Written Answers Nos 221-229
221. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers currently employed in second level schools that are surplus to requirements due to not having been redeployed. [48691/14]
View answerThe redeployment process takes place in the first half of each year and takes effect from the start of the following school year. The process operates and deals with any surplus for the following school year.
The redeployment process for the 2015/16 school year will commence early in 2015. The numbers involved for redeployment will be finalised at that stage. Given that Budget 2015 did not impact on teacher allocations it is likely that the level of redeployment will be lower than in recent years.
224. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views that it is appropriate that her Department is paying a connection fee to Irish Water of €1,650 for school extensions even where the pipe work is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48752/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department relating to Irish Water. With respect to the Deputy's question, Irish Water has indicated to my Department that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in its role as economic regulator of Irish Water, will introduce a national connections policy to which Irish Water will adhere. This Connections Policy is expected in 2015.
In the interim, CER has instructed Irish Water to adhere to a composite connections policy. This is based on the connections policies in place in each local authority at 31 December 2013.
225. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) can overcome Student Universal Support Ireland queries regarding their place of residence, in view of the fact that they share the dwelling, have no utility bills in their name, but are capable of providing a sworn affidavit from the owner of the property regarding the fact that they have resided there for the relevant time. [48756/14]
View answerWhen considering whether a student meets the conditions to be assessed independently of his or her parents, grant awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of independent living in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant.
In exceptional circumstances, where it is not possible to produce such proofs of residence for demonstrable reasons, the awarding body may, at its discretion, agree to accept other documentary evidence that provides an acceptable degree of proof of independent living. For example, while an affidavit, if accompanied by other supporting documentation, may be considered as evidence of independent living, an affidavit in isolation is not considered acceptable as sole proof of residency. Individual circumstances should be discussed by an applicant with the grant awarding authority.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to their awarding body.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by their awarding body, and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board.
226. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 5 November 2014, if he will introduce a special reduced tax classification for vintage and classic motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48487/14]
View answerConcessionary rates of motor tax for vintage vehicles have been in place since 1991. The rates were initially set at £10 (€13) for motorcycles and £25 (€32) per annum for all other vintage vehicles. The current rates are €26 per annum for motor cycles and €56 for all other vintage vehicles.
I have no plans to further reduce these already favourable rates.
227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to surrender the exemption to domestic water charges secured by Ireland under the European framework directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48819/14]
View answer228. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is, at present, no requirement for charges to be imposed on domestic dwellings for the use of water from public mains for domestic purposes under the EU water framework directive and that Article 9.4 formally and legally absolves Ireland from the requirement to charge for domestic water; if he will ensure, on behalf of the Government, that this exemption is renewed before 1 January 2015 in order that the Government will retain the power to charge or not to charge for the use of water for domestic purposes into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49031/14]
View answer229. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on new information on Article 9.4 of the water framework directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49075/14]
View answer246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding domestic water charging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48744/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 229, inclusive, and 246 together.
Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive of 2000 requires Member States to take account of the principle of recovery of the costs of water services, in accordance with the principle of “polluter pays”. Article 9(4) of the Directive states that Member States are not in breach of the Directive if they decide in accordance with established practices not to apply the provisions of the recovery of costs for a given water-use activity, where this does not compromise the purposes and the achievement of the objectives of the Directive.
While this may have been referred to at the time as providing the basis for not charging for domestic water services, the introduction of such charges has subsequently been grounded, primarily, in, firstly, the confirmation by the 2007-2011 Government of the intention to charge in the first round of River Basin Management Plans developed in compliance with the Directive and adopted in 2010 and, secondly, the commitment entered into as part of the Programme of Financial Support for Ireland (2010-2013) agreed between the previous Government and the EU/ECB/IMF. The question of continuing an exemption under the Directive before the end of the year therefore does not arise.
In July 2014 , I published a consultation document setting out the timeframe for the implementation of the second cycle of the RBMPs and the consultation period remains open until 31 January 2015. In mid-2015, I intend to publish, and engage in consultation on, an interim overview of the significant water management issues in Ireland and this will provide context for the measures to be undertaken as part of the second cycle RBMPs. As outlined in the consultation document, it is likely that finalised second cycle RBMPs will be published by end-2017.
The Programme for Government commits to introducing a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water and establishing a new State-owned utility to take responsibility for water infrastructure. The new more sustainable funding model being put in place through the establishment of Irish Water will allow for the investment required to ensure our water infrastructure can meet demographic and economic needs and comply with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive in relation to the water environment.
In line with Government policy, and the provisions of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The package of measures which I announced on 19 November 2014, provides clarity and certainty and ensures that water charges are affordable for customers. Legislation is currently before the Oireachtas to underpin this package of measures.
