Written Answers Nos. 35-43
35. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 27 September 2016, the status of discussions with the Brazilian authorities in relation to their decision to designate Ireland as a tax haven; his views on the implications of the decision for Irish businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30151/16]
View answerBrazil's inclusion of Ireland on their tax list has been in operation since 1 October. The impact of the listing involves increased Brazilian withholding taxes being charged on certain payments made from Brazil to Ireland. This may have implications for Irish businesses trading with Brazil or that have operations or investments in Brazil.
Significant efforts to seek Ireland's removal from this list have been undertaken by my Department and the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ireland's ambassador to Brazil is leading our engagement with the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service to seek Ireland's removal from this list as soon as possible. A formal request for the listing to be suspended has been filed with the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service and we are awaiting a reply to this request. My officials are in close contact with the Ambassador and are supporting these efforts.
Ireland strongly rejects any allegations that we are a tax haven. Ireland does not meet any of the international standards for being considered a tax haven. Ireland is fully compliant with all international best practices in the areas of tax transparency and exchange of information. Ireland's corporate tax policies are designed to attract real and substantive operations to Ireland. Ireland has not been and will never will be a brass-plate location. We only have and want real substantive FDI, the kind that brings real jobs and investment into Ireland.
36. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department provides or is aware of any fund that would assist a person (details supplied) pursue a course in medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30015/16]
View answerThe main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the student grant scheme.
I understand that the individual in question already holds a level 8 degree. One of the criteria in the student grant scheme relates to 'progression'. This means that a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study.
If the person to whom the Deputy refers is ineligible for a SUSI grant then there are some other options which could be pursued.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the college attended.
Also, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
37. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will announce the patronage of the proposed new secondary school in Mungret, County Limerick as soon as possible in view of the fact that parents and their children are being requested to nominate their choice of schools in the absence of knowing this school's patron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30007/16]
View answerIn April 2016 applications were invited for the patronage of nine new post-primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018, including the new post-primary school to serve the Limerick City & Environs (South-West) area. The closing date for receipt of applications for this process was 8 June 2016. Patrons submitted with their application a parental preference template in which parents have been requested to declare their preference for their child to be educated through that patron's school model and also their preference with regard to education through the medium of English or Irish.
Applications received are currently being assessed by my Department. The assessment process is detailed and rigorous and numerous applications have been received in respect of each of the nine proposed new post-primary schools.
The final assessment reports will be forwarded for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). The NSEG is an external independent advisory group set up to oversee the process. Following the Group's consideration, they will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. I will then announce who the successful patron of each school is. I expect to receive this report in the coming weeks.
In the context of the Common Applications System which operates in Limerick, my Department has been liaising with the Limerick Education Centre in this matter and understands that post-primary school opening days/nights are ongoing.
The assessment reports and the recommendations of the NSEG will be available on my Department's website following the announcement.
38. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action that will be taken to assist persons (details supplied) who have lost €600 a month under their SUSI application. [30012/16]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant or what level of grant would be appropriate.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. In assessing an application for the 2016/17 academic year, SUSI will have regard to the following qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant:
1. The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;
2. Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependant Increase(s) are excluded, must not exceed €22,703;
3. As at 31st of December 2015, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.
In general terms Jobseekers Allowance is considered to be a short-term payment unless it is held for 391 consecutive days at the 31st December 2015. The Scheme makes provision for combining periods of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit and other eligible payments for the purposes of meeting 391 days as determined by the Department of Social Protection.
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 his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the institution attended.
39. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department provides or is aware of any fund that would assist a person (details supplied) to pursue a course in medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30013/16]
View answerThe main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the student grant scheme.
One of the criteria in the student grant scheme relates to 'progression'. This means that a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study.
If the person to whom the Deputy refers is ineligible for a SUSI grant, then there are some other options which could be pursued.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the college attended.
Also, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
40. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide special needs assistant support on post-leaving certificate courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30021/16]
View answerSpecial Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to Special Schools and to mainstream Primary and Post Primary schools to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.
There are currently no plans to extend this to the PLC programme. However, PLC participants may be eligible to supports under the Fund for Students with Disabilities which is administered by the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education.
41. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [30027/16]
View answer45. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30043/16]
View answer50. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a charity's survey, the Real Cost of School in 2016 (details supplied); the measures he will take to reduce the cost of education such as materials, uniforms and contributions to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30058/16]
View answer56. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [30110/16]
View answer58. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30117/16]
View answer59. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [30118/16]
View answer61. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [30123/16]
View answer63. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [30135/16]
View answer64. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30136/16]
View answer66. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the disparity in school costs which exists from school to school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30141/16]
View answer71. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the huge disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout the country and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30171/16]
View answer72. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the disparity in school costs which exists from school to school throughout and the inequality faced by parents in providing funding for a free primary system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30179/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 45, 50, 56, 58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 66, 71 and 72 together.
I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputies.
I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents.
All schools must be sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decisions, not just about school uniforms or books, but about any matter that has cost implications for parents.
The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019. Some of the actions as part of the plan are to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents by:
- Restoring capitation funding over a three-year period as resources permit;
- Increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce or eliminate school book costs for parents;
- Issuing a new circular to school authorities and ETBs regarding school uniform policy and other costs and the need to put a greater emphasis on reducing the cost of school uniforms and other costs.
Budget 2017 represents the start of a major programme of reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade.
It was not possible to provide additional funding in Budget 2017 in relation to this element of the Action Plan due to the many competing demands for the available funding. However, this commitment remains a priority for me to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan.
I also intend to introduce a stronger complaints procedure and a charter for parents. It is important that schools should consult parents on matters relating to their children's education, including those matters which have cost implications, and schools should be responsive to the views and concerns of parents. In that regard requiring schools to have a parent charter will ensure that schools will interact better with parent associations and with individual parents.
I will shortly seek Government approval for the Heads of a Bill to provide for replacing Section 28 of the Education Act, 1998 and the drafting of principles which will form the framework of a Parents' and Learners' Charter in every school.
I believe that these actions will significantly strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents.
42. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; and if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with the recommendation by a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in an abolition of fees for parents. [30028/16]
View answer43. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with the recommendation by a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in an abolition of fees for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30029/16]
View answer46. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; and if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with a recommendation by a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in an abolition of fees for parents. [30045/16]
View answer51. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in view of the recommendation by a charity (details supplied) of increasing funding by €5 million resulting in an abolition of fees for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30059/16]
View answer62. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; and if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with the recommendation of a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in an abolition of fees for parents. [30128/16]
View answer67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the school transport scheme; and if his Department will consider increasing funding to the scheme in line with the recommendation of a charity (details supplied) of €5 million resulting in the abolition of fees for parents. [30152/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 43, 46, 51, 62 and 67 together.
As committed to in the Programme for Government, a review of the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme has been undertaken.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Children are generally eligible for school transport where they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
The annual charges for school transport are €100 per child attending a primary school and €350 per child attending a post primary school. The annual family maximum for primary children is €220 while the overall family maximum is €650 per annum.
These charges, which may be paid in two instalments in July and December, are a contribution towards the overall cost and do not reflect the true cost of providing school transport services. Research carried out in the context of the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme showed that the annual unit cost per pupil for the provision of school transport was some €1,000, €950 and €7,000 for primary, post primary and children with special educational needs (excluding escorts) respectively.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge; children who are eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs are also exempt from paying the annual charge.
Given that the annual cost of school transport provision is some €175m it is not proposed to change the current charges.
