Written Answers Nos. 67-76
67. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the sale by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation special liquidator of Project Sand; the number of parties who submitted final bids; when a final decision will be made on the sale of the mortgage book; the special liquidator's plans regarding the applicability of the code of conduct on mortgage arrears after the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/14]
View answerI have been advised by the Special Liquidators that they have formally accepted bids from two buyers, namely Lone Star and Oaktree Capital Management LP, who have purchased 64% of the overall residential mortgage portfolio of IBRC between them. The remaining 36% is expected to transfer to the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). It is expected that the sale will complete and full legal ownership of the loan(s) will transfer by June 2014. The Special liquidators will not be providing information as to the number of bidders that were informed as this is commercially sensitive information. As previously advised the purchasers that have acquired mortgage loans as part of Project Sand have agreed to service them in accordance with the terms of the Central Bank of Ireland Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears.
68. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the ongoing delay in finalising the restructuring plan for Permanent TSB with the European Commission; if he will advise of the current position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/14]
View answerA way forward for Permanent TSB was agreed with the Troika in April 2012 which envisaged it playing an important role in the future of Irish retail banking, being a more focused retail bank bringing an element of competition to the marketplace which has consolidated significantly since 2008. In this regard Permanent TSB prepared a Restructuring Plan, which the Department of Finance submitted to the European Commission ("the Commission") in June 2012. As requested by the Commission an updated version of the plan was submitted in August 2013 which is broadly in line with the June 2012 plan. Discussions are ongoing at a technical level involving the Commission, the Department of Finance and Permanent TSB in relation to the plan, details of which are confidential between the parties and commercially sensitive. I do not intend to speculate on when that process might be concluded.
As the Deputy will be aware Permanent TSB is not alone in seeking such approval. I am also seeking approval from the European Commission for the Restructuring Plan submitted by AIB. While no plan has been approved, Permanent TSB has made significant progress in delivering key elements of the Restructuring Plan submitted over the last year and the business is being managed structurally in the way envisaged in the plan. Permanent TSB continues to work to enhance the value of our investments through the continued delivery of the Restructuring Plan, which will, if delivered, provide the State with more optionality regarding the future structure of Permanent TSB.
During 2013 Permanent TSB grew its presence and activity in the retail market in general and in the current account and deposit markets in particular, as well as in mortgages and term lending; and it launched several new products during the year. I am advised that Permanent TSB paid out over €200m in mortgage lending in 2013 and that it had a market share of retail deposits of c 13%. As a result of the progress made during 2013 Permanent TSB is now a genuine and important competitor in the retail banking market.
Permanent TSB has also made progress in relation to managing its portfolio of mortgages in arrears and has created a dedicated team to deal with those customers and to roll out various solutions to them. I am advised by Permanent TSB that during 2013 it made approximately 18,000 offers of long term sustainable solutions to customers in arrears or having difficulty with their mortgage repayments. The current strategy is for Permanent TSB to be an independent bank, competing within targeted segments of the retail banking market, and I will continue to support the board and management in the delivery of that strategy.
69. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland plans to progress the investigation into the mis-selling of payment protection insurance policies; the number of policies that have been reviewed at this point in time; how far back the review covers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/14]
View answerOn 7 March 2014, the Central Bank of Ireland issued a report on the review into the sales of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) by eleven credit institutions. Inspections by the Central Bank in 2011 raised concerns that credit institutions had not complied with the Consumer Protection Code (the Code) during the PPI sales process and therefore the eleven credit institutions were instructed to review their sales of PPI for compliance with the Code. The review focused on the sale of PPI from 1 July 2007, the date when the Code came into full effect. €67.4 million (including interest of €4.9 million) is being refunded to approximately 77,000 policyholders who were sold PPI since 1 July 2007. This represents 22% of the 354,000 PPI sales included in this review. Refunds are paid in cases where credit institutions did not comply with the Code when selling PPI or could not demonstrate compliance with the Code. The summary report, along with a Q&A document are available on the Central Bank website at the following link: http://www.centralbank.ie/press-area/press-releases/Pages/CentralBankreportsonthePaymentProtectionInsurancereview.aspx.
70. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details, for each year since the introduction of the euro in Ireland, of the quantity and value of each denomination of Irish euro coins, for example, the number of one cent coins for each year, number of two cent coins for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15947/14]
View answerThe Central Bank of Ireland, acting as agents for the Department of Finance, issues euro coin into circulation. The issuance of coin is demand driven. Since the introduction of the euro, nearly five billion pieces of coin have been issued by the Central Bank. The 1 cent and 2 cent coins account for 60% of those issues. The following tables give a detailed breakdown per year. In 2001, as preparation for the launch of the Euro, 970 million coins were frontloaded to the cash cycle and are not included in the following tables.
In 2013, based on a recommendation of the National Payments Plan, the Central Bank ran a trial in Wexford town whereby cash transactions were rounded to the nearest five cents of the total cost at the till. Participation in the trial was voluntary on the merchant's part and on the customer's part. The Central Bank has submitted report on the trial to me which recommends the national rollout of a voluntary rounding scheme which would potentially reduce the demand for 1c and 2c coins and the associated production, storage and issuance costs. This issue is under examination in my Department.
Number of coins (million) Issued 2002-2013
|
- |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
TOTAL |
|
1c |
78 |
142 |
112 |
109 |
113 |
118 |
89 |
58 |
78 |
58 |
70 |
49 |
1074.2 |
|
2c |
166 |
162 |
83 |
87 |
91 |
95 |
64 |
22 |
37 |
25 |
35 |
40 |
906.67 |
|
5c |
143 |
116 |
79 |
90 |
79 |
85 |
50 |
14 |
28 |
21 |
30 |
19 |
754.41 |
|
10c |
106 |
81 |
35 |
54 |
51 |
64 |
35 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
9 |
15 |
470.93 |
|
20c |
59 |
59 |
36 |
34 |
35 |
44 |
21 |
5 |
10 |
12 |
19 |
17 |
351.03 |
|
50c |
20 |
27 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
16 |
9 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
11 |
126.53 |
|
€1 |
14 |
17 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
89.33 |
|
€2 |
22 |
12 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
122.63 |
|
TOTAL |
608 |
616 |
372 |
400 |
392 |
445 |
283 |
111 |
175 |
137 |
185 |
171.73 |
3895.73 |
Value of coins (€million) Issued 2002-2013
|
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
TOTAL |
|
|
1c |
0.8 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
11.59 |
|
2c |
3.3 |
3.2 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
17.89 |
|
5c |
7.2 |
5.8 |
4 |
4.5 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
36.97 |
|
10c |
10.6 |
8.1 |
3.5 |
5.4 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1.5 |
47.09 |
|
20c |
11.8 |
11.8 |
7.2 |
6.8 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3.4 |
70.01 |
|
50c |
10 |
13.5 |
5 |
4.7 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
5.3 |
64.46 |
|
€1 |
14 |
17 |
8 |
6.5 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
6.3 |
88.83 |
|
€2 |
44 |
24 |
18 |
20.7 |
18 |
23 |
23 |
8 |
6 |
11 |
20 |
29.3 |
244.96 |
|
TOTAL |
101.7 |
84.8 |
48.5 |
51.4 |
47 |
64 |
43 |
15 |
19 |
22.5 |
36.9 |
48 |
581.8 |
71. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied), has had their tax band reduced in respect of a deed of covenant which is payable in respect of their permanently incapacitated sibling from €20,000 to €3,256, notwithstanding that the person is a permanently incapacitated adult and has been paid for well over the minimum period of six years; if this reduction can be reviewed and increased back to its original level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15952/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the named person's rate bands relating to a deed of covenant were inadvertently reduced for the 2014 Tax Year. This error has now been corrected and a revised Tax Credit Certificate will issue shortly to the person showing the correct rate bands. Revenue wishes to apologise for the error in this case.
72. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of long-term unemployed persons who have been employed as part of the initiative led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform under the devolved schools building programme, design and build framework, administered by the National Development Finance Agency on behalf of his Department. [15782/14]
View answer73. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projects under the devolved schools building programme, design and build framework, administered by the National Development Finance Agency on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, that are hiring a certain percentage of construction workers from the cohort of persons on the live register who are long-term unemployed; and if he will detail the projects under which apprentices are being employed as required. [15892/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.
The details of schools to which the Deputy refers are set out in the following table. The schools were bundled under 3 separate contracts. The contractor for bundle 1 commenced on site in February while the contracts for bundles 2 and 3 commenced in late March. To date the contractor on bundle 1 has employed 8 people who have been unemployed for more than 1 year. The contractors on bundles 2 and 3 have each engaged 1 person to date. All 3 contractors are involved in further recruitment processes in these matters.
|
School Name |
Roll Number |
Contract Bundle |
On Site |
|
S N Bheinn Naofa (B), Duleek, Co Meath |
17839H |
1 |
Feb-14 |
|
S N Bheinn Naofa (G), Duleek, Co. Meath |
17840P |
1 |
Feb-14 |
|
Navan ET, Navan, Co. Meath |
20164S |
1 |
Feb-14 |
|
Griffeen Valley Educate Together, Lucan, Co Dublin |
20166W |
1 |
Feb-14 |
|
St. Joseph's C.B.S, Drogheda, Co. Louth |
63840C |
1 |
Feb-14 |
|
Scoil Naisiunta Bhride (G), Clane, Co. Kildare |
19797E |
2 |
Mar-14 |
|
St Brigids NS, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare |
19675N |
2 |
Mar-14 |
|
Tullow C.S., Co. Carlow |
91356F |
2 |
Mar-14 |
|
North Kildare Educate Together, Celbridge, Co. Kildare |
19995I |
2 |
Mar-14 |
|
Cloughduv NS, Coachford, Co Cork |
13234W |
3 |
Mar-14 |
|
Watergrasshill NS, Fermoy, Co. Cork |
16271U |
3 |
Mar-14 |
|
Nagle Rice NS, Milltown, Co. Kerry |
20229U |
3 |
Mar-14 |
|
Galvone NS & Southill JS (Amal), Limerick |
20184B |
3 |
Mar-14 |
|
Presentation Secondary School, Milltown, Co. Kerry |
61410N |
3 |
Mar-14 |
|
Christian Brothers Secondary School, Midleton, Co Cork |
62360G |
3 |
Mar-14 |
74. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the confidentiality agreement between Bus Éireann and a company (details supplied) was actually signed and put in place; if this was prior to the company's original report entitled, Review of the Overhead Costs and Indirect Costs for the Administration of the School Transport Scheme, or prior to the commencement of the company's redacted report in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15694/14]
View answerThe confidentiality agreement was signed on behalf of Bus Éireann on 1 May 2009 and on behalf of Farrell Grant Sparks on 5 May 2009.
75. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to a person (details suppled) in County Meath to apply for accreditation for a language school to teach English as a foreign language in view of the fact that the access to the ACELS recognition is now closed and the new IEM is not due until 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15719/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was established through the amalgamation of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), HETAC and FETAC in November 2012. QQI assumed responsibility for the functions undertaken by those bodies including those functions, such as ACELS, which are carried out on an administrative basis.
Since its establishment, QQI has been undertaking a comprehensive policy development programme, in order to put in place the policies and processes required to perform its functions under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012. During this process, QQI has prioritised the development of those policies required to allow new applications from providers who wish to have access to the awards of QQI, and those policies were published in October. QQI will continue to roll out its remaining policies over the coming months.
The operation of ACELS will be discontinued by QQI when its policies relating to the Code of Practice for the provision of education to international learners, and the related International Education Mark (IEM), are established. The Code of Practice and IEM will place the recognition and monitoring of the English Language sector by QQI on a statutory footing. QQI intends to publish its draft policy on international education for consultation in the summer, with the final policy being rolled-out in the second half of 2014.
Given the expected timeframe for their establishment, QQI decided to re-open access to ACELS recognition for a temporary period until 31 January 2014, to accommodate those English Language Training Organisations (ELTOs) which were ready to apply and which had expressed an interest in gaining recognition for 2014. Since that date QQI's focus has turned to the processing of those final applications and the transition to the new Code of Practice/IEM regime. Once in place, recognition of ELTOs by QQI will only be granted in the context of the Code of Practice and the International Education Mark. However, it should be noted that ACELS recognised ELTOs will not have an automatic entitlement to use the International Education Mark, but will have to demonstrate compliance with the Code of Practice and related policies.
It should also be noted that "accreditation" in this context does not relate to the making of awards by QQI. Instead, it simply refers to recognition of the providers concerned by QQI, which means they have demonstrated compliance with ACELS standards and are subject to ongoing monitoring and review by QQI to ensure their ongoing compliance. There is no mandatory regulation of the English language sector in Ireland and therefore providers are not required to have ACELS recognition in order to operate in the State. Indeed, many ELTOs choose to operate without such recognition.
76. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to increase the number of ASD places in mainstream secondary schools in Dublin South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15722/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the matter raised by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
