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Wednesday, 13 Mar 2013

Written answers Nos. 67-74

Property Taxation Collection

Questions (67)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

67. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has calculated the potential effect the property tax will have on the property market. [13440/13]

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Written answers

Work carried out by researchers in the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) before the introduction of the Local Property Tax concluded that a property tax at a rate of 0.4% would result in a small increase in the user cost of housing, thereby putting some downward pressure on housing demand. The Local Property Tax rate of 0.18% (for houses up to €1m in value) is less than half the rate used in the ESRI analysis, and, as such, the impact on housing demand is likely to be minimal. In addition, the property rental market is a competitive market, with many suppliers and renters. Upstream costs such as the Local Property Tax are likely to be passed through in the rental market and as such will not create a disincentive to purchase houses relative to renting.

Construction Sector Strategy

Questions (68, 85)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

68. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a free retraining scheme will be provided for unemployed construction workers to enable them to retrain as installers of water meters; the discussions he has had with Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to ensuring that these unemployed workers will be able to access these jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13391/13]

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Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

85. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Solas-FÁS, has insisted that only qualified plumbers may avail of funding for training courses to engage in work relating to the installation of water meters; the reason unemployed general construction workers cannot be trained to do this work and be funded by Solas-FÁS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13393/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 85 together.

I am informed that in discussions with FÁS, Irish Water have stated that boundary box/water meter installation teams will consist of two persons, one responsible for the excavation/preparation of ground works and the other for the installation of the boundary box/water meter.

I am also informed that FÁS have outlined to Irish Water that qualified Plumbers would have the required skills for the installation of boundary boxes and water meters as this work is covered as part of the four year QQI accredited FÁS Plumbing Apprenticeship. However, it is not a matter for FÁS but ultimately a decision for Irish Water to decide on the qualification requirements relating to water meter installation and should Irish Water decide that qualified plumbers have the required skill sets to install their water meters, then the question of the state 'providing a free retraining scheme for unemployed construction workers to enable them to retrain as installers of water meters' does not arise in view of the levels of unemployed persons with such qualifications.

Public Private Partnerships

Questions (69, 70)

Micheál Martin

Question:

69. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that IT Tallaght has spent €3.5 million from non-Exchequer resources as part of the preparatory phase of a major capital work which his Department included in its commitments under the public capital programme but which has subsequently not been funded; his views on whether it fair that the institute has to carry such a deficit; and if he is proposing to take any remedial action to assist the institute. [13168/13]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

70. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the equity of IT Tallaght losing €3.5 million from student, non-Exchequer resources due to the failure of the State to provide promised capital funding; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this has significant implications for an institute which serves one of the poorest communities in the country. [13169/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos.69 and 70 together.

My Department provided funding of over €1.3m to IT Tallaght to defray costs that it incurred towards necessary enabling external infrastructure works required at the Institute as a prerequisite to the delivery of 3 Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects that were in planning for the Institute. As a result of a requirement to prioritise capital resources in the current difficult fiscal environment, a decision was taken in November 2011 that higher education projects that had not been contractually committed at that stage, including these PPP projects, would not be progressed. However, the nature of the site enabling works undertaken enhances the overall quality of the external environment and will benefit the Institute in the long term.

Schools Building Projects Applications

Questions (71)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

71. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason a new school has been taken off the priority list of buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13201/13]

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Written answers

The school to which the Deputy refers has an application with the Department for large scale capital funding for a replacement school building. My Department is aware of the school's accommodation difficulties and is in regular contact with the school.

To ensure that every child has access to a physical school place, it is vital that there is sufficient school accommodation available to cater for future demographic growth. The delivery of building projects to meet increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the duration of the 5 Year Plan, particularly in those areas where it has been identified that most demographic growth will be concentrated. The area in question has not been identified as an area of significant demographic growth.

Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years. In this regard, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school will be progressed. The current status of all projects, including this school's project, may be viewed on the Department's website at www.education.i.e.. and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.

Irish Language

Questions (72)

Peter Mathews

Question:

72. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of those employed translating material into the Irish language, if he will provide the number of persons employed, FTE, translating material into the Irish language to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act 2003 in each institute of technology and university for each year from 2005 to date; and the amount of money spent in complying with the Official Languages Act 2003 in each institute of technology and university for each year from 2005 to date. [13203/13]

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Written answers

The information sought is not readily available in my Department. Officials of my Department have asked the Higher Education Authority to contact the institutions seeking details and I will forward the available information to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (73)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

73. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the technical report has been assessed for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13211/13]

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Written answers

My Department wrote to the school to which he refers in February 2013 seeking clarification on a number of matters following a visit to the school by my Department's technical staff. A response from the school authorities is awaited.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (74)

Seán Fleming

Question:

74. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a Student Universal Support Ireland grant application will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13217/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, in the case of the student in question, her grant application was refused. The student appealed this decision to the appeals officer in SUSI and the original decision was upheld. A letter outlining the position issued to the student on the 25th February, 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 Student Grants Appeals Board. As a matter of course, SUSI notifies students of this further avenue of appeal when issuing the outcome of its own appeal process.

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