Written Answers Nos. 531-543
531. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive; the progress on introducing such an Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46207/15]
View answerA number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews Agreement have not yet been fully implemented including an Irish Language Act, a North South Consultative Forum, and Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government’s firm position is that these Agreements must be implemented in full. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island.
As the Deputy has outlined in his question, the matter of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland is a devolved one and is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and, in particular, of the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms. Carál Ní Chuilín MLA. In terms of recent progress, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ran a public consultation process on an Irish Language Bill earlier this year following on from the launch of a 20 year Strategy for both Irish and Ulster Scots in January this year.
The Government is closely following progress on this and will continue to advocate for an Irish Language Act and to encourage those Northern Ireland parties which currently support an Act to continue to build the necessary enabling consensus among their Executive colleagues.
In addition to our support for an Act, the Government also works to ensure the ongoing enhancement and protection of the Irish language in Northern Ireland including through the North South Language Body.
532. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of appointments to State boards under the aegis of his Department and the number of appointments that have been advertised on his Department's website since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46255/15]
View answer533. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of his Department who have appeared before the relevant joint Oireachtas committee since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46270/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together.
There are no State Boards under the aegis of my Department.
534. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the Acts currently in force for which he has lead responsibility and that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced, including the purpose of same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46285/15]
View answerSpecific provisions of Acts under my Department that have not yet been commenced are Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act 2008.
These Sections of the Passports Act, if commenced, would provide that guardians’ consent to the issuing of a passport would be considered to be enduring for the child up to the age of 18. The commencement of these provisions, including required technology updates, are under active consideration as part of the passport reform programme which will run until the end of 2018.
|
Act |
Specific provisions of the Act which have not yet been commenced |
|
Passports Act 2008 |
Sections 14(8) and 14(9) |
535. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 for all employees directly employed by or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46407/15]
View answerThe potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.50 per hour within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade could be up to €500,000 per annum. This is dependent on the number of temporary staff employed in the Passport Service during the peak season and therefore very difficult to estimate.
The remuneration of the staff of my Department is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy.
536. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rate of pay for new entrants to primary education; the changes that were made to the entry level; her plans to reverse this and any other such reductions to the civil and public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45716/15]
View answerThe Teachers' Common Basic Scale and allowances available to newly employed teachers from 2010 onwards are set out in the tables and include the pay restoration measures due to take effect from 1 January 2016, which were agreed as part of the Lansdowne Road Agreement and enacted under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 (FEMPI 2015). Not all of the allowances listed are available to every teacher as entitlement is based on the qualifications held by the individual and/or the nature of the post for which they were employed.
Since the beginning of the financial crisis, there has been a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure. The previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable of all new entrants to public service recruitment grades (including teachers) by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011 and required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale.
Subsequently, following the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments, the Government decided to withdraw or modify allowances for new beneficiary public servants with effect from 1 February 2012. Under this decision, certain allowances were withdrawn for new beneficiary teachers, including qualification allowances. However, the Government partially compensated for this by deciding that new entrant teachers would henceforth commence on a new salary scale which had a starting point higher than the starting point of the old scale.
These measures were implemented at time of very difficult financial and budgetary circumstances for the State.
Alleviation of the salary imbalance between those who entered the public service since 2011 and those who entered before that date began under the Haddington Road Agreement. Improved pay scales for post-1 January 2011 and post-1 February 2012 entrants to teaching were agreed and implemented under the terms of that Agreement. In addition, allowances payable to post-1 January 2011 entrants and such allowances as remain payable to post-1 February 2012 entrants were restored to pre-2011 levels.
The process of reducing the public service pay reductions made in recent years in respect of teachers and other cadres of public servants is outlined in the relevant provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The Agreement will, through salary increases and a reduction in the Pension-Related Deduction, begin the process of restoring the reductions to public service pay. The issue of equalised pay scales was not one which could be resolved in the discussions which lead to the Agreement. However, the flat-rate increases contained in the Agreement and implemented as part of FEMPI 2015, will be proportionately more favourable to new entrants to teaching (who are lower on the pay scale) than to longer serving teachers.
We look forward to seeing the further restoration of public service pay levels as our economy continues to recover strongly.
TEACHERS' COMMON BASIC SCALE
|
Scale Point |
Pre - 1 January 2011 New entrants |
Pre-1 January 2011 New entrants - with effect from 1/1/16 (Note a) |
Post-1/1/11 New entrants to teaching - Applied 1/1/11 to 30/6/13 (Note b) |
Post-1/1/11 New entrants to teaching - 1/7/13 to 31/10/13 (Note c) |
Post 1/1/11 New entrants to teaching - 1/11/13 to 31/12/15 (Note d) |
Post-1/1/11 New entrants to teaching between 1/1/2011 and 31/1/2012 - with effect from 1/1/16 (Note e) |
Post 1/2/12 New entrants to teaching - 1/2/12 to 30/6/13 (Note f) |
Post 1/2/12 New entrants to teaching - 1/7/13 to 31/12/15 (Note g) |
Post 1/2/12 New entrants and future entrants - with effect from 1/1/16 (Note h) |
|
1 |
€ 30,904 |
€ 31,213 |
€ 27,814 |
€ 27,814 |
€ 27,814 |
€ 28,092 |
€ 30,702 |
€ 30,702 |
€ 31,009 |
|
2 |
€ 31,972 |
€ 31,972 |
€ 28,775 |
€ 28,775 |
€ 29,256 |
€ 29,549 |
€ 32,198 |
€ 33,168 |
€ 33,168 |
|
3 |
€ 33,041 |
€ 33,041 |
€ 29,737 |
€ 30,702 |
€ 30,904 |
€ 31,213 |
€ 33,168 |
€ 33,950 |
€ 33,950 |
|
4 |
€ 34,113 |
€ 34,113 |
€ 30,702 |
€ 31,924 |
€ 31,972 |
€ 31,972 |
€ 34,136 |
€ 36,576 |
€ 36,576 |
|
5 |
€ 35,775 |
€ 35,775 |
€ 32,198 |
€ 33,168 |
€ 33,041 |
€ 33,041 |
€ 36,576 |
€ 37,795 |
€ 37,795 |
|
6 |
€ 36,853 |
€ 36,853 |
€ 33,168 |
€ 34,136 |
€ 34,113 |
€ 34,113 |
€ 37,795 |
€ 39,251 |
€ 39,251 |
|
7 |
€ 37,929 |
€ 37,929 |
€ 34,136 |
€ 36,576 |
€ 35,775 |
€ 35,775 |
€ 39,251 |
€ 40,700 |
€ 40,700 |
|
8 |
€ 40,640 |
€ 40,640 |
€ 36,576 |
€ 37,795 |
€ 36,853 |
€ 36,853 |
€ 40,700 |
€ 42,160 |
€ 42,160 |
|
9 |
€ 41,994 |
€ 41,994 |
€ 37,795 |
€ 39,251 |
€ 37,929 |
€ 37,929 |
€ 42,160 |
€ 43,380 |
€ 43,380 |
|
10 |
€ 43,612 |
€ 43,612 |
€ 39,251 |
€ 40,700 |
€ 40,640 |
€ 40,640 |
€ 43,380 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
|
11 |
€ 45,222 |
€ 45,222 |
€ 40,700 |
€ 42,160 |
€ 41,994 |
€ 41,994 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
|
12 |
€ 46,844 |
€ 46,844 |
€ 42,160 |
€ 43,380 |
€ 43,612 |
€ 43,612 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
|
13 |
€ 48,200 |
€ 48,200 |
€ 43,380 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 45,222 |
€ 45,222 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
|
14 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 46,844 |
€ 46,844 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
|
15 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 48,200 |
€ 48,200 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
|
16 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 44,996 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
|
17 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
|
18 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 49,996 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
|
19 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
|
20 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 47,225 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
|
21 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 53,423 |
€ 53,423 |
|
22 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 52,472 |
€ 53,423 |
€ 53,423 |
€ 53,423 |
|
23 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 53,423 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 53,423 |
€ 53,423 |
|
|
24 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 50,170 |
€ 54,339 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 58,765 |
€ 58,765 |
|
|
25 |
€ 59,359 |
€ 59,359 |
€ 53,423 |
€ 55,514 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 59,940 |
€ 59,940 |
|
|
26 |
€ 55,744 |
€ 55,744 |
|||||||
|
27 |
€ 59,359 |
€ 59,359 |
Notes:
(a) Scale for teachers who entered teaching prior to 1 January 2011- to take effect from 1/1/16 (As part of FEMPI 2015)
(b) scale for post-1 January 2011 new entrants to teaching which applied from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2013
(c) scale for post-1 January 2011 new entrants which applied from 1 July 2013 to 31 October 2013 (agreed as part of the Haddington Road Agreement)
(d) current scale for post-1 January 2011 new entrants - applies since 1 November 2013 to 31 December 2015 (implementation of Clause 2.31 of the Haddington Road Agreement)
(e) scale for teachers who entered teaching between 1/1/2011 and 31/1/2012 - to take effect from 1/1/16 (As part of FEMPI 2015)
(f) scale for post-1 February 2012 new entrants to teaching which applied from 1 February 2012 to 30 June 2013
(g) current scale for post-1 February 2012 new entrants - applies since 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2015 (agreed as part of the Haddington Road Agreement)
(h) Scale for teachers who entered teaching on or after 1/2/12 and future entrants - to take effect from 1/1/16 (As Part of FEMPI 2015)
Allowances
|
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS ALLOWANCES |
1/1/10 |
Post-1/1/11 New Entrants to teaching - 1/1/11 to 31/10/13 (Note e) |
Post-1/1/11 New Entrants to teaching - 1/11/13 onwards (Note f) |
Post-1/2/12 New Entrants to teaching - 1/2/12 to 31/10/13 (Notes g and h) |
Post-1/2/12 New Entrants to teaching - 1/11/13 onwards (Notes g and i) |
|
1. (a) (i) H. Dip. in Ed. (Pass) |
€ 591 |
€ 532 |
€ 591 |
||
|
(ii) Higher Froebel Cert. |
€ 591 |
€ 532 |
€ 591 |
||
|
(b) (i) H. Dip. in Ed. (1st or 2nd Hons) |
€ 1,236 |
€ 1,112 |
€ 1,236 |
||
|
(ii) Ard Teastas Gaeilge |
€ 1,236 |
€ 1,112 |
€ 1,236 |
||
|
(c) Primary Degree (Pass) |
€ 1,842 |
€ 1,658 |
€ 1,842 |
||
|
(d) Masters Degree by thesis or exam (Pass) |
€ 4,918 |
€ 4,426 |
€ 4,918 |
||
|
(e) Primary Degree (1st or 2nd Hons) |
€ 4,918 |
€ 4,426 |
€ 4,918 |
||
|
(f) Masters Degree (1st or 2nd Hons) |
€ 5,496 |
€ 4,946 |
€ 5,496 |
||
|
(g) Doctors Degree |
€ 6,140 |
€ 5,526 |
€ 6,140 |
Notes on qualification allowances:
(i) Only one of the allowances at (a) or (b) may be held together with one of the allowances (c) to (g)
(ii) Teachers first employed between 5 December 2011 and 31 January 2012 (inclusive) will be assessed for allowances on the basis of their qualifications at entry to the profession to a minimum combined allowance equivalent to that payable for an Honours Primary Degree
|
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS ALLOWANCES |
1/1/10 |
Post-1/1/11 New Entrants to teaching-1/1/11 to 31/10/13 (Note e) |
Post-1/1/11 New Entrants to teaching - 1/11/13 onwards (Note f) |
Post-1/2/12 New Entrants to teaching - 1/2/12 to 31/10/13 (Notes g and h) |
Post-1/2/12 New Entrants to teaching - 1/11/13 onwards (Notes g and i) |
|
2. Diploma for Teachers of Deaf/Blind/Mentally |
€ 2,437 |
€ 2,193 |
€ 2,437 |
||
|
and Physically Handicapped Children |
|||||
|
OTHER ALLOWANCES |
|||||
|
3. Teaching through Irish |
€ 1,583 |
€ 1,424 |
€ 1,583 |
||
|
4. Gaeltacht Grant |
€ 3,063 |
€ 2,757 |
€ 3,063 |
||
|
5. Island Allowance |
€ 1,842 |
€ 1,658 |
€ 1,842 |
||
|
6. Allowance payable to teachers of apprentices |
€ 9,740 |
€ 8,766 |
€ 9,740 |
||
|
in Dun Laoghaire and Co. Cork VECs |
|||||
|
7. Honorarium Payable to Teachers in the Prison Service |
€ 4,773 |
€ 4,296 |
€ 4,773 |
€ 4,296 |
€ 4,773 |
|
8. Secure Unit Allowance/Disturbed Adolescent Allowance |
€ 2,195 |
€ 1,976 |
€ 2,195 |
€ 1,976 |
€ 2,195 |
|
2012/13 |
|||||
|
9. Supervision and Substitution Allowance (Note j) |
|||||
|
Pre-2011 Entrants to teaching |
€ 1,769 |
||||
|
Post-1/1/11 new entrants to teaching |
€ 1,592 |
||||
|
Post-1/2/12 new entrants to teaching |
€ 1,592 |
(e) rate of allowance for post-1 January 2011 new entrants to teaching which applied from 1 January 2011 to 31 October 2013
(f) current rate of allowance for post-1 January 2011 new entrants - applies since 1 November 2013 (implementation of Clause 2.31 of the Haddington Road Agreement)
(g) certain allowances were withdrawn by Government decision and are no longer payable to new beneficiaries post-1 February 2012
(h) rate of allowance for post-1 February 2012 new beneficiaries which applied from 1 February 2012 to 31 October 2013
(i) current rate of allowance for post-1 February 2012 new beneficiaries - applies since 1 November 2013 (implementation of Clause 2.31 of the Haddington Road Agreement)
(j) the Supervision and Substitution allowance was withdrawn with effect from 1 July 2013 under the Haddington Road Agreement
537. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the current rules under the school transport scheme whereby, in determining eligibility for school transport, applicants must meet the relevant distance criteria and must attend their nearest school; having regard to ethos and language, if school-goers would enjoy greater freedom to choose which school they would attend if a certain degree of flexibility was exercised with regard to the enforcement of this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45725/15]
View answerThe purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the schemes, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport at primary and post primary level is to the nearest school/education centre.
It makes economic sense that the provision of school transport should be to the nearest school and I have no plans to review the current eligibility criteria.
538. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils enrolled and the number of teachers employed in a school (details supplied) in County Laois on 1 January 2014 and on 1 January 2015; the number of teachers expected to be employed on 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45727/15]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements.
The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools, including data on an individual school basis. The most recent published information relates to the 2014/15 school year.
The Deputy will be aware that I have made provision in Budget 2016 for some 2,260 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools next year. These posts will provide for an improvement in the staffing schedules at primary and post primary levels, enhance the leadership and management roles of deputy principals at post-primary level by reducing their teaching time, an improvement to the scheme of release time for principal teachers at primary level and additional resource posts to meet special education needs.
At primary level there will be a one point improvement to the primary staffing schedule to be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing schedule operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. Lower thresholds apply for DEIS Band 1 schools. The improved staffing schedule is currently available on the Department website.
The staffing and redeployment arrangements for all schools for the 2016/17 school year will be published early in 2016. The final staffing position for 2016/17 for all schools will ultimately not be known until the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and any appeals to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.
539. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount her Department has received in fees from freedom of information requests in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45757/15]
View answerMy Department received €1,959.16 in fees from Freedom of Information requests in 2014 and €480 in fees to date in 2015.
540. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the dilapidated state of the playground at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; that this situation has persisted for some years and that during this time accidents have occurred in greater frequency causing unnecessary injury to children; the measures she will take to help alleviate it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45772/15]
View answerThe scope of works to which the Deputy refers is appropriate for consideration under the Summer Works Scheme and the school in question has applied for these works under the Summer Works Scheme 2016/2017.
It is my intention to published a list of successful applicants at the end of February/early March 2016.
With the exception of the 2012/13 school year, this school, as with all primary schools, received an annual minor works grant. The minor works grant for the 2015/16 school year issued last month. Management authorities can use this grant to address the highest priority works needed in their schools including upgrading their external play areas.
541. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of political staff working in her Department, including the role and salary of each staff member. [45784/15]
View answerIn accordance with the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 2 Special Advisers, 1 Personal Assistant, 1 Personal Secretary and 2 Civilian Drivers have been engaged at my Department to assist me in carrying out my official functions. In relation to the Minister of State at my Department 1 Personal Assistant, 1 Personal Secretary and 2 Civilian Drivers are engaged.
The Special Advisers are currently on annual salaries of €84,706 and €78,670 respectively. The following are the pay scales that apply to the grades of Personal Assistant, Personal Secretary and Civilian Driver. Under the terms of the Ethics Acts copies of their respective contracts of employment were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas which the Deputy can view at the Oireachtas library.
Personal Assistant Point Rate 1: €43,715 pa; 2 €45,485 pa; 3 €47,304 pa; 4 €48,520 pa; 5 €49,790 pa; 6 €51,365 pa; 7 €52,925 pa; LSI 1 €54,490 pa; LSI 2 €56,060 pa.
Personal Secretary
Point Rate 1: €456.50 pw; 2 €484.19 pw; 3 €517.06 pw; 4 €562.32 pw; 5 €607.61 pw; 6 €655.33 pw; 7 €702.38 pw; 8 €746.36 pw; 9 €791.20 pw; 10 €833.84 pw; 11 €865.47 pw; 12 €880.41 pw; LSI 1 €899.48 pw; LSI 2 €915.20 pw.Civilian Driver
1 Point - €665.00 pw
542. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who was in a position to confirm their address by way of social protection and other documents has not been paid a student support grant, given that the person has made an appeal to Student Universal Support Ireland; if she will address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45796/15]
View answerI understand that this particular case is in respect of independent living.
The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). When 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.
I understand that, SUSI accepts certain documentation from the Department of Social Protection in order to assist an applicant in proving that he/she is living independently at an address. The documentation must, however, directly relate to the applicant's residence at that address e.g. a letter from the Department of Social Protection confirming that the applicant is receiving rent allowance at that address. Other forms of correspondence from the Department of Social Protection that may be provided to SUSI by applicants as part of their student grant application do not necessarily require the same level of validation by the Department of Social Protection with regard to the person's residence at a particular address. However, all documentation received by SUSI as evidence of independent residence is reviewed and decisions are made on a case by case basis having regard to the evidential value of the documentation submitted, other available evidence and the specific circumstances of each case.
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 SUSI, and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board.
543. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Bills her Department has published since 9 March 2011; the number and Title of those Bills that included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; the regulatory impact assessments published; the number of promised Bills for publication; the Bills that will include a regulatory impact assessment; the regulatory impact assessments that will be published before publication of the relevant Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45806/15]
View answerMy Department has published 9 bills since 9 March 2011.
Six of those bills included a regulatory impact assessment (RIA). The titles of those bills are as follows:
1. Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 – A RIA was published with the Bill and is available on my Department's Website;
2. Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 – A RIA was completed in December 2011 and published on my Department's website;
3. Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 – A RIA for this Bill was completed in 2012 and was published on my Department's website;
4. Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015 – A screening RIA was completed prior to publication of the Bill and was published along with the Bill;
5. The Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2015 – A RIA for this Bill was completed in advance of publication of the Bill and was made available on my Department's website; and
6. The Technological Universities Bill 2015 – A RIA was carried out in conjunction with the drafting of the Bill and will be made available on my Department's website.
There are two other Bills currently being drafted in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. These are the Retention of Certain Records Bill and the Universities (Amendment) Bill. No RIA will be published with these Bills as they do not have an impact on the regulatory environment.
