sum claims received in July 2011 are currently being processed.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 12th April 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a make a summary decision based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

185 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for family income supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22488/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 31st August 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 20th January 2012 and the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Social Welfare Benefits

Sandra McLellan

Question:

186 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 580 of 18 April 2012 where she states “if a person’s means are insufficient to meet their needs while awaiting a decision on an application, they may apply for a means tested supplementary welfare allowance payment from their local community welfare officer”; the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was told that this is not the case and that the Minister says things like that in the Dáil all the time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22553/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The person concerned was refused carer's allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full-time care and attention as laid down in carer's allowance legislation. On 4 April 2012, she was notified of this decision and the reason for it. Additional medical evidence was subsequently received and forwarded to the medical assessor for further consideration. She will be notified of the outcome of the review in due course.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) is designed to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes or who are awaiting a decision on a social welfare application. The partner of the person in question has recently been awarded a supplementary welfare allowance while awaiting decisions on their carer's and FIS claims respectively.

Departmental Staff

John Deasy

Question:

187 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23012/12]

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

One civil servant from Waterford city and county retired from my Department since the beginning of the year. There were no retirements during this period from any of the agencies under the aegis of my Department, namely The Pensions Board, The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman and The Citizens Information Board.

Departmental Expenditure

Robert Troy

Question:

188 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount paid to private contractors to fly over bogs as part of its inspection regime to ensure compliance with the ban on turf cutting in protected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22371/12]

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

No payments have been made to date by my Department in respect of these operations but invoices amounting to some €10,300 in respect of 8 flights, undertaken this year, are being processed for payment at present.

National Monuments

Brendan Griffin

Question:

189 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 27 March 2012, his views on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22402/12]

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

The ecclesiastical site at Kilgobnait, including church ruins, is part of the statutory Record of Monuments and Places compiled for Co Kerry under the National Monuments Acts. My Department's National Monuments Service will be pleased to provide guidance or assistance in relation to the care and conservation of the monument on request.

Turbary Rights

Willie Penrose

Question:

190 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on a bog (details supplied) which was designated as a special area of conservation; his views on the level of consultation that took place, with the various turbary/bank owners; if there has been any contact made with the persons affected, following his and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government’s trip to Brussels, to make contact with the relevant director general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22422/12]

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

Officials from my Department have been in direct contact with turf-cutters' representative groups such as the Turf-Cutters and Contractors Association and the Irish Farmers Association for a number of years. My Department has also written to individual turbary-right and land owners in the SAC referred to. Over fifty applications have been received from turf-cutters on the SAC seeking compensation or relocation. Direct discussions were held with turf-cutters from this SAC in February of this year and my officials have been in contact with this group in the past few days, with a view to organising further discussions. The Group is to revert to my Department with a suitable date for such a meeting.

Willie Penrose

Question:

191 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the level of cooperation there has been, between bog owners/bank owners/turbary right owners in relation to their rights under the compensation’s scheme; and if contact has been made with each individual involved pointing out to them the various options, in relation to these bogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22423/12]

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

The Government put in place a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme now comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Last year my Department wrote to known owners of land and rights in the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation to inform them of the cessation of turf cutting on these sites and to invite applications for compensation. Advertisements were also placed in local and national newspapers. Over 1,700 applications for compensation have been received to date under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme and more than 380 payments have been made. Over 1,300 applicants have received acknowledgement letters from my Department. In addition, officials from the Department have contacted almost 300 applicants in the last few weeks to up-date them on the status of their applications and to discuss the compensation options available to them.

Payments have been made on the basis that applicants have indicated that they fulfil all the qualifying criteria of the scheme in the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme application form. My Department has been checking and will be continuing to check that all of the qualifying criteria of the scheme have been met. In this regard, my officials have been working closely with turf cutters, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as successor of the Land Commission, Bord na Móna and the Property Registration Authority to assist people to provide the necessary proof of legal interest.

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

192 D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn a dhéanfar i 2012 le pleanáil an mhéadaithe agus oibreacha eile in Inis Oírr agus an bhfuil sé i gceist tosú ar an tógáil ar an gcéibh an bhliain seo chugainn; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [22431/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

Tuigtear do mo Roinn go bhfuil cead pleanála agus ceadúnas forchladaigh faighte ag Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe don fhorbairt atá i gceist. Tuigtear do mo Roinn fosta nach bhfuil sé beartaithe dul chun tairisceana sa ghearrthéarma toisc nach bhfuil na hacmhainní ar fáil chun dul i mbun na bhforbartha faoi láthair ar Ché Inis Oírr.

Seirbhísí Farantóireachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

193 D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an mbeadh sé sásta seirbhís bhreise i lár an lae Dé Domhnaigh a chur ar fáil sa chéad chonradh eile don bhád farantóireachta go hInis Meáin agus Inis Oírr; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [22432/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

Beidh an conradh farantóireachta chuig Inis Meáin agus Inis Oírr ag teacht chun críche ar an 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2012. Tá léiriú spéise á lorg trí chóras etenders ag mo Roinn faoi láthair i leith an chonartha nua a thosóidh ar an 1 Samhain 2012.

Cuimsíonn an léiriú spéise dhá rogha. Tá an chéad rogha ar aon dul leis an leibhéal seirbhíse atá ann faoi láthair, is é sin dhá sheoladh fillte in aghaidh an lae don bhliain iomlán. Is é atá i gceist leis an dara rogha ná seoladh fillte breise ar an Domhnach i rith an tsamhraidh. Déanfar cinneadh i leith an leibhéil seirbhíse nuair a bheidh measúnúá dhéanamh ar na tairiscintí.

Turbary Rights

Pat Breen

Question:

194 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 16 February 2012, the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22464/12]

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

The individual referred to in the Deputy's question has applied to sell her interest in land in a raised bog special area of conservation under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department. A letter of offer for the purchase of the land had issued from my Department. However, no contracts for sale have been signed. I am advised that processing of applications on hand under this scheme has been slower than anticipated, due to capacity constraints in undertaking the work involved.

The Government agreed to a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme now comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Where applicants under the voluntary bog purchase scheme have not received a letter of offer or have received a letter of offer but contracts have not been signed, my Department has recently written to them to outline their options under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme as an alternative to proceeding with their applications under the voluntary bog purchase scheme.

Public Service Staff

John Deasy

Question:

195 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23001/12]

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Jimmy Deenihan)

I wish to advise the Deputy that no civil or public servants employed by my Department or agencies under its aegis, located in Waterford City and County, have retired since the beginning of the current year.

Fishing Licences

Dara Calleary

Question:

196 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm if a compensation fund will be established to compensate eel fishermen who’s licences were decommissioned. [22558/12]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte)

The 2007 EU Eel regulation (1100/2007), drafted in response to the endangered status of the European Eel, required EU States, including Ireland, to develop Eel Management Plans. Based on the scientific facts available, a recommendation of this plan was that Ireland closes both the commercial and recreational Eel fisheries in 2008. The then Central and Regional Fisheries Boards engaged with the eel fishermen representatives to investigate possible diversification schemes; however, no specific funding was identified for diversification.

I understand that a number of former eel fishermen have been contracted by the ESB to undertake Trap and Transport operations to mitigate the impact of hydropower schemes as part of the eel management plan. There is no property right attaching to public eel licences and consequently the issue of compensation is not relevant or appropriate, given that the closure of the fishery is being applied for conservation reasons under the Fisheries Acts. Given that context, I am sure the Deputy will also appreciate that in the current economic climate the Government does not have funds available to provide for compensation payments.

Energy Efficiency

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

197 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) which is inspecting work carried out by the better energy homes scheme also undertook the same work when it was the warmer home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22330/12]

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

198 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland undertook their tender for companies to inspect work under the better energy homes scheme; the number of companies that applied; the conditions for the tender; the length of the contract; the amount the contract was worth; the terms of the inspections that have to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22331/12]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.

The Better Energy Homes scheme provides fixed grants to homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes through insulation and heating upgrades. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides insulation services free of charge to vulnerable fuel poor homes, through a combination of Community Based Organisations and private contractors.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers both of these schemes. One key component of scheme governance is to ensure that the works have been completed to an appropriate standard. Inspections are conducted in accordance with checklists issued by the SEAI which assess conformance to the technical specifications for the works as published by the SEAI. The inspections are undertaken by an outsourced third party appointed by the SEAI in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines. Until recently inspections under the separate schemes were subject to two separate contracts, both of which were awarded to Carillion, following Invitation to Tender Procedures conducted through www.e-tenders.gov.ie and the Official Journal of the European Union.

In order to verify compliance with the requisite standards, under the scheme, SEAI implements a technical inspection regime in accordance with the SEAI's detailed Quality Assurance and Disciplinary Procedure. A percentage of properties are inspected by suitably qualified personnel, in accordance with published checklists, to ascertain compliance with relevant aspects of the Technical Specification and Code of Practice. The overall technical inspection rate for the scheme has been around 11% of installations. The rate of inspections and the targeting of inspections is being enhanced by SEAI to ensure, among other requirements, that both large and small or new contractors are appropriately and proportionately covered under the technical inspection regime.

While technical inspections are largely, but not exclusively, focused on quality assurance, SEAI is currently implementing much greater use of prepayment verification inspections across all categories of installations and contractors as well as a programme of ongoing enhancement of scheme assurances and controls.

In August 2011, the SEAI commenced a procurement process with the aim of consolidating the contracts for inspections and related services across the Better Energy Programme. The procurement process was completed in full compliance with the Public Procurement Guidelines. The SEAI published the Request For Tender (RFT) on the e-tenders website and in the Official Journal of the European Union on 25th August, 2011 with a closing date for receipt of tenders of 4th October, 2011. The stated objective of the RFT was to appoint an organisation to provide the SEAI with a range of survey, inspection and related quality assurance services in accordance with the quality assurance objectives of the Better Energy Homes schemes.

A total of nine tenders were received by the deadline which were evaluated by an expert selection panel and scored in accordance with the published selection criteria and weightings. The selection panel met with a number of the tenderers in order to clarify aspects of their submissions.

The selection panel recommended the appointment of Kerrigan Sheanon Newman (KSN), a Dublin-based company, to the contract which was approved by the Board of the SEAI in December 2011. Approval is, in accordance with the published RFT, initially for a one year period and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, for a further period of two years. All bidders were notified of the outcome and the contract notification cooling off period commenced. Engagement of the winning bidder by the SEAI and transition from the incumbent service provider, commenced in mid-January. The contract value is estimated at €1.9m per annum, excluding VAT. The service is managed on the basis of a Services Contract (template published at time of RFT) and a Service Level Agreement with agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), monitored and managed by the SEAI.

Broadcasting Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

199 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had any discussions with RTE regarding the continuance of long wave services from Ireland from the mast in Summerhill in County Meath in view of the importance of this signal to persons in northern Ireland and Britain and in view of the fact that internet broadcasting is not suitable for radio listeners in cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22452/12]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte)

RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act, and as such I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ's day to day affairs, including decisions on how and on which platforms it wishes to transmit its radio service. Therefore, I have had no discussions with RTÉ on this matter.

Departmental Staff

John Deasy

Question:

200 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23003/12]

As part of the Unfinished Housing Developments Public Safety Initiative, launched by my Department last year, unfinished housing developments fall within four categories:

Category one, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where no serious public safety issues exist;

Category two, where a receiver has been appointed;

Category three, where a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and

Category four, where the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

In circumstances where a developer is still active it is the responsibility of the local authority planning department to pursue the developer for completion of the development in line with the terms of the original planning permission. Similarly, where a developer is inactive but still in place the enforcement of the planning conditions is a matter for the relevant planning authority.

All capital investment projects funded by my Department are subject, inter alia, to EU and national public procurement requirements and guidance, as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, relating to capital project management in the public sector. It is a matter for local authorities, as contracting authorities, to administer procurement processes in accordance with the relevant requirements and guidance. It is open to contractors to submit tenders under the relevant procurement processes, unless precluded by any of the conditions which apply to the competition, which include meeting requirements in respect of financial standing including tax compliance, insurance, ability to obtain a bond and technical capability.

Water Services

Brian Stanley

Question:

204 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider redirecting funding away from installing water meters and towards upgrading the water pipe system in this State. [22570/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. International evidence has shown that where meters have been installed significant reductions have been achieved in the level of consumption, and this is also borne out by the water savings achieved with metering in the group water sector. Mains rehabilitation does not address customer side leakage and does not impact on consumer behaviour. Mains rehabilitation needs to be sustained as part of long-term strategy complementary to metering rather than instead of it. Progress in relation to water conservation and water mains rehabilitation is set out in reply to Question No. 106 of 2 May 2012.

Noise Pollution

Arthur Spring

Question:

205 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 25 April 2012, if he will clarify which section of the local authority is responsible for dealing with loud noise caused by dogs; if the local authority is responsible for dealing with noise by dogs on private property as well as local authority housing; his views on whether local authorities have been made aware of this responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22291/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Control of Dogs Act, 1986 requires every local authority to employ one or more persons to be dog wardens for the purposes of the Act. The legislation does not specify the exact local arrangements to be made for implementation purposes, and no differentiation is made in the provisions dealing with nuisance by barking dogs between private property and local authority housing. The legislation has been in place for some time and it is a matter for the authorities themselves to determine the most appropriate arrangements, including administrative arrangements, for purposes of implementation.

Arthur Spring

Question:

206 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 25 April 2012, if he will clarify which section of the local authority has powers to investigate complaints about neighbourhood noise that affects quality of life under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (Noise) Regulations 1994; if he will make the local authorities aware of this power through communication from him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22293/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

Section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise from any premises, processes and works. The Environment Section of the relevant City or County Council is the appropriate contact point for reporting a noise nuisance in this regard.

Catherine Murphy

Question:

210 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to whether or not Carlow, Longford and Roscommon county councils have adopted a core strategy in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 which includes a legal requirement that a core strategy must be prepared within one year of the adoption of the relevant Regional Planning Guidelines applicable to the county; the sanctions he proposes to take in respect of counties which are not legally compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22401/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

It is a matter for the locally elected members of planning authorities to introduce the evidence-based core strategy provisions in new development plans and variations to existing plans in line with the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010. It is also a matter for the elected members to ensure that local area plans are consistent with the development plan thereafter.

On foot of the Regional Planning Guidelines Implementation Annual Report 2011 prepared jointly by the 8 Regional Authorities in respect of their activities, including ensuring proper oversight of the alignment of plans at national, regional and local levels, my Department issued a Circular Letter to planning authorities on 3 April 2012 reminding them of their statutory obligations. Furthermore, where planning authorities had not yet adopted core strategies in their development plans, they have been requested to provide a status report setting out the reasons for the delay together with a planned timescale for completion of same. These reports will inform whether or not any further action is necessary.

Household Charge

Brendan Griffin

Question:

211 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter regarding exemptions from the household charge and water charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22408/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations provide the legislative basis for the household charge. Interpretation of the legislation is a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately a matter for the Courts. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The household charge is on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for an owner of a residential property on the liability date to determine if he/she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the household charge.

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of the household charge. The exemptions from payment of the household charge are: residential properties that are part of the trading stock of a business and have not been sold or been the source of any income since construction; residential property owned by a Minister of the Government, a housing authority or the Health Service Executive; voluntary and co-operative housing; residential property subject to commercial rates and wholly used as a dwelling; residential property owned by certain charities or discretionary trusts; and residential property which an owner has vacated due to long-term mental or physical infirmity (e.g. elderly person that has moved into a nursing home). The waivers which apply concern: owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement, and owners of houses in certain unfinished housing estates.

I have established an independently chaired Inter-Departmental expert Group to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable valuation based property tax. The Group will complete its work and make recommendations to me shortly. Following consideration of the Group's recommendations, I will bring proposals to Government on the full property tax as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the structure and modalities of the full property tax.

In relation to water pricing, Irish Water, which will assume the operation of water services from local authorities, will be required to have a range of options in place to assist householders who have difficulties in paying their bills. For example, a wide range of flexible payment options are available for the other utility services and it is expected that these will be replicated for water services. The Regulator will address affordability issues, including in respect of persons with medical conditions, in consultation with my Department and the Department of Social Protection in the context of developing a water pricing framework.

John Deasy

Question:

212 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in Waterford city and county that are liable for the household charge and the number that have paid this charge to date. [22425/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The information requested is set out in the table under:

County/City Council	Estimated No. of Residential Properties Liable to Household Charge	Registered for Payment of Household Charge on 1/5/12
Waterford County Council	24,777	10,068
Waterford City Council	15,753	6,465

It must also be noted that there are an estimated 183,500 household charge declarations which have been made through the post and over the counter in local authority offices that have yet to be processed. These declarations are therefore not included in this table and a county/city breakdown is not yet available in respect of them. In addition, 15,336 declarations have been received where a waiver from payment of the household charge is claimed and these declarations are not included in the figures.

John Deasy

Question:

213 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in Waterford city and county who have registered for the non principal private residence. [22426/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The number of properties in respect of which the non-principal private residence (NPPR) charge has been paid as of 1 May, 2012 is set out in the following table. Owners of residential property liable to the charge have up to 30 June, 2012 to pay the 2012 NPPR and avoid the application of late payment fees:

Year	2009	2010	2011	2012
Waterford County Council	4,364	4,345	4,360	248
Waterford City Council	4,586	4,457	4,295	253

Water Services

Michael McCarthy

Question:

214 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will issue on an application for funding by Cork County Council (details supplied); if he will take into consideration the need to release funding to the council in order that they can repair a problem which is causing frequent distress to many residents in Kinsale, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22442/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

My Department has been in correspondence with Cork County Council in relation to water conservation works but no formal submission has been received to date from the Council in relation to the works in question.

Housing Statistics

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

215 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new housing units completed each year since 1980 broken down between apartments and houses; the number expected to be completed each year for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22450/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of housing policy and these can be viewed on my Department's website www.environ.ie. While data regarding housing completions are available online back to 1970, no breakdown by housing type is available prior to 1994. Future output depends on a wide range of factors and my Department does not make output predictions for the wider housing market.

Local Government Reform

Question:

226 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department continues to engage with locally based community groups with a view to addressing and supporting areas of social and economic deprivation throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22497/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 226 together.

The key objectives of my Department's Community Division are to facilitate integrated development at local level and foster vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities; and to support the Community and Voluntary Sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. My Department continues to be responsible for a range of programmes and initiatives to support communities including the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP), the Seniors Alert Scheme, RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Programme, the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector and the Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising.

The objective of the LCDP is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government, its agencies, and people in disadvantaged communities. It is a key tool of Government in providing supports for the ‘harder to reach' in the most disadvantaged areas in society. The Government's commitment to enabling rural communities to become self sufficient has been reaffirmed this year through increased funding for Axes 3 and 4 (LEADER Axes) of the RDP giving a total allocation for 2012 of €96 million. The LEADER approach ensures that communities are involved and have a say in their own development choices.

Fire services are provided by the 37 statutorily designated fire authorities. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981.

The cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have full-time fire services, and Drogheda and Dundalk have a combined full-time and retained service. Fire services in all other communities are provided by the retained system where, in the event of an emergency call, the relevant group of fire-fighters are alerted, respond to their fire station and turn-out to the incident in their fire appliance. The retained services provide an excellent model of service delivery where, to a substantial degree, a contingent rather than continuous capability is required.

The national blueprint for the future development of the fire services, including improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, is set out in the Irish Fire Services National Development Framework 2010-2015. The Framework sets out key actions in the areas of Fire Services Role in Society; National Processes and Guidance on Standards; Staff Learning and Development; Quality Assurance Systems and Reporting Performance; and Service Infrastructure and legislative support. The Framework was developed and approved under the aegis of the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, which is also managing the implementation of its actions.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management is currently engaged in stakeholder consultation with a priority project titled "Keeping Communities Safe". It sets out an integrated approach to efficient fire safety in Ireland through achieving an appropriate balance between prevention of fires, having appropriate fire protection facilities in place in buildings and through appropriate and effective fire brigade response. The draft policy proposes guidance and standards for fire service delivery underpinned by a risk categorisation approach which matches identified risks with the appropriate prevention and response.

Following stakeholder consultation, it is intended that the finalised policy document will be completed by the end of summer 2012. "Keeping Communities Safe” will then be circulated to all fire authorities for implementation. I expect that each fire authority will review its approach to fire safety in light of the guidance and recommendations in the document, and plan for any adjustments in current arrangements in the period 2012-2015. The “Keeping Communities Safe” draft document is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie via the “Public Consultations” link which can be found on the home page under the heading “Popular Topics and Quicklinks”.

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

225 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects local authorities to receive adequate funding from his Department for the provision of group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22496/12]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

227 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects to be in position to continue to assist Kildare County Council in their efforts to implement local group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22498/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 227 together.

My Department provides funding towards group water schemes by way of annual block grant allocations to local authorities, including Kildare County Council, under the Department's Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the administration of this programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual group scheme proposals for funding and advancement under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocation provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities. The 2012 allocation for the Rural Water Programme is €40 million, of which over €20 million was notified to local authorities last March by way of block grant allocations towards group water schemes. The allocation notified to Kildare County Council was €110,000. In addition, group water schemes can qualify for subsidy funding towards their operational costs. This subsidy scheme, for which some €21 million is being provided this year, is also administered by the local authorities.

Question No. 226 answered with Question No. 220.

Question No. 227 answered with Question No. 225.

Planning Issues

Dara Calleary

Question:

228 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the local area plans in towns (details supplied); and if he will give consideration to extending the lifetime of the plans in the towns referred to, until new plans are introduced. [22563/12]

Dara Calleary

Question:

229 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legal standing of a matter (details supplied) [22564/12]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.

The responsibility for zoning lands for specific purposes is a matter for planning authorities through their development plans and local area plans. Under the Planning Acts, the making, amending or revoking of a local area plan (LAP) is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority for the area. Furthermore, under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, there is a mandatory requirement to make a LAP in respect of a town with a population in excess of 1,500 persons except where the planning authority decides to indicate objectives for the area of the town in its development plan, or a LAP has already been made in respect of the area of the town, or objectives for that area have already been indicated in the development plan.

Under Section 19 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, a planning authority may, not more than 5 years after the making of a LAP, by resolution defer commencing the review process for a further period not exceeding 5 years, extending the lifetime of an LAP for a stated period, where the members have:

notified the manager of their decision and the reasons; and

sought and obtained the Manager's opinion that the LAP remains consistent with the objectives and core strategy of the relevant development plan, and the objectives of the LAP have not been substantially secured.

Section 19(6) provides that there is no presumption in law that any land zoned in a particular LAP must remain so zoned in any subsequent LAP.

Public Sector Staff

John Deasy

Question:

230 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23006/12]

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

Fifteen people retired from Waterford City Council and nineteen retired from Waterford County Council in the period 1 January 2012 to 29 February 2012. More detailed information in respect of staff retirements may be obtained from the local authorities concerned.

Asylum Applications

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

231 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the family of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 were subject to execution in their homeland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22298/12]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

236 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the exact figures for the number of gardaí based in Limerick City District on 1 April of each year from 2006 to 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22362/12]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Limerick Garda Division on 31 March 2006-31 March 2012 inclusive was as set out in the following table:

Year	Strength
31/03/06	532
31/03/07	593
31/03/08	635
31/03/09	635
31/03/10	643
31/03/11	637
31/03/12	618

Anti-Social Behaviour

Jack Wall

Question:

237 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the legal provisions or mechanisms available to a person or community to protect them and or their families against protracted invasion of their privacy through anti social behaviour by neighbours or other persons in their locality (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22412/12]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

Visa Applications

Willie Penrose

Question:

238 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a person from the Philippines who marries an Irish citizen in the Philippines, and who now wishes to return here with their spouse to live and work permanently here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22420/12]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

In the first instance I should mention that nationals of the Philippines are required to be in possession of a visa prior to seeking entry to the State. It is open to any visa required national to submit a visa application for any purpose. Each visa application will be considered on its individual merits, the onus resting with the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer as to why the visa sought should be granted. Any further information/supporting evidence that it is wished to have taken into consideration should be included where a visa application is submitted. It should be borne in mind however, that the provision of the suggested evidence in no way guarantees that a visa will be granted. Furthermore, it does not limit the discretion of the visa officer in dealing with individual applications. Guidance information as to the visa application process (including a link to the on-line application form) can be found on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website — (www.inis.gov.ie). It should be borne in mind however that the information contained on the website is intended to act as a guideline only.

Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Public Sector Staff

John Deasy

Question:

239 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23011/12]

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

I am taking the Deputy's question to refer to the number of public servants who retired in the period 01 January to 29 February 2012 and who benefitted from the provisions under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009. This Act provided for the superannuation benefits of public servants, who retired within a "grace period" which ended on 29 February 2012, to be unaffected by the pay reductions introduced for all public servants with effect from 1 January 2010 under that Act. In the period 1 January 2012 to 29 February 2012 a total of 12 public servants who retired from my Department or agencies under my aegis were located in Waterford. Of these, a total of 5 had reached minimum retirement age, 6 availed of the Cost Neutral Early Retirement scheme and 1 person retired on Ill-Health grounds.

Air Corps Operations

Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter)

Primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Whilst the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána hold regular meetings concerning ATCP operations generally, there have been no specific discussions recently in relation to riot control procedures.

Overseas Missions

Dara Calleary

Question:

243 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Defence the plans in place for Irish involvement in UN Peace keeping in Syria [22388/12]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter)

On 24th April 2012, the Government approved the deployment of up to six members of the Permanent Defence Force as unarmed military observers to United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), in response to a request from the United Nations. The selection of Defence Forces personnel is currently in train and, subject to the security situation in Syria, it is expected that Irish observers will be deployed to the mission over the next few weeks. The new Supervision Mission will monitor a cessation of armed violence "in all its forms by all parties" in Syria. The mission will also monitor the full implementation of the six-point plan recently proposed by Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Mr. Kofi Annan to bring an end to the crisis in Syria. A UN advance team is already in Syria, and the Government also agreed that Defence Forces personnel could be made available to the UN advance team should that be required.

Question No. 244 answered with Question No. 240.

Public Service Staff

John Deasy

Question:

245 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Defence the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23004/12]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter)

There are no civil servants or civilian employees of this Department based in Waterford. In relation to military personnel, one member of the Defence Forces based in Waterford has retired since the beginning of this year.

Grant Payments

Michael Creed

Question:

246 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Cork has received their full REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22289/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The person named commenced REPS 4 in August 2008 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Administrative checks in respect of 2011 have now been completed and the 75% 2011 REPS 4 payment amounting to €6171.01 has been issued to the person named on 26th April 2012. The remaining 25% 2011 REPS 4 balancing payment for the amount of €2056.99 issued to the person named on the 2nd May 2012.

Forestry Sector

Tom Fleming

Question:

247 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a forestry appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [22361/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

250 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money unused in the rural development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22405/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 has an overall value of €4.9 billion over a 7-year period of which €2.5 billion will be funded by the EU and €2.4 billion by the National Exchequer. Current expenditure under the Programme amounts to close on €3.2 billion, being 65% of its total value. While the Programme ends in 2013, spending may continue under certain schemes until the end of 2015.

A total of €396 million has been allocated to fund measures such as on farm investment and other schemes under Axis 1 of the Programme, which promotes competitiveness and innovation. An amount of €4.148 billion has been allocated to Less Favoured Areas and the Reps and AEOS schemes under Axis 2 which fosters the environment and land management. Apart from a small amount for technical assistance, the balance of the funding, being €353 million, has been allocated to the remaining part of the programme which supports the quality of life and diversification of economic activity in rural areas. This part is administered by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government using the Leader approach while the Rural Broadband Reach Scheme is administered by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

All funding under the Programme is committed at present. Spending is monitored on an ongoing basis with funds reallocated and Programme amendments proposed as necessary. This process will continue until the Programme ends with a view to ensuring full draw down of all EU funding within the available budgetary allocation to my Department.

Michael Moynihan

Question:

251 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the common framework plans; its future timeline; its impact on an agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22406/12]

Glacaim leis go bhfuil do cheist ag tagairt do pháirceáil ag Ionad Cuan Iascaigh Ros an Mhíl do mhuintir Árann. Ní mór do mo Roinnse gach Ionad Cuan Iascaigh a stiúradh ar bhealach seasmhach airgeadais agus níl aon oibleagáid ann páirceáil saor in aisce a chur ar fáil i Ros an Mhíl do mhuintir Árann. Thug mo Roinn faoi obair mhór uasghrádaithe ar shaoráidí páirceála i Ros an Mhíl le déanaí agus tá siad sin anois réidh le húsáid. Tá an Roinn ar tí iarratas ar thairsicintíó oibreoirí neamhspleácha a fhógairt chun an carrchlós a bhainistiú thar a ceann agus beidh táille le híoc ar an tsaoráid a úsáid.

Mar aitheantas ar na cúinsí speisialta a bhaineann le hÁrainn, áfach, bhuail oifigigh ó mo Roinnse agus ón Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta le hionadaithe Chomharchumainn Árann an 23 Feabhra 2012 chun plé a dhéanamh ar charrchlós saor in aisce a bheith ar fáil do mhuintir Árann amháin. Tá an carrchlós eile seo le taobh an charrchlóis ina n-íoctar airgead le pairceáil ann. Tá sé socraithe ag an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta maoiniú a chur ar fáil chun obair feabhais a dhéanamh ar an gcarrchlós saor in aisce. Tá ionadaithe Chomharchumainn na n-oileán le teacht ar ais chuig mo Roinnse faoin tairiscint.

Féadfaidh ar ndóigh muintir Árann an príomh-charrchlós a úsáid agus íoc as más mian leo sin a dhéanamh.

Questions Nos. 255 and 256 withdrawn.

Fishing Industry Development

Clare Daly

Question:

257 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will acknowledge that Ireland’s seashore employment ratio, as 1 to 1.5 approximately, compared to 1 to 3-1 to 1 to 5 in other member States is amongst the poorest in the EU; and if he will outline his plans to improve on this situation. [22444/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

Our ocean is a national asset, supporting a diverse marine economy with vast potential to tap into the €1,200 billion global market for seafood, tourism, oil and gas, renewable energy and new applications for health, medicine and technology. In parallel, our ocean gives us many non commercial benefits for example, amenity, biodiversity and our mild climate.

In Ireland, responsibility for marine matters is spread across a number of Government Departments and agencies. The Marine Co-ordination Group, chaired by myself, was established in recognition of the broad scope of the sector, and the need for better co-ordination. The Marine Co-ordination Group meets monthly and is currently taking steps to develop an integrated marine plan for Ireland in order to harness "Our Ocean Wealth". A Public Consultation document under this title has just been completed and the Marine Co-ordination Group is currently drafting "Actions that will deliver an Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland" paper. This Plan will be launched in late July 2012.The objective of the actions will be to move from generating only 1.2% of our GDP from the ocean resources, to get the environment right for investment and use the potential of our marine economy to create jobs in a sustainable manner.

Grant Payments

Tom Fleming

Question:

258 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the delays involved and expedite the processing of Tams applications for the dairy equipment scheme so that dairy farmers may proceed with works on the installation of milking machines and bulk tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22447/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

All applications under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme, including the Dairy Equipment Scheme, are being processed as quickly as possible in the department. Over 800 approvals to commence work have already issued to farmers under that Scheme. There was a very significant over-subscription for the grant-aid available under the tranche of funding under the Dairy Equipment Scheme which closed on 31 January 2012. These applications are currently being processed within my Department in order to complete the required selection process and approvals will issue as soon as possible to those applicants who are selected. Eligible applications which do not receive approval in that particular tranche will be carried forward for consideration under the next tranche of funding.

Pat Breen

Question:

259 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 581 of 21 March 2012, the position regarding an application for single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22485/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

Further to the reply to the Deputy's previous Question, I can again confirm that the changes referred to relate to the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the changes to the rules governing which have recently been published by my Department. I can also confirm that booklets outlining the Terms and Conditions of the 2012 Scheme are currently being printed and will shortly be posted to all farmers with DAS-designated land. However, as these proposals have yet to be approved by the EU Commission, they may be subject to change.

That said, insofar as the specific enquiry of the person named is concerned, the requirements under the 2012 Scheme are as follows: In the first instance, an applicant is required to have met a stocking density in 2011, for three consecutive months, of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare. Thereafter, while the minimum stocking density remains at 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for 2012, the applicant must meet the minimum stocking requirement for six consecutive months during the scheme-year, in addition to which, the applicant is also required to meet an annual stocking density average of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare, which will be calculated over the twelve months of the scheme-year.

However, specific provision is being made for those farmers who had a stocking density less than 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011, where that lower stocking density was as a result of adherence to a lower stocking requirement of an agri-environmental measure, such as a Commonage Framework De-stocking Plan, Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) or Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). All applicants, whose stocking density was below 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011, will be written to formally and given the opportunity to apply for a derogation on the grounds that his or her participation in one of the above measures resulted in the lower stocking density. The principles of force majeure/exceptional circumstances will also be provided for in the process and provision will also be made for new entrants to farming.

Departmental Agencies

Dara Calleary
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Dara Calleary
Question:
260 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans Teagasc have for a disused building (details supplied); if he will confirm that Teagasc is currently unable to sell the premises as a result of issues concerning title or any other issue and if considering this impairment to a commercial disposal, if he will make the premises available to the local regional youth service for youth work and development purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22499/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)
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Operational matters such as this are properly the responsibility of the Teagasc Authority and not the Minister. I am advised by Teagasc that they have closed the office in Bagnelstown and plan to dispose of it on completion of certain matters relating to the conveyance. The Deputy may wish to contact Teagasc directly for further detail.

Departmental Schemes

Dara Calleary
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Dara Calleary
Question:
261 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider amending the terms and conditions of the agri environment options scheme to make them more flexible and allow for a more practical approach when dealing with the criteria attached to the scheme, in order to make the scheme more workable for farmers and allow agricultural consultants or planners make amendments where appropriate in respect of the scheme. [22559/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)
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The Agri-environment Options Scheme is designed to protect biodiversity, encourage water management/quality and contribute to climate change. The scheme provides for a considerable degree of flexibility in achieving these objectives and farmers to may implement measures from a range or menu of options which are best suited to their own circumstances. Participants in AEOS have been approved on the basis of the information contained in their application forms. The Terms and Conditions of the scheme were available to applicants when applications to join the scheme were prepared and must now be complied with. Where obvious errors have been found by my Department in the processing of applications, participants have been allowed to make amendments to rectify the position. Other amendments fall outside the scheme Terms and Conditions and cannot be permitted.

Fishing Discards

Dara Calleary
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Dara Calleary
Question:
262 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will acknowledge that discards are the hidden scandal of fisheries industry and the socio-economic data available on this real human crisis is variable in quality and highly questionable and that tackling this crisis has been identified as an urgent need by BIM and North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council; and if he will outline his plans to address this hidden crisis. [22560/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)
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Finding practical and implementable solutions to the wasteful practice of discarding fish is a major priority issue for me. It is an important element of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which is currently under consideration at the EU Fisheries Council and the EU Parliament. Ireland has been to the forefront in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards and has taken a number of initiatives in this regard. On the 8th of November last, I launched an Irish "discard" atlas, which is a detailed compendium of discards by the Irish Fleet on a stock by stock and area by area basis. The Atlas, compiled by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara with the support of Irish Industry, outlines potential measures to help reduce discarding.

The Irish fishing industry secured the support of the EU North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council (NWWRAC) for measures to reduce discarding of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea at the end of last year. The NWWRAC has submitted these measures to the EU Commission recommending their adoption at EU level as early as possible. The Irish industry has also supported, as an interim measure pending the introduction of the measures at EU level, quota management arrangement that incentivise the use of these measures by the Irish fleet. I have made available to Irish vessels who use the recommended modified fishing gear an additional 40% of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea since the beginning of April.

The measures for the Celtic Sea are an important initiative in reducing discards. The Discards Atlas for Irish fisheries was the first publication of it's kind and places Ireland firmly to the fore in the debate on eliminating discards. The Atlas identifies where action needs to be taken, and the potential measures that could be adopted. The Atlas will also inform the process to achieve real change and a significant reduction in discarding within the new Common Fisheries Policy,

Appointments to State Boards

Dara Calleary
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Dara Calleary
Question:
263 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the proposals to include on the boards of BIM, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, Marine Institute, European Fisheries Fund and other fisheries related State boards, representatives of stakeholders from the non-catch sector Environmental, Community and Voluntary Pillars. [22561/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)
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Appointments to the Boards of BIM, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Marine Institute and other fisheries related State boards that come under the remit of my Department are made in accordance with the legislation establishing the respective agencies and in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. In making appointments to boards I take into consideration a number of factors including the specific requirements of each board, any gaps in competencies advised by Board Chairs as per Section 2.7 of the Code of Practice and expressions of interest received directly by the Department. According to the Sea-Fisheries Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 the Board of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is an executive board, members of which are appointed through the Public Appointments System. The European Fisheries Fund is not an agency of the State.

Departmental Staff

John Deasy
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John Deasy
Question:
264 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23000/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)
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Eight staff of my Department who were under the maximum retirement age and headquartered in County Waterford retired in the period from 1 January 2012 to date. No Waterford based staff of my Department retired on age regulations (i.e. having reached the age of 65) during this period.

Child Care Services

Joanna Tuffy
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Joanna Tuffy
Question:
265 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding any grants available to set up after school care for children using primary school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22379/12]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme is implemented by my Department and provides funding to community not for profit childcare services to enable them to provide childcare services at reduced rates to qualifying parents. Community services providing after school care are eligible to participate in the CCS programme. While there are no specific grants provided by my Department to primary schools for the provision of after school services, the Board of Management of a primary school, or a community group providing after school services from a primary school building, are eligible to apply to enter the CCS programme. I wish to advise the Deputy, however, that at this point in time, no new places under the CCS programme are being considered by my Department.

Joanna Tuffy
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Joanna Tuffy
Question:
266 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision available in Dublin mid west constituency to co-ordinate child care services, including in relation to training, recruitment, career guidance and monitoring for those establishing childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22380/12]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
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Thirty three City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 by the then Office of the Minister for Children under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 to co-ordinate a strategy to promote and develop quality childcare throughout the country. The CCCs are composed of local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, social partners, childcare providers and parents. There are four committees in Dublin City and County to provide for the four local authority administrative areas within the County.

The CCCs offer a wide variety of services locally that include advice on setting up a childcare business, childcare information sessions, and co-ordinating training courses for those working in the childcare sector and those considering a career in childcare. Services are also provided to parents, such as information on local childcare facilities and parent networks. The CCCs also play a very important role in the implementation of the three childcare support programmes funded by my Department. Pre-school services are regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations, pre-school services, including childminding services taking care of more than 3 pre-school children, are required to notify the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their services and the Pre-School Inspectorate of the HSE carry out inspections of these pre-school services with the objective of securing the health, safety and welfare of children attending them.

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides a free pre-school year to eligible children. In the region of 95% of pre-school services throughout the country are participating in this programme. The CCCs continually monitor the programme in order to ensure that all parents benefit from the free pre-school provision as intended. In addition, Pobal — as an agent of my Department — also carry out site visits to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the programme.

Child Abuse

Michael Healy-Rae
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Michael Healy-Rae
Question:
267 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with regard to the two Bills going before Dáil Éireann requiring the mandatory reporting of child abuse, if it is not true to say that the child protection system could face a massive increase in referrals on the back of this legislation; in view of the fact that social workers are swamped with cases, the way she proposes that these services will be able to deal with further increases in their work without additional staff being supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22461/12]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
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The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published in 2011, provides greater clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the organisation. The Government has committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First and the Heads of the Bill have been prepared and submitted to the Committee for Health and Children for their consideration.

I am aware that the proposed legislation could give rise to a significant number of reports being made to the HSE and I am cognisant of the need for an effective filtering system to be put in place. In this regard, "Guidance for Reporting of Abuse" is to be developed by my Department. This Guidance will deal with issues such as definitions, thresholds and appropriate routes for the reporting of abuse. The Guidance will be dependent on designated officers and professionals named in the legislation, considering a number of factors to see if the concern reaches the threshold of a report under the legislation.

It is important to note that Mr. Gordon Jeyes, HSE National Director Children and Family Services has given me an assurance that all referrals when initially received are assessed and the action taken is prioritised by risk. In addition, the new Child and Family Support Agency with dedicated responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services is to be established. A new model to deal effectively with referrals is being developed to ensure that all child welfare and protection reports receive a service promptly from the range of family support services and child protection services available.

Departmental Staff

John Deasy
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John Deasy
Question:
268 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23002/12]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that none of the people in my Department or from State Bodies under the aegis of my Department who retired since the beginning of the year was based in Waterford city or county.

Health Service Staff

Michael Healy-Rae
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Michael Healy-Rae
Question:
269 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will be in a position to fund a much needed post (details supplied). [22459/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)
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As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Simon Harris
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Simon Harris
Question:
270 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time faced by a person with a disability in need of a new wheelchair; if he has any plans to introduce measures to reduce this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22286/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)
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As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Cards

Denis Naughten
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Denis Naughten
Question:
271 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 669 of 24 January 2012, the plans he has to address the situation where medical cards cannot be extended by general practitioners despite persons having returned their application for renewal as the information is waiting to be put up on the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22294/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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In the vast majority of cases, the renewal of a medical card by a GP is not necessary as the Primary Care Reimbursement Service is currently dealing with new applications and renewals in a speedy manner. Renewal notices are issued 3 months before a medical card expires and in the case of most persons who return completed applications their renewals are completed within 15 working days. The latest information from the PCRS indicates that 93% of complete medical card applications are processed within 15 working days.

A medical card holder who genuinely engages with the review of their medical card will not have their entitlement withdrawn before that review is complete. This period of continued eligibility is further extended if the person appeals the non-renewal of a card or the granting of a GP visit card. To avoid a situation where eligibility ceases because the client was unable to respond to a renewal notice, an additional safeguard is now present in that a GP can, where appropriate, extend eligibility to allow the medical card holder a further opportunity to engage with the review process.

John McGuinness
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John McGuinness
Question:
272 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card now under appeal will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow [22299/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Michael McCarthy
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Michael McCarthy
Question:
273 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has withheld STC payments from a medical practitioner (details supplied); when the payments will issue; if he will consider that the situation is causing undue frustration to the person concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22300/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Care of the Elderly

Arthur Spring
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Arthur Spring
Question:
274 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the number of contracted beds the Health Service Executive has held in private nursing homes in County Kerry in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/12]

Arthur Spring
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Arthur Spring
Question:
275 Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the number of contracted beds the Health Service Executive has held in private nursing homes in County Kerry; the current break down in relation to each nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22305/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Cards

Jack Wall
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Jack Wall
Question:
276 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the up to date position of a review of the decision to refuse an application for a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22310/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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If a person has been refused a medical card they can lodge an appeal within 21 days. Details of the appeals process are forward to the applicant with their refusal letter. As this refusal of a medical card renewal is a service matter I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Finian McGrath
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Finian McGrath
Question:
277 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 doctor was changed without consultation [22313/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Cards

Bernard J. Durkan
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Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
278 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22349/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Mattie McGrath
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Mattie McGrath
Question:
279 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22391/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Tobacco Policy Review

Michael Healy-Rae
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Michael Healy-Rae
Question:
280 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on proposals to ban smoking in public places (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22413/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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Smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland, killing over 5,200 people a year. Ireland's public health policy objective in relation to tobacco is to promote and subsequently move towards a tobacco free society. The document Towards a Tobacco Free Society was adopted as Government policy in 2000 and continues to be the main strategic document guiding the development and implementation of policy measures and services to reduce smoking in Ireland. The Tobacco Policy Review Group will be reporting to me shortly.

The report of this group will build on our existing policies and legislation . This group is examining a number of areas which need to be developed or enhanced in order to reduce smoking prevalence in Ireland including the possibility of extending the smoking ban to other areas e.g. cars with children present, educational and health care campuses, playgrounds, public parks, beaches etc. The report will also examine how to develop our cessation services in order to support those people who want to stop smoking. Of major concern to me is the number of young people who are still taking up the habit.

The "denormalisation" of smoking within our society is key tool in stopping our children and young people from doing so. To achieve this we must make smoking less attractive to children and increase its social unacceptability. I understand that in order for such initiatives to be successful they must be supported by the public. It is also important, however, that everyone in society recognises their role in effecting change in our lifestyle behaviours such as smoking for the benefit of everyone.

Michael Healy-Rae
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Michael Healy-Rae
Question:
281 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the cost of cigarettes and tobacco (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22416/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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As the Deputy is aware smoking is the largest single cause of preventable mortality in Ireland, killing over 5,200 people every year. Evidence shows that pricing is a key tool in the efforts to control smoking and in particular preventing children and adolescents from taking up the habit. Just last week an international group of health economists and tobacco control experts (PPACTE) called for an increase in the taxation of all tobacco products as the most effective way to make them inaccessible to consumers. As you know this Government increased the excise duty on tobacco products in the last budget. The Tobacco Policy Review Group will be reporting to me in the near future and is considering the issue of excise duties on tobacco products. I am of the view that increasing tax on tobacco together with the strengthening of policy, services and programmes will be effective in reducing smoking prevalence in this country.

Health Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
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Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:
282 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when the signalled Health Service Executive review of domestic violence and sexual assault services will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22437/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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A national and regional review of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence services funded by the HSE has already commenced. It is envisaged that by year end the review will be completed and a strategic plan for the future provision and configuration of services in this area will be developed.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Tom Fleming
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Tom Fleming
Question:
283 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address the ENT waiting lists at Kerry General Hospital at which 466 adults and 245 children are awaiting outpatient appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22448/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Cards

Tom Fleming
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Tom Fleming
Question:
284 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will grant an emergency medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22449/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Service Level Agreements

Clare Daly
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Clare Daly
Question:
285 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will review the contracts for funding which require the signing of service level agreements in cases of volunteer run organisations (details supplied). [22469/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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The HSE funds over 2,500 organisation, which operate over 4,100 separate funding arrangements to a value of approximately €3.3 billion. These organisations vary in scale and complexity, ranging from large acute hospitals to local community based organisations providing social care services. The HSE National Governance Framework regarding funding of non-statutory organisations commenced in 2009 and was rolled out to all agencies in 2010.

The Framework sets out the requirement that all agencies in receipt of State funding must sign a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This policy was put in place to ensure accountability, probity and good governance in relation to spending of State funding. The HSE had made the organisation referred to by the Deputy aware of the Framework in 2008. Part 1 of the SLA document is generic to all organisations and cannot be changed and Part 2 allows for specific details of the organisation's role and services to be inserted. Signing the SLA does not compromise the confidentiality of the work of the organisation.

Discussions are continuing with the organisation referred to by the Deputy regarding its SLA for 2012 and funding has been provided to meet fixed cost commitments, pending agreement to the terms of the SLA. The organisation, however, through its legal advisors, is refusing to provide supporting documentation relating to its accounts for previous years to the HSE, and does not believe that it should be subject to an SLA for the funding it receives. The organisation received a sum of €558,355 in 2011. Organisations with functions similar to the one in question have signed SLAs for 2012. For the reasons above, I am fully supportive of the HSE's position in ensuring accountability for State funding.

Compensation Schemes

Clare Daly
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Clare Daly
Question:
286 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will review the insurance scheme in place by the Health Service Executive for individuals with hepatitis C in order to exclude the two year lead in time for the mortgage protection part of the scheme in view of the fact that this was an unanticipated problem in the scheme, which has led to persons not being able to move house as banks will not make available mortgages without mortgage protection in place. [22470/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2006 provides the statutory basis for the establishment of the Hepatitis C Insurance Scheme which commenced in September 2007 (SI 31 of 2007). This Scheme provides, subject to certain limits, life assurance, mortgage protection and travel insurance to those who were infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV through the administration within the State of contaminated blood or blood products.

In each case the person requiring insurance pays the average basic premium which an uninfected person of the same age and gender would pay. The Scheme pays the additional premiums levied or covers the additional risks that would otherwise prevent a policy being taken out. Under the Mortgage Protection part of the Scheme there is a lead-in period for benefits. Since September 2008, which marked the end of the first year of operation of the Scheme, and the end of the open period for entry into the Scheme, there is a waiting period of two to three years for persons over 30 years, depending on the age of the person applying for the mortgage protection policy. Such a waiting period is necessary for mortgage protection and life assurance policies under the Scheme, to guard against the possibility of adverse selection.

There was significant consultation involved in establishing the Scheme and a Steering Committee was set up to advise on all aspects of implementation. The Committee included the interested support groups — Positive Action, Transfusion Positive, the Irish Haemophilia Society and the Irish Kidney Association. In all the circumstances, I am satisfied that the present arrangements are fair and reasonable.

Medical Cards

John McGuinness
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John McGuinness
Question:
287 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be issued as a matter of urgency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [22481/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Substance Misuse Strategy

Brendan Griffin
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Brendan Griffin
Question:
288 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding alcohol sponsorship of sporting events (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22506/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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The report of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group in relation to alcohol was launched in February last and it is encouraging public debate. I envisage an Action Plan being developed in advance of proposals being drafted for Government later in the year. This Action Plan shall take into account the recommendations made by the Steering Group in its report — including the recommendation on drinks' industry sponsorship of sports and other large public events that is the subject of the Deputy's question.

Hospital Accommodation

John McGuinness
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John McGuinness
Question:
289 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his dealings in respect of a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will appreciate the concerns of many at suggestions that this facility will close; if he will confirm that this decision to close is reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22554/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)
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During 2011 the Health Service Executive was considering a proposal to close St. Brigid's Hospital, Crooksling. However, following court proceedings in relation to another proposed closure it became clear that it was not appropriate to make a decision to close a hospital such as St. Brigid's without a comprehensive consultation process. In this regard the public consultation process in relation to the proposed closure of St. Brigid's Hospital at Crooksling will commence shortly. This will involve engaging with residents, relatives, staff, public representatives and any other party who wishes to make a submission. The consultation process will be completed within a period of three months from commencement, at which point a final decision will be made regarding the future of the hospital. Meanwhile the HSE is undertaking works at St. Brigid's to ensure compliance with current HIQA standards. These works are due to be completed by 30 June 2012.

Public Sector Staff

John Deasy
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John Deasy
Question:
290 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23009/12]

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Sports Capital Programme

Sandra McLellan
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Sandra McLellan
Question:
291 Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are any short term grants available from his Department for a club (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22301/12]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring)
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I am pleased to announce that applications are now being sought for a new round of the Sports Capital Programme. This Programme is the main vehicle for Government support for the development of sports facilities and the purchase of equipment. It is open to any organisation, such as the group referred to by the Deputy, with a suitable project to apply for funding under the Sports Capital Programme, subject to the Programme's terms and conditions. More information and application forms can be downloaded from www.dttas.ie. The club in question should also contact the Irish Amateur Boxing Association to see if it could qualify for funding from an equipment grant made to the Boxing Association by my Department.

Licensing of Aerodromes

Joanna Tuffy
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Joanna Tuffy
Question:
292 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding Weston Aerodrome, County Dublin and whether there have been any applications to change its licence since 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22378/12]

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)
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The Irish Aviation Authority is the responsible authority for the licensing of aerodromes. I have referred the Deputy's question to it for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Public Sector Staff

John Deasy
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John Deasy
Question:
293 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public servants that retired in Waterford city and county since the beginning of the year and the number of those that have been retired by the State. [23013/12]

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)
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My Department does not have offices in Waterford city or county. I have asked the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within ten working days please advise my private office.

Other Questions

Back to table of contents

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 3 May 2012

Written Answers

Shared Ownership Scheme

Bernard J. Durkan

Local Authority Housing

Bernard J. Durkan

Water Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Willie O'Dea

Mary Lou McDonald

Niall Collins

Ministerial Appointments

Pearse Doherty

Building Regulations

Thomas P. Broughan

Thomas P. Broughan

Household Charge

Dessie Ellis

Local Authority Housing

Martin Ferris

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Michael Colreavy

Waste Management

Pearse Doherty

Social and Affordable Housing

Jonathan O'Brien

Household Charge

Sean Fleming

Property Tax

Éamon Ó Cuív

Micheál Martin

Strategy on Homelessness

Mary Lou McDonald

Household Charge

Billy Kelleher

Dessie Ellis

National Drugs Strategy

Brian Stanley

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Seán Crowe

Private Rented Accommodation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Building Regulations

Clare Daly

Social and Affordable Housing

Seán Crowe

Appointments to State Boards

Mick Wallace

Mick Wallace

Private Rented Accommodation

Sandra McLellan

Foreshore Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

Private Rented Accommodation

Peadar Tóibín

Building Regulations

Denis Naughten

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Denis Naughten

Planning Issues

Gerry Adams

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

Water Services

John Halligan

Building Regulations

Arthur Spring

Local Government Reform

Jonathan O'Brien

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

Building Regulations

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Human Rights Issues

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 May 2012