Written Answers Nos. 336-358
336. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the approval of a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1741/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the applicant referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 20th November 2012.
If the applicant considers that the grant awarded is not the correct one, he may appeal in the first instance to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
337. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare following the removal of a subsidy for Gaeltacht placement as part of the Bachelors of Education degree at St Patrick's College; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1745/13]
View answerThe main source of financial assistance available from the Irish State for students in full-time higher education undergraduate courses is the student grant. To assist with the costs of the Gaeltacht placement, primary initial teacher education students who are in receipt of a student grant which includes a 100% fee grant, or who would have qualified for a full fee grant but for the Free Fees Schemes, can apply for funding towards travel and accommodation costs under the field trip element of a fee grant, subject to the normal terms and conditions of the student grant scheme.
Apart from the student grant system, in circumstances of particular need students may apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund which assists students in third-level institutions in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The Access Officers themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.
338. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans under the school building programme to provide additional infant and junior infant classes at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will confirm that the school has applied for extra accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1747/13]
View answerA major extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The project is on the 5 year construction programme and is scheduled to proceed to construction in 2013.
339. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a higher education grant application in respect of a student (details supplied) in County Mayo will be processed; the reason this application has been delayed; and if he will expedite the application in view of the delay experienced to date. [1755/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application from the student in question has been processed and the outcome was communicated to the student by letter 17th December 2012.
341. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1757/13]
View answerMy Department is currently finalising the Schedule of Accommodation including Special Needs provision in relation to the school project referred to by the Deputy. Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the five year construction programme announced in March 2012. Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme, will continue to be progressed to final planning stages. The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context. In this regard, my Department will be in contact with the school authorities in due course.
342. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if 2012 rate for maintenance grants will apply to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1800/13]
View answer347. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the 2012 rate for maintenance grants will apply in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1880/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 347 together.
Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that it contacted the applicant on the 10th January 2013 advising her that if she provides the necessary supporting documentation, her grant application will be reassessed. As soon as the requested documentation is received, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
343. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when a decision may be expected on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1812/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that on the 21st November 2012, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. As soon as the requested documentation is received the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
344. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when a decision on the application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1813/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was unsuccessful and that he appealed the decision to the appeals officer in SUSI and its original decision was overturned. On that basis, a letter issued to the student on 10th January 2013 confirming that his application is currently being reassessed.
345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the recent decision taken at the Teacher's Conciliation Council to honour qualifications of teachers whose further courses of study had commenced prior to 1 February 2012, the proposed timeframe to honour such payments; when the first payments will issue in respect of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1820/13]
View answerThe review of allowances across the public sector as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in September 2012 allows for the payment of a qualification allowance to recognised teachers who were undertaking courses of study on 5 December 2011. Where applicable, qualification allowances will become payable where the teacher is eligible to be in receipt of the qualified rate of pay i.e. where the teacher is appropriately qualified and registered for the sector in which they are employed.
A circular detailing the impacts of the outcome of the review by the Department of Expenditure and Reform on the education system is due to be issued shortly from my Department. A number of applications for qualification allowances have been received by the Department in the last number of months and these are being processed at the current time. Any arrears of salary due to teachers will be paid to them as soon as possible.
348. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on a student grant application appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1886/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application from the student referred to by the Deputy has, on appeal, been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 9th January 2013.
349. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a right to education in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15. [1889/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of special educational services. The SENOs act as single points of contact for parents of students with special educational needs. Another specific function of the SENO is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children. Furthermore the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which assists parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.
The Deputy will also be aware that the Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of health supports, including therapies, to children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has confirmed to my Department that a placement in a special school is available for the child in question. The local SENO and Educational Welfare Officer continue to be available to liaise with the school, parents and other parties as appropriate in order to assist with the matter.
350. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were fully funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1903/13]
View answer353. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were partially funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2034/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 353 together. The specific information requested by the Deputy is not collated centrally and would involve significant administrative resources to compile. However, various details of public funding disbursements are made available in a range of publications on an annual basis. The Revised Estimates Volume, published annually by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, contains a significant level of detail, on a Vote by Vote basis, regarding funding allocations in the year of publication, together with details of funding disbursed by the Exchequer in the previous year. The Comptroller and Auditor General also publishes the Appropriation Accounts, which are the annual accounts of Government Departments and other Votes. Additionally on an annual basis, my Department posts on its website details of organisations that are part-funded from the National Lottery. In this regard details for the years 2010 and 2011 are provided in tabular form in the following spreadsheet. The 2012 details will not be available until the Department's Statutory Accounts for 2012 are finalised later this year.
If there is a specific body in which the Deputy has a particular interest my officials will request the relevant organisation to supply details insofar as is possible.
2011 National Lottery Funding from Vote 26 – Education and Skills
6.1 National Lottery Funding
Under Subheads B.1. and B.14, a total of €1.04 million was grant aided in 2011 to support adult education and cultural activities. The subheads in Vote 26 from which the funding was paid are noted below.
|
Recipients of Funding from National Lottery |
2011 |
2010 |
|
€’000 |
€’000 |
|
|
Expenses of Adult Education Organisations (Subhead B.1.) |
854 |
864 |
|
Cultural Activities (Subhead B.14.) |
187 |
196 |
|
Total |
1,041 |
1,060 |
|
Recipients of Grants from Subhead B.1 - Adult Education Organisations |
Sum Received |
Sum Received |
|
Name of Recipient |
2011 |
2010 |
|
Aontas |
435,000.00 |
440,000.00 |
|
National Adult Literacy Agency |
298,000.00 |
302,000.00 |
|
Peoples College |
98,000.00 |
99,000.00 |
|
Irish Countrywoman’s Association |
23,000.00 |
23,000.00 |
|
Total |
854,000.00 |
864,000.00 |
|
Recipients of Grants from Subhead B.14 - Cultural Organisations |
Sum Received |
Sum Received |
|
Name of Recipient |
2011 |
2010 |
|
Foras Éireann |
10,500.00 |
11,000.00 |
|
National Youth Orchestra Of Ireland |
103,000.00 |
108,000.00 |
|
Feis Maitiu |
36,700.00 |
38,500.00 |
|
Artane School of Music |
36,700.00 |
38,500.00 |
|
Total |
186,900.00 |
196,000.00 |
2010 National Lottery Funding from Vote 26 - Education and Skills
6.1 National Lottery funding
Under subheads B.1 and B.14, a total of €1.06 million was grant aided in 2010 to support adult education and cultural activities. The subheads in Vote 26 from which the funding was paid are noted below.
|
Recipients of Funding from National Lottery |
2010 |
2009 |
|
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
Expenses of Adult Education Organisations (Subhead B.1.) |
864 |
941 |
|
Cultural Activities (Subhead B.14.) |
196 |
207 |
|
Total |
1,060 |
1,148 |
|
Recipients of Grants from Subhead B.1 Adult Education |
Sum received |
Sum received |
|
Name of Recipients |
2010 |
2009 |
|
Aontas |
440,000.00 |
477,000.00 |
|
National Adult Literacy Agency |
302,000.00 |
333,000.00 |
|
Peoples College |
99,000.00 |
108,000.00 |
|
Irish Countrywomen's Association |
23,000.00 |
23,000.00 |
|
Total |
864,000.00 |
941,000.00 |
|
Recipients of Grants from Subhead B.14 - Cultural Activities |
Sum received |
Sum received |
|
Name of Recipients |
2010 |
2009 |
|
Foras Éireann |
11,000.00 |
11,400.00 |
|
National Youth Orchestra of Ireland |
108,000.00 |
114,000.00 |
|
Feis Maitiu |
38,500.00 |
41,000.00 |
|
Artane School of Music |
38,500.00 |
41,000.00 |
|
Total |
196,000.00 |
207,400.00 |
352. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of students on a county basis who are awaiting to have their original grant applications reassessed or a decision made on their appeal by Student Universal Support Ireland. [2012/13]
View answerThe following table provides a breakdown of appeals submitted to Student Universal Support Ireland. The data provided is at a point in time on the 14th January, 2013 and has been provided to my Department by SUSI. SUSI has confirmed that some 597 students are currently awaiting re-assessment of their applications.
Breakdown of Appeals Submitted to SUSI
|
County |
Appeals Received |
SUSI initial decision overturned |
SUSI initial decision upheld |
Appeals yet to be Processed |
|
Carlow |
43 |
13 |
14 |
16 |
|
Cavan |
86 |
13 |
36 |
37 |
|
Clare |
110 |
23 |
43 |
44 |
|
Cork |
329 |
77 |
115 |
137 |
|
Donegal |
187 |
31 |
73 |
83 |
|
Dublin |
553 |
153 |
185 |
215 |
|
Galway |
278 |
66 |
99 |
113 |
|
Kerry |
130 |
29 |
46 |
55 |
|
Kildare |
152 |
32 |
59 |
61 |
|
Kilkenny |
67 |
11 |
28 |
28 |
|
Laois |
51 |
12 |
26 |
13 |
|
Leitrim |
37 |
9 |
13 |
15 |
|
Limerick |
140 |
29 |
54 |
57 |
|
Longford |
44 |
3 |
17 |
24 |
|
Louth |
133 |
39 |
39 |
55 |
|
Mayo |
154 |
25 |
49 |
80 |
|
Meath |
123 |
31 |
47 |
45 |
|
Monaghan |
64 |
15 |
24 |
25 |
|
Offaly |
70 |
16 |
30 |
24 |
|
Roscommon |
75 |
17 |
27 |
31 |
|
Sligo |
75 |
10 |
25 |
40 |
|
Tipperary |
165 |
32 |
72 |
61 |
|
Waterford |
80 |
16 |
35 |
29 |
|
Westmeath |
107 |
20 |
47 |
40 |
|
Wexford |
135 |
23 |
56 |
56 |
|
Wicklow |
106 |
22 |
49 |
35 |
|
Outside of Ireland |
26 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
|
Totals |
3520 |
777 |
1314 |
1429 |
354. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether employers who have outstanding Labour Court decisions against them should be eligible for Government procurement contracts. [57830/12]
View answer367. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of recipients of Government contracts that are not in compliance with Labour Court judgements. [57826/12]
View answer369. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps taken to ensure that all contractors and suppliers to Government procurement contracts are fully compliant with Labour Court judgements and employee rights legislation. [57828/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 354, 367 and 369 together.
In relation to the general issue of employment law and its enforcement, these are matters for my colleague Mr. Richard Bruton, T. D. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) respectively.
Public procurement procedures require applicants to meet certain standards when applying for public contracts. The criteria upon which contracting authorities may exclude applicants from the award procedure of public contracts are set out in Regulation 53 of SI 329 of 2006 European Communities (Award of Public Contracts) Regulations 2006 and Article 45 and Recitals (34) and (43) of 2004/18/EC, the EU Directive on the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts. Where a contracting authority is aware of a judgement by the Labour Court against an applicant in a public procurement process they may exclude that applicant. However before that applicant is excluded, the applicant may make a case and provide supporting evidence as to why it should not be excluded. The contracting authority must consider this evidence before deciding whether to exclude or include an applicant.
In qualifying for inclusion in tender competitions for public contracts, applicants must submit signed declarations stating that none of the circumstances outlined in Regulation 53 of SI 329 or Article 45 of 2004/18/EC apply.
355. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that Coillte becomes subject to freedom of information requests in line with his commitment to introducing greater transparency. [57985/12]
View answerIn my recent discussion with the Oireachtas Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee on my proposals for the reform and extension of Freedom of Information, I confirmed the principle endorsed by Government in its Decision approving the General Scheme of the FOI reform legislation that commercial state bodies should not be subject to Freedom of Information requirements. In view of the commercial role, mandate and responsibilities of the body referred to in the Deputy’s question it is proposed to continue to apply this principle in this specific instance.
As I discussed with the Committee, the principle reflects a serious concern that an uneven competitive playing field that would be created in circumstances that commercial state bodies were subject to Freedom of Information but their privately-owned market competitors would not. In such circumstances there is a clear potential for FOI requests to be used to access information to disadvantage and erode the competitive position of the commercial State body in the marketplace. This would have an adverse impact on the commercial position of the State body in question which would not be in the public interest or consistent with the need to safeguard the State’s economic and financial interests.
It is important to draw attention to the point which I made to the Committee that notwithstanding that commercial state bodies are not subject to FOI, it continues to be a priority to ensure that effective mechanisms are in place to ensure that there is appropriate public oversight and accountability in relation to the conduct and activities of these bodies. In addition to the corporate governance requirements to which such bodies are subject, records relating to those bodies held by their parent Government Department and or public bodies are subject to the Freedom of Information legislation. Moreover, commercial State bodies are accountable to the Oireachtas through Parliamentary Questions put down for the responsible Minister and through meetings with relevant Oireachtas Committees. Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, legislation is at an advanced point of development to strengthen the powers of the Oireachtas to conduct inquiries into matters of significant public interest which could include matters relating to the activities of a commercial state body. The legislation will also strengthen the powers of Oireachtas committees in carrying out their normal functions other than when an inquiry is taking place.
The Deputy may also wish to note that in my meeting with the Oireachtas Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee I made clear that in the context of the pre-legislative scrutiny process being carried out on the FOI reform legislation I was open to any case that may be made relating to any matter encompassed by the proposed legislation. If it is the case that the Deputy wishes to make a submission to me on the rationale for setting aside the principle I have summarised above in the case of the commercial State body referred to in his question, I would of course consider his views in the context of the finalisation of the legislative proposals on FOI.
356. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if her Department has a 20 year lease on a floor or part of a premises in Athy, County Kildare; the annual cost of the lease to the State; when the lease agreement was entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58172/12]
View answerI can confirm that the Commissioners for Public Works hold a twenty year lease on a premises at Unit 4 Stanhope Place, Athy, Co. Kildare. The Lease commenced on 1 October 2011 and will expire on 30 September 2031. The Annual rent is €32,000. The building is currently allocated to the Department of Social Protection.
357. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the income earned by the State from the mobile phone mast at a Garda Station (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1007/13]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works have granted licences to two mobile phone operators in respect of the Garda mast at the station referred to. The annual income to the State is €11,625.
358. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on rent and leasing property in County Laois for Government Departments and agencies for 2011 and 2012 to facilitate the de-centralising of central Government. [1137/13]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works expended €2,030,580.28 during 2011 and 2012 on rents and service charges for leased properties in Co Laois to facilitate decentralisation.
