Thursday, 18 Jul 2013

Education and Training Provision

Questions (247)

Tom Fleming

Question:

247. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will set up a tourism training division in conjunction with SOLAS to address the demand in the tourism and hospitality sectors (details supplied). [36759/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the National Tourism Development Authority Act, 2003 the training and education of workers in the tourism and hospitality industry fall under the remit of Fáilte Ireland. Fáilte Ireland have responsibility under the Act for encouraging, promoting and supporting the recruitment, training, and education and development, of persons for the purposes of employment in connection with the tourism industry in the State. My Department has a broader concern that training and education offerings are aligned with the needs of industry and job seekers. In this context, officials of my Department met representatives of the hospitality industry and my Department will continue to examine the availability of genuine job opportunities in this area and review training offerings in that light. However, in the light of Fáilte Ireland's responsibility in this area, there are no plans to establish dedicated arrangements in respect of this sector. It should be noted that FÁS has recently developed a small number of foundation level courses in catering and hospitality through its Local Training Initiatives, Community Training Centres and Specialist Training Providers. These awards/modules are offered in response to specific local requests where there is a recognised employment opportunity.

Educational Disadvantage

Questions (248)

Niall Collins

Question:

248. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any advice to offer to the boards of management of DEIS band primary schools in Tallaght, Dublin 24 on funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36761/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. Therefore it is my intention that the additional resources available to DEIS schools are utilised to optimum benefit to achieve identified outcomes for the most at risk pupils. As part of the DEIS programme a total of €69.1m is being provided to 665 primary schools supporting 100,595 pupils and some 930 additional teacher posts. This funding provides for Reduced Class Sizes; Home School Community Liaison Service; Support Teacher Project; DEIS and Book Grants to individual schools. DEIS Schools are also targeted for supports provided under the Department of Social Protection Schools Meals Programmes (€34m) and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs School Completion Programme (€26.4m). My Department continues to work to ensure that DEIS funding is used effectively. For example, it has recently provided guidelines on the appropriate use of DEIS grant funding in primary and post primary schools, emphasising a number of recommended activities such as at least 10% of DEIS grant to be allocated to Home School Community Liaison activities.

Some of the additional DEIS grant may also be used to meet ancillary costs such as heating, lighting and other miscellaneous charges related to extended openings of school buildings remaining open to cater for clubs and after school activities. The 22 DEIS schools in Tallaght will receive €0.715 million in DEIS grants in 2013/14 school year. Schools have been given the autonomy to work within the guidelines for the appropriate use of DEIS funding and to decide how best to utilise DEIS resources, including the DEIS grant to achieve maximum benefits to the most at risk pupils in line with their DEIS Action Plans and addressing educational disadvantage. These guidelines, which issued in October 2012, now place emphasis on outcomes rather than being too prescriptive in relation to recommended activities and interventions. Information on the full range of supports provided to DEIS schools is available on the Social Inclusion section of my Departments website at following link http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Supporting-Information/Supports-to-DEIS-Schools.html.

Question No. 249 answered with Question No. 208.

Education Grants

Questions (250)

Martin Heydon

Question:

250. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the provisions whereby the grant aid of postgraduate study is limited to four years, even in the case where no grant has previously been awarded, and if this criteria can be reviewed for 2013-2014 in view of the emphasis on high quality training and the smart economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36770/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to inform the Deputy that given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place for postgraduate students.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (251)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

251. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the present gender balance of the total members of State boards under the aegis of his Department; if the ratio has changed significantly over the course of the present Government's term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36788/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that all State Boards have at least 40% of each gender. The breakdown by gender for State Boards under the aegis of my Department for the years 2010 to 2012 is attached in tabular form. I am pleased to note the progress made in that period towards achieving an optimal gender balance, with the percentage of female membership on the boards of aegis bodies increasing from 42% to 47%. The most recent data, for July 2013, confirms the gender balance on the aegis boards as 47% female and 53% male.

Name of Board	-	-	2011	-	-	-	2010	-	-	-
-	Men	%	Women	%	Total	Men	%	Women	%	Total
The Teaching Council	20	54%	17	46%	37	20	54%	17	46%	37
Higher Education Authority (HEA)	8	42%	11	58%	19	4	40%	6	60%	10
Irish Research Council for the	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS)	8	67%	4	33%	12	8	67%	4	33%	12
Irish Research Council for Science	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Engineering & Technology (IRCSET)	10	71%	4	29%	14	0	0%	0	0%	0
Residential Institutions Redress Board	4	36%	7	64%	11	5		7		12
Residential Institutions Review Committee	5	83%	1	17%	6	4	80%	1	20%	5
Education Finance Board	7	78%	2	22%	9	7	78%	2	22%	9
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse	3	43%	4	57%	7	3	43%	4	57%	7
An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
& Gaelscolaiochta (COGG)	8	38%	13	62%	21	8	38%	13	62%	21
National Council for Curriculum &	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Assessment (NCCA)	13	52%	12	48%	25	14	56%	11	44%	25
National Centre for Guidance in Education	6	55%	5	45%	11	6	55%	5	45%	11
State Examinations Commission	3	60%	2	40%	5	3	60%	2	40%	5
Skillnets Ltd	11	85%	2	15%	13	11	85%	2	15%	13
An Foras Aiseanna Saothair (FAS)	8	73%	3	27%	11	8	73%	3	27%	11
FETAC	7	58%	5	42%	12	9	60%	6	40%	15
HETAC	6	50%	6	50%	12	9	60%	6	40%	15
National Qualifications Authority of Ireland	8	67%	4	33%	12	12	86%	2	14%	14
National Council for Special Education	7	54%	6	46%	13	6	50%	6	50%	12
Grangegorman Development Agency	9	60%	6	40%	15	9	60%	6	40%	15
Leargas	1	25%	3	75%	4	4	44%	5	56%	9
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Totals	152	57%	117	43%	269	150	58%	108	42%	258

Name of Board 2012

-	Men	%	Women	%	Total
The Teaching Council	19	51%	18	49%	37
Higher Education Authority (HEA)	11	58%	8	42%	19
Irish Research Council*	6	50%	6	50%	12
Residential Institutions Redress Board	4	36%	7	64%	11
Residential Institutions Review Committee	5	83%	1	17%	6
Education Finance Board	4	50%	4	50%	8
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse	2	33%	4	67%	6
An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta	-	-	-	-	-
& Gaelscolaiochta (COGG)	8	38%	13	62%	21
National Council for Curriculum &	-	-	-	-	-
Assessment (NCCA)	9	36%	16	64%	25
National Centre for Guidance in Education	6	50%	6	50%	12
State Examinations Commission	4	80%	1	20%	5
Skillnets Ltd	11	85%	2	15%	13
An Foras Aiseanna Saothair (FAS)	8	73%	3	27%	11
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)**	4	40%	6	60%	10
National Council for Special Education	7	54%	6	46%	13
Grangegorman Development Agency	2	100%	0	0%	2
Leargas	6	67%	3	33%	9
-	-	-	-	-	-
Totals	116	53%	104	47%	220

* The Rearch Council replaces the IRCHSS and the IRCSET

**The QQI replaces HETAC, FETAC and NQAI

Official Travel

Questions (252)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

252. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the parameters of the deal with an airline and travel agent (details supplied) that allowed his Department officials, and public representatives, to avail of set airline fees and other perks between Ireland and Europe as part of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first six months of 2013; his views on whether significant savings were made on travel as a result of this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35990/13]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brian Hayes)

Air travel for Government Departments and Offices is purchased under a contract for Travel Management Services awarded by the National Procurement Service to Carlson Wagonlit Travel (Ireland) Ltd. (CWT) following an open tender process. The service to be provided under this contract includes sourcing the most competitive rates for foreign travel for civil servants and members of the Oireachtas travelling abroad on official business.

Ahead of Ireland’s 2013 EU Presidency, Ryanair contacted the Government with a fixed-fare offer for travel on the Dublin-Brussels South Charleroi route (Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located approximately 45 km from Brussels). Following discussion between Ryanair, CWT and the National Procurement Service, agreement was reached on a fixed one-way fare of €49.99 for travel between Dublin and Brussels South Charleroi for the duration of Ireland’s EU Presidency. The fare included government taxes and charges, but did not include fees for baggage or for extras such as reserved seating or priority boarding. This fare was subject to a 2% credit card fee. It could be booked either online or by telephone, with a €6 administration fee per person per sector for bookings made by telephone. The agreement also allowed for one change to be made to a booked ticket to an alternative flight of the passenger’s choice on the same route. Ryanair also committed to providing an Assistance Desk at both of the airports concerned for any assistance required by travellers availing of this fare. The agreement applied only to the Dublin - Brussels South Charleroi route. This special fare was available to all officials and Oireachtas members travelling to Brussels on official business during Ireland’s EU Presidency. Other options available to travellers to Brussels are the Aer Lingus service between Dublin and Brussels Airport and the standard fares available from Ryanair. In planning journeys, travellers would take account of the suitability of flight times, having regard to the timing and duration of the relevant meetings in Brussels. A further factor to be considered by Departments/Offices in choosing flights is the ground transport links from the particular airport regarding access and cost. For those officials whose work/meetings schedule allowed them to use this route, the Ryanair offer provided value for money. As a result of Ryanair's offers, significant reductions were achieved in the average cost of flights to Brussels when compared with the same period in 2012.

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Questions (253)

Ciara Conway

Question:

253. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list by urban rateable area, broken down by business type and in tabular form, the number of appeals to rate valuations received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36061/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As the Deputy will be aware, the Valuation Office has been conducting a revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties in the Waterford rating authority areas (Waterford City Council, Waterford County Council and Dungarvan Town Council) and in the Dublin City rating authority as part of its ongoing programme to revalue all such properties in the State. This has resulted in the issue of Proposed Valuation Certificates to the ratepayers in relation to their property. However this process is not yet complete in Waterford as a small batch of outstanding Certificates will issue shortly. Ratepayers may make representations to the Valuation Manager if they consider that the proposed valuation or any details contained in the Proposed Certificate are incorrect. The representation stage is currently under way and will not be complete for some time. Following the processing of the representations to the Valuation Manager, the Final Certificates of Valuation will be published on 31st December, 2013, when each ratepayer in Waterford and Dublin City will have a statutory right to make an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal if dissatisfied with the outcome of their representations. The Valuation Tribunal is an independent body set up to settle disputed valuations between the Commissioner of Valuation and the ratepayers of local authorities. Therefore, it will be early 2014, before the appeal stage is reached in respect of the Waterford and Dublin City rating authorities, accordingly it is not possible to provide the detailed statistical information which the Deputy is seeking at this stage. Under the Valuation Act, 2001, there is also a right of internal appeal to the Commissioner of Valuation. However, legislative proposals are currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas which would result in this appeal being removed. This is one of a number of legislative proposals set out in the Bill. However, it will be a matter for the Oireachtas to determine how such proposals proceed or otherwise.

For the Deputy’s information, three revaluations of commercial property have been carried out to-date in the rating authority areas of South Dublin, Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and the number of appeals received from ratepayers in each of those rating authority areas is indicated in the following table. As already mentioned, similar information for Waterford and Dublin City will not be available until early 2014.

Rating Authority Area	Number of Appeals to the Commissioner of Valuation	Number of Appeals to the Valuation Tribunal
South Dublin County Council	725 (11.5%) *	227(3.6%) *
Fingal County Council	819(14.4%)	100(1.75%)
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council	1,148(22.2%)	302(5.84%)

*% of Revaluations by the Commissioner of Valuation.

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Questions (254)

Ciara Conway

Question:

254. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has given further consideration to placing a moratorium on the rates valuation process in Waterford until after the amalgamation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36062/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 31103/13 of 26th June, 2013 in relation to the background to the Revaluation process currently underway in Waterford. The application of a moratorium to a revaluation because of local authority amalgamation considerations is not provided for under the Valuation Act, 2001, as the application of such an option would not affect the valuation process. Section 21 of the Act provides that a valuation list must be published within three years of the making of a valuation order.

The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, indicates that in the context of reorganisation of local governance structures, the proposed new municipal districts will provide an opportunity to achieve a more coherent approach to rates and charges on a county-wide basis, having regard to funding requirements and the need to support employment and business competitiveness. The Action Programme proposes rates harmonisation to cater for differences between Annual Rates on Valuation (ARVs) of towns and counties. The approach of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to rates harmonisation will seek to ensure, that harmonisation does not lead to significant net loss of revenue in individual counties with consequential implications for services, and that any change in rates does not impact negatively on businesses and employment. It is important that local government reform drives down costs to business in order to protect existing jobs and sustain our economic competitiveness.

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Questions (255)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

255. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with respect to determination of commercial rates by the Valuation Office, if he will outline details of the rolling programme of valuation undertaken by the office; when each area of the country is assessed and in what order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36131/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State. The immediate objective of the national revaluation programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas is conducted as soon as possible. Revaluation is conducted across all relevant properties in one or more rating authority areas at the same time. However, implementation of the national programme cannot occur across the entire country simultaneously and the programme must, accordingly, be operated on a phased basis. Following the first revaluation, subsequent revaluations of each rating authority area will then be carried out on a cyclical basis no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the first revaluation (Section 25 of the Valuation Act 2001).

Section 9(10) of the Valuation Act 2001 provides that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions. Section 19(1) of the said Act empowers the Commissioner to make a Valuation Order specifying a rating authority area over which a revaluation is to be conducted, after consultation with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and the rating authority concerned. Steady progress is being made on the National Revaluation Programme. Between 2007 and 2010 the three Rating Authority areas of South Dublin, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown were revalued comprising c.17,700 commercial properties which represents approximately 22% of the national rateable valuation base. Additionally, there are currently six revaluation projects in progress which include the Rating Authority areas of Dublin City, Waterford City and County and Dungarvan Town together with Limerick City and County comprising c. 38,000 commercial properties or 32.6% of the valuation base. Furthermore, the statutory consultation process, required before a valuation order can be made is under way with a further five rating authorities, Galway City Council, Kilkenny County Council, Kilkenny Borough Council, Carlow County Council and Carlow Town Council. Decisions in relation to a further set of rating authorities for revaluation are currently under consideration by the Valuation Office.

The current position as regards projects in train or pending is set out in the following table:

Rating Authority Area	Date Valuation Order Signed	Publication Date for the New Valuation List.	Number* of Items	% of Valuation Base [Pre - Revaluation]
Dublin City	5/05/2011	31/12/2013	25117	26.62
Waterford City	12/12/2011	31/12/2013	2548	1.44
Waterford County	12/12/2011	31/12/2013	1387	0.39
Dungarvan Town	12/12/2011	31/12/2013	621	0.24
Limerick City	29/03/2012	31/12/2014	4085	1.94
Limerick County	29/03/2012	31/12/2014	4505	1.98
Galway City	Valuation Order pending	3702	2.30	-
Kilkenny County	Valuation Order pending	1974	0.92	-
Kilkenny Borough	Valuation Order pending	993	0.48	-
Carlow County	Valuation Order pending	982	0.38	-
Carlow Town	Valuation Order pending	906	0.40	-
Totals	-	46820	37.09	-

*2009 baseline data.

National Monuments