Written Answers Nos. 128-134
128. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the back to education allowance which has been available for qualified candidates undertaking a higher diploma in education will be available for the masters in education which is replacing the higher diploma as a teaching qualification; if it is not available, the reasons for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49829/13]
View answerThe back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses that leads to a higher qualification than that already held and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to conditions. BTEA covers full-time second level courses and third level courses to higher diploma level (level 8 in the national framework of qualifications) including the professional diploma in education (primary and secondary teaching). The BTEA does not provide income support for students pursuing other postgraduate qualifications, masters or doctorates.
131. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of quangos operating under the aegis of her Department; the total number of directors sitting on their boards; the aggregate fees incurred by the State in paying the remuneration of directors of these quangos; the number of quangos that have been created since the formation of the Government; the number that have been disbanded over the period; the projected cost to the taxpayer of the establishment and operation of these new quangos; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49958/13]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. No new State Agency or Quango has been created or abolished since the formation of the Government. Details of the numbers of directors sitting on each board (including chairpersons) and the aggregate fees paid are set out in the table below.
|
Agency/ Board |
Year |
Number of Directors per year (to include the Chairperson) |
Total cost € |
|
Citizens Information Board |
2011 ( from March) 2012 2013 (to 31 October) |
15 13 13 |
85,049 66,550 34,527 |
|
Pensions Board* |
2011 ( from March) 2012 2013 (to 31 October) |
15 15 15 |
86,284 90,203 74,100 |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal ** |
2011(from March) 2012 2013 (to 31 October) |
1 1 1 |
Nil Nil Nil |
* The operations of the Pensions Board, including payment of fees to the board members, are largely financed by annual fees payable to it by occupational pension schemes and by providers of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts and trust Retirement Annuity Contracts.
The Public Service Reform Programme provided for a critical review of the integration of the regulatory functions of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator and the merging of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. The recommendations arising out of the Critical Review on the Pensions Board were approved by Government in April 2013 and were provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2013.
It was recommended that the governance structure of the Pensions Board be restructured with two distinct arms as follows:
- Oversight of the Pensions Board will be undertaken by a three person body called the Pensions Authority. This will consist of a Chairperson and two officials from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Finance;
- A separate unpaid Pensions Council, with a majority of members representing consumer interests, will be established to advise me on pensions policy.
I expect to appoint the Chairperson of the Authority as soon as possible and expressions of interest for the appointment to the Pensions Council will be processed through the PAS system shortly. In relation to the Pensions Ombudsman, the Report recommended that this office be merged with the Financial Service Ombudsman and arrangements in relation to the implementation of this recommendation are under active consideration.
** No costs incurred in respect of the Social Welfare Tribunal since the formation of the Government in March 2011.
132. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will support the Clontarf 2014 group in its efforts to develop sports, arts and tourism for the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf. [49686/13]
View answer133. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will support the Clontarf 2014 committee in its plans to celebrate events around the Battle of Clontarf in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49760/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 132 and 133 together.
A number of events are set to take place during 2014 to commemorate the millennium anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf and the death of Brian Ború. In this regard, I am aware of plans being developed by Dublin City Council, Clare County Council, Fingal County Council, Armagh City and District Council, Waterford City Council and certain historical groups, community agencies and business interests with connections to the marking of this important point in Irish history.
Feedback from the wider community, voluntary and not-for-profit institutions and organisations associated with the planned commemoration has indicated the need for co-ordination, technical support and access to existing State services and facilities.
I would encourage the bringing together of the activities of Dublin City Council, Fáilte Ireland and other interested agencies and bodies, so as to achieve a commemorative programme that reflects the influence of the Vikings in Ireland and the Battle of Clontarf as a defining event in our history.
The national cultural institutions will play an important role in the commemorative arrangements. The National Museum of Ireland will hold a special exhibition on Brian Ború and the Battle of Clontarf in 2014. The programme will not only present Ireland and Europe in the later Viking Age, but also examine the continuing significance of Brian Ború and Clontarf in Irish folklore and popular imagination right up to modern times.
I will be meeting with representatives of the Clontarf 2014 Committee in the coming days to discuss the issues involved in this venture.
134. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of quangos operating under the aegis of his Department; the total number of directors sitting on their boards; the aggregate fees incurred by the State in paying the remuneration of directors of these quangos; the number of quangos that have been created since the formation of the Government; the number that have been disbanded over the period; the projected cost to the taxpayer of the establishment and operation of these new quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49948/13]
View answerA number of National Cultural Institutions and other bodies and agencies are funded from my Department's Vote Group and I wish to advise the Deputy that I do not regard them as quangos. Details of these bodies can be found on the Department's web-site at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/AboutUs/AgenciesBodiesunderDepartmentsAegis
In relation to the boards of these bodies, institutions and agencies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the total number of board members at the end of October was 159 and the total amount of fees payable in 2013 is €284,542.
As the Deputy will be aware, some members of boards are not entitled to claim fees due to the 'one salary' rule. In addition, some board members have waived their fee on a voluntary basis. In addition, further to a Government decision of October 31st, 2012, members of boards, committees or advisory councils at the following institutions will serve without a fee: National Gallery of Ireland, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, National Archives of Ireland, Culture Ireland, Heritage Council, Placenames Commission. Pending the enactment of legislation to enshrine this new approach, I wrote to organisations in November 2012 to request they implement this approach voluntarily. The board members of the National Museum of Ireland have all waived their fees in this regard. It should also be noted that the board of Culture Ireland has been replaced with an Expert Advisory Committee and the board of the Placenames Commission has been replaced by the Placenames Committee – both Committees operate pro bono.
When appointing the new board of the Irish Film Board in January 2013, I reduced the Chairperson and ordinary board member fees by 100%. Each of the new members of the Irish Film Board serve without a fee. It should also be noted that the NAI, IMMA, Crawford Art Gallery and Chester Beatty Library and the ordinary board members of the National Concert Hall have operated without fees for a number of years.
For the sake of completeness, I should add that appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge (16 members) and the Ulster-Scots Agency (8 members), being agencies of the North South Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. Relevant board details, including fees, are published on the websites www.forasnagaeilge.ie and www.ulsterscotsagency.com
