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Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 104-113

Gas Exploration Revenue

Questions (104)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the declared profits from Kinsale Gas since its commencement; the total tax take to the State and the effective tax rate; if he will provide a breakdown by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4597/13]

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Written answers

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality they are not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (105, 106)

Seán Fleming

Question:

105. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the number of agency and contract staff currently employed under the aegis of his Department; the mechanism in place for monitoring and managing the associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10983/13]

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Clare Daly

Question:

106. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the numbers and cost of agency staff under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11063/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.

My Department does not employ agency staff. In my Department the following are employed on a contract basis : 6 Clerical Officers (1 year temporary contract), 4 Administrative Officers (1 year temporary contract), 1 HR Manager (3 year contract) and, 1 Banking Specialist (1 year contract), 2 Special Advisers (contract is co-terminus with the Minister), 1 Personal Assistant (contract is co-terminus with the Minister), 2 Civilian Drivers (contract is co-terminus with the Minister), I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they do not use employment agencies to employ staff.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they currently employ a total of fifteen (15) Temporary Clerical Officers to assist with peak business activity. These temporary posts are for periods of twelve weeks or less. These staff have been recruited through the Public Appointments Service and under a strictly limited sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Their pay and associated costs are accounted for in Revenue Commissioner’s Vote, which is reported on a monthly basis to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The position in respect of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is as follows:

Number of Staff

Estimated Cost for 2013

Agency Staff

4

€69,000

**Contract Staff

8

€197,000

**The temporary engagement of qualified accountants to address short term gaps in resources.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Questions (107)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

107. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the basis on which St. Patrick's mother and baby home, Navan Road, Dublin was added to the institutions covered by the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme by Statutory Order No. 518 of 2005. [10707/13]

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Written answers

While the original Schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002 included 123 institutions, section 4 of the Act empowered the Minister to add certain additional institutions to the Schedule by Order. St. Patrick's Mother and Baby Home was added to the Schedule on the basis that it operated as a children's home and came within the scope of section 4 of the Act.

School Accommodation

Questions (108)

Martin Ferris

Question:

108. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that a grant for prefabricated rental to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry is not withdrawn in the summer of 2013. [10454/13]

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Written answers

I can confirm that a review of the temporary accommodation at the above school took place in July 2012 as per standard practice when the rental contract was due to expire. My Department advised the school at that time that rental grant aid would continue to be approved until June 2013. Correspondence in this regard has been received recently from the school. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authority shortly in the matter.

School Accommodation

Questions (109)

David Stanton

Question:

109. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress regarding additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10469/13]

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Written answers

I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school to which he refers. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority shortly.

School Accommodation

Questions (110)

David Stanton

Question:

110. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress regarding additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10470/13]

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Written answers

The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for the provision of a sport hall.

Given the current financial constraints within which my Department is operating, the position is that priority is being given to school applications for essential mainstream classroom accommodation. In this regard, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet the demographic demand, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. It is not possible, therefore, at this time to indicate when a project for the school in question will be progressed.

School Accommodation

Questions (111)

David Stanton

Question:

111. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress regarding additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10471/13]

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Written answers

The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In October 2012, the Department authorised the project to proceed to Stage 2b which includes Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. Due to competing demands on the 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 last year.

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 in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in this context.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (112)

Noel Coonan

Question:

112. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10478/13]

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Written answers

The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning.

The school is currently working with its Design Team on the Stage 2a - Developed Design.

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.

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 in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years.

The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context.

School Accommodation

Questions (113)

Noel Coonan

Question:

113. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary that have applied for major capital funding; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10479/13]

View answer

Written answers

The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a major school project involving the provision of a General Purpose Room and ancillary accommodation.

Given the current financial constraints within which my Department is operating, the position is that priority is being given to school applications for essential mainstream classroom accommodation. In this regard, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet the demographic demand, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years.

The current status of all projects on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.

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