Written Answers Nos. 202 to 213
202. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if persons may include mortgage payments and household outgoings in their assessment under the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme; if there is any way in which these can be included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24084/15]
View answerStudent grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period.
The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally on the same basis to both employed and self-employed applicants. Gross income before the deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.
Therefore, the assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households. No allowances can be made for outgoings i.e. mortgage repayments, utilities, travel, medical expenses etc.
In the interest of equity, I have no plans to change the current arrangement.
203. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 10 June 2015 and her stated priorities to introduce reforms in international education to protect the students who come to study here and to protect our national reputation for offering high-quality education, the measures her Department has taken, including those in conjunction with other Departments, to protect the 600 students of the recently closed Medgar Evers College, including those who have paid for courses and are still in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela, those who have arrived here to find a closed school and no support, and those who are here having just paid for new courses in a school now closed and who do not have the relevant documents to renew their visas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24090/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that MEC (Modern Educational Centre) ceased trading with effect from 1st May 2015. A number of measures have been implemented to assist genuine students affected by the closure. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of the Department of Justice and Equality acted swiftly to assure the immigration status of affected students. All current immigration permissions are being fully honoured by the immigration service.
In addition, any student who arrives at a port of entry with a valid visa or letter of enrolment for MEC issued prior to 1st May 2015 is being permitted to land. This is to allow students to pursue the college for any refund owing to them and to allow them to make alternative arrangements to continue their studies as soon as they can. For students who have not yet registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau, INIS is allowing those students up to the end of June 2015 to make alternative arrangements for study.
While I have every sympathy for the genuine affected students who have lost money when this college closed, the relationship between students and private colleges is based on a private contract between the student and the provider. However, it should be noted that the Task Force which I established jointly with the Minister for Justice and Equality to assist affected students has worked closely with the representative bodies of the high-quality private sector providers to develop solutions that could provide alternative courses at a significantly discounted rate for students impacted by the private college closures, including MEC, who were not covered by learner protection arrangements. Other individual colleges and representative groups, such as the recently-formed Private College Network, have also made offers to accommodate impacted students.
The new package of reforms to the student immigration system for international education being introduced by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality includes a number of specific measures to protect international students including compulsory learner protection arrangements and a separate account facility to safeguard student advance payments.
204. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 10 June 2015, if she will provide information on the two Skillnets networks which provide subsidised training in responsible welding co-ordinator training; the amount these courses will cost those in employment; the subsidies available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24093/15]
View answerThe name of the Skillnets networks are the TechNorthWest Skillnet and the IIE Manufacturing Skillnet. I have attached a spreadsheet of training that has been delivered earlier in the year with costs, trainee numbers and company details. At present, I understand that neither network plan to run the programmes again in 2015, but could do so if there was a demand and interested parties should make contact with the networks directly.
Welding Programmes Information - 10-4-15
TechNorth West - Responsible Welding Coordinator
|
- |
Location |
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Multispan Steel |
Donegal |
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Inishowen Engineering |
Donegal |
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Mulhall Contracts |
Donegal |
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Welditz |
Donegal |
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Crana Engineering Ltd. |
Donegal |
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PJ Designs Metal Craft Ltd |
Donegal |
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K.P. Engineering |
Donegal |
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Long Roulston Tld. T/A WDL |
Donegal |
IIE Manufacturing and Engineering Skillnet
|
- |
Location |
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CDS Architectural Metalwork |
Kilkenny |
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MF Hopkins Engineering |
Mayo |
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MF Hopkins Engineering |
Mayo |
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McKeon Engineering / Agri Supplies Ltd |
Longford |
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John Keville Engineering |
Roscommon |
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Killian Engineering |
Longford |
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Hickey Engineering |
Offaly |
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Tipperary Fabrication Ltd. |
Tipperary |
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Jamestown Profiling |
Kildare |
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Kenneally Steel Fabrication Ltd. |
Waterford |
|
3 Eng Ltd. |
Waterford |
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Delmec Engineering Ltd. |
Carlow |
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Coughlan Engineering (Tullamore) Ltd |
Offaly |
Programme Information
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One programme - Responsible Welding Coordinator run for 8 people |
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Programme cost € 13,600 |
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Participant fee € 1,190 |
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No additional programmes planned in 2015 at this point |
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Programme run in Letterkenny over 3 days |
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Certified by International Institute of Welding |
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1 Programmes of Responsible Welding Coordinator and Visual Inspection 3 days |
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1 Programme of Responsible Welding Coordinator 2 days |
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Total of 26 people from 13 member firms - spend of €44,200 |
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Programme cost of € 1,700 per person |
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Participant fee of € 1,360 per person |
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1 additional Programmes of Responsible Welding Coordinator and Visual Inspection planned |
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for 17-18 April 2015 |
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Programmes normally run in Athlone |
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Certified by International Institute of Welding |
205. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a final reply will issue further to her interim reply (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24113/15]
View answerThe Deputy is aware that the Teaching Council has been asked to examine and advise on entry requirements to courses of initial teacher education including the Gaeltacht entry scheme to the Bachelor of Education. As you know, it is proposed in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language that up to 20% of places in Colleges of Education will be retained for students educated through Irish in Gaeltacht schools and gaelscoileanna, with students in English medium schools also being eligible, subject to a high performance threshold in Irish in the Leaving Certificate.
I understand that the Teaching Council's research report in relation to entry requirements is currently being finalised and it is due to be considered by Council in the autumn, prior to submitting advice to me. As the research relates to a broad spectrum of entry requirements, and it may take some time for the Council to deliberate on same, I have asked the Council to prioritise the area of entry requirements for Gaeltacht applicants, and I understand that it intends to submit its advice separately on that matter. I expect to receive it in the coming months and following its consideration, I will then take a decision on the matter.
206. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a final reply will issue further to her interim reply (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24116/15]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that a final reply to the correspondence in question has now been issued by my Department.
207. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her Department have any further update on the settlement from the State to a victim (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24211/15]
View answerThe European Court of Human Rights awarded the applicant €30,000 in respect of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and €85,000 in costs and expenses, plus any tax chargeable. A total amount of €134,550 in respect of these amounts together with Valued Added Tax of €19,550, was paid to the applicant's solicitor in February 2014.
208. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her Department officials have received files from the State Claims Agency which were received from those victims who were sexually abused in State schools but who have decided to drop their cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24212/15]
View answer209. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has a further update on the outstanding claims made for compensation by those who were sexually abused in State schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24213/15]
View answer210. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions she and her Department have taken since she met in December 2014 the victims of sexual abuse in State schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24214/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, together.
The Government agreed that out of court settlements be offered in those cases of school child sexual abuse being brought against the State where the cases come within the terms of the ECHR judgment and satisfy the Statute of Limitations. The State Claims Agency is engaging with plaintiffs' solicitors to clarify the position in cases and to make settlement offers where appropriate. In pursuing settlements, the State Claims Agency will be considering cases of school child sexual abuse where there was a prior complaint about the relevant teacher's sexual abuse to school authorities. The rationale for this approach is that these were the circumstances on which the European Court of Human Rights judgment was based.
The position in relation to those cases that were not progressed for a number of reasons, including those which might have been discontinued after receiving letters from the State Claims Agency is that I asked the Agency to undertake a review to clarify the exact position as to whether the cases had been formally discontinued or not. The Agency has completed its review and my Department sought some clarification from the Agency. I expect to be in a position to report to Government on this matter shortly at which time the Government will consider whether any measures will be taken in relation to these cases.
There are a significant number of additional cases in which the State has either been joined as a party or notified of the intention to seek to join the State. The State Claims Agency will be engaging with the Plaintiffs' solicitors involved in each of these cases having regard to the facts in each individual case.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Government initiated a review of current and planned child protection mechanisms in the school system to assess the extent to which issues identified in the ECHR Judgment have been addressed in the period since 1973. This review is being undertaken by a specially tasked Sub-Committee within the Children First Inter-Departmental Implementation Group which is considering current and planned legislative and administrative child protection measures in the education sector. It is expected that its report will be submitted to Government in the near future.
211. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish haulage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24033/15]
View answer212. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding costs for local hauliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24034/15]
View answer213. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding hauliers' road tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24055/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together.
My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to consider issues relating to the Irish haulage industry, which includes representation from my Department. The haulage industry is seeking a reduction in motor tax for the sector, a change in the basis of taxation from unladen to gross design vehicle weight and the introduction of road user charging. In relation to the latter two proposals, these are currently being considered and implementation, if recommended, would be for the medium to long-term. In relation to the first proposal, any changes to rates of motor tax are for consideration in the context of the budget.
