Written Answers Nos 91-120
91. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of appendix D of the Green Paper on Pensions, he will provide the same information in respect of PRSAs and RACs for the past three years for which figures are available. [40433/16]
View answerI am informed by Revenue that the following tables show the latest relevant information in respect of income tax relief allowed for contributions to Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs) and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The information in the tables sets out the number of cases, the amount of deduction and the reduction in tax for tax relief (for RACs and PRSAs) for the various income ranges.
The figures do not include contributions made by employees through employers' payroll systems and in respect of which tax relief is provided on the net pay basis. Information on such contributions is not captured in such a way as to make it possible to provide disaggregated figures. It should also be noted that a married couple or those in a civil partnership who have elected or been deemed to have elected for joint assessment are counted as one tax unit.
Due to the nature of the returns and the data available to Revenue it is not possible to separately identify PRSA and RAC contributions, and they are combined, along with Qualifying Overseas Pension Plans (QOPP) under the title 'Pension Contribution' for the years 2013 and 2014.
2012 Retirement Annuity
|
Range of gross income |
Totals |
|
|||||
|
From € |
To € |
Number of cases € |
Amount of deduction € |
Reduction in tax € |
Tax due for payment € |
Gross Tax * € |
Reduction in tax as % of Gross Tax % |
|
- |
9,000 |
627 |
2,269,318 |
183,967 |
24,193 |
208,160 |
88.4 |
|
9,000 |
10,000 |
128 |
379,694 |
44,934 |
8,941 |
53,875 |
83.4 |
|
10,000 |
12,000 |
366 |
985,839 |
119,945 |
26,396 |
146,341 |
82.0 |
|
12,000 |
15,000 |
717 |
1,883,476 |
246,133 |
124,108 |
370,241 |
66.5 |
|
15,000 |
17,000 |
588 |
1,568,188 |
222,296 |
187,988 |
410,284 |
54.2 |
|
17,000 |
20,000 |
1,067 |
3,092,623 |
523,817 |
454,473 |
978,290 |
53.5 |
|
20,000 |
25,000 |
2,276 |
6,223,917 |
1,183,368 |
1,681,963 |
2,865,331 |
41.3 |
|
25,000 |
27,000 |
1,070 |
2,747,711 |
524,836 |
1,089,656 |
1,614,492 |
32.5 |
|
27,000 |
30,000 |
1,751 |
5,098,967 |
1,037,114 |
2,250,496 |
3,287,610 |
31.5 |
|
30,000 |
35,000 |
2,981 |
8,742,646 |
1,847,918 |
5,385,828 |
7,233,746 |
25.5 |
|
35,000 |
40,000 |
3,149 |
10,902,002 |
2,844,386 |
7,624,417 |
10,468,803 |
27.2 |
|
40,000 |
50,000 |
6,050 |
21,408,472 |
5,944,646 |
22,167,776 |
28,112,422 |
21.1 |
|
50,000 |
60,000 |
5,337 |
22,549,566 |
6,719,806 |
29,446,717 |
36,166,523 |
18.6 |
|
60,000 |
75,000 |
6,909 |
33,902,775 |
9,640,463 |
54,522,030 |
64,162,493 |
15.0 |
|
75,000 |
100,000 |
7,435 |
49,888,452 |
18,178,293 |
94,376,011 |
112,554,304 |
16.2 |
|
100,000 |
150,000 |
6,248 |
71,078,518 |
28,414,977 |
136,297,531 |
164,712,508 |
17.3 |
|
150,000 |
200,000 |
2,363 |
43,864,366 |
17,878,658 |
90,909,054 |
108,787,712 |
16.4 |
|
200,000 |
250,000 |
1,316 |
30,850,300 |
12,577,945 |
74,250,472 |
86,828,417 |
14.5 |
|
Over |
250,000 |
2,567 |
76,996,832 |
31,495,068 |
358,333,117 |
389,828,185 |
8.1 |
|
Totals |
|
52,945 |
394,433,662 |
139,628,570 |
879,161,167 |
1,018,789,737 |
13.7 |
* "Gross tax" means the tax that would be due before relief is allowed for retirement annuity deductions
2012 Personal Retirement Savings Accounts
|
Range of gross income |
Totals |
||||||
|
From € |
To € |
Number of cases € |
Amount of deduction € |
Reduction in tax € |
Tax due for payment € |
Gross Tax * € |
Reduction in tax as % of Gross Tax % |
|
- |
9,000 |
349 |
955,763 |
30,001 |
14,859 |
44,860 |
66.9 |
|
9,000 |
10,000 |
70 |
133,075 |
12,964 |
2,891 |
15,855 |
81.8 |
|
10,000 |
12,000 |
172 |
398,171 |
41,332 |
17,317 |
58,649 |
70.5 |
|
12,000 |
15,000 |
277 |
660,200 |
95,058 |
60,162 |
155,220 |
61.2 |
|
15,000 |
17,000 |
225 |
572,932 |
85,805 |
51,640 |
137,445 |
62.4 |
|
17,000 |
20,000 |
437 |
898,997 |
158,422 |
140,705 |
299,127 |
53.0 |
|
20,000 |
25,000 |
997 |
2,370,585 |
458,338 |
726,165 |
1,184,503 |
38.7 |
|
25,000 |
27,000 |
452 |
1,144,494 |
217,697 |
506,391 |
724,088 |
30.1 |
|
27,000 |
30,000 |
718 |
1,612,927 |
312,729 |
1,014,849 |
1,327,578 |
23.6 |
|
30,000 |
35,000 |
1,357 |
3,399,767 |
737,032 |
2,684,659 |
3,421,691 |
21.5 |
|
35,000 |
40,000 |
1,305 |
3,423,316 |
993,155 |
3,672,853 |
4,666,008 |
21.3 |
|
40,000 |
50,000 |
2,687 |
8,483,889 |
2,646,582 |
11,902,816 |
14,549,398 |
18.2 |
|
50,000 |
60,000 |
2,159 |
7,662,569 |
2,467,668 |
13,717,909 |
16,185,577 |
15.2 |
|
60,000 |
75,000 |
2,467 |
10,722,771 |
3,645,049 |
21,640,946 |
25,285,995 |
14.4 |
|
75,000 |
100,000 |
2,567 |
15,582,794 |
6,162,062 |
35,459,173 |
41,621,235 |
14.8 |
|
100,000 |
150,000 |
1,969 |
17,261,091 |
7,022,555 |
49,030,008 |
56,052,563 |
12.5 |
|
150,000 |
200,000 |
705 |
10,045,362 |
4,103,990 |
29,150,267 |
33,254,257 |
12.3 |
|
200,000 |
250,000 |
371 |
6,947,685 |
2,836,148 |
22,281,443 |
25,117,591 |
11.3 |
|
Over |
250,000 |
632 |
15,965,619 |
6,544,264 |
81,054,465 |
87,598,729 |
7.5 |
|
Totals |
|
19,916 |
108,242,007 |
38,570,851 |
273,129,518 |
311,700,369 |
12.4 |
* "Gross tax" means the tax that would be due before relief is allowed for retirement annuity deductions
2013 Pension Contributions (PRSA, RAC and QOPP)
|
Range of gross income |
Totals |
||||||
|
From € |
To € |
Number of cases € |
Amount of deduction € |
Reduction in tax € |
Tax due for payment € |
Gross Tax * € |
Reduction in tax as % of Gross Tax % |
|
- |
9,000 |
386 |
535,614 |
3,818 |
8,795 |
12,613 |
30.3 |
|
9,000 |
10,000 |
118 |
189,441 |
11,235 |
6,251 |
17,486 |
64.3 |
|
10,000 |
12,000 |
330 |
580,849 |
55,577 |
28,760 |
84,337 |
65.9 |
|
12,000 |
15,000 |
568 |
1,058,308 |
140,138 |
141,155 |
281,293 |
49.8 |
|
15,000 |
17,000 |
523 |
1,043,139 |
152,532 |
221,172 |
373,704 |
40.8 |
|
17,000 |
20,000 |
932 |
1,945,312 |
314,481 |
465,541 |
780,022 |
40.3 |
|
20,000 |
25,000 |
2,075 |
4,551,828 |
838,569 |
1,699,931 |
2,538,500 |
33.0 |
|
25,000 |
27,000 |
997 |
2,318,333 |
436,518 |
1,153,872 |
1,590,390 |
27.4 |
|
27,000 |
30,000 |
1,547 |
3,729,076 |
714,724 |
2,236,929 |
2,951,653 |
24.2 |
|
30,000 |
35,000 |
2,791 |
7,002,455 |
1,442,799 |
5,414,890 |
6,857,689 |
21.0 |
|
35,000 |
40,000 |
3,091 |
8,720,218 |
2,322,718 |
8,273,449 |
10,596,167 |
21.9 |
|
40,000 |
50,000 |
6,127 |
20,140,026 |
6,057,524 |
24,734,270 |
30,791,794 |
19.7 |
|
50,000 |
60,000 |
5,427 |
21,436,870 |
6,736,123 |
31,672,145 |
38,408,268 |
17.5 |
|
60,000 |
75,000 |
7,211 |
34,330,894 |
11,314,764 |
58,932,807 |
70,247,571 |
16.1 |
|
75,000 |
100,000 |
8,535 |
57,436,175 |
22,402,718 |
109,001,822 |
131,404,540 |
17.0 |
|
100,000 |
150,000 |
7,317 |
83,058,110 |
33,718,708 |
162,877,683 |
196,596,391 |
17.2 |
|
150,000 |
200,000 |
2,853 |
51,985,172 |
21,245,290 |
111,262,903 |
132,508,193 |
16.0 |
|
200,000 |
250,000 |
1,450 |
32,354,314 |
13,247,073 |
82,296,146 |
95,543,219 |
13.9 |
|
Over |
250,000 |
2,837 |
78,384,014 |
32,123,180 |
408,216,030 |
440,339,210 |
7.3 |
|
Totals |
|
55,115 |
410,800,148 |
153,278,489 |
1,008,644,551 |
1,161,923,040 |
13.2 |
* "Gross tax" means the tax that would be due before relief is allowed for retirement annuity deductions
2014 Pension Contributions (PRSA, RAC and QOPP)
|
Range of gross income |
Totals |
||||||
|
From € |
To € |
Number of cases € |
Amount of deduction € |
Reduction in tax € |
Tax due for payment € |
Gross Tax * € |
Reduction in tax as % of Gross Tax % |
|
- |
9,000 |
245 |
306,027 |
2,221 |
12,100 |
14,321 |
15.5 |
|
9,000 |
10,000 |
90 |
120,244 |
8,464 |
3,238 |
11,702 |
72.3 |
|
10,000 |
20,000 |
230 |
375,253 |
42,290 |
32,202 |
74,492 |
56.8 |
|
12,000 |
15,000 |
441 |
888,012 |
117,867 |
137,291 |
255,158 |
46.2 |
|
15,000 |
17,000 |
369 |
752,726 |
111,780 |
170,415 |
282,195 |
39.6 |
|
17,000 |
20,000 |
782 |
1,686,747 |
270,404 |
487,452 |
757,856 |
35.7 |
|
20,000 |
25,000 |
1,659 |
3,925,518 |
716,150 |
1,603,948 |
2,320,098 |
30.9 |
|
25,000 |
27,000 |
770 |
1,886,777 |
361,250 |
952,312 |
1,313,562 |
27.5 |
|
27,000 |
30,000 |
1,285 |
3,195,611 |
616,950 |
1,947,068 |
2,564,018 |
24.1 |
|
30,000 |
35,000 |
2,423 |
6,694,671 |
1,377,645 |
4,926,236 |
6,303,881 |
21.9 |
|
35,000 |
40,000 |
2,628 |
7,667,453 |
2,031,917 |
7,162,668 |
9,194,585 |
22.1 |
|
40,000 |
50,000 |
5,545 |
19,651,837 |
5,889,422 |
22,557,847 |
28,447,269 |
20.7 |
|
50,000 |
60,000 |
5,163 |
22,340,490 |
7,105,441 |
30,540,540 |
37,645,981 |
18.9 |
|
60,000 |
75,000 |
6,747 |
33,784,532 |
11,080,944 |
56,219,308 |
67,300,252 |
16.5 |
|
75,000 |
100,000 |
8,644 |
61,449,348 |
23,946,493 |
110,898,459 |
134,844,952 |
17.8 |
|
100,000 |
150,000 |
7,620 |
87,859,003 |
35,697,810 |
171,134,350 |
206,832,160 |
17.3 |
|
150,000 |
200,000 |
2,880 |
53,399,061 |
21,860,549 |
114,372,587 |
136,233,136 |
16.0 |
|
200,000 |
250,000 |
1,555 |
34,779,547 |
14,239,017 |
89,325,597 |
103,564,614 |
13.7 |
|
Over |
250,000 |
2,868 |
79,938,035 |
32,754,343 |
427,883,798 |
460,638,141 |
7.1 |
|
Totals |
|
51,944 |
420,700,892 |
158,230,957 |
1,040,367,416 |
1,198,598,373 |
13.2
|
* "Gross tax" means the tax that would be due before relief is allowed for retirement annuity deductions
92. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons that have had their local property tax liability adjusted downwards, arising from an initial over-valuation of the property in each of the years since the inception of the tax; and the number of persons who have had their local property tax liability adjusted upwards, arising from an initial under valuation of the property in each of the years since the inception of the tax. [40435/16]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the majority of over-valuations of Local Property Tax (LPT) to date arose on foot of property owners paying the estimated amount rather than calculating the correct liability in accordance with the market value of the property on 1 May 2013.
Where over-valuations resulted in over-payments being made, Revenue either refunded the excess amounts or offset it to other tax liabilities once the LPT Return was filed and the correct valuation declared. The cumulative number of downward adjustments to valuations for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 (year to date) was almost 30,000. It is not possible to sub-divide this number between the various years due to the format in which the information is stored.
Under-valuations of LPT are normally identified during Revenue compliance checks or during the conveyancing element of property sales. The number of under-valuations identified for the years 2013/2014, 2015 and 2016 (year to date) were 7,300, 2,900 and 883 respectively.
93. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an SNA will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40393/16]
View answer106. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an SNA will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40392/16]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including S support.
The NCSE allocates S support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access S support as and when it is needed.
Responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports and resources to be allocated to schools to support individual pupils rests with the NCSE.
It should be noted that S allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs in the school.
Where a school wishes to make a new application for S support for a child for whom applications had not previously been made for support they should submit such applications to the NCSE.
Where a school wish to appeal the S support allocation which has been made to them, they may do so through the NCSE appeal process, details of which are set out at www.ncse.ie. The option to invoke the NCSE appeals process is open to the school in question.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO. Contact details are also available on the NCSE website. The local SENO is also available to discuss any concerns that parents have about the present or future educational needs of their child.
As the Deputy's question relates to an application for an individual child, the matter has been referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
94. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Christmas holiday pay in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown to part-time teachers that was paid as rolled up holiday payment previously is now being paid on 22 January 2017. [40206/16]
View answerMy Department published Circular Letter 0015/2015 in February 2015 to advise schools of revised pay arrangements for casual and non-casual teachers which took effect from the commencement of the 2015/16 school year, following agreement at the Teachers Conciliation Council.
Prior to September 2015, the daily/hourly rates paid to casual and non-casual teachers per/day hour worked included an element in respect of annual leave. This practice is known as “rolled-up holiday pay” and derives from a collective agreement on the appropriate rate of pay for part-time teachers reached at the Teachers Conciliation Council in 2003. Circular 0015/2015 ceased the practice of paying “rolled-up holiday pay” to casual and non-casual teachers and introduced a separate payment in respect of holiday pay. This change was necessary to bring the method of remunerating such teachers into line with the European Union Working Time Directive, following a decision of the European Commission. It is important to note that the overall remuneration of such teachers was not changed as a result of the Circular.
I have confirmed that teachers comprehended by Circular 0015/2015 who are paid on payrolls operated by my Department were paid holiday pay on 1 December at primary level and on 8 December at post-primary level.
As Education and Training Boards operate their own payrolls in respect of staff employed by the ETB, the Deputy should contact Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB for further information in respect of his query.
95. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the processes and expected timeframe for a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40214/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school, to which he refers, is included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme.
A permanent accommodation solution for the school has been identified. My Department will be in contact with the school authority in due course. However, due to the sensitivity of the position, my Department is unable to comment further at this time.
96. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the Government's commitment to an additional 65 psychologists in the National Education Psychological Service (NEPS); the reason there has been no sanction for the increase in numbers to NEPS to date in view of the fact that 267 psychologists are needed to achieve the 2021 target of 1 per every 3,500 students in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40215/16]
View answerMy Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are in the NEPS section of my Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
NEPS provides a valuable service to the school community and one which I view as a priority. The service has, over the course of recent economic difficulties, not only maintained psychologist staffing levels within NEPS, but has increased them by some 10% since late 2008, to 162 whole time equivalent psychologists currently employed.
Additionally the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the further expansion in the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure earlier intervention and access for young children and teenagers and to offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents. The Programme commits to bring the total number of NEPS psychologists to 238 from the current sanctioned limit of 173.
NEPS psychologists are recruited via regional panels formed from national recruitment competitions administered by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The panel which had existed in this regard had reached the end of its useful life and proved unable to answer the recruitment needs from the viewpoint of ongoing staffing losses due to resignation or retirement or to bring the NEPS staffing complement up to its current limit of 173 w.t.e. It has now been closed.
A new national recruitment competition has been put in place by PAS to fill vacancies within all NEPS Regions. The closing date for applications is now passed and work is currently ongoing in relation to the examination of applications and short-listing of candidates for interview. It is envisaged following interviews that recruitment panels will be formed and active filling of vacancies will commence in the new-year and to provide for expanded staffing provision countenanced in the Programme for Government as resources allow.
97. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason special funding was not paid to a school (details supplied) in view of serious difficulties which arose in early 2016. [40219/16]
View answerMy Department is aware of the issues referred to by the Deputy.
The Department was in contact with the school Principal in May and agreed to facilitate the school with the advance payment of capitation funding due in September to enable it to address these issues.
In this regard the school was advised to contact the Department with regard to the school's funding requirements. No further contact was made by the school to my Department in relation to the issues referred to by the Deputy.
98. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grants available or in the near future to assist primary schools in the purchase of ICT equipment for their schools; the application procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40330/16]
View answerThe new Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 (Enhancing Teaching, Learning & Assessment), launched in October 2015, sets out a clear vision for the role of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post primary schools. The Strategy is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy.
The Strategy recognises that schools require public investment in their ICT equipment and infrastructure and accordingly a fund of €210m to support the implementation of this Strategy has been committed beginning with an investment of €30m in the current school year (2016/2017) rising to €50m annually towards the end of the Strategy. An announcement concerning this scheme will be made in the new year. Oversight and consultative structures for the implementation of the strategy have been finalised and the status of implementation will be communicated to schools and stakeholders on a regular basis. For further information please refer to the Digital Strategy page on the Department website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Information-Communications-Technology-ICT-in-Schools/Digital-Strategy-for-Schools/Digital%20Strategy%20Information.html .
The Department recently issued the Minor Works Grant, this grant can also be used for the purchase of IT related equipment (items such as computers, printers, overhead projectors and photocopiers qualify under this heading), further information on the Minor Works Grant can be found on the Departments website at http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0062_2013.pdf
99. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons that participated in english for speakers of other languages classes in each of the 16 education and training boards, ETBs, nationally, for each of the years, 2014 and 2015; and if the number of EU and non-EU citizens that participated in each ETB area for each year will be outlined. [40337/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables which have been forwarded to him and were compiled by SOLAS. Information is not available on whether participants were EU or non EU citizens.
100. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason SUSI has failed to address a query lodged by this Deputy's office six weeks ago in respect of person (details supplied) except for a repeat response; the reason SUSI has failed to clarify which document can be provided in place of a notice of assessment from the Revenue Commissioners; the reason SUSI has failed to clarify the reason a previously submitted profit and loss account for 2015 in respect of a second property has not been accepted despite persistent contact from this Deputy's office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40340/16]
View answerI understand that the student referred to by the Deputy was advised by the awarding authority that in order for his application to be fully assessed, specific documentation was required. To date, this specific information has not been received and the student was refused a grant on the basis that he had not provided the specific documentary evidence requested.
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.
101. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he proposes to carry out a technical study on the merits or otherwise of the income contingent loan model of funding put forward as an option in the recent Cassells report. [40365/16]
View answerThe Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July, identifies income-contingent loans as being one of the possible options for the future funding of the higher education sector. Other options include a predominantly State-funded system or a State-funded system supplemented with continuing student fees.
As committed to in the Programme for Government, I have referred the report to the Oireachtas Education Committee and this engagement will form part of the process for formulating a plan for the future funding of the sector. I do not want to pre-empt the work of the Committee, however, I look forward to working with it as it analyses all of the options put forward by the Expert Group and hears the voice of all stakeholders.
While Cassells deals with the medium and long term funding needs of higher education we also have to consider the immediate challenges and in that context I am pleased that we placed a particular focus on this area in Budget 2017. I secured additional funding for the sector for the first time in recent years. In 2017 an additional €36.5 million will be made available with €160 million additional over the next three years. This will allow the sector keep pace with demographic increases and introduce targeted initiatives in areas such as disadvantage, skills, research and flexible learning. Among those who will benefit from the additional third level funding being made available are, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lone parents and Travellers.
In Budget 2017 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I, announced a policy review with the aim of designing and implementing a sustainable and predictable multi-annual funding model for higher and further education and training involving increased Employer and Exchequer contributions from 2018. This review will be undertaken as part of the overall response to meeting the anticipated skills needs in the economy over the coming years, in line with the policy framework set out in the National Skills Strategy.
This review will include an analysis of the business case for enhanced investment in the higher and further education and training sectors. In this context it will identify key elements of the new funding model and of the expected impacts including those on employers. The review will include consultation with stakeholders. The policy review will be published by the end of April 2017, and will complement the ongoing work by the Oireachtas Committee in relation to the Cassells report.
102. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has satisfied himself with current student staff ratios in universities; and if he has current figures for these ratios and figures for the variances across subject areas. [40366/16]
View answerMy Department allocates the total recurrent funding allocation to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions (HEIs) including the Universities and Institutes of Technology. The HEA allocates the available funding based on a Recurrent Grant Allocation Model which is driven primarily by student numbers weighted by the relative costs of providing education in different disciplines, rather than on student staff ratios.
The HEA allocates the funding (block grant funding) to institutions and, as autonomous institutions, it is then a matter for the individual institution as to how that funding is allocated internally.
In the 2015/16 academic year, there were just over 18,000 core staff across the higher education system (whole-time equivalents). This figure encompasses some 9,800 academic staff and 8,300 non-academic staff. These figures do not include contract research staff. There were just over 190,000 students (whole-time equivalents) enrolled in 2015/16 giving an average academic staff: student ratio across the higher education system of 1:19.
Funding overall for the higher education sector is a key concern for me particularly in light of the additional pressure that will fall on the system over the next decade or so. In seeking to address the issue in the short term, I have for the first time in nine years secured as part of Budget 2017, additional funding for the sector. In 2017 additional funding of €36.5m will be made available with €160m additional over the next three years.
The Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July, clearly outlines the funding challenges and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration for the medium term. The issue of improving the staff; student ratio is included among the recommendations of the Report , however such improvement is contingent on additional funding becoming available to the sector. As committed to in the Programme for Government, the report has been referred to the Oireachtas Education Committee and this consultation will form part of the process of formulating a plan for the future of the sector. The issue of improving
In addition, in Budget 2017 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I, announced a policy review with the aim of designing and implementing a sustainable and predictable multi-annual funding model for higher and further education and training involving increased Employer and Exchequer contributions from 2018. The review will be undertaken as part of the overall response to meeting the anticipated skills needs in the economy over the coming years, in line with the policy framework set out in the National Skills Strategy.
It will include an analysis of the business case for enhanced investment in the higher and further education and training sectors. In this context it will identify key elements of the new funding model and of the expected impacts including those on employers. The review will include consultation with stakeholders. The policy review will be published by the end of April 2017, and will complement the ongoing work by the Oireachtas Committee in relation to the Cassells report.
103. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on equal pay scales for teachers. [40367/16]
View answerAs a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. These included pay reductions since 2010 and also reductions to the pay of new entrant public servants (including teachers) since 2011. Collective agreements reached between the Government and the public service unions provided vital industrial peace during this very difficult period for the State.
Equality and fairness are at the heart of everything this Government is trying to do, particularly in the area of education where I am especially focused on creating better opportunities for people from disadvantaged areas in our education system. Indeed, the recent Budget secured funding to deliver on a wide range of measures to support this objective.
The Haddington Road/Lansdowne Road Agreement has allowed a programme of restoration to start. I have used this to negotiate substantial improvements in pay for new teachers. The agreement reached with TUI and INTO will see pay rises of between 15-22% (between €4600 and €6700) for new entrant teachers.
In education, there is a well-established increment system. Teachers are not paid equally. For example, the pay scale for teachers appointed prior to 2011 ranges from €32,009 to €60,155 depending on the date that the individual began teaching. Part of the negotiation to date has secured a convergence of the scales of recruits at different periods. Any further negotiation on new entrant pay cannot focus on just one sector. A broader assessment of pay and new entrant pay will be informed by the analysis of the Public Service Pay Commission.
The pay increases for new teachers can also be available to ASTI members under the proposals which resulted from recent discussions. The ASTI Central Executive Committee took a decision to put the outcome of the recent talks process to a ballot of members with a recommendation to reject. The ASTI’s leadership have taken a view on the proposals. It is now over to the members to form their view.
There are immediate undoubted benefits for individual ASTI members in accepting the proposals, including these pay increases for new teachers. They will have to weigh those up for themselves. Those benefits are only available to ASTI members if they vote to accept. The choice for ASTI members to consider is whether to accept the immediate benefits on offer and participate with the other unions in a further process of engagement or forego those immediate benefits in favour of further industrial action. It is for the ASTI leadership to explain its strategy in respect of the latter approach.
104. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether various pieces of proposed legislation from his Department will only add to the bureaucratic and administrative burdens on schools. [40368/16]
View answerThe Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, which passed second stage on 17 November 2016, and the The Parents and Students Charter Bill which was published on 5 December 2016 are important legislative measures that will have a significant positive impact on all our schools.
Both measures will fulfil key commitments in the Action Plan for Education to both increase the transparency and fairness of school admissions and improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students relating to schools.
My Department continues to focus on improving its systems to ensure that the administrative burden for principals and schools is minimised as far as possible. A range of initiatives have been introduced in recent years to improve efficiencies including the introduction of electronic submission of primary schools' annual enrolment returns, the simplification of the teacher allocation and redeployment processes and the introduction of an Online Claims System (OLCS) for teacher payroll.
It is widely accepted that the quality of school leadership is a key determinant of school effectiveness and the achievement of good learning outcomes. Indeed international research indicates that school leadership is second only to classroom teaching as an influence on pupil learning. Therefore my Department, in consultation with the representative school management bodies has commenced an exploration of the opportunities to support school leaders and how their needs might be addressed.
Budget 2016 provided 250 posts to second level schools to enable Deputy Principals to be freed up from teaching time and be more fully available to assist the school principal with the leadership of the school. At primary level Budget 2016 provided for additional release days for teaching principals to range between 15 and 25 days depending on the size of the school and was effective from the start of the 2016/17 school year.
Budget 2017 has provided for the equivalent of 170 additional posts to second level schools to employ an additional Deputy Principal to assist the school principal with the leadership of the school. With effect from September 2017, schools with pupil enrolment in excess of 700 will be allocated additional Deputy Principal posts. Budget 2017 also provides for the commencement of the restoration of middle management posts to lift the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts in both the primary and post-primary sector. A Department circular will issue in early January in relation to these new arrangements.
105. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an extension and new building for a school (details supplied). [40369/16]
View answerThe major building project for the project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning Stage 2A – Developed Design.
Upon the successful completion of Stage 2A, and subject to no issues arising, this project will then be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.
This major building project is included on the six year programme 2016-2021 and is scheduled therein to proceed to tender and construction in 2018.
107. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will facilitate the post-qualification professional practice inspection, probation inspection, for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40403/16]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Act 2001 the Teaching Council is, since 2006, the independent statutory regulatory body for the teaching profession. A key function of the Council is maintaining the register of teachers in the State and registration of teachers including setting criteria and procedures for probation for registration.
Accordingly, the person who is the subject of the question should continue to engage directly with the Teaching Council.
108. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will liaise with approved housing bodies regarding the purchase of available houses (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40204/16]
View answerThe acquisition through public funding of properties for social housing use, by either approved housing bodies or by local authorities, must be on the basis that the houses are suitable for social housing use and suitable also across a range of other considerations including value for money, design, planning and other compliances. As the housing authority for its area, it is a matter in the first case for Kerry County Council to determine the suitability of any units for acquisition, including acquisition by approved housing bodies with public funding support.
I understand that Kerry County Council is aware of the houses concerned and my Department will consider any proposals if made by the local authority or by approved housing bodies in respect of the acquisition of these or other properties that may be suitable for social housing use in the local authority area.
109. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department will extend the borough boundary in the Sligo urban area in view of the fact the current jurisdictional boundaries do not align with the recent demographic developments in the Sligo borough area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40217/16]
View answerAny possible alteration of the Borough District of Sligo would fall to be considered in the context of review of local electoral areas, as the districts are constituted of electoral areas. In this regard, the configuration of local electoral areas is among the specific issues to be considered in the context of a report to be submitted to Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, and to ensure that local government structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy.
110. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of all local authorities that currently charge rates on vacant commercial properties; the percentage rate charged, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40218/16]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 .
The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for rates. However, the owner is entitled to a refund if the property is vacant for specified purposes. The specified purposes being if the premises are unoccupied for the purpose of additions, alterations or repairs; where the owner is bona fide unable to obtain a suitable tenant at a reasonable rent; and where the premises are vacant pending redevelopment. The collection of rates and the determination of eligibility for a refund in this context are matters for each individual local authority.
The Local Government Act 1946 provided that the owner was entitled to a 100% refund in most local authority areas. Separate legislation governed refunds in the cities of Dublin, Limerick and Cork, where the same criteria for refunds applied but only 50% of the rates paid were refundable.
With effect from 1 June 2014 when the relevant provision commenced, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 gives discretion to the elected members of individual local authorities to vary the level of rates refunds that apply in individual local electoral areas within the authority’s administrative area. The Local Government (Financial and Audit Procedures) Regulations 2014 provide that the decision to alter the rate of refund should be taken at the annual budget meeting and that the rate of refund decided in respect of the relevant local electoral area shall apply to eligible persons for the year to which the budget relates. The absence of a decision to vary the refund means that the existing legislative provisions regarding the rate of refunds apply (either 100% or 50% as set out above).
The information requested in respect of the percentage refund of commercial rates applied by each local authority to property unoccupied for specified purposes is not available in my Department.
111. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide the information his Department has on the percentage of land zoned for residential development in Dublin that is wholly or partly owned or controlled by private equity funds. [40265/16]
View answerIn 2014, my Department, in conjunction with local authority planning departments, carried out a national survey of all lands zoned for residential development in statutory local authority development plans and local area plans across Ireland.
This exercise, the Residential Land Availability Survey 2014, which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/residential-land-availability/residential-land-availability-survey-2014, determined the location and quantity of lands that may be regarded as being undeveloped and available for residential development purposes at 31 March 2014. The results of the Survey indicated that there was 17,434 hectares of residential zoned lands nationally which could theoretically enable the construction of over 414,000 dwellings.
The mapped results of the survey are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://environmentgovie.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=58f92f0517fc4ee0956f8933afc40719.
However, my Department does not collect information on land ownership, particularly in relation to privately owned lands, and a breakdown of the above results according to ownership type was not sought as part of the survey exercise. Notwithstanding this, my Department is actively pursuing the progression of housing developments on State -owned lands, including local authority lands, as a major part of the new approach to housing provision under Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
The Action Plan contains a number of integrated actions to underpin land supply management, including the development of a national Land Supply Management Strategy, within the context of the new National Planning Framework. This will involve identifying and mapping sites in local authority and public ownership, with appropriate lands to be master-planned to deliver increased mixed-tenure housing, including social and more affordable housing.
It is intended that a further Residential Land Availability Survey will be undertaken in 2017.
112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a copy of the report on the consultation that took place between Traveller organisations in Galway city and Galway county and the national directorate for fire and emergency management in advance of the production of their 2016 report on programme to review and enhance fire safety in local authority provided Traveller accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40271/16]
View answer113. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a copy of the audit and the results of the survey that took place in Traveller accommodation Galway city and Galway county by the national directorate for fire and emergency management in advance of the production of their 2016 report on programme to review and enhance fire safety in local authority provided Traveller accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40272/16]
View answer114. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the fire and safety training that has taken place in Traveller accommodation units or with Traveller organisations in Galway city and county in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40274/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 114, inclusive, together.
Following the tragic loss of life in Carrickmines on 10 October 2015, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) was tasked with leading a Programme to Review Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation. The objective of the review was to ensure that practical and appropriate fire safety measures, which contribute to preventing loss of life and serious injury in local authority Traveller accommodation, have been applied systematically across the country. Along with appraising fire safety against relevant standards, this included running a series of community fire safety initiatives, including fire safety awareness training, aimed at Traveller Organisations and persons interfacing with the Traveller community so that awareness of fire risk and fire safety is developed and maintained over the longer term.
Consultation with all stakeholders at both national and local level was seen as essential to generate confidence in the review process. Accordingly, from the outset, the NDFEM engaged with key stakeholders at national level. A representative National Steering Group (NSG) was established by the NDFEM to oversee the review process and to offer support in addressing identified issues. The NSG was made up of relevant stakeholders including Traveller community representatives, national level and local government representatives and independent monitors.
The NDFEM wrote to Local Authority Chief Executives on 3 December 2015 requesting that they proceed to undertake the review in accordance with the approach outlined in a suite of support documentation. The Project Initiation Document envisaged that there would be local engagement with Traveller Community representatives in each local authority area to assist in undertaking the review and implementing Community Fire Safety, mirroring the National Steering Group role; this was the process agreed to enable Traveller organisations in individual local authority areas to input to the review. It was suggested that this could be achieved either through adding fire safety to the role of an existing Consultative Committee or by convening an ad-hoc group with appropriate membership for the purpose of this Review.
The Programme to Review Fire Safety in Local Authority Traveller Accommodation has concluded. Local Authorities submitted reports to the NDFEM detailing the work that was undertaken as part of the review. This information was collated by the NDFEM resulting in the generation of the Report on the Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation, published on 21 September 2016. A copy of the report is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/report_on_review_of_fire_safety_in_local_authority_provided_traveller_accommodation.pdf.
This report describes fire safety work which has taken place in Local Authority provided Traveller accommodation across the country up to 1 July 2016. In addition to the physical works, the report describes a parallel programme of community fire safety which has been undertaken incorporating training for key workers and engagement with community groups on fire safety awareness.
Information regarding the fire safety appraisals and the remedial work undertaken as part of the review, as well as information regarding any further fire safety enhancements carried out since 1 July 2016 and the fire and safety training that has taken place in Traveller accommodation units or with Traveller organisations, can be obtained directly from the relevant local authorities; in this case, Galway County Council and Galway City Council.
115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the stage at which the CENA pilot project for Galway is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40275/16]
View answerApproved Housing Body (AHB) status was granted to CENA, Ireland’s first Traveller-led AHB, in 2013. As an AHB, CENA has signed up to the Voluntary Regulation Code for AHBs, which will allow them to play a significant role in the provision and management of accommodation for Travellers in the coming years.
My Department has committed to providing funding to CENA to advance two pilot capital projects in Offaly (a Group Housing Scheme) and Galway (a Halting Site) so that CENA can learn and gain valuable experience in delivering Taveller-specific accommodation. Pending statutory regulation of the sector, in order to be eligible for funding for future projects and schemes, CENA will be subject to the new Financial and Assessment Framework which will come into effect from 1 January 2017.
Regarding the pilot project in Galway, as part of Phase 1 of the Traveller Accommodation Plan (2014-2018), Galway City Council put forward proposals to develop a traveller specific halting site in the Ballybane area of the city. The report on the Phase 1 plans has now been considered by the Elected Members of the Council, following detailed discussions with area Councillors, Residents Associations and Traveller families in the community. A further assessment of the site, along with consultations with CENA, will now take place to allow this pilot project to move forward.
116. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the efforts the Residential Tenancies Board makes to carry out or undertake to assist a service user in the recovery of a debt as awarded to that service user in a favourable determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40328/16]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Under the Act, enforcement of RTB determination orders is a discretionary power and the Board exercises this power taking account of the circumstances pertaining to each case. Given the demand for enforcement, it is not sustainable for the RTB to initiate proceedings on all requests. As the Board was established to take cases out of the Courts, it endeavours to secure enforcement initially by non-judicial means.
While there is no legal obligation on the RTB to enforce, the Board takes the issue of non-compliance with determination orders very seriously. In 2015 alone, it referred 312 cases to its legal advisors for enforcement proceedings. It is also open to parties to pursue enforcement independently through the Courts, including the seeking of a garnishee order. It should be noted that going to Court does not of itself ensure successful enforcement and more particularly, recoupment, of an award. In many cases the best option - and one which the RTB facilitates - is for the parties to agree a schedule of payments.
Section 124 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides for the enforcement of RTB determination orders in the Circuit Court. Section 57 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 amends section 124 to provide for the enforcement of RTB determination orders through the District Court rather than the Circuit Court. This will considerably reduce the expense of enforcing a determination order and may in some cases provide for faster hearings, as there are more sittings of the District Court than the Circuit Court. Section 57 is subject to a Commencement Order which will be made in Q1 2017.
117. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress in establishing an expert advisory committee on a statutory basis to review Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40335/16]
View answerUnder the ‘ Confidence and Supply Arrangement’ agreed with Fianna Fáil, the Government is committed to establishing an External Advisory Body to advise on measures to improve the transparency and accountability of Irish Water. The advisory body will be tasked with publishing advice to the Government and giving quarterly reports to an Oireachtas committee on the performance by Irish Water on the implementation of its business plan.
I intend to establish this body initially on a non-statutory basis with the legislation underpinning it to be considered at a later stage and this will be progressed early in 2017.
118. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of staff employed in the building control section in each local authority in tabular form; and his plans to increase available staff and resources to all building control sections. [40362/16]
View answerMy Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered do not provide detail in respect of numbers working in the building control sections within each local authority and accordingly the information requested is not available in my Department.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for each individual Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to specific divisions.
119. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the percentage of self-builds and extensions that are exempt from the building control regulations, SI 9 of 2014, that were inspected by a local authority building inspector in 2015 and or in 2016 in each area. [40363/16]
View answerIn relation to the Deputy’s request, these are matters for local authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2014. In relation to inspections, the Local Government Management Agency collected data on inspections carried out on buildings and published it in the Service Indicators in Local Authorities reports from 2005 to 2013. These reports are available at http://www.lgma.ie/en/search/node/Service%20Indicators.
Following the commencement of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) now collects and publishes this data. The Performance Indicators in Local Authorities reports for 2014 and 2015 are available at http://noac.ie/noac-reports/. The 2016 report will be published by NOAC during 2017 when complete data for 2016 becomes available.
It is important also to note the distinction between building works that are exempt from the requirements of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 and building works where the owner may voluntarily opt out of the system of statutory certification. S.I. No. 9 of 2014 applies to the design and construction of new dwellings, extensions of greater than 40 square metres and works where a fire certificate is required. The Building Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 provide a mechanism which permits the owner of a new single dwelling on a single unit development or an extension to a dwelling of greater than 40 square meters to make a declaration of intention to opt out of statutory certification.
120. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 111 to 113 of 8 December 2016, the reason his Department has declined to provide figures for the aggregate amount of employers' PRSI, employees' PRSI and aggregate net pay for Civil Service workers in his Department in view of the fact that other Departments were able to provide such information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40371/16]
View answerI cannot comment on the data held by other Government Departments. However, my Department does not collect payroll information in the way in which the Deputy has requested it. I have, however, requested the Payroll shared service to retrieve and collate the information requested and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as the material is available.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
