Thursday, 26 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 81-90

Insurance Costs

Questions (81)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

81. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding insurance premiums. [12460/16]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation.  The ability of the Government to influence insurance pricing is limited as insurance companies are required under European law to price in accordance with risk and neither I, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, have the power to direct insurance companies on the pricing or the provision of insurance products.

Insurance companies consider a number of risks when determining the premium for a proposed insurance policy and the premium will take account of the actuarial calculation of risk.

Insurance Ireland has informed me that motor insurers in deciding on whether to offer cover and what terms to apply to cover use a combination of rating factors, such as the age of the driver, the type of car, claims record, driving experience, number of drivers, how the car is used, etc. Insurers do not all use the same combination of rating factors, prices vary across the market, and consumers are free to choose.

While the provision and the pricing of insurance policies is a commercial matter for insurance companies, this does not preclude the Government from introducing measures that may, in the longer term, lead to a better claims environment that could facilitate a reduction in claims costs.

The question of the cost of insurance is a complex one involving a number of Government Departments, State Bodies and private sector organisations. I have asked my officials to examine the factors which contribute to increasing the cost of insurance. 

This work is part of an overall review of policy in the insurance sector which my Department is carrying out in consultation with the Central Bank and other Departments, Agencies and external stakeholders.  The objective of the Review is to recommend measures to improve the functioning and regulation of the insurance sector. The Review of Policy in the Insurance Sector will continue over the coming months and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Tax Reliefs Availability

Questions (82)

Seán Haughey

Question:

82. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance the tax relief and allowances in place for persons employing au pairs given that the contracts are deemed to be normal contracts of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12486/16]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

There are no specific tax reliefs or allowances provided for in the Taxes Acts with respect to the employment of au pairs. 

The Deputy may be concerned with regard to the obligations of parents employing au pairs to register as an employer and deduct PAYE, USC and PRSI from payments to such au pairs. 

In this respect, under regulation 9 of the Income Tax (Employments) (Consolidated) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 559 of 2001), where such payments are less than €40 per week, and the employer has only one such employee, the parents need not register as an employer and there is no obligation to deduct PAYE, USC and PRSI from any payments.

However, where the payments total €40 or more per week, or there is more than one such employee, then the employer has an obligation to register for PAYE purposes with the Revenue Commissioners and, where appropriate, deduct tax, USC and PRSI from any payments made to any such employee and remit such deductions to Revenue.

With regard to supports for childcare, the Deputy will be aware that the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme, under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone T.D., provides a free pre-school programme for children. This programme was extended in Budget 2016 to apply to children from the age of 3. In addition to the learning and development opportunities for the children, this scheme also reduces childcare costs for parents.

The Programme for Partnership Government also contains a number of measures aimed to support parents and children. These include supporting the introduction of a robust model for subsidised high quality childcare for children aged 9-36 months in order for children and families to truly reap the benefits of greater investment, in line with the OECD recommendation that the best way to achieve affordability and quality at the same time is through subsidised childcare places.

The Government is committed to developing targeted supports to reduce childcare costs, broaden parental choice and increase supports for stay-at-home parents.

Teacher Redeployment

Questions (83)

James Lawless

Question:

83. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support a case (details supplied) regarding supplementary panel rights. [12240/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.

The arrangements for panel access for fixed-term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Circular 0058/2015 which is available on the Department website.

Applicants must meet all of the published criteria in order to gain access to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.

The teacher referred to by the Deputy failed to meet the criteria and is therefore ineligible to be included on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.

Schools Recognition

Questions (84)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

84. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 17 May 2016, if he is considering the issuing of a roll number to a school (details supplied). [12250/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education units included within them. However, special schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils whose needs cannot be adequately catered for in a mainstream school.

The need to establish a new special school would be identified by the National Council for Special Education in conjunction with the Department. My Department is currently aware that there is an emerging need for Special School placement options in County Cork and consideration of how this need can be met is currently underway.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (85)

John Curran

Question:

85. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to end the pay inequality imposed on teachers who qualified after 2011, given five years of unequal pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12254/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the Commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the Public Service, particularly so in important professional areas like education.

The restrictions in entry pay levels were introduced in 2011 and 2012 across the public service at a time when the pressure in public finances was severe and the scope for new recruitment was very restricted.

Under the Lansdowne Road Agreement the process of restoring public pay is commencing. An important feature of this is the flat rate increase which is being implemented. This is proportionately more valuable to those early in their careers. Restoration of the supervision and substitution payment is provided for subject to co-operation with the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The Lansdowne Road Agreement did not address the issue of pay of new entrants.

My Department continues to seek to engage with teacher unions on issues of mutual concern and has recently reached agreement with INTO and TUI in respect of

- discussions to improve the position of teachers on fixed-term and part-time teaching

- a robust review of in-school management structures

- an increase in the quantum of the extra Croke Park hours which do not have to be worked on a "whole school" basis.

The Government has also indicated that it will support the gradual negotiated repeal of FEMPI measures having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (86)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

86. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a two-storey extension to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12260/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The project to which the Deputy refers was authorised to proceed to tender in late November 2015.

Following recent clarification on matters raised the Design Team is currently finalising tender documents and it is anticipated that the project will proceed to tender in the coming weeks.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (87)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his efforts to secure a site for a new school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school in question is included in the 6 Year Construction Programme announced last November and is scheduled to proceed to tender and construction in the period 2019-21.

My Department is liaising with the school in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project, which includes consideration of site related matters.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (88)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will offer a special needs autism spectrum disorder school place to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12275/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

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.

The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.

The NCSE has advised that SENOs are currently liaising with schools in the area referred to by the Deputy regarding the establishment of further classes for 2016/17 school year.

I understand that the number of special classes for students with ASD in Co. Kildare is 57, 11 of which are at post primary level, 41 at primary level and 5 are early intervention classes.

I further understand that the SENO has advised the parent of the child referred to by the Deputy of placement options for the 2016/17 school year. The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school.

Full details of all special classes are available at www.ncse.ie.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (89)

Jim Daly

Question:

89. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will issue a decision on an application for additional accommodation by a primary school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has recently been informed that it has been allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide two mainstream classrooms.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (90)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

90. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the student universal support Ireland grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12310/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous October. Otherwise he or she would continue to be assessed on the basis of parental income.

Classification as an independent mature student has to be carefully considered with regard to two fundamental criteria. Firstly, the applicant must be a "mature" student, i.e. he/she must be aged 23 or over on 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course. Secondly, because the majority of third level students move away from home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents, grant applicants claiming mature independent status must demonstrate that, in addition to meeting the requirement as a "mature student", they have been genuinely self-supporting and living independently for a period of time before commencing their studies.

In practice, what this means is that an applicant entering college as a genuine mature student may, if also demonstrably self-supporting and living independently, be assessed for grant support on the basis of his/her own means and that of any spouse or partner, but independent of parental means.