Written Answers Nos. 80-89
80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects economic recovery and targets set in this regard to be achieved throughout the course of 2013 with particular reference to economic competitiveness and job creation as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2206/13]
View answerAs outlined in the Budget, my Department is forecasting real GDP growth of 1.5 per cent in 2013, which represents a third successive year of growth for the Irish economy. Data published since Budget Day, including third quarter of 2012 National Accounts figures, are consistent with these projections and they are broadly in line with the forecasts of other institutions. The recovery of the Irish economy will continue to be led by the exporting sector which is forecast to grow by 3.3 per cent in 2013. This, in no small part, will be aided by the recent improvements in price and cost competitiveness, improvements which are expected to continue into 2013. For instance, the European Commission is forecasting that our nominal unit labour costs will fall by 1.0 percent in 2013 compared with an increase of 1.2 percent for the euro area as a whole.
Addressing unemployment remains the main priority of this Government and Budget 2013 contained several measures aimed at addressing this issue. In particular, the additional supports introduced for the job-rich SME sector are intended to compliment the work undertaken by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to the Action Plan for Jobs and to encourage job creation.
Recent indicators have also shown some tentative signs of stabilisation in the unemployment rate, although at very high levels. Some pick-up in employment is expected in 2013, with net job creation anticipated by the second half of the year and further net gains projected thereafter.
82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which it has been found possible to fill the vacuum caused by various banking interest withdrawal from the Irish market with particular reference to the hotel and catering sectors; the degree to which all sectors are affected by such withdrawal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2208/13]
View answerA number of foreign based banks are exiting the Irish market and concentrating on their home markets. Irish banks are adopting a similar strategy and deleveraging from foreign markets. The impact of the exiting banks on particular sectors will reflect the extent to which they focused on that particular sector. One of the ways that the Government is addressing the reduced capacity is through refocusing the NPRF’s investment towards commercial investment in Ireland.
Last week, the NPRF announced investment commitments to a suite of three new long-term funds which will provide equity, credit and restructuring/recovery investment for Irish SMEs and mid-sized corporates. The NPRF is also currently reviewing additional SME fund opportunities that would complement these commitments, with the objective that the eventual suite of funds would have the capacity to invest across the full spectrum of SME financing needs.
Other Ireland-focused initiatives during 2012 included the provision of a standby facility to enable the Schools Bundle 3 PPP project (eight primary and post-primary schools) to proceed with European Investment Bank (EIB) financing and the NPRF’s collaboration with Silicon Valley Bank which will make US$100 million of new lending commitments available to fast-growing Irish technology, life science, cleantech, private equity and venture capital businesses.
The credit stream available to SMEs in all sectors now includes the Microenterprise Loan scheme which will facilitate up to €40million in additional lending to microenterprises over the next five years. In addition, the Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme can facilitate up to €150m per annum of additional credit. The Scheme is designed for SME’s which, due to lack of collateral or because of the specialised sector they operate in, face difficulties in accessing bank credit.
All of these additional initiatives increase the pool of available credit for SMEs. However, as the Deputy will agree, credit should only be advanced to businesses that can demonstrate continued and sustainable viability.
83. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for student grant. [2056/13]
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 appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI and the original decision was overturned.
On that basis, his application is currently being reassessed and the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
84. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the quota of educational assessments under the scapa scheme applied in each primary and post primary school in east Cork in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2059/13]
View answerAs 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 by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly. Under the SCPA an allocation of assessments is made annually to schools commensurate with 2% of its pupil enrolment and it is in the first instance the responsibility of the school Principal to identify and prioritise pupils for assessment under the process.
85. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the quota of educational assessments through NEPS applied to each primary and post primary school in east Cork in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2060/13]
View answerAs 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.
My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operates an early intervention continuum of assessment in schools for students with the broad range of special educational needs. The continuum of assessment allows for the identification of pupils with special educational needs, their nature and severity by harnessing the experience of class teachers and support teachers, in consultation with parents, and with the support of the psychologist. It also provides for the development of immediate responses and interventions designed to ameliorate the particular needs identified at the appropriate level, either in the classroom or with the assistance of the support teacher. This allows for a response to be put in place at the earliest possible juncture for students before their difficulties can become intractable. Assessment of needs at this stage of the continuum involves information gathering, testing and observation by the various school personnel involved and support from the NEPS psychologist, as required.
Where the pupil does not make adequate progress following the interventions, or where the nature of the child's special educational needs are significant, severe and complex, the school may agree with the psychologist that a psycho-educational assessment be conducted to identify the specific nature of the needs and the appropriate response necessary. Students, so identified, are scheduled for assessment within that school year. There is therefore no quota applied to schools under the process.
86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding primary teachers panel rights in 2013 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2066/13]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from panels set up of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. The arrangements for panel access for fixed term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers for the 2013/14 school year are set out in Department Circular 0038/2012 which is available on the Department website. The Supplementary panel set up in accordance with the arrangements set out in this circular will be used for appointments to full-time permanent posts in primary schools but only where those posts are not otherwise required to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent and CID holding teachers.
The closing date for application for access to the supplementary panel under the terms of the circular was Friday, 14 December, 2012.
87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the current position of an employee (details supplied) in County Kerry on the salary scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2054/13]
View answerThe matter referred to by the Deputy is being investigated. I will arrange for a reply to be forwarded to him as soon as possible.
88. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is still awaiting the processing of their higher education grant application; if he will expedite the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2096/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that on the 19th December 2012, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. The information provided to date in relation to self employment and rental income is not adequate. As soon as the requested documentation is received, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
89. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any financial assistance can be offered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2108/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy for the 2012/13 academic year was refused. SUSI has confirmed that the applicant appealed the decision and that it issued a letter on the appeal on 8th November 2012. Under the scheme, students who have previously attended, but not completed a course of study are required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved course before being eligible to be considered for a grant.
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.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. 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.
