Written Answers Nos. 104-113
104. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on the ESRI's assertion that the structural deficit may be overstated due to a failure to adequately capture housing market developments. [35427/16]
View answerAs we are now all too aware, given the bursting of the property bubble, the interplay between volatile house prices, tax revenues and the impact on sustainability of the public finance has been problematic for Ireland.
I am aware of the May 2015 analysis published by the ESRI 'Assessing the sustainable nature of housing-related taxation receipts: The case of Ireland'. This relies on estimates of fundamental house prices to determine the extent of over/undervaluation, something which is unobservable and problematic. The authors suggest that partly as a result of undervaluation over the years to 2010 to 2014, declines in tax revenue fell below estimated fundamental levels. All else equal, they maintain this may result in an overstatement of the structural deficit.
Given the recovery in house prices since the paper was published, however, the extent of undervaluation is likely to be notably reduced, along with any corresponding over-statement of the structural deficit.
The structural balance is unobservable and must be estimated by statistical techniques. Whilst conceptually, the notion of removing cyclically-sensitive elements from the budgetary position is appealing, its measurement is extremely complex in the context of small open economy such as Ireland.
For the purposes of the Stability and Growth Pact, the structural budgetary position for Ireland along with all Member States is assessed by the European Commission on the basis of the commonly agreed EU-wide methodology. This is provided for in legislation. Whilst the methodology broadly captures the sensitivity of specific taxes to underlying macroeconomic developments, it does not explicitly incorporate housing market developments.
While there are undoubtedly issues with this methodology for Ireland, and these have been highlighted by my Department, work continues at a European level to improve it and make it more applicable for small open economies. Moreover, for domestic purposes, my Department has looked at alternative methodologies directly incorporating inter alia both house price and credit movements, and some work in this area has been published.
105. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine and review the case of a person (details supplied) who has been refused a Student Universal Support Ireland grant by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35263/16]
View answerAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
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.
106. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the urgency of the upgrade of a school (details supplied); if he will prioritise this project for completion and make necessary funding available as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35265/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme (2019/21). My Department is aware of the school's accommodation needs and will liaise with the school in due course in the context of progressing the project into the architectural planning process.
107. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give permission to a school (details supplied) to lease the handball alley on the grounds of the school to the Boherbue parish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35301/16]
View answerThe property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership and therefore any leasing arrangements are a matter for the building owner.
However, in common with other buildings of its kind, where significant grant aid is provided by my Department for the development of school premises, investment is secured by way of a long-term legal agreement known as a charging lease. In that context the property owners sought the consent of the Minister to a proposal to lease the handball alley on the school grounds.
Officials in my Department have recently written to the solicitors representing the property owners stating that my Department has no objection to such arrangements being put in place.
108. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a project (details supplied); the timeframe for provision of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35303/16]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy was advocated during consultation meetings surrounding the development of a local authority strategy. The ETB in question is a member of the strategy group established by the local authority and has participated in its public consultation process.
The project is a matter for the local authority in the first instance in line with its strategy. I understand that while the ETB's premises may be part of the consideration for same, no decision to house the project there has been taken.
The ETB, in the context of its training remit, provides IT-related courses and apprenticeships from the location in question.
109. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is dedicated funding for schools that would like to enhance safety measures at their facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35311/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is open to schools to apply to my Department for funding for improvement works to school buildings and grounds under the Summer Works Scheme. It is a matter for the individual school authority to prioritise the project for which funding is being sought. Works such as those referred to by the Deputy may qualify to be considered for funding under this scheme.
In addition, primary schools may utilise their Minor Works Grant to address improvement works to their buildings and site areas. Schools prioritise the works they wish to undertake within the terms of the scheme.
110. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the relevant details, including deadlines, that schools need to be aware of with regards to the minor works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35312/16]
View answerMy Department is currently determining the likely end-year position on capital expenditure 2016 and I hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 very shortly. The Minor Works Grant issues to primary schools without the need for primary schools to submit an application.
111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the pupil-teacher ratio will be reviewed and decreased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35318/16]
View answer112. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address concerns that children are at a disadvantage where one teacher has to teach four classes due to the pupil-teacher ratio being too high for rural schools in Counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35319/16]
View answer113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that teachers are leaving national schools due to the pupil-teacher ratio which in some schools has one teacher teaching four classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35320/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 113, inclusive, together.
The 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 irrespective of location.
Improvements to the staffing of schools with four teachers and less were announced for the 2015/16 school year. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for one-teacher schools situated 8 km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.
In addition, Budget 2016 announced a 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule. The improved staffing schedule has been implemented for the 2016/17 school year and applies to small schools at both appointment and retention levels.
Following a review of the staffing allocation for Small Primary Schools, Budget 2017 announced two adjustments in relation to one teacher schools. Where the school is the sole primary school on an island the school will be able to appoint a second teacher. In relation to single teacher schools generally with an enrolment of 15 or more pupils, the school can apply to the staffing appeals board for a second post where the single teacher has pupils across 6 or more class groups. The detailed arrangements will be set out in the staffing schedule circular for the 2017/18 school year and this circular will be available on my Department's website in mid-January.
