Written Answers Nos. 31-51
31. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when he will introduce the official languages (amendment) Bill 2014; if he has consulted the Irish language community on this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24467/14]
View answerIn accordance with a commitment given in the Programme for Government 2011-2016, my Department has undertaken a review of the Official Languages Act 2003. That commitment specified that a review be undertaken of the Act to ensure that expenditure on Irish is best used to develop the language and that obligations are imposed appropriately in response to demands from citizens. As part of the review, 1,400 survey responses and 262 submissions were received during a public consultation process. The findings of the review, of which the public consultation process was an integral part, were published on my Department’s website on 4 April 2014. As the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2014 is on the A list of the Government's Legislative Programme, it is planned to publish it prior to the summer recess. However, this timeframe depends on a number of factors, including the drafting process itself and the ongoing discussions with key stakeholders on the Heads of the Bill. In this context and in accordance with Government policy, the Heads of the Bill were referred to the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on 27 May 2014. That Committee, through the work of its Sub-Committee on the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, has met with various stakeholders, including officials from my Department, An Coimisinéir Teanga and representatives from various Irish language organisations. I will, of course, be happy to consider any recommendations that the Committee may wish to make in regard to the Heads of the Bill.
32. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he has sought a report into the recent actions of the National Parks and Wildlife Service pertaining to turf cutting on Knockarasar bog in Galway; if there has been any change in policy regarding this type of bog; the date on which the Moycullen district bogs were designated as national heritage areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24452/14]
View answerStatutory Instrument No 584 of 2005, which was signed into law on 20 September 2005, formally designated Moycullen Bogs, including Knockarasar Bog, as a Natural Heritage Area (NHA). The Statutory Instrument is available to view at http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/si/0584.html NHAs are designated for the protection of certain endangered habitats, in this case blanket bog. To ensure the protection of these habitats, certain activities can only be undertaken within NHAs with consent from my Department. These include:
- cutting turf, except from existing plots;
- cutting intact (uncut) areas;
- commercial peat moss or turf extraction; or
- the use of the sausage machine.
Policy in relation to these matters has not changed.
During 2013, a complaint was received in my Department from a member of the public relating to turf extraction within the NHA referred to. It was alleged that turf had been cut using a sausage machine, that new areas had been opened and that a commercial operation was underway. Officials from my Department have been investigating the complaint and were recently in contact with the landowners and contractor involved. Investigations are ongoing.
33. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the circumstances in which the Lia Fáil monument in County Meath was vandalised; if it will be possible to fully restore this monument; the actions that will be taken if any to prevent this kind of vandalism again; the number of national monuments that have been seriously vandalised in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24468/14]
View answerThe standing stone known as the Lia Fáil at Tara, County Meath, is an extremely important national monument which is vested in my ownership as Minister and managed on my behalf by the Office of Public Works. The granite stone features extensively in ancient texts and is associated with the inauguration rites for the Kings of Tara. In the early nineteenth century the stone was moved from the nearby Mound of the Hostages to its current position to mark the graves of rebels who fell in the Battle of Tara in 1798. On the morning of 29 May last, OPW guides arriving at Tara discovered that the Lia Fáil had suffered vandalism overnight, involving paint being poured over the monument. An Garda Síochána was immediately notified and an investigation was commenced. On foot of the initial report, a conservation team from the OPW and an archaeologist from my Department attended the site and, later the same day, the OPW team undertook cleaning of the stone. While they were successful in removing most of the paint, the monument remains somewhat discoloured and there are paint deposits remaining within channels in the stone. It is thought that, over time, the discolouration and the remaining deposits will disappear through normal weathering. Archaeologists from my Department will continue to liaise closely with the OPW in relation to the conservation and restoration needs of the monument.
Thankfully, incidences of vandalism at archaeological monuments are relatively rare, though the Lia Fáil was also targeted in 2012, when it was struck by a hammer or similar instrument. This year, in addition to the Lia Fáil incident, vandalism has occurred at two other archaeological monuments, Ross Errily Friary in Co. Galway and Carrowmore Passage Tomb in Co. Sligo. These incidents are also the subject of Garda investigations.
All known archaeological monuments, of which there are in excess of 130,000, are entitled to protection under the National Monuments Acts. A significant number of these monuments are located in the more remote parts of the country and the vigilance of local people has proved to be of crucial assistance in identifying instances of unlawful interference with archaeological remains. In relation to national monuments in State care, my Department and the OPW keep security measures at such sites under ongoing review, seeking to strike an appropriate balance between the protection and conservation of this irreplaceable resource while facilitating the widest possible level of public access to the monuments.
34. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been in communication with the Israeli Government requesting it to cease its policy of administrative detention under its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24855/14]
View answer35. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the continued use of administrative detention in the occupied Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24976/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
I have consistently made clear my concerns about the use of administrative detention by the Israeli authorities. Israel is undeniably faced with serious security challenges, and may legitimately therefore have recourse in certain circumstances to special powers. However, there are clear grounds for concern that administrative detention is being used in some cases to suppress legitimate dissent and protest. Coupled with the application of military law to all Palestinians under occupation, but not to Israeli citizens living in the same areas, there is clear potential for abuse, and for the familiar phenomenon whereby supposedly exceptional powers are increasingly used in broader and indeed routine circumstances. The instances of repeated extensions of detention orders can also mean that individuals may be detained for years without ever having charges laid against them, or even being informed of the basis for their detention.
Ireland has repeatedly drawn attention to these concerns with regard to administrative detention, both directly with the Israeli authorities, and in discussions at EU or UN level. The EU has also criticized the excessive use by Israel of administrative detention on a number of occasions in recent years.
There has been a significant reduction in the use of the practice by Israel during this period, but the problem remains a serious one. We will continue to make known our concerns on the practice overall to the Israeli authorities at all appropriate opportunities.
36. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if an amendment to the current single person child tax credit will be brought forward to lead to a fairer situation for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24899/14]
View answerAs I have outlined to the Deputy in previous responses in this matter, the One-Parent Family Tax Credit has been replaced with a new Single Person Child Carer Credit from 1 January 2014. However, the credit is more targeted in that it is, in the first instance, only available to the principal carer of the child.
Given the difficult fiscal environment, it is essential to review all tax reliefs, credits and incentives in order to ensure that they are properly targeted and if necessary re-focused in order that they can achieve the socio-economic objectives that are set for them. A system that allows multiple claims in respect of the same child is unsustainable. The targeting of tax reliefs and expenditures to the intended beneficiaries and not to a broad base of taxpayers, ensures a fairer situation for the generality of taxpayers, by ensuring that the cost of such reliefs is contained.
The new credit is designed to be an activation measure, which was the original intention behind the One Parent Family Tax Credit, which it replaced. It is designed to be an in-work benefit to support a principal carer to take up, or remain in, employment.
Notwithstanding the above, as a result of an amendment which I brought forward at Committee Stage of the Finance Bill, a principal carer who is entitled to the credit and who does not wish to avail of it can choose to surrender it. A secondary carer may then make a claim for the credit, provided that the qualifying child resides with him or her for not less than 100 days in the tax year.
I have no plans to review this reform at this early stage although, as is part of normal practice in the preparation of the annual Budget, my officials monitor all tax measures to ensure that they are operating effectively.
37. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank of Ireland has any data on the split of the mortgage arrears between mortgage customers on a tracker interest rate and standard variable rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24839/14]
View answer40. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a split of the 762,454 PDH residential loan accounts as set out in the quarter 1 2014 Central Bank of Ireland mortgage arrears statistics between accounts on a variable rate, tracker rate and a fixed rate. [24862/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 40 together.
In relation to the split of mortgage arrears between tracker interest rate and standard variable interest rate, I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that it does not publish this data.
In relation to the Deputy's question on the split of residential loan accounts for Quarter 1, I am informed that the Central Bank's data release on Private Household Credit and Deposits provides a breakdown based on to total value of credit extended. The latest release is available on the Central Bank website. http://www.centralbank.ie/polstats/stats/cmab/Pages/HouseholdCredit.aspx. It gives a breakdown of the outstanding amounts, the transactions and the growth rates in relation to the various types of interest rate referred to by the Deputy.
38. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of Revenue Commissioner audits carried out in respect of self-employed contractors, including those that operate through a company structure, in 2013 and to date in 2014; if he will provide a breakdown of the profile of those contractors by sector in respect of completed audits; the number where the Revenue Commissioners has calculated that additional tax is due to the State; the total amount of tax, interest and penalties calculated as being due; if he will provide details, including numbers, of the Revenue Commissioners plans to continue to focus on this area throughout the remainder of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24842/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there is a national audit project (known as the "contractors project") underway since July 2013, concerned with service professionals who provide services through a company under contract to third-party clients. Revenue can provide information on this project, but some self-employed contractors may have had audits or other interventions outside of the project which are not captured because they are not categorised as contractor interventions.
In 2011, through normal audit activity, Revenue identified a potential issue in situations where professionals providing engineering services formed companies (of which they were both directors and employees) which then contracted with client companies, often multinationals, for the provision of the services of the individual. A characteristic of these companies was that they typically had no other business, and no non-director employees. In a number of such cases examined, the level of expenses reimbursed tax free to the director/contractor was found to be excessive and in several cases included expenses which either had not been incurred at all, or were personal rather than business-related.
A pilot project operated in Revenue's South West Region in 2012 and 2013 which audited 119 companies with additional liability in 107 cases, and a further 24 directors of contractor companies have also agreed settlements. The total additional tax liability was €2,801,977. Penalties of €906,433 (32%) and interest of €857,216 were imposed. By this time it was clear that there was a pattern of behaviour which warranted a national audit project. A list of companies was compiled from the business sectors identified in previous audits, where there were few or no employees apart from the directors, and which exhibited one of the following characteristics: (a) travel and subsistence expenses amounting to more than 20% of turnover; (b) other expenses amounting to more than 20% of turnover, or (c) the combination of both amounting to more than 25% of turnover. The cases fell into the categories of professional, scientific and technical services (60%), information and communication services (38%) and certain administrative and support services (2%). In addition to cases from this list, audits which remained open in the South West Region at 1 July 2013 were subsumed into the national project.
Since 1 July 2013, a total of 385 company audit cases have been closed, with additional liability in 299 cases, and a further 49 directors of contractor companies have also agreed settlements. Additional tax of €5,969,630 has been identified, with penalties of €1,765,995 (30%), and interest of €1,639,623. At the moment 368 companies remain under audit, and Revenue is now moving to bring these cases to finality. Most of the audits now open indicated their intention to make a disclosure to Revenue some months ago and availed of a concession whereby Revenue agreed to allow additional time and to provide guidance in compiling disclosures. Revenue has now written to those taxpayers advising that the process of preparing disclosures must be completed urgently if the benefits of voluntary disclosure (which encompass lesser penalty and non-publication provided certain specific conditions are met) are to be preserved.
In the course of the contractors project it has become clear that the provision of services under contract is a large and growing practice with many thousands of contractors involved in a range of professional services sectors. Many of these professional contractors operate companies in a traditional mode, where they employ staff, operate from an established place of business, and provide a range of specialised services on the open market. For such companies, Revenue's project has generally found little or no additional tax liability arising from travel expenses. Another, quite different type of contracting also exists in considerable numbers, where an individual's services are obtained, often through the facilitation of a recruitment agency, and a contract is concluded with the individual's company. In some cases, a company may be provided to the individual for this purpose. Typically, the work is done at the client's premises and the contractor's company has no other business. Between these two types of contractor there are a huge number of individual variations.
Revenue published two tax briefing articles in 2013 which made it clear that, where the services of an individual are being provided through an intermediary, as opposed to the traditional provision of goods or services to the market generally, the expenses which may be claimed against tax liability are similar to those that may be claimed by an employee. Thus for example an individual going to work abroad under a contract must bear the cost of doing so him/herself regardless of whether the contract is with the person or with his/her company.
As the current phase of the project comes to a conclusion, Revenue will review the outcomes in detail and decide how best to reflect them in future audit activity. At the same time, Revenue will examine the impact of emerging practices in other areas, for example in the use of contractors operating abroad, to ensure that they pose no risks of loss to the exchequer.
39. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of employees at the Central Bank of Ireland; the number of posts currently being recruited for; the number of staff who have been offered voluntary redundancy this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24860/14]
View answerAs Minister for Finance, I have no role in the employment of staff in the Central Bank. Under the Central Bank Act 1942, the Central Bank Commission is responsible for administrating the staffing of the Central Bank with a view to enabling the Central Bank to perform and exercise its functions and powers.
I have been informed by the Central Bank that the Central Bank Commission approves the staffing plan for the Central Bank on an annual basis and this defines the resourcing needs across the organisation. The total number of full-time equivalent employees normally employed by the Central Bank is 1,397.
The Central Bank has informed me that it operates to a recruitment target of 10 weeks from the time a vacancy arises until a candidate is offered a job. On average this process takes 7.4 weeks. There are currently 133 vacancies. As of 2 June 2014, 50 offers had been made for these 133 vacancies and 27 had been accepted by candidates at that point.
The Central Bank has advised that it introduced a Voluntary Severance Scheme (VSS) as part of its collective agreement with Unite (known as the Foster Agreement) under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 legislation. The Central Bank negotiated this agreement in response to the Haddington Road agreement.
The Central Bank has advised that the terms of the scheme reflect those offered across the public service. The scheme recognises the amount of change that has taken place across the Central Bank and that change is still on-going, resulting in some skill mis-matches.
The Central Bank has also advised that it has recently written to my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation confirming that it is likely that in total approximately 70 employees working in the professional and administrative categories of the Central Bank who have volunteered will be made redundant by 31 December 2014 but final numbers have yet to be determined. In the majority of cases the roles made redundant will not be replaced.
41. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in the covered institutions, by institution, on a variable rate mortgage; if he has spoken to any of the public interest directors in these institutions in relation to the matter of increasing variable rates, in contradiction to the trend of rate reductions from the ECB in the past three years; if he will provide the percentage of mortgage holders, by institution, in default or mortgage distress that are on variable rate mortgages; if the Regulator carried out an impact analysis in 2011 on this issue as instructed by Government; and if the banks have justified to the regulator or the Central Bank of Ireland the reason for the increase in variable rates, and his views on same. [24886/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware I have met with the Boards of the Covered Institutions on a number of occasions. As part of the general discussions that have taken place at these meetings issues relating to mortgages have been discussed.
The Central Bank has requested that the Deputy provide further details on the information that he is requesting to ensure that it provides the exact information the Deputy is requesting.
The covered institutions have also provided the following information.
AIB
All relevant data in relation to AIB s mortgage portfolios, including arrears data, for December 2013 are made on pages 71 to 119 of AIB s 2013 Annual Financial Report, published on 5 March 2014. AIB has not changed its variable rates for existing customers since June 2013. The Central Bank of Ireland requires the Board of AIB to consider the impact of arrears, prior to approving a residential mortgage variable rate increase. Forecasting models are run to access the impact for any rate increases on affordability and subsequent impact on arrears and losses.
Bank of Ireland
As a public company Bank of Ireland provides extremely comprehensive disclosures on its Irish mortgage portfolios in its annual reports and in its investor presentations which are available on its website http://www.bankofireland.com/investor and http://www.bankofireland.com/fs/doc/wysiwyg/boi-year-end-2013.pdf
Permanent TSB
ptsb has c. 163,000 Residential Mortgage accounts of these c. 82,000 are on a variable rate mortgage. ptsb has c. 41,500 Residential Mortgage accounts in forbearance or default. Of these c. 22,000 are variable (so 13.6% of ptsb mortgages are variable and in forbearance/default or 53% of their mortgages in forbearance/default are variable).
a. Changes to any of the bank's mortgage rates go through a full Governance process including approval by ALCO and sign off by the ptsb Board. This is part of the bank's normal commercial operations and does not require, nor is it part of their approval process to obtain Regulator approval. In the same way the bank adjusts pricing on their deposit products without Regulator approval.
b. The decision on where to set the bank's Variable Mortgage Rates is driven by a range of commercial and customer considerations including cost of funding, competitor rates, their assessment of the risk/return trade off, Regulatory and Stakeholder requirements.
c. ptsb reduced its SVR rate from 4.69% to 4.34% in July 2012 and maintained this at 4.34% until June 2014 when it was adjusted to 4.5%.
d. Since the bank's last rate cut in July 2012 it has significantly reduced its funding from the ECB and replaced it with more expensive deposits and market funding. While this increased pressure on the bank's profitability they maintained the SVR rate. This was influenced by the factors in (b) including the competitive environment the bank operates in.
e. The bank has also made some small changes to their variable rates driven by their competitive positioning.
42. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24888/14]
View answerFrom 16 October 2013, tax relief for medical insurance premiums has been restricted to the first €1,000 per adult and the first €500 per child insured. Any portion of premium paid in excess of these ceilings no longer qualifies for tax relief. Prior to this, income tax relief for medical insurance premiums was provided at source, at the standard rate of income tax, on the entire premium amount regardless of cost. Therefore, the State was paying 20% of the cost of all private medical insurance premiums.
The cost of Income Tax relief in respect of medical insurance has increased significantly in recent years, estimated at €404 million in 2011, €448 million in 2012 and €500 million in 2013. Despite the increasing cost of the relief, the numbers insured are estimated to have reduced by approximately 170,000 over the same period, while at the same time the level of medical cover has decreased on some policies. Against this background the increase in costs was unsustainable. If the relief had remained unchanged and the trend was to continue, the cost would increase to approximately €1 billion per annum by 2020.
Notwithstanding the recent reform, the tax system is still supporting those who can afford private medical insurance to the tune of around €400 million per annum. Effectively that means that some taxpayers who could never afford private health insurance, or who have had to give up their policies due to personal circumstances, are continuing to provide financial support via the tax system to those individuals who can afford such insurance.
It should be noted that the Commission on Taxation in its 2009 report recommended the retention of medical insurance relief but that it should be limited. The introduction of an upper ceiling on the amount of medical insurance premiums that will qualify for tax relief achieves this recommendation.
There is no question of reinstating tax relief on medical insurance premiums as it was never abolished. However, the new ceilings ensure continuing support via the tax system for those who purchase medical insurance policies, while reducing Exchequer exposure to more expensive policies.
43. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding AIB's review of the service department; the need to ensure employees jobs and rights are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24893/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware under the Relationship Framework the State does not intervene in the day to day operations of the bank or their management decisions regarding commercial matters. But I have been informed by AIB that all outsourcing arrangements in AIB are considered in consultation with unions and affected staff.
44. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of May 2014, the position of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who was adversely affected by the changes to the OPFTC in budget 2014 and now faces losing their home and consequently placing a financial burden on the State; if he will look at ways of easing the financial impact of this measure on such persons by introducing a limited credit for secondary carers who do not qualify for the SPCCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24927/14]
View answerAs outlined in my previous response to the Deputy in this matter, it is essential to regularly review all tax reliefs, credits and incentives in order to ensure that they are properly targeted and if necessary re-focused in order that they can achieve the socio-economic objectives that are set for them.
To introduce a limited credit to assist those in particular circumstances who have lost the benefit of another tax credit, due to it being refocused, would undermine the intentions behind any targeting or refocusing of tax reliefs, credits and incentives.
It is estimated that the loss of the one parent family tax credit to an individual earning the average industrial wage, calculated at €32,450, would be approximately €31 per week.
I would remind the Deputy that the tax system already provides tax relief at source on mortgage interest paid to assist individuals with managing their mortgage repayments.
45. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the form specified by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of a notification to be sent to them under section 21 arising from a resolution referred to in section 20(2) of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24950/14]
View answerSection 20 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) allows elected members of a local authority to pass a formal resolution to vary the basic rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in respect of residential properties situated within their functional area. The basic LPT rate can be increased or decreased by up to 15%. This is referred to as the "local adjustment factor" (LAF) and the earliest year that this can apply is 2015.
Local authorities are required under section 21 of the 2012 Act to notify Revenue on or before 30 September 2014 if they wish to vary the LPT rate that will apply in 2015. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, as part of their customer service and information campaign in relation to the LAF, they wrote to each City and County Manager at the end of March 2014 to remind all Managers of the deadline by which Revenue must be notified if their particular local authority wishes to vary the LPT rate for next year. A copy of the letter in question will be sent directly to the Deputy.
I am also advised that the Commissioners will be writing to all City and County Managers again in advance of the September 2014 deadline specifying the details, which the Commissioners expect will be straightforward, that they require from local authorities in connection with the LAF.
46. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the new pyrite scandal affecting a newly built school in Balbriggan, County Dublin, that may have to be demolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24911/14]
View answerA query has arisen with regard to the certification of some materials used in building works in a school currently under construction in the North Dublin area. The Department is awaiting a detailed report from the contractor on the matter. On receipt of the contractor's report the Department and its Design Team will then determine what next steps are required.
47. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will follow up on correspondence (details supplied). [24822/14]
View answerI have arranged for a response to issue to the Deputy and he will have this shortly.
48. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a club (details supplied) in Dublin 12 has been informed that it may not allow anyone who holds a leaving certificate applied to do a local training initiative, LTI; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is not the case in other parts of Dublin or the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24834/14]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the City of Dublin Education Training Board (CDETB).
I am informed by the CDETB that St John Bosco Youth Centre currently receive funding for two Local Training Initiative (LTI) programmes operating out of the premises on Davitt road. These programmes have been funded and supported by the Training Centre in Ballyfermot since Jan 2013. These programmes are both at FETAC level 4 and are suitable for adult and young people who have not completed second level education.
- Horizon Programme. This is a 30 week programme targeting learners in the 18-35 brackets with no formal or incomplete secondary education and within the Dublin 12 area.
- LEAP programme. This is a 30 week programme targeting learners in the general 16-35 brackets but specifically 18-23 with no formal or incomplete secondary education and primarily within the Dublin 12 area.
The recruitment of learners is the responsibility of the Centre but the proposed learners must meet the eligibility criteria established for the LTIs. CDETB have worked with St John Bosco management on the recruitment of learners for both programmes since April 2014. Where learners are found to be ineligible for either course CDETB Training Centre in Ballyfermot invite them to meet with a guidance/recruitment officer to facilitate the learner in their search for an appropriate training course.
49. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way schools are implementing well-being in post-primary schools; if an audit-evaluation has been undertaken on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24843/14]
View answerMy Department, along with the Department of Health and the HSE, jointly published 'Well-Being in Post- Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention' in 2013. The guidelines provide practical advice to post-primary schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated manner within the school environment.
These guidelines complement a number of other measures which support positive well-being among post primary students. These encompass, inter alia, the inclusion of 'Well Being' as one of the eight key principles in the new Junior Cycle Framework, and the development of a new short course in Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). The new short course will be available to post primary schools from September, to implement, should they wish to do so, as part of their Junior Cycle Framework.Post primary schools are also encouraged to participate in the 'Health Promoting Schools' initiative, which is supported by the Department of Health. This European-wide programme aims to strengthen schools' capacity to be a healthy setting for learning and working by focusing at whole-school level on all the conditions that affect health and well-being.
The results from our second Lifeskills survey which were published by my Department this January indicate that approximately 37% of respondent post primary schools are currently in the Health Promoting Schools initiative or are in the process of joining. My Department is working with the Department of Health to increase participation among post primary schools in this initiative.
As part of its ongoing programme of thematic evaluation into aspects of school quality, my Department's Inspectorate is currently developing an inspection model to evaluate primary and post primary schools' provision for students' well-being.
50. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a school extension in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24906/14]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding for the provision of additional school accommodation. The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority when this process has been completed.
51. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the value of the funding granted to each school under the summer works scheme in 2014. [24928/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive Summer Works Scheme funding in 2014 in respect of applications submitted for Categories 1 to 6 i.e. Gas, Electrical, Mechanical, Toilet Facilities and Roof Works projects. In total, I have approved the spending of more than €70 million on the Summer Works Scheme to allow over 770 schools undertake improvement works during the summer months. A list of these schools may be viewed on my Department's website www.education.gov.ie. I wish to advise the Deputy that the level of grant allocated to each school cannot be disclosed at this point as to do so could prejudice the tender process.
