Written Answers Nos. 81-89
81. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies who availed of the special assignee relief programme tax relief in 2012; the number of persons who benefitted from the relief and the income profile of these persons; the total cost to the State of the scheme in 2012; and the total number of jobs that are directly attributable to the existence of the scheme. [3457/13]
View answerSection 14 of Finance Act 2012 introduced the Special Assignee Relief Programme which is designed to reduce the cost to employers of assigning key individuals in their companies from abroad to take up positions in the Irish based operations of their employer. Paragraph 10 of Section 14 provides that relevant employers must submit an annual return to the Revenue Commissioners detailing, inter alia, the number of employees and the amounts of exempt income claimed under the programme. This return was not sought until after the end of the tax year 2012 in order to ensure that an accurate picture of take up levels over a full tax year could be provided. Therefore, given that 2012 is the first year of the programme, reliable statistics on its uptake will not be available until later this year.
82. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding cuts and taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3476/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to helping homeowners in distress to weather the recession, and to ensuring that Ireland has a sustainable housing policy. A range of measures are being advanced in this area including personal insolvency reform, the implementation of the “mortgage to rent” initiative, engagement with mortgage lenders on the development and implementation by them of mortgage arrears resolution strategies and the provision of a mortgage advisory function.
The inter-Departmental Group chaired by Dr Don Thornhill on the design of a property tax (the “Thornhill Group”) had due regard to issues such as ability to pay. It recommended a system of deferrals for low-income households, and those facing high mortgage payments, and this was accepted by the Government.
Part 12 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act provides for deferral of payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) in specified circumstances. Where the residential property is the sole or main residence of a liable person and their estimated gross income from all sources does not exceed €15,000 for a single person or €25,000 for a couple during the year covered by the return, they will be eligible to apply for full deferral of the LPT charge.
In addition, for income stressed owner-occupiers who have an outstanding mortgage, an adjusted gross income limit will apply. In these cases, the income thresholds of €15,000 or €25,000 may be increased by 80% of the annual mortgage interest payments. This type of deferral is available until the end of 2017.
Moreover, owner-occupiers may be eligible to apply for partial deferral where the gross income from all sources is less than €25,000 in the case of a single person and €35,000 in the case of a couple. For income stressed owner-occupiers who have an outstanding mortgage, these thresholds may also be increased by 80% of the annual mortgage interest payments. In these cases the owner-occupier will qualify for deferrals of 50% of the LPT liability and the balance of 50% of the tax must be paid.
83. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland third level grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) will be processed and granted as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3256/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that on the 2nd 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.
84. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3259/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the initial application was received from the student referred to by the Deputy on the 11th of January 2013. They also confirmed that her application has been assessed and a letter was issued on the 22nd of January 2013 informing her of the outcome.
85. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of school places in a locality (details supplied) in Dublin 18: his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3261/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware in June 2011, I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. These consisted of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish any new school in the area referred to by the Deputy. However a new primary school opened in 2012 in the adjoining area of Stepaside and another new primary school is due to open this September 2013 in Stepaside also.
The Forward Planning Section of my Department will continue to monitor enrolments in the area referred to by the Deputy to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet any projected future demands.
86. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the number of newly qualified teachers who are still awaiting payment of their increased level four payscale; the date when all outstanding payments will be made and if he will provide assurances that unpaid wages will be back paid in full from September 2012. [3352/13]
View answerThe new salary scale will apply in the case of all teachers who are new appointees to teaching on or after 1 February 2012.
The introduction of this new salary scale is a complex task which requires a detailed implementation process. A circular on implementation of the Government decision as it applies to teachers is due to issue shortly from my Department. Arrears, backdated to the date of first appointment, should be paid within the next two months to all eligible teachers.
87. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a student (details supplied) in County Clare who has applied for an education grant and repeatedly sent in all the required documentation which has been repeatedly mislaid by Student Universal Support Ireland will receive a decision on their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3399/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that while documentation was received, that a request for further documentation issued on the 16th January 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.
88. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made in the south east to develop and pilot an innovation graduates programme in conjunction with the institutes of technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3405/13]
View answerThe Technovation programme, which supports graduates to undertake innovation projects for companies in the south–east region of Ireland, is being piloted by Enterprise Ireland in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). It provides eighteen–month, full-time employment opportunities for recently qualified graduates in fifteen Enterprise Ireland companies and Irish-owned SMEs across Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, and South Tipperary. These projects form an accredited part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation Practice offered by WIT on which participating graduates are enrolled. As an integral part of the programme, the Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation Practice has been designed specifically to enhance the innovation capacity and capabilities of indigenous SMEs in Ireland, and comprises academic and practical components as well as a paid internship. Enterprise Ireland provides financial support to each participating company in respect of the graduate's salary (up to a maximum of €22,500), as well as covering the graduates' course fees. The programme commenced in September 2012.
89. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new school building (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3430/13]
View answerThe school referred to has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). The NDFA has recently appointed a Design Team to advance this project which is currently scheduled for delivery during 2014/2015 as announced under the Five Year Plan.
