The 0.6% levy on private pensions was introduced as a means to fund the implementation of the Jobs Initiative which, through current and capital expenditure measures, sought to facilitate job creation throughout the economy. Expenditure to date in respect of the Jobs Initiative is set out in the table below. This expenditure was funded by the private pensions levy and, where necessary, through the reallocation of resources within each of the relevant Departments.
|
Expenditure Breakdown
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|
Current Expenditure Measures
|
|
|
|
|
National Internship Scheme - JobBridge
|
€8.1m
|
€54.7m
|
€81.8m
|
|
Springboard
|
€8.7m
|
€17.5m
|
€21.9m
|
|
Back to Education Initiative
|
€3m
|
€5.7
|
*
|
|
Specific Skills Training (1)
|
€59.3m
|
€70m
|
*
|
|
Post Leaving Certificate
|
€2m
|
€6m
|
*
|
|
Education (2)
|
na
|
na
|
na
|
|
Tourism (3)
|
na
|
na
|
na
|
(1) It is not possible to report on the short- and long-term elements of the Specific Skills Training measure separately.
(2) The measure included under education, wherein a relaxation of the ECF for Higher Education Institutes was implemented, has no quantifiable costs to the Exchequer as these posts are non-Exchequer funded. Consequently, this measure required no additional funding from the Exchequer.
(3) The Short-term Visa Waiver Programme was introduced in 2011 as a means to encourage further tourism in Ireland. This measure required no additional funding from the Exchequer.
* Data relating to the Back to Education Initiative and Post Leaving Certificate represents funding for additional places on each of these schemes. Both of these measures, as included in the Jobs Initiative, have been implemented in full. In the time that was available it has not been possible ascertain data relating to 2013. I have asked the Department of Education to contact the Deputy in relating to these figures.
|
Expenditure Breakdown
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|
Capital Expenditure Measures
|
|
|
|
|
Retrofit Programme
|
€30m
|
0
|
0
|
|
Additional Investment in Regional and Local Roads
|
€60m
|
0
|
0
|
|
Addition
|
€14.3m
|
0
|
0
|
|
Schools Capital (4)
|
€30.8m
|
€8.5m
|
< €1m
|
(4) An allocation of €40m was provided under the Jobs Initiative to fund primary and post-primary building projects. It is expected that the balance of the original funding will be drawn down in 2013.
In relation to the numbers of jobs created as a result of each of these measures, including those created in Co. Kerry, I would refer the Deputy to each of the relevant Ministers with responsibility for implementation of the measures.
With respect to the latter parts of the Deputy’s question, concerning the reimbursement of outstanding income to private sector pension funds and whether private pensions will be safeguarded post-2014, these are matters for my colleague the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan T.D.
