Thursday, 19 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 135-149

Schools Amalgamation

Questions (135)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in the context of the provision of two new second level school buildings in Maynooth, County Kildare, it is expected that his Department and the Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board will have full regard for the clearly expressed wishes in a democratic plebiscite of the parents of students attending Maynooth Post Primary School and the parents of the children attending the primary feeder schools in the area, regarding the format and ethos of the proposed new school structures in the form of a junior and senior cycle, multi-denominational post-primary school in two separate buildings on the site purchased by Kildare Vocational Education Committee at Moyglare, Maynooth, under the control of Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board, governed by a principal and board of management thereby continuing a seamless educational process for the area as already established; if cognisance is to be taken of the many well-attended public meetings attended by representatives of Maynooth post-primary school, the chief executive of the Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board and large numbers of local parents at which this structure was agreed, a fact overlooked during a recent local radio interview by the chief executive of Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board; if it is recognised that the plebiscite result showed a majority of 75% in favour of the agreed proposal and that this remains the express wishes of the people of Maynooth and surrounding areas, as illustrated in the report by Dr. Gerry Jeffers of NUI Maynooth (details supplied); if he will use his good offices in view of this compelling evidence of the choice of the parents and educationalists of the area with a view to accepting the local preference in the interest of transparency and fairness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55027/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

There are fundamental educational reasons for not allowing a junior/senior post-post primary school configuration in Maynooth. These include:

- The introduction of a third major transfer point for students between primary level and third level.

- The question of which school the Transition Year should be placed in.

- The undermining of Department policy to maintain as common a curriculum as possible for as long as possible to avoid the risk of specialisation too early and school drop out.

- The potential danger that the senior school will come to be seen as the 'specialist' Leaving Certificate centre into which transfers are sought at senior cycle.

- The loss of the advantages to be gained when teachers regularly teach students from first year to sixth year.

- The possibility of students from other schools seeking entry to the senior school with the attendant repercussions for other schools. Apart for these compelling educational reasons, patronage of the new school, was awarded to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) on the basis that the new school would deliver the prescribed curriculum at both Junior and Senior Cycle. Any change to this stated intention could lead to a challenge or to calls for the patronage determination process to be commenced afresh. This could have the effects of both delaying the establishment of the new school and, of course, re-opening the patronage of the new school to other applicant patrons. I have met with a parents' deputation and, in accordance with normal protocol following such meetings, I communicated the outcome of my subsequent consideration of this matter to the Deputies who had requested the meeting. I also recently wrote directly to the Chairperson of the Maynooth Schools Group fully outlining the reasons for my decision to provide Maynooth with two fully-vertical post-primary schools and confirming that I am adhering to this decision.

I am satisfied that the enrolment procedures put in place by the management structure developed by the KTWEB for the new campus will ensure a fair and equitable enrolment policy for both schools.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (136)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for refusal of higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55041/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was not eligible for a grant under the nationality criteria. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2013.

In all cases, to qualify for a student grant, it is the grant applicant and not his/her parents that must meet the nationality or prescribed immigration status requirements in their own right. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of their nationality or immigration status to the relevant grant awarding authority.

Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2013 provides for the review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of changes of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. This means that where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation during the course of their studies he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.Where an appeal is turned down in writing by SUSI and the applicant remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his or her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf."

School Patronage

Questions (137)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

137. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of DEIS schools by patron as a percentage of schools of that patron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55104/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

School patronage was not amongst the identification criteria for selecting schools for participation in DEIS and, consequently, the information requested is not readily available in the time-limit for reply. I have asked my Department to compile the relevant information and forward it to you as soon as is possible.

Legislative Process RIA

Questions (138)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

138. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of Bills that have been published by his Department since he was appointed Minister; the number and Title of those Bills that included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; the regulatory impact assessments published; the total number of promised Bills for publication; if he will list the Bills that will include a regulatory impact assessment; the regulatory impact assessments that will be published before publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55126/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has published 6 bills since March 2011. Of these, the three listed below included an RIA which was published on my Department's website:

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011

Education (Amendment) Bill 2012

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012

My Department currently has 6 Bills on the Legislation Programme for the Autumn 2013 Session, and these are at varying stages of the legislative process. The Education (Admissions to School) Bill 2013 is currently before an Oireachtas Committee; an RIA for this Bill was completed in February 2013 and was published on my Department's website. The Legislation Programme for Spring-Summer 2014 will be published early in 2014.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (139)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

139. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of Irish quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations that his Department created or which fall under his Department's responsibility and were in existence when he became Minister and continue to exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55142/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

There were no quasi-autonomous NGOs created or in existence within the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. Information in relation to non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills can be downloaded from my Department's website.http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (140)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

140. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of chairpersons of State boards, agencies and regulators that fall under his Department’s responsibility who were chairpersons when he became Minister and continue to be chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55158/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the chairpersons of non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills can be downloaded from my Department's website.http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/

No regulators fall within the remit of my Department. For the Deputy's information, the chairpersons that continue to hold office and the circumstances under which they do so are as follows: Mr John Carr, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), was appointed in November 2010 to serve a four year term of office, which expires on 11 November 2014.

Mr John Hennessy, Higher Education Authority (HEA), was appointed in January 2011 to serve a five year term of office, which expires on 24 January 2016.

Mr Justice Seán Ryan, Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA). Mr Justice Ryan serves as both the chairperson of the Investigation Committee and the Confidential Committee of the Commission. His term of office ends when the Commission is dissolved by the Minister.

Judge Esmond Smyth, Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB). He retired as President of the Circuit Court in February 2012 and continues as Chairperson of the Redress Board. His term of office ends when the operations of the board have been completed.

Mr Justice Francis D Murphy, Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC). The term of office of the Review Committee is contingent upon the completion of the operations of the Redress Board.

Domhnall MacDomhnaill, Skillnets Ltd, which operates in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts 1963-2012.

Property Taxation Assessments

Questions (141)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

141. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 22 May 2013, the valuation the Office of Public Works decided on for Áras an Uachtaráin and any other associated residential properties for the purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54935/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Commissioners of Public Works assigned LPT value bands to the residential quarters in Áras an Uachtaráin and the associated residential properties as follows:

1 Aras an Uachtaráin (President's residence) …....Band 14 (€700,00-750,000)

2 Lodge …...........................................................Band 4 (€200,000-€250,000)

3 Lodge …...........................................................Band 4(€200,000-€250,000)

4 Lodge …...........................................................Band 2 (€100,000-€150,000)

5 Lodge …...........................................................Band 2 (€100,000-€150,000)

6 Lodge …...........................................................Band 2(€100,000-€150,000)

7 Lodge …...........................................................Band 1(€0-€100,000)

Property Taxation Assessments

Questions (142)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

142. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 22 May 2013, the valuation the Office of Public Works decided on for Farmleigh and other residential properties in the estate for the purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54936/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Commissioners of Public Works assigned the following value bands to Farmleigh House and associated lodges:

1. For the purposes of the LPT, Farmleigh House is considered a museum and is exempt from Local Property Tax.

2. Steward's House …...............Band 17 (€800,000-€850,000)

3. Gate Lodge ….......................Band 5 (€250,000- €300,000)

4. Back Gate Lodge ….............Band 1 (€0- €100,000)

Property Taxation Assessments

Questions (143)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

143. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 118 of 22 May 2013, the valuation the Office of Public Works decided on for Ardilaun Lodge, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, for the purposes of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54937/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Commissioners of Public Works assigned Ardilaun Lodge, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2 to LPT value band 7 (€350,000 - €400,000).

Property Taxation Assessments

Questions (144)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

144. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list in tabular form of all residential properties and addresses, operated or owned by the Office of Public Works which were liable for the local property tax; the valuation decided on for each property; the amount of local property tax liable for each; if he will also list the properties for which valuations cannot be published as it is intended to dispose of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54938/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

I would refer the Deputy to PQ 346 of 11th June 2013 when this information (all OPW properties liable for the LPT) was given to this House. As stated previously in this House, the Commissioners of Public Works are engaged in examining the residential property portfolio in terms of State use, disposal on the open market or community use. As this process is ongoing, the value bands associated with each property may be commercially sensitive. The LPT band associated with each residential property can be provided to the Deputy on a case by case basis subject to commercial sensitivity.

Office of Public Works Properties

Questions (145)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

145. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of residential property owned by the Office of Public Works and not used for official State purposes, the policy by which the rent for the occupier is determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54939/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Commissioners of Public Works do not assign residences for purposes other than for official use.

Office of Public Works Properties

Questions (146)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

146. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for each residential property owned by the Office of Public Works if he will provide in tabular form, whether it is occupied; whether it is for official State; whether there is an official rental agreement in place and the annual rent of same; whether any rent or token rent is being paid and the reason for same; the overall rental yield from this portfolio of residential property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54940/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The residential properties in the ownership of Commissioners of Public Works fall into three categories:

(a) Garda residential accommodation which is under the control of the Garda authorities. Any rental income or assignment of these properties is a matter for An Garda Siochana.

(b) Residential properties associated with particular positions such as Gatekeepers, Park Superintendents, Deerkeepers, etc and allocated to staff to allow for their quick mobilisation in case of emergencies or better site management/security of OPW sites. Information relating to occupancy and rental income for these properties will be provided to the Deputy in due course.

(c) Residential properties, primarily married quarters in closed Garda stations, currently vacant and being considered under the stated policy for the disposal of such properties. This involves the Commissioners initially seeking to identify if other State bodies, including Government Departments and the wider public sector, have a use for the property. If no such use is identified then consideration will be given to disposing the property on the open market. Finally, if no State requirement is identified or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property then community involvement in the use of the property may be considered.

Office of Public Works Properties

Questions (147)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

147. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all residential property with addresses, owned and operated by the Office of Public Works that were sold or disposed of in 2013; the price achieved or not in such a case; if it was offered on the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54941/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

No residential properties were disposed of by the Commissioners in 2013.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (148)

Seán Fleming

Question:

148. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of requests for which a search and retrieval fee was sought; the maximum fee sought by his Department in respect of a request received; the number of requests not proceeded with following the non-payment of the search and retrieval fee sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55006/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In response to the Deputy’s question the following is a table outlining the number of freedom of information requests; the number of requests for which a search and retrieval fee was sought; the maximum fee sought in respect of a request received; and the number of requests not proceeded following the non-payment of the search and retrieval fee sought received by my Department in 2012 and to date in 2013:

Freedom of Information Statistics

-	2012	2013
Number of Requests received	178	99
Number of Requests where Search and Retrieval sought	10	4
Maximum Fee sought	€230.45	€293.30
Number of Requests not proceeded following non-payment of Search and Retrieval Fee	7	1

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Questions (149)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

149. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants who earn salaries in the range (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55074/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The closest data currently available within the Department to that sought by the Deputy indicating the estimated breakdown of employee numbers on a whole time equivalent basis (based on a whole time equivalent figure of 290,000) by salary range within the public service post 1 July 2013 is set out in the following Table 1. The estimate takes account of the reductions in pay arising from the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009, and the Financial Emergency Measures Act 2013, but does not take account of any offsetting reductions in taxes and levies. The impact of the Pension Related Deduction (PRD) has been estimated on the mid point of the relevant salary range and is included in the Table also.

€	WTE*	Gross Average Salary	PRD	Salary after PRD
0 to 30,000	43,200	€23,750	€625	€23,125
30,000 to 40,000	74,600	€35,000	€1,750	€33,250
40,000 to 50,000	74,500	€45,000	€2,750	€42,250
50,000 to 60,000	44,200	€55,000	€3,750	€51,250
60,000 to 70,000	28,100	€65,000	€4,775	€60,225
70,000 to 80,000	14,100	€75,000	€5,825	€69,175
80,000 to 90,000	4,600	€85,000	€6,875	€78,125
90,000 to 100,000	1,700	€95,000	€7,925	€87,075
100,000 to 125,000	1,700	€112,500	€9,763	€102,737
125,000 to 150,000	1,200	€137,500	€12,388	€125,112
Over 150,000	2,100	€175,000	€16,325	€158,675
Total	290,000

*Rounded to nearest 100