Written Answers Nos. 106-114
106. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the activities undertaken by the National Asset Management Agency in anticipation of acquiring loans from Irish Bank Resolution Corporation; if NAMA has engaged external assistance in undertaking these activities; and if so, if he will confirm the companies or persons engaged and fees payable. [9233/13]
View answerI am advised that NAMA is currently reviewing its options and will determine its approach in due course.
107. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Special Liquidator of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation will entertain approaches and offers from individual mortgage borrowers to buy out their outstanding loans; and the range of discounts on offer by the special liquidator to potential buyers of mortgage lending. [9234/13]
View answerThere is an obligation on the Special Liquidators to ensure that the assets of IBRC are sold at a price which maximises the overall return for its creditors. As part of the role of the liquidators, the assets of IBRC will be valued independently before being sold. Any assets not sold to third parties (including loan counterparties and other financial institutions) at or above the valuation price will be sold to NAMA at the independent valuation. The Special Liquidators are still in the process of devising and implementing a sales process in respect of IBRC’s assets however it is unlikely that individual mortgage lots will be put up for sale as part of this process.
108. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a schedule of approved payments where the payment was for a sum in excess of €1 million made by Irish Bank Resolution Corporation for the seven days prior to 4.30 p.m. on 6 February 2013 and to provide a similar schedule for payments made in the seven days from 4.30 p.m. on 6 February 2013. [9235/13]
View answerThe payments in excess of €1m made by IBRC for the seven days prior and post the liquidation are commercially sensitive matters and therefore I cannot provide such information. It is normal course of practise that payments made by IBRC and the Special Liquidator are conducted under appropriate confidentiality constraints in order to protect the interests of all parties.
109. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a schedule of individuals and companies which the special liquidator of Irish bank Resolution Corporation regards as necessary for the ongoing functioning of IBRC during the liquidation period. [9236/13]
View answerAt this early stage of the special liquidation the Special Liquidators are engaged in intensive processes which involve inter alia, asserting control over the businesses, processes, systems and personnel of IBRC. It is important that focus is placed on assessing, reorganising and restructuring the day–to-day activities of the Bank to meet the primary objective of ensuring the purpose of the special liquidation is achieved, as this is key to ensuring that maximum value is extracted from the liquidation. The schedule of individuals and companies regarded as necessary for the on-going functioning of IBRC during the Liquidation period is a matter for the Special Liquidator and as such I have no role in this matter.
110. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements being contemplated to meet the language skills gap for recently announced enterprise projects for Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9132/13]
View answerThere is considerable investment by my Department in language provision. A range of foreign languages are available on the curriculum in second level schools – French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Arabic – and the school system is producing a large supply of students who have studied foreign languages. Every year, over 30,000 students sit a European language for the Leaving Certificate, including around 26,000 in French, 6,700 in German and 4,000 in Spanish, with smaller numbers taking other languages. The availability of Transition Year and the option of school developed short courses proposed as part of junior cycle reform will provide opportunities for schools to provide additional languages, if they so choose.
Prospective students then have access to a wide range of further and higher education courses with a foreign language as either a core subject or in combination with a range of other disciplines. In addition, a number of foreign language programmes have been selected for funding through the Springboard initiative, which provides free part time higher places targeted at unemployed people in areas of identified skills needs. Employer input and research by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs informed the development and selection of these Springboard programmes.
Almost 12% of our post-primary students, as well as our general population, are of nationalities other than Irish. Many would have a mother tongue that is not English. These individuals also represent a potential valuable local resource for employers to draw upon. Leaving Certificate examinations are offered in a number of other non-curricular EU languages to students who meet certain criteria including that they speak the language as a mother tongue. Some 1,500 students took 16 additional languages in 2012.
111. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on a higher education grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8989/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 14th February, 2013.
112. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on a higher education grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8990/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 8th February 2013, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
113. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering an appeal against the decision to refuse a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8991/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application from the student in question is being reviewed and SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome shortly.
114. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Student Universal Support Ireland appeal reassessments upheld on 25 January 2013 have still not been processed to date and will have to wait a further two weeks for a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8992/13]
View answerIt is understood from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), that re-assessments that arose out of the appeals process where the initial decision of the grant awarding authority was overturned on 25th January 2013 have all been re-assessed. In some cases further documentation may be have been requested from the applicant in order for a final decision.
