Tuesday, 1 Oct 2013

Capitation Grants

Questions (263, 264, 265)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

263. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in tabular form the rate of capitation grant paid this year and every year since 1997. [40765/13]

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Charlie McConalogue

Question:

264. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent on the capitation grant paid this year and every year since 1997. [40766/13]

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Charlie McConalogue

Question:

265. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in tabular form the total amount spent on the school book grant this year and every year since 1997. [40767/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together.

My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and post primary schools within the free education scheme. My Department provides funding to primary schools by way of per capita grants, subject to a minimum grant equivalent to 60 pupils. The funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. My Department provides funding to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also take into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc.

With regard to the VEC sector financial allocations are made to VECs as part of a block grant. VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. Funding for book grants was withdrawn in 2009, except in the case of DEIS schools. Funding was re-instated in 2010 for all schools. Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department. Information going back to 1997, as requested by the Deputy, is not readily available. The per capita rates and total expenditure in recent years are outlined in the following document.

Post Primary Capitation and SSSF rates 2003-2013

-	Capitation	School Services Support Fund (SSSF)
2003	€266.49	€127
2004	€274.49	€131
2005	€286	€145
2006	€298	€159
2007	€316	€189
2008	€331	€204
2009	€345	€212
2010	€345	€212
2011	€328	€201
2012	€317	€201
2013	€306	€201

Primary Capitation and Ancillary rates 2003-2013

-	Primary Capitation	Primary Ancillary
2003	€111.58	€102
2004	€121.58	€127
2005	€133.58	€133
2006	€145.58	€139
2007	€163.58	€145.50
2008	€178.58	€151.50
2009	€200	€155
2010	€200	€155
2011	€190	€147
2012	€178	€147
2013	€176	€147

Primary and Post Primary Capitation Expenditure 2006-2012

-	Primary Capitation Expenditure*	Voluntary Sector Post Primary Capitation Expenditure*
2006	€134,028,786	€91,324,187
2007	€149,812,343	€100,450,756
2008	€165,634,230	€100,165,292
2009	€184,385,345	€101,213,329
2010	€193,281,276	€107,237,915
2011	€186,933,442	€104,280,000
2012	€183,373,000	€102,019,264
2013	€187,680,000 (estimated)	€102,910,000 (estimated)

*figures include enhanced capitation grants for special needs pupils, programme grants and book grants since 2010.

The book grant rates for 2010 - 2013 are as follows: Primary DEIS €21, Primary non-DEIS €11, Post-primary DEIS €39, Post-primary non-DEIS €24Funding allocated to book grants by the Department since 2006-2012.

Year	Amount
2006	€12,995,966
2007	€14,257,084
2008	€14,421,563
2009	€7,000,000
2010	€14,671,063
2011	€14,883,440
2012	€15,000,000
2013	€15,000,000 (estimated)

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (266, 267, 268, 269)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

266. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of hours the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board has met since it was formed this year. [40775/13]

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Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

267. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his view on whether it is sufficient that the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board meets once a month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40776/13]

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Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

268. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider directing the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board to hold meetings on a series of consecutive days until it has resolved outstanding issues. [40777/13]

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Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

269. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report on the work of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board to date including costs and expenses claimed by each member. [40778/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 269, inclusive, together.

The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (RISF) has been established to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse, across a range of services, including mental health services, health and personal social services, education and housing services. In accordance with the RISF Act, 2012, the RISF is independent in the performance of its functions and apart from fixing the date, time and place of the first meeting, I have no function in relation to the frequency or duration of its meetings.

Since its establishment in March of this year the RISF has met on a regular basis. I understand that the Board has been working on the arrangements to be put in place for the operation of the Fund, with a particular focus on developing its understanding of the range of needs of survivors, through consultation, both in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, with survivor groups and individual survivors. In addition the practical arrangements of recruiting staff and establishing an office are being progressed. I understand that to date, over 800 survivors have registered with the Board via its new website which also contains useful information regarding the Board and its work to date.

As the Deputy may be aware the Board members are unremunerated and I have asked the Board to respond directly to the Deputy in regard to the Board members' expenses.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (270, 272, 275)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

270. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board has determined the range of approved services within four classes of service stipulated in the Act, that is, mental health services including counselling and psychological support, health and personal social services, education services and housing services; the criteria by reference to which it will make decisions in respect of applications to those services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40779/13]

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Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

272. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which funds from the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund will be released to survivors of institutional abuse; and if the board has the requisite powers to refund former residents of institutions who have expended personal funds on health and other services stipulated in the Act before or since the establishment day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40781/13]

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Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

275. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he believes the 2012 Act establishing the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund contains the requisite powers to allow the RISF board to continue funding annually renewable life-skills courses for qualifying former residents of institutions commenced under the authority of the former Education Finance Board, the dissolved body, but not completed or renewed due to depletion of funds at that board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40784/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 272 and 275 together.

It is a matter for the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) to perform the statutory functions assigned to it. These functions include determining and publishing the approved services under section 8 of the Act and the criteria by reference to which it will make decisions in respect of applications. It is a matter for the Board to address these tasks. With regard to the provision of funding for annually renewable courses and the refunding of personal expenditure incurred by individuals, the Deputy will appreciate that these are matters for the RISF Board to consider having regard to the provisions of the legislation.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (271)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

271. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the salary being paid to the chief executive officer of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board will be deducted from the €110 million RISF. [40780/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

All expenditure incurred by the Board in the performance of its functions, including its payroll costs, are met from the investment account operated by the National Treasury Management Agency. In accordance with the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 the investment account is financed from the contributions from the religious congregations of up to €110 million and any associated interest.

Question No. 272 answered with Question No. 270.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (273)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

273. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all 15,000 names and addresses of former residents of institutions who received awards at the Residential Institutions Redress Board have been transferred to the RISF board; if he will state the precise date of the data transfer and format or formats used for the transfer and explain the reason such data transfer appears to have occurred before any applications have been considered by the RISF board; if he will provide assurances regarding the security of the data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40782/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Those entitled to apply for assistance from the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) are those who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) and other similar Court awards. Section 24 of the RISF Act, 2012 provides that the RIRB can furnish the RISF with the name, address and date of birth of recipients of awards. This transfer of information ensures that eligible persons are not required to submit proofs of awards. The Act stipulates that the information can only be used by the RISF to determine a person's eligibility to make an application to the Board.

I understand that the RISF has been furnished with this information in relation to awards made at the time by the RIRB. Concerns regarding the use and security of this personal information were raised by a survivor group with my Department. These concerns were discussed with the RISF which has confirmed that the information will only be used for the purpose as set out in the Act and that the information is held securely.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Establishment

Questions (274)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

274. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money transferred from the former Education Finance Board to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund on the establishment day; if he will explain the way funds have been expended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40783/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Education Finance Board (EFB) was dissolved with effect from 29 March 2013 when I made an Order commencing Part 4 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) Act 2012. I understand that the moneys remaining of the €12.7m available to the EFB amounted to less than €30,000 and that these funds will be used to meet the outstanding commitments of the EFB. In accordance with section 41 of the RISF Act, 2012 any amounts remaining in the EFB investment account will be transferred to the RISF investment account, following the laying of the final accounts of the dissolved EFB before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Question No. 275 answered with Question No. 270.

Residential Institutions Issues

Questions (276)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

276. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet the group Right to Peace around the issue of statutory redress services for survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40785/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My officials recently met with representatives of the Right to Peace group and discussed the arrangements regarding the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF). I understand that a meeting is also being arranged between the group and the Chair of the RISF Board to discuss these arrangements.

Third Level Fees

Questions (277)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

277. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the fees status in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40796/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved higher education institution. Higher Education Institutions determine the entitlements of students to free fees based on meeting the prescribed conditions of the Schemes including those relating to nationality.

The nationality requirement of the Schemes are that students must:

- be a national of an EU Member State, a state which is a contracting state to the EEA Agreement or the Swiss Confederation; or

- Be a refugee or other persons i.e. family members of refugee or programme refugee, entitled for the time being to the rights and privileges specified in Section 3 of the Refugee Act 1996; or

- Be a person whom the Minister for Justice and Equality has determined is eligible for the time being for subsidiary protection under regulation 4(4) of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006; or

- Be a person who has permission to remain in the State as a family member of a Union/EEA/Swiss citizen under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008 and Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council; or

- be a persons who was granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State (prior to the Immigration Act 1999); or

- be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice and Equality has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.

As the Deputy will be aware the Student Contribution, which currently stands at €2,500, is payable by students who qualify under the Free Fees Schemes. The Department of Justice and Equality adjudicates on a person's entitlement to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned. A 'stamp 4' does not of itself convey any entitlement to public services.

Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged (EU or Non EU rate), in cases where undergraduate students do not qualify for free fees and in the case of postgraduate study, is a matter for the institutions to determine.

University Libraries

Questions (278)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

278. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 18 June 2013, his views on a matter regarding libraries in a publicly-funded university (details supplied); and if he will clarify the legislative position in this regard. [40930/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As I have indicated to the Deputy in my previous replies to his questions on this matter, most recently on 18th September, the management of university libraries is entirely a matter for the universities themselves to administer, a function which they carry out in accordance with their statutory autonomy under the Universities Act 1997. I understand that, in general, universities do facilitate access by the public for genuine scholarly and research purposes, where this is possible. Having regard to the many practical considerations involved in the management of a university campus, I am satisfied that this is a reasonable policy which is in full compliance with the provisions of the Universities Act 1997.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (279)

Seán Fleming

Question:

279. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of capital spending incurred directly within his Department as a result of measures undertaken as part of the 2011 Jobs Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40937/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I announced on 10 May 2011 that €40m was available through the Jobs Initiative to fund 374 primary and post-primary school building projects. I indicated that €30 million of the funding would be spent in 2011. Actual expenditure to date on the Jobs Initiative is as follows: Expenditure in 2011 - €30.779m; Expenditure in 2012 - €8.5m. Outstanding balances due to issue in 2013.