Written Answers Nos. 136-154
136. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if mortgage interest relief claimants who purchased for the first time between 2004 and 2008 have yet benefitted from the new increases in the level of mortgage interest reliefs as set out in Budget 2012; if there is a delay in relation to the processing of this increased benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41698/12]
View answerThis is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners who are responsible for the administration of mortgage interest relief through the tax relief at source [TRS] system. The 30% rate of mortgage interest relief for those who took out their first qualifying home loan between 2004 and 2008 came into effect with the enactment of the Finance Act 2012. The regulations provide for the granting of the relief due to the borrower by the lender within the tax year.
The mortgage lenders provide mortgage interest relief at source to relevant mortgage holders, which are facilitated by on-going electronic data file transfers between Revenue and each of the 132 individual qualifying lenders. To apply the new 30% rate, specific technology developments were required to Revenue’s and to each of the lenders’ computer systems. Revenue's systems were upgraded to implement the 30% rate last December and Revenue has since been communicating with the various lenders in regard to their IT enhancements, but the speed of upgrading has not been uniform across all lenders. To date, the IT upgrades required to give effect to the 30% rate have been completed by all but one of the lenders and these lenders have either implemented the rate or will do so with effect from next month.
Revenue is currently in direct contact with the remaining lender to ensure that the additional 5% due to borrowers is paid within the current year and applied retrospectively. Revenue has received commitment from the lender that the rate will be implemented within the current tax year.
In January 2012, as an interim relieving measure, Revenue advised lenders to grant tax relief at the rate of 25% to those entitled to the new 30% rate of relief, given that the 25% rate was already a feature of the first time buyer mortgage interest relief regime and was not dependent on new IT upgrades taking place.
137. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance the progress made towards the cancellation of Haiti’s debt by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund; if he will confirm that Canada, which represents Ireland at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, has been pursuing this matter on Ireland’s behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41867/12]
View answerI understand that in 2010 both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cancelled all the outstanding liabilities that they were owed by Haiti. In the case of the World Bank this amount was USD 36 million; for the IMF it was USD 274 million. At the same as it cancelled Haiti’s liabilities, the IMF also approved a request from Haiti for a three-year Extended Credit Facility. So far, approximately USD 47.9 million has been disbursed under this programme.
Ireland forms part of a constituency with Canada at both the World Bank and the IMF and has played a strong role in the development of a consensus on the issue of debt cancellation for the least developed countries. All of our aid is provided in the form of grants, and not loans. We have contributed our full financial share of over Euro116m to the two main multilateral initiatives to address debt relief. We have also worked with our partners in our programme countries to help ensure that the additional money from debt relief has been spent on programmes that benefit the poor.
138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the reason the pet farm part of an educational facility (details supplied) in County Kerry is not exempted from VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41957/12]
View answerIrish VAT law is subject to the provisions of the EU VAT Directive with which it must comply. Up to 31 December 2011 admissions to historic houses and gardens, and open farms were treated for VAT purposes as lettings and regarded as exempt from VAT.
Having regard to certain decisions of the European Court of Justice, where a letting was defined for VAT purposes, it was decided that such admissions could no longer be treated as exempt lettings. As there are no other provisions in the VAT Directive that would allow an exemption from VAT on admissions to visitor farms, such admission became subject to VAT from 1 January 2012.
Schedule 1 to the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 provides an exemption for the provision of children’s or young people’s education by educational establishments recognised by the State. This exemption does not extend to admissions to visitor farms for educational school tours.
While admissions to visitor farms became liable to VAT from 1 January, provision was made in the Finance Act 2012 to ensure that such admissions apply at the 9% reduced rate of VAT and not the standard 23% VAT rate.
139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form GDP and GNP by year from 1992 to 2011. [42003/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is provided as follows.
|
NIE |
GDP Current Prices |
GNP Current prices |
|
1992* |
40,489 |
35,998 |
|
1993* |
43,605 |
38,943 |
|
1994* |
46,864 |
42,146 |
|
1995 |
53,787 |
47,634 |
|
1996 |
58,894 |
52,027 |
|
1997 |
68,154 |
59,660 |
|
1998 |
78,685 |
68,739 |
|
1999 |
90,683 |
77,133 |
|
2000 |
105,775 |
90,287 |
|
2001 |
117,643 |
98,668 |
|
2002 |
130,877 |
107,182 |
|
2003 |
140,827 |
119,103 |
|
2004 |
150,194 |
127,316 |
|
2005 |
163,037 |
138,776 |
|
2006 |
177,729 |
154,465 |
|
2007 |
188,729 |
162,209 |
|
2008 |
178,882 |
153,565 |
|
2009 |
161,275 |
132,911 |
|
2012 |
156,487 |
130,202 |
|
2011 |
158,993 |
127,016 |
Source: CSO
GDP and GNP in current market prices for 1995 to 2011 are sourced from the CSO's National Income and Expenditure (NIE) tables.
* For 1992 to 1994 the historical NIE tables are used. This may introduce a break in the series.
140. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he is concerned regarding the impact of banking charges being introduced by State and non-State owned banks, the design of which appears to depend on income levels and monthly lodgement amounts which have a disproportionate affect on those with lower incomes or social welfare recipients and therefore are unfair as those with higher income can avoid the charges. [42071/12]
View answerThe Central Bank has advised me that under Section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act, 1995 (as amended), credit institutions and bureaux de change must notify the Central Bank if they wish to:
- Introduce any new customer ‘charge’ for providing a service or
- Increase any existing customer ‘charge’ for providing a service.
The Central Bank assesses these charges based on four criteria set out in the legislation:
- The promotion of fair competition;
- The commercial justification submitted in respect of the proposal;
- The impact new charges or increases in existing charges will have on customers;
- Passing on costs to customers.
The Central Bank may either approve or reject an institution’s application under Section 149; an institution may choose however, not to apply charges for which it already has approval for commercial or competitive reasons and then subsequently apply such charges at its own discretion at a later date.
However, an institution may choose to apply such internal account structures at its own discretion and so the Central Bank has no power in this area to approve/reject such revisions.
In December 2011, the Central Bank of Ireland published the findings of research into charges applied by the main retail banks to personal current accounts (PCAs). The research found that customers whose accounts go into an unauthorised overdraft position pay the highest fees. The highest current account costs occur when consumers have high numbers of out-of-order transactions occurring on their account such as unauthorised overdrafts, unpaid direct debits and over-limit or referral fees. Savings can also potentially be made by using electronic transactions in place of manual transactions, where possible, as manual transactions tend to incur higher costs.
If customers are not satisfied with their current account provider for any reason, including cost of fees, they have the right to switch to a different provider. A copy of the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code including Code of Conduct on the Switching of Current Accounts with Credit Institutions and a review of personal current account charges is available on the Bank’s website www.centralbank.ie.
Notwithstanding the fact that the State is a significant shareholder in some banks, it is imperative that the banks are run on a commercial, cost effective and independent basis to ensure the value of the banks as an asset to the State.
141. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons exiting the springboard programme prior to completion due to having found employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41539/12]
View answer142. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the overall level of non-completion amongst those persons supported by the springboard programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41540/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
Springboard, which was first launched in May 2011, is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part time higher education courses for unemployed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities.
A report of the first stage evaluation of Springboard which was published by the HEA in February is available at http://www.hea.ie/files/SPRINGBOARDSTAGE1EVALUATION.pdf. The HEA is currently undertaking the second stage evaluation of the first phase of Springboard 2011. As part of this process providers have been asked to report on outcomes, including completion rates and employment related outcomes, for participants. Data from the providers is in the process of being finalised and will be available in the coming weeks.
143. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown by county of vocational education committee and post leaving certificate places allocated per head of population in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41293/12]
View answerThere are a total of 32,688 approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places available nationwide. PLC places are allocated to providers, mainly Vocational Educational Committees (VECs), but also some Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools on an annual basis following an application process. In the table, the total number of approved PLC places by county for the 2012/2013 academic year is listed alongside the county population, as per the 2011 Census.
List of PLC Places approved for 2012/2013 academic year and population by county
|
County |
2012/2013 Approved PLC Places |
Population (2011 Census) |
|
Carlow |
890 |
54,612 |
|
Cavan |
1,270 |
73,183 |
|
Clare |
300 |
117,196 |
|
Cork |
5,404 |
519,032 |
|
Dublin |
11,100 |
1,273,069 |
|
Donegal |
185 |
161,137 |
|
Galway |
1,612 |
250,653 |
|
Kerry |
656 |
145,502 |
|
Kildare |
357 |
210,312 |
|
Kilkenny |
538 |
95,419 |
|
Laois |
370 |
80,559 |
|
Leitrim |
92 |
31,798 |
|
Limerick |
1,520 |
191,809 |
|
Longford |
350 |
39,000 |
|
Louth |
1,160 |
122,897 |
|
Mayo |
705 |
130,638 |
|
Meath |
388 |
184,135 |
|
Monaghan |
372 |
60,483 |
|
Offaly |
70 |
76,687 |
|
Roscommon |
79 |
64,065 |
|
Sligo |
685 |
65,393 |
|
Tipperary |
969 |
158,754 |
|
Waterford |
1,043 |
113,795 |
|
Westmeath |
629 |
86,164 |
|
Wexford |
904 |
145,320 |
|
Wicklow |
1,040 |
136,640 |
|
Total |
32,688 |
4,588,252 |
|
- |
- |
Population data sourced from www.cso.ie |
144. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been waiting three years for an National Educational Psychological Service assessment, when they were deemed a priority by their school; if this case will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41304/12]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that 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), full details of which are on the Department's website. Where a NEPS psychologist is not assigned to a school, authorities therein may access psychological assessments through SCPA. Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
It should also be noted that in common with many other psychological services, NEPS encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for a pupil's initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite of the school's best efforts, will a child be referred for individual psychological assessment. I have made enquiries in respect of this case and can inform you that, to date, no request has been made to the assigned NEPS psychologist in relation to the assessment of the child referred to in the Deputies question.
It is the responsibility of the school Principal in the first instance to identify and prioritise pupils for assessment under the process described above. I would suggest that the parents of the child in question should discuss the matter with the school Principal who will advise them as to the appropriateness of a referral to or intervention by the school's assigned NEPS psychologist in this instance.
Should school authorities have specific difficulties with regard any of the foregoing I would suggest that they contact the relevant local NEPS Office (in this instance NEPS Naas Office, Tel: 045-848504) to discuss the matter.
145. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve an application by a school (details supplied) in County Waterford for additional accommodation to replace the dilapidated, sub-standard and outdated prefabricated classrooms that currently exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41305/12]
View answerThe application for funding to replace existing temporary accommodation at the school referred to by the Deputy has recently been received by my Department. My Department has been in contact with the school seeking the submission of further information. Once this information is received, my Department will revert to the school with regard to its application.
146. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the pupil teacher ratio in DEIS schools will be maintained next year. [41329/12]
View answerAt this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2013/14 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget and meeting our obligations under the EU/IMF Programme.
147. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all secondary schools who have lost so called legacy posts since September 2012; and the number of posts in each school that have been discontinued. [41330/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Roll No. |
Deis Band |
School Name |
Address |
County |
Total No of DAS Posts By Sch-ool 2011/ 2012 |
|
76077O |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Larkin Community College |
1 Champions Avenue, Dublin 1 |
Dublin 1 |
1.50 |
|
76093M |
non-DEIS Post-Primary |
Colaiste Ide & Iosaef |
Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick |
Limerick |
1.50 |
|
76099B |
non-DEIS Post-Primary |
St Josephs Abbey, |
Wicklow Co Wicklow |
Wicklow |
0.50 |
|
81011L |
DEIS Post-Primary |
The Royal and Prior School |
Raphoe, Co. Donegal |
Donegal |
0.50 |
|
81012N |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin |
An Cheathrú Rua |
Galway |
0.50 |
|
81017A |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Ballymun Senior Comprehensive |
Ballymun |
Dublin 11 |
0.50 |
|
91310E |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Cabinteely Community School |
Cabinteely |
Dublin 18 |
0.50 |
|
91316Q |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Blakestown Community School |
Blanchardstown |
Dublin 15 |
1.50 |
|
91318U |
DEIS Post-Primary |
The Donahies Community School |
Streamville Road |
Dublin 13 |
1.50 |
|
91330K |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Holy Child Community School |
Pearse St, Sallynoggin |
Dublin |
0.50 |
|
91335U |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Tallaght Community School |
Balrothery, Tallaght |
Dublin 24 |
0.50 |
|
91337B |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Killinarden Community School |
Killinarden, Tallaght |
Dublin 24 |
1.50 |
|
91338D |
DEIS Post-Primary |
St Aidan's Community School |
Brookfield, Tallaght |
Dublin 24 |
1.50 |
|
91376L |
DEIS Post-Primary |
St. Killian's Community School |
Ballywaltrim |
Wicklow |
0.50 |
|
91400F |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Mayfield Community School |
Old Youghal Road |
Cork |
0.50 |
|
91406R |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Carndonagh Community School |
Carndonagh |
Donegal |
0.50 |
|
91407T |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Rosses Community School |
Dungloe |
Donegal |
1.50 |
|
91411K |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara |
Carna |
Galway |
0.50 |
|
91412M |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Scoil Phobail |
Clifden |
Galway |
0.50 |
|
91446G |
DEIS Post-Primary |
St Endas Community School |
Kilmallock Rd |
Limerick |
0.50 |
|
91448K |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Kilrush Community School |
Kilrush |
Clare |
0.50 |
|
91508C |
DEIS Post-Primary |
Boyne Community School |
Trim |
Co. Meath |
0.50 |
|
91550B |
non-DEIS Post-Primary |
Mountrath Community School |
Mountrath |
Laois |
0.50 |
|
91530S |
non-DEIS Post-Primary |
Kildare Town Community School |
Kildare |
Kildare |
1.05 |
|
- |
Total |
- |
- |
136. 00 |
148. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been any further developments in relation to the south east and in particular Waterford Regional Technical College being granted university status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41341/12]
View answerIn the document, Towards a Future Higher Education Landscape, published by the HEA in February last, a clear four stage process and criteria was laid out for institutes of technology who wish to apply for designation as a technological university. Having regard to the process that has been put in place to assess proposals for designation as technological universities I do not propose to comment on any potential applications for designation by any group of Institutes of Technology.
149. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a report in 2005 by the National Back Pain Association UK that considered that the backward sloping chairs that are used in nearly all schools are the main cause of back pain; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the National Standards Authority of Ireland is proposing that this backward slope be increased from -5 degrees to -10 degrees. [41348/12]
View answerWhere the provision of furniture at schools is being grant-aided in whole or in part by my Department, schools must comply with my Department's specifications. These specifications require that school chairs conform to the Irish (and European) Standard which is I.S. EN 1729 Furniture, Tables and Chairs for Educational Institutions. This is a recent standard dating from 2006. Any proposed change to this standard is a matter for the National Standards Authority in the first instance.
Schools should be satisfied before placing an order that the items tendered are of an acceptable quality and finish. Health and safety is, in the first instance, a matter for each Board of Management and this includes ensuring that school furniture complies with the appropriate standards.
150. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding University College Dublin and the new sports facility which has become difficult for students to access with restrictive hours. [41355/12]
View answerThe management of facilities on the UCD campus is the responsibility of the university authorities. My Department did not fund the development of this facility and has no function in relation to how it is operated or in determining the charges which are applied for the use of the facility.
151. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of foreign students that Educate Ireland has attracted to third level institutions here in the 2011/12 academic year. [41360/12]
View answerEnterprise Ireland undertake out an annual review of international students in higher education in Ireland.
The results of the most recent survey, which covers the 2011/2012 academic year, are being finalised. The initial figures provided by Enterprise Ireland indicate that there were around 32,000 international students registered in public and private Irish higher education institutions in Ireland. Of these, 7,000 were offshore or studying through distance education (i.e. not in Ireland).
152. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of contractual teaching hours fulfilled in third level institutions in the academic year 2011/12. [41361/12]
View answerIndividual higher education institutions have autonomous responsibility for the management of staff resources. While teaching hours norms are specified under standard agreed contracts for academic staff in the institute of technology sector, in the case of the university sector there would be a variation of individual teaching loads as part of overall academic duties.
Under the terms of the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park), from the start of 2011/12 academic year, university academics are required to provide an additional hour per week to facilitate teaching and learning and to co-operate with academic workload management and full economic costing models to improve the quality of information available for resource management in universities. In the Institute of Technology sector lecturing staff, where required by management, are delivering up to an additional two class contact hours per week above the current weekly norms.
153. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of consultancy and technical services outsourced to universities here from Government Departments in 2011/12. [41362/12]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I am arranging for this information to be collected and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding staffing at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41366/12]
View answer73 small primary schools were originally due to lose a classroom teacher in September 2012 as a result of the budget measure to increase the relevant pupil thresholds. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board considered appeals from any of the 73 schools that could show that their projected enrolments for September 2012 were sufficient to allow them retain their classroom teacher over the longer term. 38 small schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy had their appeals provisionally upheld by the Appeals Board subject to confirmation that their actual enrolments in September 2012 reach the required level. The required level of enrolment projected by the school in question failed to materialise at 30 September 2012, resulting in the loss of a classroom post.
In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement.
