Written Answers Nos. 277-296
277. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the projected cost in 2013 and 2014 to the Exchequer of allowing millionaires to direct their tax relief on charitable donations to the approved body of their choice if the charitable donations scheme is removed from the scope of the high earners' restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4422/13]
View answer278. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the reason the decision to remove the charitable donations scheme from the scope of the high earners' restriction up to an annual donation limit of €1 million per individual was not announced during his budget 2013 speech or associated documentation at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4423/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.
I announced in the recent Budget my intention to simplify the scheme of tax relief for donations to approved bodies. Details of all of the simplification measures, including those set out by the Deputy were provided in Annex E of the Budget book. I am unable to provide a projected cost for this measure as it is not possible to anticipate the level of donations that donors might make. In addition, in order to provide an estimate, it would be necessary to know the level of incomes and consequent income tax liabilities of such donors. However, the simplification measures when taken together are designed to be Exchequer neutral.
279. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the rationale for allowing millionaires to direct their tax relief on charitable donations up to €1 million to the approved body of their choice when it will remove moneys from the public Exchequer, that could be spent on vital services; the evidence there is that wealthy persons require State support to donate their accumulated wealth to approved bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4424/13]
View answer280. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that the maximum tax relief on charitable donations up to €1 million that a millionaire can direct towards the approved body of their choice, under the scheme as proposed, in a year will be €310,000; his views that it is fair that a wealthy person will be able to decide the way in which their taxes are spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4425/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.
Donations to charities and other approved bodies qualify for tax relief where the amount donated to any one such body is €250 and above. Previously, self-assessed individuals were able to claim the tax relief due on these donations while charities claimed the relief in respect of donations made by PAYE workers. In the recent Budget I announced measures to simplify the scheme of donations to approved bodies. One of these will mean that tax relief in all cases will now be refunded directly to the charity. Therefore, self-assessed individuals will no longer have the benefit of tax relief in respect of their donations.
In addition, and as recommended by the Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising, I have imposed a maximum limit of €1 million per annum on individual donations which can be tax relieved. There was no limit on the donations scheme prior to this. Any tax relief due will be paid to the charity on a ‘grossed-up’ basis as has always been the case in respect of donations from individuals within the PAYE collection system. This means that the tax relief due is calculated with reference to the amount a donor would have had to have earned in order to be left with the amount donated after income tax. In the new regime, a blended rate of relief of 31% will apply regardless of the marginal tax rate paid by the donor. Therefore, a donation of €1 million to a single charity from a self-assessed (and PAYE) taxpayer will result in a tax refund of €449,275 to the charity, provided the individual has paid sufficient Income Tax.
Prior to these amendments the donor would have received a refund of €410,000 on a donation of €1 million. However, this relief would have been subject to the high earners’ restriction which imposes a maximum relief amount that could be claimed of €80,000 or 20% of adjusted income in any one tax year. Depending on the income of the donor it is possible that the full relief amount could have been claimed in a single tax year. Where the individuals’ income was not sufficient to absorb all of the relief due, any unclaimed amount could be carried forward and claimed in subsequent years. It is worth noting that notwithstanding the application of the high earners’ restriction, prior to the changes I announced, there was no limit on the amount of donation that could attract tax relief.
One of the aims of the donations scheme is to encourage philanthropy amongst those with high incomes, although some surveys show that tax relief is not the only factor that donors take into account when making a donation. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that the scheme operates to ensure that no benefit can accrue to the donor in respect of their donations.
281. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the taxation obligations of a person who is paying rent to an overseas landlord; if he will clarify the nature of the guidance or advice provided to such a person; the way a tenant will be dealt with if they were dealing with an agency and were genuinely unaware the landlord was based abroad. [4437/13]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under existing tax legislation a tenant paying rent to a non-resident landlord in respect of property located in the State, is obliged to deduct income tax from the gross rent at the standard rate, which is currently 20%, unless the non-resident landlord is assessable and chargeable to income tax here in the name of a representative in the State. I am further advised by the Commissioners, that they have raised awareness of this legislative requirement by, for example, including relevant material in operational instructions on the Revenue website (Chapter 45.1.4 of the Income Tax/ Capital Gains Tax /Corporation Tax Manual) and on relevant forms. In that regard, the Rent Tax Credit leaflet and Form Rent 1, which is used by tenants to claim tax relief on rent, contain information on the tenant’s obligation to deduct tax in certain circumstances.
The Commissioners have also indicated to me that where a tenant, who would have been required to deduct tax, has acted in good faith and was genuinely unaware of his or her obligation or of the residence status of the landlord, Revenue take a practical approach and generally only seek to apply the legislation prospectively from a current date.
282. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the property tax and those in shared ownership properties; if they are liable for the tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4522/13]
View answerThe Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 provides that a liability for local property tax will arise where a person owns a residential property on the liability date which will be 1 May 2013 for the year 2013 and for subsequent years, 1 November in the preceding year. Where a property is owned by more than one person, joint owners are to be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the tax. This means that Revenue can pursue one person for the full liability and payment by that person discharges the tax liability of all joint owners. For the purposes of completing a local property tax return, joint owners are required to agree a valuation for the property. A single return should be submitted on behalf of the joint owners. If the local property tax is not paid, the Revenue Commissioners can proceed to collect the tax from any of the owners.
If the Deputy is referring to formal Local Authority shared ownership schemes, the position is that details of the arrangements for payment of Local Property Tax in respect of local authority housing have yet to be finalised and my understanding is that there are a range of different arrangements which may need to be catered for. Discussions are ongoing between my Department, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and further information will be provided in due course.
284. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he has held discussions with the ECB in respect of the disbursement of profits on its purchase of Government bonds under the securities markets programme including the possible disbursement of these profits solely to Ireland as the ECB has agreed to do in the case of Greece; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4548/13]
View answerThe recently agreed package of measures for Greece is designed to help put its economy on a path to sustainable growth and its domestic finances on a sound footing. This package was agreed in the context of the statement by Euro Area Heads of State or Government that the scale of the Greek problem is so large that it requires special attention. In this regard, on November 26th euro zone Finance Ministers agreed to partly reschedule Greece's debt, and offered several other measures to alleviate the country’s financial burden. Taken together, these actions are expected to cut Greece's debt by up to 20 percentage points of GDP by 2020. This will bring its debt to GDP level to 124% in 2020, and a debt to GDP level of below 110% is targeted for 2022.
One of the measures agreed, the Securities Market Programme (SMP) measure, will see Member States pass on to Greece's segregated account, an amount equivalent to the income on the SMP portfolio accruing to their national central bank as from budget year 2013. Member States under a full financial assistance programme are not required to participate in this scheme for the period in which they receive financial assistance. It is important to note that the SMP measure involves a transfer of an accounting profit, but does not involve any retirement of debt by Greece. It is also important to note that the concessions that have been agreed are specific to Greece and are accompanied by significant additional conditionality.
In Ireland, on the other hand, we have entered the final year of our programme and our focus is on making a successful exit from the programme. In line with the EU Heads of State or Government commitments in June, discussions are also underway to further improve the sustainability of Ireland’s programme. These discussions include our continuing interaction with the EU, the ECB and the IMF (the Troika) on exiting the programme and issues related to our banking debt, including the restructuring of the promissory note.
Ireland’s needs, as a country exiting a programme, are very different to those of Greece. We are, however, examining the Greek package to see if aspects of it offer any possible benefit to Ireland, particularly in the context of our programme exit. We will also be engaging on this issue with the Troika officials as part of the 9th review mission which started earlier today. The decision on the measures, if any, to be sought will be taken on the basis of this examination.
285. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of residential mortgages that were subject to write-down by covered banks in the period 2008 to 2012; the amount of balances written off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4549/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware write-downs of residential mortgages are agreed on a case by case basis and are not disclosed by the covered banks. However the Deputy will find information on the accounting write-offs of the covered banks in their annual and interim reports. The Deputy should not equate the level of accounting write-offs with actual write-downs of residential mortgages agreed with customers. I have been provided with the following responses from each of the covered banks.
Bank of Ireland
I am informed by Bank of Ireland that it has provided comprehensive residential mortgage disclosure in its previous annual and interim reports. Specific references to mortgage amounts written off are provided on the following pages of the annual/interim reports:
|
Period |
Page Reference |
Write-off amount €million |
|
Year ended 31.03.2008 |
p121 |
3 |
|
Year ended 31.03.2009 |
p51 |
9 |
|
9-months ended 31.12.2009 |
p207 |
30 |
|
Year ended 31.12.2010 |
p254 |
44 |
|
Year ended 31.12.2011 |
p246 |
49 |
|
6-months ended 30.06.2012 |
p93 |
23 |
Bank of Ireland notes that the split of mortgage amounts written off between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom is not historically provided but Bank of Ireland gave an incremental disclosure to the interim report for June 2012 in answer to PQ 51262/12 on 20 November 2012 as follows:
“Consistent with its accounting policies, the Group only writes off debt once all avenues to recover the loans have been exhausted. In the case of Residential Mortgages in the Republic of Ireland, this happens after the property has been repossessed / sold and all other means of recovering any residual amount owing have been exhausted. As an additional disclosure to its Interim accounts, the Group now advises that it recorded an accounting write off amounting to €2.3 million of its impairment provisions in respect of Residential Mortgages in the Republic of Ireland in the six months ended 30 June 2012.”
AIB
I have been informed by AIB that it makes detailed disclosures in respect of its mortgage portfolio on a semi-annual basis as part of its regulatory reporting requirements. The relevant data in respect of AIB’s mortgage books as of June 2012 can be found on pages 30-35 of AIB’s Half Yearly Financial Report 2012. Disclosures for year end 2010 and 2011 can be found on pages 112 – 122 of AIB’s Annual Financial Report 2011 while information for 2008 and 2009 is on pages 196 – 205 of AIB’s Annual Financial Report 2009. These reports are available on AIB’s website at www.aibgroup.com/investorrelations or by clicking on the following link: http://www.aib.ie/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=AIB_Investor_Relations/Miscellaneous/ir_article_printer&c=AIB_Article&cid=1096576948103&channel=IRFP
Further disclosures on Provisions for impairment of loans and receivables are contained in note 32 (page 313) of AIB's Annual Financial Report 2011 which shows a write-off on Residential mortgages of €32 million in 2011 and €36 million in 2010. Please note that the "amounts written off" number refers to provisions rather than actual loan amounts written off for customers in difficulty in line with our accounting policies (please see page 239). The comparable information is contained on page 93 of AIB's Half Yearly Report 2012 and page 203 of AIB's Annual Financial Report 2009, which shows a write-off of €16 million on Residential mortgages for H1 2012, €13 million in 2009 and €0 million in 2008.
Permanent TSB
Permanent TSB provides extensive disclosure on its Residential mortgage portfolio in its annual and interim accounts. The following table sets out the location of the relevant information in the accounts:
|
Period |
Location of relevant data in published accounts |
Write-off amount €million |
|
2008 |
2008 Annual Report, Note 15, Page 100 |
n/a* |
|
2009 |
2009 Annual Report, Note 9, Page 114 |
n/a* |
|
2010 |
2010 Annual Report, Note 10, Page 116 |
n/a* |
|
2011 |
2011 Annual Report, Note 11, Page 119 |
3 |
|
2012 |
Interim Report, Note 8, Page 48 |
6 * PTSB does not show the split of residential mortgage write-offs in these accounts. It only provides a figure for write-offs in total. |
Permanent TSB advises that write-downs are agreed with customers only at the end of a process where other options are not sustainable and customers have engaged fully with the bank.
IBRC
Detailed information in relation to the Bank’s financial performance, including information on provisioning, is published semi-annually in the Bank’s interim report and annual report and accounts. The Bank’s 2011 Annual Report, pages 169-173, provides detailed disclosure on the Bank’s residential mortgage portfolio. More recent information can be found in the Bank’s Interim Report 2012, page 72. It is Bank policy not to publish any additional confidential commercially sensitive financial information which could potentially have a detrimental impact on asset recovery. The Bank is scheduled to publish its 2012 Annual Report on 28 March 2013.
286. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the redundancy replacement scheme through FÁS will be available this year to apprentices based in the Dublin area who require to work outstanding hours to complete their apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4003/13]
View answerThis is a day to day operational matter for FAS. I understand that FÁS is currently reviewing the guidelines and criteria for the introduction of a Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme for 2013. FAS expect to be in a position to commence the 2013 scheme in February.
287. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if payment for training in the FÁS redundant placement scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4123/13]
View answerThe person in question commenced employment with his employer hoping to avail of the Phase 7 Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme (RAPS). His employer was contacted in relation to supplying the relevant documentation in order to start the individual in question on the RAPS. However, I understand that the company did not meet the requirements of RAPS as they were unable to supply a Tax Clearance Certificate. I am informed that the individual in question was notified that his employers did not meet the requirements of the RAPS; therefore he could not be paid by FÁS under this scheme.
288. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person can work as part of an apprenticeship to obtain a trade and qualifications for a company in Northern Ireland where the company is carrying out works on projects here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4190/13]
View answerThis is a day to day operational matter for FAS who have responsibility for the operation of the Standards Based Apprenticeship Programme. I understand from FAS that the following is a Schedule of Requirements for companies outside the jurisdiction to register apprentices:
- The employer provides evidence of being tax compliant with the taxation requirements of the Irish State Exchequer and provides a Revenue Employer Registration Number.
- The employer has a Registered Office in the State; a site office is not an acceptable alternative.
- The employer provides the full details of the employer's representative within the State jurisdiction with the overall responsibility for the apprentice(s).
- The employer provides evidence of issuing a direct employment contract for the intended apprentice(s); sub-contract arrangements will not suffice for potential approval.
- The employer has the capability to provide access for the apprentice to the range of work specified in the curriculum for the on-the-job phases of the apprenticeship specified within the jurisdiction of the State.
- The employer's ability to provide access for the apprentices to the equipment and special tools specified in the curriculum for the on-the-job phases of the apprenticeship specified.
- The employer's ability to provide a suitably qualified and experienced craftsperson within the jurisdiction of the State to supervise the training and the work of the apprentice during the on-the-job phases of the apprenticeship specified.
- The employer's ability to provide a suitable person within the jurisdiction of the State who is approved by FÁS or is suitable for approval by FÁS to act as a workplace assessor with responsibility for administering, recording and processing assessment checklists and the on-the-job schedules for the specified apprenticeship.
289. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available for training for those not in receipt of either jobseeker's benefit or allowance and are only signing on with reference to maintaining credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4276/13]
View answerDespite reducing resources, my Department will fund up to 430,000 education and training places across the range of provision in the higher education, further education and training sectors in 2013. Owing to the number of long-term unemployed and the need to keep these individuals close to the labour market, places have been prioritised on certain programmes specifically for those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more. This investment includes the provision of a substantial number of training places under FAS Training Services. Individuals not in receipt of either jobseeker's benefit or allowance are entitled to apply for training places with FAS Training Services but they may not be entitled to a FAS Training Allowance. In addition, individuals not in receipt of either jobseeker's benefit or allowance are also eligible to apply for a training place under the Skillnets Training Programme but places have been prioritised for the long term unemployed.
290. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide statistics, in tabular form, for the number of apprenticeship registrations with FÁS each year for the past ten years per training category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4341/13]
View answerFÁS have provided the statistics as requested by the Deputy in the attached document.
Apprentice Registrations by Trade by Family of Trade 2002 - 2012
|
Sector |
Trade |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
National Total |
|
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
Jan.-Dec. |
2002 - 2012 |
||
|
Construction |
|||||||||||||
|
Brick & Stonelaying |
441 |
549 |
679 |
599 |
473 |
247 |
57 |
20 |
10 |
11 |
6 |
3,092 |
|
|
Cabinetmaking * |
235 |
217 |
194 |
179 |
207 |
154 |
75 |
21 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
1,295 |
|
|
Carpentry & Joinery |
1547 |
1849 |
2089 |
2124 |
1907 |
1350 |
511 |
140 |
96 |
72 |
91 |
11,776 |
|
|
Floor & Wall Tiling |
39 |
37 |
36 |
41 |
32 |
43 |
12 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
250 |
|
|
Painting & Decorating |
151 |
139 |
157 |
149 |
161 |
112 |
62 |
19 |
8 |
18 |
11 |
987 |
|
|
Plastering |
186 |
268 |
310 |
278 |
220 |
143 |
57 |
14 |
12 |
5 |
4 |
1,497 |
|
|
Plumbing |
731 |
938 |
1249 |
1251 |
1500 |
1038 |
453 |
127 |
91 |
146 |
97 |
7,621 |
|
|
Wood Machining * |
22 |
15 |
24 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
111 |
||
|
Wood Manufacturing & Finishing |
13 |
12 |
11 |
36 |
|||||||||
|
Total |
3,352 |
4,012 |
4,738 |
4,636 |
4,514 |
3,100 |
1,231 |
348 |
244 |
268 |
222 |
26,665 |
|
|
Electrical |
|||||||||||||
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
75 |
28 |
28 |
33 |
57 |
66 |
24 |
21 |
18 |
35 |
36 |
421 |
|
|
Electricical |
1814 |
1766 |
2028 |
2159 |
2269 |
2057 |
1106 |
523 |
373 |
355 |
397 |
14,847 |
|
|
Electrical Instrumentation |
37 |
41 |
43 |
39 |
46 |
56 |
37 |
24 |
15 |
18 |
24 |
380 |
|
|
Electronic Security Systems |
12 |
51 |
16 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
105 |
||||||
|
Instrumentation |
24 |
20 |
17 |
19 |
17 |
19 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
141 |
|
|
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning |
78 |
74 |
88 |
88 |
106 |
117 |
83 |
27 |
26 |
29 |
34 |
750 |
|
|
Total |
2,028 |
1,929 |
2,204 |
2,338 |
2,495 |
2,327 |
1,308 |
615 |
445 |
449 |
506 |
16,644 |
|
|
Engineering |
|||||||||||||
|
MAMF |
229 |
212 |
180 |
166 |
171 |
203 |
134 |
69 |
65 |
101 |
110 |
1,640 |
|
|
Farriery |
21 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
5 |
44 |
|||||||
|
Industrial Insulation |
7 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
23 |
|||||||
|
Metal Fabrication |
266 |
256 |
223 |
199 |
198 |
190 |
192 |
87 |
57 |
60 |
103 |
1,831 |
|
|
Sheet Metalworking |
98 |
69 |
74 |
67 |
46 |
51 |
68 |
31 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
533 |
|
|
Toolmaking |
43 |
46 |
39 |
34 |
33 |
15 |
21 |
18 |
31 |
42 |
57 |
379 |
|
|
Total |
636 |
583 |
516 |
466 |
448 |
466 |
443 |
214 |
171 |
220 |
287 |
4,450 |
|
|
Motor |
|||||||||||||
|
Agricultural Mechanics |
67 |
45 |
50 |
51 |
51 |
62 |
48 |
18 |
26 |
21 |
19 |
458 |
|
|
Construction Plant Fitting |
82 |
84 |
102 |
103 |
88 |
94 |
64 |
26 |
30 |
32 |
45 |
750 |
|
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
193 |
140 |
105 |
136 |
135 |
151 |
117 |
92 |
65 |
59 |
74 |
1,267 |
|
|
Motor Mechanics |
458 |
419 |
404 |
453 |
439 |
450 |
415 |
158 |
191 |
221 |
253 |
3,861 |
|
|
Vehicle Body Repairs |
93 |
100 |
102 |
111 |
95 |
69 |
109 |
50 |
28 |
32 |
23 |
812 |
|
|
Total |
893 |
788 |
763 |
854 |
808 |
826 |
753 |
344 |
340 |
365 |
414 |
7,148 |
|
|
Printing |
|||||||||||||
|
Print Media |
14 |
44 |
30 |
14 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
116 |
|||||
|
Carton Maker ** |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
|
Bookbinder ** |
7 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
15 |
||||||||
|
Originator ** |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
||||||||
|
Printer ** |
10 |
18 |
15 |
10 |
20 |
73 |
|||||||
|
Total |
23 |
25 |
18 |
10 |
41 |
44 |
30 |
14 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
219 |
|
|
National Total |
6,932 |
7,337 |
8,239 |
8,304 |
8,306 |
6,763 |
3,765 |
1,535 |
1,204 |
1,307 |
1,434 |
55,126 |
* Cabinet Making and Wood Machining amalgamated into a new trade of Wood Manufacturing & Finishing.
** Trades Amalgamated into a new trade of Print Media.
291. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide statistics, in tabular form, for the number of construction related apprenticeships completed within FÁS each year for the past ten years per training category [4342/13]
View answerFÁS have provided the statistics as requested by the Deputy in the attached document.
APPRENTICE CERTIFICATION STATISTICES - CONSTRUCTION TRADES 2002 - 2012
(25/1/2013)
|
TRADE |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
Grand Total |
|
BRICK & STONELAYING |
224 |
159 |
272 |
259 |
259 |
332 |
307 |
197 |
176 |
133 |
82 |
2400 |
|
CABINET MAKING |
174 |
166 |
188 |
161 |
182 |
138 |
126 |
118 |
82 |
73 |
55 |
1463 |
|
CARPENTRY & JOINERY |
755 |
671 |
1076 |
999 |
959 |
998 |
1275 |
836 |
783 |
797 |
556 |
9705 |
|
FLOOR & WALL TILING |
5 |
22 |
16 |
16 |
24 |
19 |
27 |
12 |
6 |
6 |
153 |
|
|
PAINTING & DECORATING |
71 |
55 |
92 |
80 |
69 |
91 |
58 |
57 |
50 |
37 |
25 |
685 |
|
PLASTERING |
48 |
59 |
72 |
51 |
87 |
128 |
150 |
115 |
76 |
81 |
55 |
922 |
|
PLUMBING |
344 |
341 |
387 |
474 |
500 |
719 |
740 |
660 |
557 |
638 |
578 |
5938 |
|
WOOD MACHINING |
18 |
20 |
21 |
29 |
17 |
14 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
146 |
|
National Total |
1639 |
1471 |
2130 |
2069 |
2089 |
2444 |
2682 |
2019 |
1743 |
1766 |
1360 |
21412 |
Provided by FAS
292. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maximise the number of training and or up skilling places likely to be provided through SOLAS and or other agencies with consequent reduction in the numbers on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4538/13]
View answerDespite reducing resources, my Department will fund up to 430,000 education and training places across the range of provision in the higher education, further education and training sectors in 2013. Owing to the number of long-term unemployed and the need to keep these individuals close to the labour market, places on certain programmes have been prioritised specifically for those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more. In relation to SOLAS, the recently published SOLAS Implementation Plan further articulates a key role for SOLAS in terms of proposing a clear strategy for the Further Education and Training sector that is consistent with policy in this area to enable informed prioritisation of scarce resources by my Department and its agencies.
293. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a third level grant has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon despite the fact that they have submitted additional requested information on three occasions to Student Universal Support Ireland. [3706/13]
View answerFollowing initial submission of a grant application, students progressing to the next stage of the assessment process are issued with a checklist of documentary evidence which they need to provide in order to complete their application. This checklist is tailored from the specific information provided on the student's application. The checklist outlines the supporting documentation required and where this documentation can be sourced. In the case of the student referred to by the Deputy the initial documentation provided was incomplete. When the documentation was subsequently provided, it emerged that further information omitted from his initial on-line application needed to be submitted. Officials in my Department have also confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that his application is currently being assessed and a letter will issue shortly to the student outlining the position.
294. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the existing anti-racist educational programmes targeting school children will be introduced to all educators, possibly through the reformed Junior Certificate syllabus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3752/13]
View answerThe Framework for Junior Certificate, published in October 2012, is underpinned by the 8 principles, 8 key skills and 24 Statements of Learning. Taking these on board, each school will have the flexibility to develop their junior cycle programme to meet the needs of their students. One of the 8 principles in the Framework is "Inclusive Education". This will require that "The educational experience is inclusive of all students and contributes to equality of opportunity, participation and outcomes for all". A number of the Statements of Learning are relevant to anti-racism and these will focus on what students should know, understand, value and be able to do at the end of junior cycle, having fully engaged with and participated in the junior cycle programme of their school.
Through the Statements of Learning the student will "appreciate and respect how diverse values, beliefs and traditions have contributed to the communities and culture in which she/he lives"; and will "value what it means to be an active citizen, with rights and responsibilities in local and wider contexts". The new Framework will, therefore, give schools and their students the opportunity to, inter alia, incorporate anti-racism into their programmes.
295. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a student (details supplied) in County Clare will be notified of a decision with regard a Student Universal Support Ireland appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3794/13]
View answerStudent Universal Support Ireland has confirmed that the applicant referred to by the Deputy appealed the decision on her grant with regard to the rate of grant awarded and that a letter on the appeal issued on 23rd January, 2013. 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.
296. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school bus service will be provided in new estates (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3802/13]
View answerThe purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of the scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. These eligibility criteria are applied equitably on a national basis. The families referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, do not meet the minimum distance eligibility criterion and therefore, under the terms of the scheme, the establishment of a school transport service cannot be considered.
