Written Answers Nos. 357-376
357. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Limerick Institute of Technology staff specifically supporting the Clonmel campus of LIT Tipperary as defined under shared services; the total salary cost of staff at the Clonmel campus of LIT Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24329/13]
View answerThis data is not available in my Department. I have asked the Higher Education Authority to request the information sought by the deputy from Limerick Institute of Technology. It will be forwarded as soon as it has been made available to me.
358. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding extra supports and assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24352/13]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
359. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the measures taken to support the position and role of community education under the changing of further education and training structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24369/13]
View answerI recognise that further education and training, as it is currently delivered, covers a broad spectrum of education that ranges from basic adult literacy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Further Education and Training is accessed by all manner of learners, ranging from adult learners to early school leavers. It is delivered in formal classroom settings and in less formal settings based in the community. It is essentially a flexible form of education that can meet the diverse needs of learners in the most appropriate setting.
Since the publication of the Bill a number of concerns have been raised regarding the definition of further education and training. I am aware that many providers want greater recognition of this dimension to be reflected in the legislation.
At Committee Stage on 1st May, I undertook to examine the issue further. Accordingly I have asked officials in the Department to give consideration to the matters raised, ahead of Report Stage in the Dáil in the coming weeks.
360. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an action plan will commence within his Department based on the findings of the School Completers - What's Next report highlighting the low college participation rate for school leavers in designated disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24379/13]
View answerA new National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2014-2019) is currently being prepared by the National Access Office for my Department. The findings of the School Completers - What's Next report will be considered in the context of this new Access Plan.
363. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary was not granted supplementary panel rights; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the teacher in question meets the service and pay scale requirements; if he considers this exclusion to be fair and reasonable; if he will review this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24487/13]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers.Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
The arrangements for panel access for fixed term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers for the 2013/14 school year are set out in Department Circular 0038/2012 which is available on the Department website. The Supplementary Panel is created for eligible primary teachers in fixed term/temporary positions (this includes substitute positions) and part-time positions who meet the relevant eligibility criteria outlined in Part 2 of this circular.
The teacher referred to by the Deputy failed to meet the criteria and is therefore ineligible to be included on the supplementary panel.
364. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the status of an application for a replacement primary school (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [24495/13]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2(b) (Detailed Design) is nearing completion.
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 previously initiated 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.
365. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will set out in tabular form the names of all State-owned or substantially State-funded organisations under his Department whose latest accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas are more than one year old - that is, relating to a period ending before May 2012; and those of all such organisations whose latest accounts are more than two years old - that is, relating to a period ending before May 2011. [25020/13]
View answerUnder the provisions of the 2009 'Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies' a number of bodies under the aegis of my Department are required to lay their Accounts before the House of the Oireachtas. A list of these bodies are:
- Education Finance Board (EFB);
- FÁS;
- Grangegorman Development Agency;
- Higher Education Authority;
- National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA);
- National Council for Special Education (NCSE);
- Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC);
- Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC);
- National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI);
- State Examinations Commission (SEC);
It should be noted that while the accounts may relate to a period prior to May 2012 for certain of the bodies, they are nevertheless in accordance with the requirement of the Code of Practice. The accounts of these bodies are available in the Oireachtas Library and may be available on their website.
In addition the VECs and some higher level institutions are also required to lay their accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas and these can be found in the Oireachtas Library also.
366. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline any deadlines which exist for the laying of accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of State-owned or substantially State-funded agencies. [24088/13]
View answer367. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the impact on good governance and transparency of allowing the laying of accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of State-owned or State-funded agencies to take place more than ten months after the end of the period to which the accounts relate. [24089/13]
View answer369. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on imposing rules on all State-owned or substantially State-funded agencies so that they are compelled to lay their accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas using the same deadlines that apply in the private sector for limited liability corporations. [24091/13]
View answer370. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason there are substantial delays between the auditing of the accounts of State-owned or substantially State-funded agencies by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the laying of such audited accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [24092/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 366, 367, 369 and 370 together.
Public accountability requires that accounts be produced and audited within a reasonable timeframe. The arrangements for the subsequent laying of documents before the Houses of the Oireachtas reflect this requirement and are consistent with the principles of good governance and transparency.
The requirements for the timely production and submission of accounts of bodies and funds (Circular 4 of 2011) require that accounts of bodies or funds should be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within three months of their being audited by the C&AG. Departments are responsible for the compliance of all bodies under their aegis with these requirements and are required to ensure that all relevant bodies under their aegis are notified of and fulfil these requirements. The main provisions are as follows:
- The accounts or financial statements of bodies of funds under the aegis of Departments and Offices and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General should be presented to the sponsoring Department by each body within one month of the audit certificate on the accounts being issued by the Comptroller and Auditor General, together with any report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts.
- Each Department is required to lay the audited accounts of bodies and funds under its aegis before the Houses of the Oireachtas within two months of such accounts being received by the Department, together with any report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts.
- Where a Department must first present these accounts to the Government, Departments are required to do this at the earliest opportunity and in such cases Departments must, in any event, lay the accounts of the body or fund before the Houses of the Oireachtas within three months of their being received by the Department.
- In the case of bodies which must first present their audited accounts at the Annual General Meeting of the body for adoption, the accounts should be sent to the parent Department within one month of the AGM at which the accounts are adopted, and if possible not later than three months after the Comptroller and Auditor General has issued the audit certificate on the accounts.
In the context of the reference to private sector requirements, the reporting timeframes outlined above are shaped by public accountability requirements, taking account of the statutory framework for the production, audit and transmission of accounts. These arrangements are kept under review by this Department, in consultation with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
368. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out in tabular form the names of all State-owned or substantially State-funded organisations whose latest accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas are more than one year old - that is, relating to a period ending before May 2012; and the names of such organisations whose latest accounts are more than two years old - that is, relating to a period ending before May 2011.. [24090/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question I can confirm that the last Annual Accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Special EU Programmes Body, which is under my remit, was for the year ending 31 December 2011, i.e. more than one year old.
The 2012 Accounts have been prepared and presented to the Body's Audit and Risk Committee. Once this is completed the Accounts have to be audited by the Northern Ireland Audit Office and are then laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas when they are certified by both the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Comptroller & Auditor General.
371. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will accept a request to meet with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants to discuss proposed cuts to pensions over €32,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23738/13]
View answerFollowing a request for a meeting which I have received from the Alliance of Retired Public Servants, it has been agreed that a meeting will take place in the near future between officials of my Department and representatives of the Alliance.
372. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline how the 2% cut to public service pensions will be applied to pensions between €32,500 and €34,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23739/13]
View answerFollowing the decision last month by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to reject the Labour Relations Commission proposals for a Public Service Agreement 2013 –2016, the Commission, at the request of Government, made contact with the parties to establish whether a basis could be found for a negotiated public service agreement to meet budgetary targets.
Considerable progress has been reported at the resultant talks conducted under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. The Government is considering the emerging outcome of this process before deciding on how to secure the required level of savings from public service pay and pensions.
In this context, and pending finalisation of the position with regard to the requisite pay and pension adjustments, I believe it would not be appropriate for me at this stage to set out detailed specifics in respect of individual measures which may be adopted.
373. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the decision taken by the Shannon Airport Authority to allow farming organisations to cut grass on property owned by it to help alleviate fodder shortages in the local area, if he will ask those agencies, companies, authorities, boards and so on that come within his remit to consider similar initiatives on suitable public lands owned by them in conjunction with representatives of local farming organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23773/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question the Office of Public Works is currently examining all land banks within its remit. OPW currently provides silage to local farmers adjacent to many of its sites by way of concession and arrangement. Some examples of this include Doneraile Wildlife Park and Emo Court.
In addition, while some of OPW properties have herds of deer and livestock on them; excess supply of silage is always made available to local landowners. OPW is also in regular contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (as the lead Department) who liaise with the farming community/organisations in the usual course in the examination of land banks.
374. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made between the Office of Public Works and the Irish Insurance Federation in respect of insurance companies' inappropriate use of preliminary flood risk assessment maps to assess and decide on flood risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/13]
View answerOn foot of my constructive engagement with the insurance industry last year, a working group has been established between the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) and representatives of the main insurance companies operating in the Irish market to progress work on agreeing a viable basis for the exchange of information on flood defence schemes completed by the OPW. This will allow the insurance industry to be fully informed as to the extent of OPW investment in flood protection measures and to take that investment fully into account in assessing flood risk for insurance purposes.
The OPW raised the matter of the use of the preliminary flood risk assessment maps with the Irish Insurance Federation and that body has clarified that the insurance industry uses its own flood risk mapping rather than the PFRA maps to assess risk for flood cover.
375. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline in tabular form the amount of travel and subsistence, both foreign and domestic, claimed individually by each Minister, Minister of State and Secretary General in his Department, for each year in the period 2005 to March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23821/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question my Department did not exist until July 2011 but the following is a list of travel and subsistence, foreign and domestic, claimed by the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works from 2005 to March 2011:
Ministers of State Travel & Subsistence Costs 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2011
|
Minister |
Year |
Domestic T&S - € |
Foreign T&S - € |
Total - € |
|
Brian Hayes |
2011 |
371.62 |
0.00 |
371.62 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2011 |
2,055.05 |
0.00 |
2,055.05 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2010 |
12,799.86 |
14,409.00 |
27,208.86 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2009 |
14,125.64 |
6,381.58 |
20,507.22 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2008 |
10,522.39 |
4,732.49 |
15,254.88 |
|
Noel Ahern |
2008 |
9,164.16 |
4,107.63 |
13,271.79 |
|
Noel Ahern |
2007 |
10,079.49 |
899.44 |
10,978.93 |
|
Tom Parlon |
2007 |
19,809.49 |
21,571.41 |
41,380.90 |
|
Tom Parlon |
2006 |
48,368.76 |
34,126.84 |
82,495.60 |
|
Tom Parlon |
2005 |
46,849.08 |
21,092.17 |
67,941.25 |
376. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline in tabular form the number of staff appointed by each Minister and Minister of State in his Department or constituency office and their relevant costs including travel and subsistence, in each year for the period 2005 to March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23837/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question my Department did not exist until July 2011 but the following is a list of staff appointed by the Minister of State in the Office of Public Works and his Constituency Office and their relevant costs including travel and subsistence from 2005 to March 2011.
Minister of State in OPW Salary and Travel & Subsistence costs for staff appointed from 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2011
|
- |
- |
- |
Travel and Subsistence Costs |
Travel and Subsistence Costs |
Travel and Subsistence Costs |
Pay Costs |
- |
- |
|
Minister |
Year |
No of Staff |
Domestic |
Foreign |
Total |
Salary Costs |
Employer's PRSI |
Total |
|
Brian Hayes |
2011 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
456.50 |
47.82 |
504.32 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2011 |
4 |
1,597.92 |
0.00 |
1,597.92 |
44,561.50 |
3,524.73 |
48,086.23 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2010 |
4 |
10,843.36 |
0.00 |
10,843.36 |
162,165.65 |
13,146.35 |
175,312.00 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2009 |
4 |
5,956.56 |
280.21 |
6,236.77 |
166,888.30 |
13,893.07 |
180,781.37 |
|
Dr Martin Mansergh |
2008 |
4 |
2,580.33 |
0.00 |
2,580.33 |
70,066.14 |
6,314.23 |
76,380.37 |
|
Noel Ahern |
2008 |
4 |
372.31 |
48.32 |
420.63 |
68,705.81 |
7,331.23 |
76,037.04 |
|
Noel Ahern |
2007 |
4 |
441.93 |
0.00 |
441.93 |
84,580.49 |
9,038.62 |
93,619.11 |
|
Tom Parlon |
2007 |
4 |
29,718.73 |
0.00 |
29,718.73 |
85,246.54 |
9,124.61 |
94,371.15 |
|
Tom Parlon |
2006 |
4 |
15,813.54 |
0.00 |
15,813.54 |
157,091.36 |
16,823.46 |
173,914.82 |
|
Tom Parlon |
2005 |
4 |
4,386.24 |
0.00 |
4,386.24 |
157,182.79 |
16,822.49 |
174,005.28 |
