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Wednesday, 19 Feb 2014

Written Answers Nos. 100-106

IBRC Mortgage Loan Book

Questions (100)

Martin Heydon

Question:

100. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation mortgage holders at the prospect of the IBRC mortgage book being sold to an unregulated entity and the uncertainty and stress that this is causing; the actions he will take to allay these fears and provide protection for those mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8600/14]

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Written answers

I am fully aware of the concerns raised by the IBRC mortgage holders regarding continued protection for those customers following the sale of the loan book by the Special Liquidators. The continued applicability of the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) depends on the regulatory status of the ultimate acquirer of the IBRC portfolio which will not be know with certainty until that process is completed next month. However, given the concerns raised  by  IBRC customers  I have instructed my officials to examine the issue fully, in consultation with the Central Bank, with a view to bringing forward a solution if required. 

It is important to note that in the event that NAMA acquire the IBRC residential mortgage book they are likely to apply best practice in relation to CCMA and they have confirmed that no borrower will be in any worse a position. Furthermore I am also pleased to note that a number of unregulated firms have indicated that they intend to voluntarily adopt the CCMA in order to manage acquired loans as they believe that following CCMA is in the best interests for both them and their customers.

Student Support Schemes

Questions (101)

Brian Stanley

Question:

101. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that Student Universal Support Ireland are seeking to reclaim funding for wrongly assessed students through their colleges. [8401/14]

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Written answers

The Student Support Act 2011 provides for the recovery of debt where a person has received monies from an awarding authority in respect of a grant that the person is not entitled to receive. Such a person is liable to repay to the awarding authority on demand a sum not exceeding the money improperly received.

School Curriculum

Questions (102)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

102. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the NCCA draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will relate to the revised CSPE programme at junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8406/14]

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Written answers

I am very pleased to give the Deputy an update on Politics and Society. I have decided to include Politics and Society within the suite of subjects available to schools in the Leaving Certificate.

My Department recently wrote to the NCCA about this and has sought their advice on a number of issues which need to be addressed before the subject can be made available.

The new CSPE specification for Junior Cycle is currently being developed by the NCCA. A consultation process has just completed and the specification is being finalised. The Junior Cycle specification builds on learning in primary school. It will act as a foundation for studies in senior cycle.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (103)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

103. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any circumstances under which a person who was born and grew up in Ireland but who moved to Australia in the depth of the economic downturn and who now wishes to return to Ireland, can be treated as an EU resident for Student Universal Support Ireland grant purposes given that they were born and grew up here, all their family live here and they intend to make Ireland their permanent home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8434/14]

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Written answers

Under the residency requirement of the Student Grant Scheme, a student must have been resident in Ireland for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to an approved course commencing in an approved institution in order to qualify for a grant. However, a student may qualify for a grant, having met the residency requirement during the course of their studies.

The main criteria of the Free Fees Initiative is that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Where students do not qualify for free fees they must pay the appropriate fee, as determined by their third level institution. While the issue of fee rates payable by students is a matter for the higher education institutions I have requested that the Higher Education Authority liaise with the sector in order to establish and report on the practices currently operated by individual institutions and to seek to agree a common approach across the sector. This review is also intended to examine the issue of Irish students who have been living abroad and intend returning to Ireland to study at third level. It is hoped that, following this review, revised fee arrangements which will have clear and consistent criteria can be agreed, and will be in place for the next academic year.

Emergency Planning

Questions (104)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

104. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider in the interest of safety for students and parents the introduction of compulsory closing of schools when there is a forecasted code red weather alert during schools hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8439/14]

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Written answers

The lead agencies in relation to determining the appropriate emergency response in any region where there is an extreme weather event or other critical incident are the Local Authorities and blue light services. In that context my Department has brought to the attention of all schools, via departmental circular PBU 04/04 – Contingency Planning in the context of a national emergency. In particular this circular requires schools to ensure that up-to-date contact details are provided to the local authority.

The particular issue raised by the Deputy in relation to having a shutdown in the event of a specific severe weather warning code is a matter of wider application as it could be equally be applicable to those travelling for any reason. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, in which my Department participates, co-ordinates the overall response to such events. My officials will raise the specific point within the task force with a view to informing future practice.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (105)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

105. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will be opening the minor works scheme and the summer works schemes for applications for primary and secondary schools for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8484/14]

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Written answers

I refer the Deputy to my announcement on 7th November 2013 of an additional €68 million for school improvement works. This comprises a once-off payment of over €28 million to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Scheme and a further €40 million to facilitate the re-introduction of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) for 2014. The Minor Works Grant has since issued to the schools.

Funding from the Schemes will allow eligible schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.

Commensurate with the level of funding available for the SWS, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. The Circular also indicated that in the event that it is not possible to progress all approved projects under SWS 2014 due to funding constraints, that applications will be retained for consideration under any future rounds of the Scheme.

The Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in early 2014.

School Accommodation

Questions (106)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

106. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that has been spent in total by his Department on the provision of temporary accommodation both rental and permanent for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8485/14]

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Written answers

The total expenditure on the provision of accommodation, both rental and permanent for the school referred to by the Deputy since 1999 is €830,000.

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