Written Answers Nos. 94 - 101
94. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications the National Asset Management Agency has made to date to change the zoning of land under its control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10898/13]
View answerNAMA advises that its role in relation to properties is that of a secured lender and that applications of the nature referenced by the Deputy are made by the owner of these properties or, in the case of enforcement, by appointed insolvency practitioner on their behalf.
95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he expects economic growth projections to be improved in the wake of the agreement in respect of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation promissory notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10920/13]
View answer104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent, if any, to which growth and competitiveness are affected by the agreement in respect of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation promissory notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10929/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 104 together.
The agreement to replace the promissory notes with long-dated sovereign bonds will have many benefits for Ireland. From an economic perspective, one of the key benefits is in helping to restore confidence - the confidence of households, the confidence of firms and the confidence of the international community - although it is difficult, at this early stage, to quantify this. In that context, my Department will be publishing its revised macro-economic and budgetary forecasts in the Stability Programme Update in April. These projections will be informed by the economic and fiscal information that will have become available since the previous forecasts were published in December 2012.
96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the competitiveness of the economy has improved when compared with other EU economies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10921/13]
View answer97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the competitiveness of the Irish economy continues to maintain its position with our major trading partners with particular reference to the effect of currency fluctuation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10922/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
Substantial progress has been made in terms of improving our competitiveness. Relatively lower price inflation in recent years means that Irish price levels have fallen relative to our major trading partners. For instance, in 2012 HICP inflation for Ireland was 2.0 per cent, lower than the euro area average of 2.5 per cent. This trend looks set to continue into this year, with HICP for January at 1.5 per cent in Ireland compared with a rate of 2.0 per cent for the euro area as a whole. Indeed Ireland’s HICP inflation rate has now been below or on par with the euro area average for every month since May 2008.
At the same time there has been a significant improvement in economy-wide cost competitiveness. Indeed, the European Commission recently forecast that our nominal unit labour costs will improve by 23 per cent relative to those in the euro area over the period 2008 - 2014. The recent appreciation of the exchange rate against both sterling and the dollar is unhelpful. However, it must be seen in the context of the relative improvement in prices and costs - in other words, variables that we can exert some influence over.
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the various lending agencies have increased their lending in line with growth projection requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10923/13]
View answer99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which any initiative has been taken by the banking sector with a view to meeting the ongoing credit requirements in the business, retail and commercial sectors; if lending in these areas is in line with economic requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10924/13]
View answer101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which individual banks within the banking sector are making an effort to meet the credit requirements of business with the objective of encouraging economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10926/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 99 and 101 together.
The Government recognises that SMEs are the lifeblood of the economy and will play a vital role in the recovery of employment growth in our country. One of the key priorities of the Programme for Government is to ensure that an adequate pool of credit is available to fund SMEs in the real economy during the restructuring and downsizing programme. Details of lending by the individual banks are commercially sensitive but the Central Bank does publish information on Credit Advanced to Irish Resident Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. This is available at http://www.centralbank.ie/polstats/stats/cmab/Documents/ie_table_a.14.1_credit_advanced_to_irish_resident_small_and_medium_sized_enterprises.xls.
The Government has imposed SME lending targets on the two domestic pillar banks for the three calendar years, 2011 to 2013. Each bank was required to sanction lending of at least €3 billion in 2011, €3.5 billion in 2012 and €4 billion in 2013 for new or increased credit facilities to SMEs. As the Deputy may be aware, the Credit Reviewer said in his most recent quarterly report that “Both banks have achieved their €3.5bn SME loan sanction targets. Over €8bn was sanctioned in 2012; of which approx. €2.5bn (27%) is new lending drawn down.” According to the Credit Review Office, the balance of the sanctioned lending represented restructured or refinanced credit to SMEs. The Credit Review Office in the past has noted that this is important in terms of sustaining the businesses and the associated jobs.
One of the most powerful ways of ensuring that the pillar banks provide credit to viable SMEs is through access to the Credit Review process. The Credit Review Office can review decisions by the pillar banks to refuse, reduce or withdraw credit facilities, including applications for restructured credit facilities, from €1,000 up to €500,000. The Credit Review Office is currently overturning 55% of the refusal decisions referred to them and anyone eligible who has been refused credit by the banks should avail of the services of the Credit Review Office.
In addition to the lending targets imposed on the banks, the pillar banks are required to submit their lending plans to the Department and the Credit Review Office (CRO) at the beginning of each year, outlining how they intend to achieve their lending targets. The banks have submitted their lending plans for 2013 to my Department. My Department, in conjunction with the CRO, has analysed the plans and we have begun our meetings with the banks to discuss the plans. The banks also meet with the Department of Finance and the CRO on a quarterly basis to discuss progress. The monthly management meetings with the pillar banks also provide a forum for the issue of SME lending to be raised by the Department.
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the total number of family homes repossessed, on an annual basis, over the past five years to date; the number of such homes in negative equity at the time of repossession; if such properties were disposed of to individual purchasers such as first-time home buyers or to investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10927/13]
View answer103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which foreclosures by lending institutions have taken place over the past five years, in respect of properties which were insured against bad debt by the lender and honoured by the insurers or the subject of mortgage protection insurance by the borrower; the extent to which insurance cover has been honoured by the insurers in both instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10928/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.
The Central Bank has provided me with the following figures which show the number of PDH properties taken into banks’ possession in each quarter since 2009 Q3. This is when the Central Bank started collecting this data.
|
PDH |
Q3 2009 |
Q4 2009 |
Q1 2010 |
Q2 2010 |
Q3 2010 |
Q4 2010 |
Q1 2011 |
Q2 2011 |
Q3 2011 |
Q4 2011 |
Q1 2012 |
Q2 2012 |
Q3 2012 |
|
Properties repossessed on foot of a Court Order |
31 |
27 |
26 |
20 |
22 |
34 |
49 |
54 |
43 |
50 |
65 |
44 |
47 |
|
Properties voluntary surrendered / abandoned |
79 |
74 |
64 |
65 |
59 |
72 |
91 |
119 |
119 |
83 |
105 |
102 |
107 |
The Central Bank has also informed me that it does not have data on which of the PDHs were in negative equity, or who they were subsequently sold to, nor does it collect data on the insurance status of those houses which were subject to foreclosure.
105. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in the context of the restructuring of FÁS to SOLAS, consideration has been given to the sale of the FÁS head office on 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin; if he will confirm the date on which the lease on this building expires and the annual rent on this lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10741/13]
View answerFÁS does not own the FÁS Head Office building on 27-33 Upper Baggot Street. The building is rented under a lease that expires in December 2013. The gross annual rent on this lease is €3.2 million per annum before taking into account the rent receivable from sub-tenants.
106. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a resource teacher in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/13]
View answer107. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that will be adversely affected by the decision to suppress base posts in schools with two hours or more of surplus capacity which have not been utilised for resource hours approved by the National Council for Special Education on or before 31 December 2012, page 8 circular 13/2013; the reason this decision was not indicated to schools prior to the circular being published; the appeals procedure in place for schools who have the required hours for the school year 2013/14; and if he will ensure that base posts are restored swiftly in such cases. [10753/13]
View answer112. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10866/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 107, and 112 together.
85% of all NCSE approved resource teaching hours in the 2012/13 school year were allocated to schools that had resource base posts. There are some slight changes to the location of these base posts for the 2013/14 school year to further improve the efficiency of these arrangements. The schools that were affected by these changes were those where the posts were not fully utilised for NCSE approved resource hours or where the teacher in the post was predominantly based in a neighbouring school. The full criteria used is set out in the Department's Staffing Circular 0013/2013 which was recently published on the Department website. Base schools are required to co-operate with their neighbouring schools to ensure that any surplus capacity in the (25 hour) resource posts is made available to neighbouring schools to meet their NCSE approved resource hour requirements. If the surplus capacity is fully utilised there are standard arrangements in place for the relevant schools to contact the Department for part-time resource teaching posts.
108. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the non-implementation of the February 2009 Labour Court recommendation in relation to the directors of vocational education committee outdoor education centres, the stated reason for which was the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, if he will consider a referral back to the Labour Court for a binding decision in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10764/13]
View answerFollowing protracted negotiations, my Department consented to an ad hoc referral to the Labour Court of a claim from TUI for a pay increase for Directors of Education Centres. The Labour Court subsequently issued a non-binding recommendation in 2009 in respect of this claim. Due to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, this Labour Court recommendation cannot be implemented. Following the first review of the Croke Park Agreement, it was agreed that a review of adjudication findings that were outstanding at the time of the Agreement would be conducted. This review is ongoing. In this context, my Department is not currently in a position to implement the Labour Court recommendation of 9 February 2009 in respect of the Directors of the VEC Outdoor Education Centres and it would not be appropriate that the matter be referred back to the Labour Court.
109. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the participation of Travellers and the reason so many are leaving post-primary education. [10836/13]
View answerRecorded Traveller participation rates in education in recent years show an increase. In the 2004/05 school year, approximately 1,850 Traveller pupils aged between thirteen and eighteen (inclusive) were recorded as enrolled in post-primary schools and this increased to 2,698 in 2011/12 school year. The majority of Traveller students transfer from primary to post-primary education. Participation rates in the junior cycle have steadily improved from 1,598 Traveller students recorded in 2004/05 to 1,898 in the 2011/12 school year. The number of Travellers progressing to senior cycle has consistently improved in recent years from 260 in 2004/05 to 800 in 2011/12. Some 25% of young Travellers leave mainstream post-primary education, before completion of the senior cycle. A number of contributory factors affecting low levels of attendance, attainment, and retention among Traveller students in post primary education have been identified, including:
- negative school experiences and low expectations by some schools, parents, and pupils
- a lack of understanding of the post-primary curriculum, concerns about the content of the curriculum and the availability of different courses, the variety of post-primary personnel and the number of subjects available, different levels on offer in each subject
- a lack of understanding of the role of different types of teachers and other educational professionals,
- a lack of inclusion policies,
- a lack of positive recognition of Traveller culture and life
- Peer pressure
- the cost of post-primary education and homework difficulties
- traditions of early school leaving within the Traveller community, where young girls leave school to prepare for marriage while young teenage boys leave to work, and
- the availability of training allowances for sixteen to eighteen year olds in the Youthreach programme may result in some students, including Traveller students, leaving mainstream post-primary education early.
The principle of inclusion is at the core of my Department's policy document on Traveller education - the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy. The focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school evaluation. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system are allocated on the basis of individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background. The Traveller Education Advisory and Consultative Forum, which has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Strategy is currently working to a thematic approach to address the core issues of attendance, attainment, and retention of young Travellers in education. The recently launched Action Plan on Bullying sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools, including measures to address the type of bullying that might be experienced by members of the Travelling community and may be a factor in non-attendance and early school leaving. In addition, the Intercultural Education Strategy which was launched in September 2010 is being implemented to assist in the creation of an intercultural, integrated, and inclusive learning environment in all sectors of education. Emphasis is placed on the need for school communities to continue to adopt and implement inclusive school policies to cater for societal diversity where all participants develop an openness to change in the inclusive school model.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2011, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent and is available on my Department's website. I also invited education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department. The feedback from this consultation has helped inform the nature and scope of a new regulatory framework for school enrolment. I intend to bring legislative proposals to Government this year, the primary aim of which will be to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that every child has a place at school, including Traveller children.
