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Tuesday, 3 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos 89-103

Generic Drugs Substitution

Questions (89)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

89. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance his views on a company's (details supplied) recent assessment that Irish GDP is understated because of the way the Central Statistics Office measures production in the pharmaceutical sector arising from its statistical treatment of generic drugs as new products; if he will provide further detail on this alleged discrepancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51885/13]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, industrial production and exports of chemicals and pharmaceuticals have been impacted by declines in volumes since early 2012. This is most likely due to the expiry of patents on certain ‘blockbuster’ drugs, an effect known as the ‘patent cliff’. The patent cliff has also weighed down on GDP, given the comparatively large weighting of the sector in Irish output and exports.

The impact of the patent cliff is likely to result in some shift in Irish pharmaceutical production away from branded blockbuster drugs towards generic drugs. When discussing the statistical treatment, consider the example where, in a given quarter, the patented version leaves the relevant price index and the off-patented version and/or generic equivalent enters. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) will treat these as a new product, rather than the same product at a lower price. This means that any decline in the value of production would be accounted for as a volume shift rather than a price change as there is no change in the price index per se . This methodology is in line with current international practice.

However the precise impact of the patent cliff on Irish production patterns remains to be seen. It is not certain that production of chemically-identical drugs will always continue in Irish plants in a post-patent environment. Also, residual loyalty for branded drugs can often remain even after patent expiry, implying continued demand for production of the patented variety.

My Department, when forecasting the impact of the patent cliff on economic output, does so with consideration of the methodology used by the CSO.

Question No. 90 withdrawn.

Tax Code

Questions (91)

Finian McGrath

Question:

91. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the number of revenue contract companies that are registered offshore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51964/13]

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Written answers

Due to the diverse nature of the tax and duty administration, Revenue maintains contracts with hundreds of suppliers. Revenue adheres to national and EU procurement rules and all its suppliers are required to have tax clearance. The company registration location of each supplier is not recorded on Revenue’s procurement system.

In the last year, Revenue made payments to some 28 suppliers with non-Irish bank accounts, mostly UK and other EU businesses, for a variety of goods and services. This figure excludes minor and typically once-off acquisitions. The contracts range from computer hardware and software to mobile x-ray scanners and other specialist services.

Revenue publishes on its website a list of all payments in excess of €20,000 made each quarter .

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Provision

Questions (92)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

92. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if FÁS has entered into a contract with a driving school in County Donegal for the delivery of the MOMENTUM project; if so, with whom is the contract; when was the contract tendered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51890/13]

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Written answers

This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS who manage the Momentum programme. I understand that contracts issued under the Momentum programme operate on an outcome based payments system and to achieve the maximum amount of the contract the company will need to recruit the full number of participants, train them and assess them. The contracts in question issued to SDMG Ltd. T/A Swilly Group and the monetary amount of the contracts are set out below. The Momentum operating framework was advertised in mid-2012 and potential providers were required to pre-qualify. Project submissions from those pre-qualified businesses were scored and selected based on the rules of the framework. The funding approvals for the courses in question are set out below. Fuel Efficient Truck Driver: Maximum value of contract €239.313.20 Fuel Efficient Bus/Coach Driver: Maximum value of contract €240,776.80

National Training Fund

Questions (93)

John Lyons

Question:

93. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for utilising the national training fund in view of recent figures illustrating a large surplus in the fund for 2013. [51296/13]

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Written answers

Over the last number of years annual expenditure from the National Training Fund has exceeded annual income and as a result the surplus has been falling. The accumulated surplus in the fund has been critical in maintaining expenditure levels, particularly in the provision of training for the unemployed, in a period when receipts were falling. It is considered prudent to continue to maintain an adequate surplus in the Fund to meet demand in future years. A high level breakdown of the use of the National Training Fund is included in my Department's estimates. As well as funding mainstream training programmes for jobseekers, the National Training Fund supports the more recently developed targeted programmes such as Springboard, Momentum and ICT Skills Conversion, training for those in employment such as through Skillnets and grants to industry and technical supports and research.

Gaelscoileanna Issues

Questions (94)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

94. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the catchment area for Irish medium schools, gaelscoilenna, into which schools (details supplied) in Dublin 8 fall. [51299/13]

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Written answers

There are no catchment areas specifically for Irish-medium schools. However for planning purposes the country is divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. These defined districts facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. The schools in the areas referred to by the Deputy fall into the Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 and the Dublin 8 feeder areas, respectively. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (95)

Denis Naughten

Question:

95. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will furnish a reply to correspondence (detail supplied) regarding school transport in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51306/13]

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Written answers

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department has confirmed that the family in question are not eligible for transport as they are not attending their nearest national school. Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats and the payment of the annual charge. The annual charge for children who are availing of primary school transport is €100. This charge is subject to a family maximum of €220 per annum. Only children who are eligible for transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from this charge. Bus Éireann has advised that one child was incorrectly categorised as eligible for school transport for the current school year. Bus Éireann will be in contact with the family regarding this matter.

School Enrolments

Questions (96)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

96. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 6 will be accepting two junior infant classes in September 2014, as confirmation of places have only gone out to parents in the first stream, a fact that is causing concern to those on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51310/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department are aware of the situation at the school to which the Deputy refers in Dublin 16 and will be meeting with school authorities shortly to discuss same. However, my Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (97)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

97. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the feeder area for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 18 which has been granted planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51348/13]

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Written answers

The primary school in question has been established to provide additional capacity in the wider Ballinteer/Stepaside area. There is an Irish language school already located in the area. The question of location for the new Irish language school therefore was considered in the context of providing access to both Irish language schools to the greatest number of pupils across the area.

School Transport Issues

Questions (98)

Clare Daly

Question:

98. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements that have been made by his Department to ensure the protection of bus operators who have reported corruption in the administration of school transport. [51354/13]

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Written answers

Bus Éireann has advised my Department that it is the Company's policy to encourage any employee, customer or other person who has information regarding any alleged wrongdoing on the part of the management or staff of the Company to come forward and come forward with that information without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination or disadvantage. As with every citizen, an employee of Bus Éireann in respect of whom an Allegation is made, has an entitlement to fairness of procedure and natural justice in the investigation of that allegation. The objective of the Bus Éireann procedures is to provide for full investigation of any allegations of wrongdoing having regard to legal and constitutional rights. I am further informed by Bus Éireann that any allegation of victimisation, discrimination or disadvantage would fall to be considered within these procedures. I have previously stated that any evidence of criminal acts should be brought to the attention of An Garda Siochána by any person possessing such evidence.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (99)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

99. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of officials in his Department that receive the cost of club membership fees, including sports clubs and professional bodies, as part of their contract of employment; the total cost per year to his Department of paying these fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51364/13]

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Written answers

Approximately 150 officials at my Department receive recoupment of affiliation fees to professional bodies where it is essential in order for them to carry out their professional functions, or it is desirable in order that they can keep abreast of domestic and international developments in their particular field. The cost in 2012 was approximately €38,000. No officials at my Department have sports clubs or any other club membership fees paid as part of their remuneration package. Civil Servants are subject to the Civil Service Code of Standards & Behaviour and under the terms of the Code a Civil Servant is not permitted to accept gifts such as the payment of membership fees. A copy of the Code can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform's website.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (100)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

100. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department pays for any of its employees to receive third level qualifications; if so, the annual cost for each of the past five years; if the employee will receive a financial bonus as a result of receiving this qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51378/13]

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Written answers

Civil Servants are encouraged to pursue second and third level education during their own time in order to build and develop workplace skills, expertise and support officials in self development and life long learning. In order to foster this in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform's circular notice E109/82/97, Government Departments are permitted to meet the cost or to refund fees where the course concerned leads to: a second or third level qualification; are provided by a recognised educational institution or professional body; and are related to the official's duties or broader Civil Service functions. Officials do not receive additional remuneration on attaining such qualifications. Details of my Department's expenditure on refunding fees in the last five years are contained in the attached tabular statement.

Expenditure on Refund of Fees Scheme Department of Education and Skills 2008 to 2012

Year

Amount

2008

€214,745

2009

€202,153

2010

€210,525

2011

€238,786

2012

€220,628

State Examinations

Questions (101)

Pat Breen

Question:

101. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 26 September 2013, the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51396/13]

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Written answers

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations and in this case for reasonable accommodation. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

School Equipment

Questions (102)

Robert Dowds

Question:

102. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will examine publishing material suitable for classroom posters as pdf files for free download in order to assist schools with managing costs. [51414/13]

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Written answers

My Department does not normally develop and distribute educational resources of the kind described by the Deputy directly to schools. Agencies under the remit of the Department may do so from time to time. A wide range of materials and resources, which may include posters, is produced for teachers by the professional development support services. It is general policy and practice that all such resources are made available online for free download. The Department's portal for Irish education, Scoilnet.ie, is currently being redeveloped into a repository for digital learning materials. It will focus on the sharing of teaching resources and will support and encourage teachers to share and download resources for use in their classroom. Open licensing will be a core component of the new repository to facilitate teachers in the reuse and adaptation of materials for their individual classroom needs. Where possible, publicly funded materials developed in recent years by Dept of Education support services will be made available within the repository under open licences.

School Patronage

Questions (103)

Michael McGrath

Question:

103. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the choice of patron body for a planned new school (details supplied) in County Cork, if he will provide details of the assessment process that has been undertaken to date by his Department; for each applicant body, the number of confirmed expressions of interest from prospective parents of pupils at the school; the position regarding the patronage decision; when he expects to make an announcement on the matter; when he envisages this new school will be enrolling pupils; the status of this project on his Department's schools building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51426/13]

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Written answers

Further to my announcement on 28th November, 2013 in relation to my decisions regarding the patronage of the new post-primary schools set to open in 2015 and 2016, I can confirm that two 600 pupil post-primary schools are scheduled to open in 2016 to serve the Cork City South Suburbs/Carrigaline area. One school will be under the patronage of Educate Together and the other school under the patronage of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. Full details of the applications received, together with the final assessments for all areas, are available on my Department's website, www.education.ie. Commencing enrolment for these schools will be a matter for the respective school authorities. Officials from my Department will be working with the local authority to identify suitable site locations for the establishment of these schools.

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