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Thursday, 4 Oct 2018

Written Answers Nos. 74-93

Summer Economic Statement

Questions (74)

Barry Cowen

Question:

74. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the workings that reconcile the pre-committed expenditure of €2.3 billion as outlined in table 4 of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council's pre-budget report and the pre-committed expenditure of €2.6 billion outlined in table 5 of the same report, specifically the effects of the rolling of capital expenditure over four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40582/18]

View answer

Written answers

In the Summer Economic Statement (SES) 2018 I outlined the breakdown of the nominal €2.6 billion increase in expenditure. This consisted of a €1.5 billion increase for capital expenditure and €1.1 billion for current expenditure (€0.4 billion for public sector pay increases, €0.4 billion for demographic costs and €0.3 billion of carryover costs).

Table 3 of the SES shows the resulting figure after smoothing the capital expenditure - 'j. Pre-committed fiscal space for expenditure', i.e. €2.1 billion.

The nominal increase of €1.5 billion for next year, combined with the previous three year's increases, resulted in a cost of €1.0 billion in fiscal space terms.

Finally, the €1.0 billion reported in 'k. Other' includes €0.8 billion available to be allocated as per footnote 3 in the document. The remaining €0.2 billion accounts for the presentational difference between the pre-committed expenditures shown in the SES and the Council's pre-budget statement.

The table below illustrates these details.

SES Table 3

€ billions

j. pre-committed expenditure

2.1

current expenditure

1.1

capital expenditure (smoothed)

1.0

k. Other

1.0

other general government expenditure

0.2

unallocated

0.8

Financial Services Regulation

Questions (75)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

75. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his views on the emergence of new financial products that involve a service in which the lender buys directly from a shop on behalf of borrowers such as a website (details supplied); the rights of the borrowers in this scenario; and his plans to regulate the products. [40360/18]

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Written answers

I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

In light of this query, I have contacted the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). I have been advised that the CCPC recently received a press query in relation to this issue. The CCPC have advised that

"Under the Consumer Credit Act 1995, the CCPC provides licences to credit intermediaries and keeps an online list of credit intermediaries holding a valid authorisation at the time of enquiry. This is known as the Register of Credit Intermediaries."

The CCPC have confirmed that while they generally do not comment on any individual company they can confirm that the company in question is not a registered credit intermediary. That said, at least some of the shops through which it operates are on the Register of Credit Intermediaries.

The Central Bank has informed me that this entity is not regulated.

I share the Deputy’s concern regarding the rights of borrowers. I will be writing to the Central Bank to ask them to examine the business model for this firm and to ascertain whether it complies with all regulatory requirements.

Tax Credits

Questions (76)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

76. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will include toll booth operators in the list of occupations permitted to claim flat-rate employment expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40371/18]

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Written answers

I am advised by Revenue that the legislation governing the deductibility of expenses incurred in employment, as set out in section 114 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA), provides that, for an expense to qualify as a deduction against income from an office or employment, the expense must be wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of the duties of the office or employment.

For ease of administration, where a particular large group or category of employees incurs broadly identical qualifying expenses (i.e. expenses incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the individual’s employment duties) and such expenses are not reimbursed by their employer(s), Revenue has over the years provided a facility whereby a flat rate expense (FRE) may apply to a particular cohort of employees. The flat rate expense is generally determined following engagement between Revenue and the representative body of the group or category of employee.

I understand Revenue is willing to engage with representative bodies of any large groups of employees, including toll booth operators, to consider an application for flat rate employment expenses. A formal submission would have to be made to Revenue detailing the common expenses incurred by that group of employees and the expenses would have to meet the legislative test set down in section 114 TCA.

Tax Exemptions

Questions (77)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

77. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the cost implications of a €500 increase or decrease in the small gift exemption under capital acquisitions tax rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40390/18]

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Written answers

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that where recipients qualify for the small gift exemption from Capital Acquisitions Tax, i.e. they have received a gift (or gifts) from an individual within a calendar year, which does not exceed €3,000, then there is no obligation to submit a return to Revenue. As a consequence there is no data available to Revenue to estimate the impact of reducing the threshold by €500.

A recipient is however obliged to submit a return where the €3,000 threshold is exceeded. Based on returns of gifts for the tax year 2017, I am advised by Revenue that the estimated tax cost of increasing the threshold by €500 would likely be less than €1 million.

Tax Reliefs Application

Questions (78)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

78. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance the status of an inheritance tax application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40392/18]

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Written answers

I am advised by Revenue that inheritance tax may be payable by a person who is resident or ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland where the person (i.e. the beneficiary) receives an inheritance from the estate of a deceased person living in the UK. Double taxation can potentially arise because Irish inheritance tax is based on the country of residence of the beneficiary while UK inheritance tax is based on the country of domicile of the deceased person (i.e. the disponer). A double taxation treaty between both countries, as mentioned by the Deputy, provides for tax relief where a particular asset that is included in an inheritance is taxed in both countries. The relief operates by granting a credit against any Irish tax due of the amount of UK tax paid in respect of an asset (such as a property) which is situated in the UK.

For a credit to be granted under the treaty, there must first be an Irish inheritance tax liability. For inheritance tax purposes, the relationship between the disponer and the beneficiary determines the maximum tax-free amount known as the “Group threshold” below which inheritance tax does not arise. The Group B threshold (currently €32,500) is relevant in this case and applies where the beneficiary is a brother, sister, a nephew, a niece or lineal ancestor or lineal descendant of the disponer.

Any prior inheritance received by a beneficiary since 5 December 1991 from within the same Group threshold is aggregated for the purposes of determining whether any tax is payable on a benefit. Where a person receives an inheritance(s) that exceeds the relevant tax-free threshold, inheritance tax at a rate of 33% applies on the excess over the tax-free threshold.

From the information supplied by the Deputy it is not possible to be definitive as how the double taxation relief will apply in this case. As the Deputy will be aware, the Revenue Commissioners are independent in their dealings with the tax affairs of any individual and therefore the person should be advised to contact his or her local Revenue Office and outline the circumstances of the inheritance to ascertain how the credit system will operate in his or her particular case.

Budget 2019

Questions (79)

Michael McGrath

Question:

79. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the projected structural deficit for 2019 if the €800 million available on budget day is spent and if the Economic and Social Research Institute's prediction for growth at 8.9% for 2018 compared with his Department's projection of growth of 5.6 % turns out to be true; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40396/18]

View answer

Written answers

I assume the €800 million the Deputy is referring to is the amount which I stated is available for further allocation in the Summer Economic Statement 2018 (€3.4 billion less €2.6 billion pre-committed). This is already factored into fiscal forecasts and does not change the general government balance.

As the Deputy is aware, Budget 2019 will be published on Tuesday 9th October and my officials are currently engaged in updating the full suite of fiscal and macro-economic forecasts which will be included in the Budget day publications.

Revenue Commissioners Staff

Questions (80)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

80. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff reductions and savings that will be made following the introduction of the new computer-based employee PRSI return being introduced from January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40432/18]

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Written answers

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the introduction of PAYE Modernisation which was announced as part of Budget 2017.

By way of background information, the PAYE system brings in almost €1 billion every month to the Exchequer. There are approximately 200,000 registered employers and around 2.3 million employees with a significant number of these having more than one employment. The nature of the current PAYE system is such that it gives rise to a high number of contacts from taxpayers throughout the year. For example, Revenue’s Employee Helpline handled around 1.3 million telephone calls in 2017 and a significant amount of Revenue’s staff resources are deployed to handle these calls.

The PAYE Modernisation programme represents the most significant change to the PAYE system since its introduction more than fifty years ago. At the heart of the programme is the new real-time reporting requirement to Revenue for employers in respect of employee income and statutory deductions, including income tax, PRSI, USC and Local Property Tax, which must be completed with each payroll run. There will be no change to the actual payment dates and as such no cash-flow implications for employers.

Once the system goes live on 1 January 2019 it will bring improved accuracy and transparency for all stakeholders, including employers, employees and Revenue and will also significantly streamline the entire administrative process. To ensure optimum benefits, Revenue has worked extensively with all relevant stakeholders over the past two years in a co-design approach. This has included employers, representative bodies and the payroll industry to ensure the new reporting system successfully delivers these benefits while also reducing the administrative burden to the greatest extent possible.

For example, from 1 January 2019, the PAYE reporting process will be significantly simplified by the elimination of the various forms (e.g. P30, P45, P46, P35, P60,) that must currently be completed while also ensuring that employee tax deductions and other contributions are accurately reflected. As every employer will be required to provide information on employees’ pay and statutory deductions each time they pay their employees, Revenue will have the most up to date pay and deductions details available to it, which will be of major assistance in ensuring that taxpayers benefit fully from their various credits and entitlements. Also, for the first time, employees will be able to view the information reported to Revenue on their behalf by employers.

It is too early to identify any staff savings that will accrue from the new system. Revenue has advised me that its initial focus will be on supporting employers to meet the new obligations arising from PAYE Modernisation and to assist employees on an individual basis where necessary. Once the system is successfully implemented, Revenue will reassign any staff available at that point to other priority work, including compliance activity.

The issue of resources for the administration of Pay Related Social Insurance is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Insurance Compensation Fund

Questions (81)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

81. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the timeframe for those awaiting the 100% of their claims following the collapse of a company (details supplied) to receive their money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40472/18]

View answer

Written answers

Setanta Insurance was placed into liquidation by the Malta Financial Services Authority on 30 April 2014. As it was a Maltese incorporated company, the liquidation is being carried out under Maltese law.

The Deputy will be aware that the Insurance (Amendment) Act 2018 (Act 21 of 2018) was signed into law in July this year. The Act, inter alia, provides for the payment of 100% of the compensation due to Setanta third party personal injury motor insurance claimants including the additional 35% to those who have settled their claims and have already received compensation of 65% of their claim. The same principle of full payment will apply to third party property motor insurance claimants subject to a limit of €1.22 million (in line with Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland limits).

The Act also provides for revised arrangements for the ongoing management and administration of the Insurance Compensation Fund, including for applications to the High Court. These revised arrangements have now been put in place.

As the Courts have just re-commenced this week, no date has yet been fixed for the next tranche of payments. However, I am informed by the State Claims Agency that much of the preparatory work has been completed. They have also advised this next tranche will comprise of new cases where 100% will be paid, all the cases where the balance of 35% is due, as well as a number of third party legal costs payments. In total it is expected that there will be in the region of 1,500 payments made with a value of approximately €21 million.

It should be noted that while I hope that a court date can be agreed by the end of October, it is possible that this may slip into the first half of November. You can rest assured however that every effort is being made to process these payments as quickly as possible.

Finally, you should be aware that only claims which have been settled can be included in applications to the High Court for payment from the ICF. The Liquidator has advised that the process of settling claims is still ongoing and is subject in some cases to complex negotiations between all relevant parties. Therefore for such cases it is not possible at this stage to give any indication when payment will be made. However, I believe that by the State having taken steps to ensure that third party claimants are compensated in full, that this will encourage the settlement of all outstanding claims as quickly as possible.

Motor Insurance Costs

Questions (82)

Brian Stanley

Question:

82. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the measures he is taking to address the practice in the motor insurance industry of unfairly charging excessive premiums for returning emigrants regardless of their driving experience. [40518/18]

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Written answers

As the Deputy may be aware, in fulfilment of a recommendation from the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance, a protocol was agreed between Insurance Ireland and the Department of Finance under which insurance companies committed to accepting the driving experience returning emigrants gained while abroad, when the driver has had previous driving experience in Ireland. The guiding principle of the protocol is to ensure that a returning emigrant is not treated any differently to any other driver subject to their ability to demonstrate, and the insurance company to verify, continuous driving experience and the normal acceptance criteria of the company. What this means is that the returning emigrant will not be disadvantaged from spending time abroad. Furthermore, under the protocol, insurance companies will not distinguish between countries on the basis of which side of the road driving takes place therein or, indeed, whether the country is a member of the EU or not.

In relation to the implementation of this recommendation, Insurance Ireland submitted a report to the Department in December 2017. This report confirmed that Insurance Ireland members have agreed to publish the wording of the agreed protocol on their company websites and any other forms of social media, in addition to providing training for staff who can work through issues with emigrants before they leave, whilst they are out of the country and when they return to Ireland. The stated intention is “to resolve any issues well before they arise and for the consumer to be aware of the considerations when moving abroad”. The wording of the agreed protocol is also available on the Insurance Ireland website.

The Insurance Ireland report also outlined some sample cases which demonstrate how the rolling-out of the protocol has led to disputed cases being resolved to the benefit of returning emigrants, and provided figures indicating that the number of such cases being processed under the Declined Cases Agreement (DCA) decreased during the first six months of 2017. I understand that the DCA figures subsequently provided in respect of the second half of last year showed that this downward trend continued throughout the remainder of 2017. The next report on the operation of the DCA, outlining the figures for 2018, is due to be submitted to my Department in Q1 2019. Officials will examine the breakdown of the number of cases in the report to determine if the downward trend is continuing.

It is important to highlight that if a returning emigrant believes that they have received a high quote due to an insurance provider not accepting driving experience gained while abroad, they should contact the free Insurance Information Service operated by Insurance Ireland, which can be accessed at feedback@insuranceireland.eu or 01-6761820.

Finally, the Deputy should also note that I am continuing to monitor the implementation of this recommendation through my Department’s regular engagement with Insurance Ireland.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (83)

Alan Kelly

Question:

83. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Finance if he or other Ministers, ministerial advisers or officials in his Department have ever used private email to communicate on departmental issues between one another or with other persons or organisations; if so, the reason therefor; if these emails will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40519/18]

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Written answers

I wish to advise Deputy Kelly that I do not use private email to communicate on Departmental issues. Minister of State D'Arcy and all special advisers in my Department also do not use private email for such communication.

All staff in the Department are informed of the Records Management Guidelines (September 2017) in place and are obliged to carry out official activities according to the policy guidelines. The Records Management Guidelines inform staff on best practice for the creation and management/processing of official records and files, in order to safeguard official information and to ensure reliable evidence of actions, functions and decision making is kept and remains available for reference and use when needed. Records created or processed by Department officials in the course of their duties, on behalf of the Department, are covered by the Record Management Guidelines. Official records can be in many varied forms and formats, including paper documents, electronic records, books, photographs or any medium on which information is recorded or stored by graphic, electronic or mechanical means. All staff of the Department are obliged to abide by these guidelines and all records received in the course of Department business fall under the scope of the Guidelines.

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Data

Questions (84)

Niall Collins

Question:

84. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the amount expended by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman on external consultants and legal service providers in 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the consultants and legal providers that provided such services; the amount of fees paid to each such body to date in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40528/18]

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Written answers

Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions. I have no role in the day to day workings of his office.

As the Deputy will be aware the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman was established on 1 January 2018 under the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017. The figures provided by the Ombudsman below in respect to 2017 relate to the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau.

The table below outlines the expenditure on consultancy and legal firms. The figure for 2018 includes the latest available data to June 2018. It should be noted that all figures below are as yet unaudited.

Consultancy

Jan - Dec 2017

Jan - Jun 2018

BearingPoint

€148,656.34

€6,122.33

Erwin Boucher

€8,302.50

€2,121.75

Keating &Associates

€3,136.50

€2,300.10

Petrus Consulting

€26,593.92

€738.00

Legal Firms

Jan - Dec 2017

Jan - Jun 2018

Byrne Wallace

€5,715.28

-

McDowell Purcell

€159,835.36

€102,818.57

Eversheds (Eversheds O'Donnell Sweeney)

€149,431.96

€84,272.25

Living City Initiative

Questions (85)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

85. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications for the Living City initiative relief; the number of successful applications; and the amount of taxation expenditure on the scheme per annum since its inception to date and by type, that is, owner occupier, commercial and rented. [40530/18]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by Revenue that the number of applications received since the Living City Initiative commenced in May 2015 is 136. Information in relation to the number of claimants, the amount claimed and the cost to the Exchequer in 2015 and 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, is included in the table below:

Year

Number of claimants

Amount claimed

€M

Maximum tax cost assumed at 40% for Income Tax and 12.5% for Corporation Tax

€M

2016

15

0.5

0.2

2015

13

0.5

0.2

I am also advised by Revenue that due to the low number of taxpayers claiming this relief, and its obligation to observe the confidentiality of taxpayer information, it is not possible to provide the further breakdowns requested by the Deputy.

Exchequer Savings

Questions (86)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

86. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated surplus to be surrendered to the Exchequer by the end of 2018, by Department and by budget line, in tabular form. [40504/18]

View answer

Written answers

As outlined in the September 2018 Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance, overall gross voted expenditure to the end of September 2018 was €44,874 million. This was only slightly over profile, by €13 million, and €3,208 million, or 7.7 per cent, higher than expenditure for the same period in 2017. Gross voted current expenditure of €41,601 million was €265 million, or 0.6 per cent ahead of profile and €2,451 million, or 6.3 per cent ahead of the same period last year. As set out in the September 2018 Fiscal Monitor, at the end of September 2018, 13 out of 17 Ministerial Vote Groups were either broadly in line or below profile, with an aggregate underspend across these 13 Ministerial Vote Groups of €188 million versus their gross current expenditure profiles.

At this stage of the year, it is difficult to accurately predict the scale of potential underspends at the end of the year to be surrendered to the Exchequer. However, the expenditure outturns for the last two years provide an indication of the potential range.

As reported in the December 2017 Fiscal Monitor, gross voted expenditure in 12 out of 17 Vote Groups was in line or below profile for the year. These profiles reflected the allocations set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2017 published in December 2016 and the Further Revised Estimates presented to the Dáil on 17th October 2017. Across these 12 Vote groups, there was an aggregate underspend on current expenditure of €208 million. As set out in the December 2016 Exchequer Statement, gross voted expenditure in 11 out of 16 Ministerial Vote Groups finished the year at or below their total expenditure profile. The aggregate underspend on current expenditure across these 11 Vote Groups was €238 million.

Thus, the level of underspends on current expenditure by Vote groups that underspent relative to profile in 2016 and 2017 suggests that underspends for 2018 of the order of approximately €0.2 billion could reasonably be expected.

Gross Public Summary

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (87)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

87. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if discretion can be used to appoint a third teacher in circumstances in which small rural primary schools are short only one or two pupils in order to qualify for an additional teacher (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40372/18]

View answer

Written answers

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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 also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board will meet in mid-October to consider appeals for the 2018/19 school year. Application forms are available in Circular 0010/2018, published on the Department of Education website. The closing date for receipt of appeals for this meeting is 8th October 2018.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2019/20 school year will be published in February next year. At that stage, schools will be able to establish their staffing for September 2019 and submit a staffing appeal if required.

Schools Facilities

Questions (88)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

88. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the possibility of sourcing land near to schools on busy roads to use as a car park in the interest of safety of children, parents and teachers of the school and of all road users passing by the school will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40389/18]

View answer

Written answers

In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.

The issue of road safety measures in general in the road network outside the area of vested school sites such as road signage, traffic calming measures, car parking and pedestrian facilities are the responsibility in the first instance of the relevant local authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools to ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children. My Department has no function in this matter.

Should safety measures be required within the vested school site it is open to the school authority to make an application for funding under any future Summer Works Scheme.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (89)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

89. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the inequality in pay for teachers who started working after 2011 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40397/18]

View answer

Written answers

The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I negotiated, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers.

As a result of these changes, since 1 October 2018 the starting salary of a teacher is now €36,318, and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692.

Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.”

The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this provision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that, during the financial crisis, there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education). Addressing any issues arising from changes which are not specifically detailed in the report would give rise to additional costs over and above the foregoing figures.

The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.

On Monday 24th September, I welcomed, together with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the outcome of discussions between public service employers and the public services committee of ICTU in respect of new entrant pay.

This agreement will benefit 16,000 teachers and nearly 5,000 SNAs within the education sector. The deal provides for a series of incremental jumps for new entrants at points 4 and 8 of their scale.

For example, a teachers hired in September 2011 would see their salary increase from €45,200 in September 2018 to €53,062 in September 2020 under the PSSA agreement and the recent outcome of the new entrant pay talks.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (90, 91, 92)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

90. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas that provide ASD units; the capacity of these units; the way in which they are resourced; and the length of the waiting lists to attend these units. [40399/18]

View answer

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

91. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he expects new ASD units to open or existing ones to expand based on the new legislation introduced. [40400/18]

View answer

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

92. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding available to ASD units. [40401/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 92, inclusive, together.

This government is committed to ensuring every child with special educational needs has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential.

Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training.

The Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.

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. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools and it does not maintain details of waiting lists in schools.

Accordingly, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) advises parents, to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to the school/s of their choice as early as possible. Where parents have been unsuccessful in enrolling their child in a school for the 2018/19 school year, they should update their local SENO to inform the planning process.

The greater proportion of children with ASD attend mainstream class, where they may access additional supports if required.

Some students with ASD, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there and placement in an ASD special class is an option for them. ASD special classes are resourced to cater for six pupils with complex educational needs arising from their diagnosis of autism and as such are staffed with a reduced PTR (6:1 Primary and 6:1.5 Post Primary) and two Special Needs Assistants.

Special school placements are provided for other students with ASD and very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.

The NCSE is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.

Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 130% from 548 in 2011 to 1,456 across the country now, of which 1,192 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes. This network includes 129 ASD early intervention classes, 742 primary ASD classes and 321 post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools.

There are 37 special schools and 235 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Dublin. Of these, 17 are ASD early intervention classes, 138 are primary ASD classes and 40 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 195 in 2017/2018. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie in county order.

The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year in Dublin, and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need. I have arranged for the Deputy's question on emerging need to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

The National Council for Special Education has published Guidelines for Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Post Primary schools which contain information on setting up and organising special classes, including information on resources which may be provided to schools to establish special classes and are available to download from www.ncse.ie.

My Department has acknowledged that in recent years the establishment of special class provision in some schools and communities has been challenging.

As the Deputy may be aware, I signed a Commencement Order on the 4th of October bringing a number of sections of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act, 2018 into operation.

The commencement order will provide the Minister for Education and Skills with a power, after a process of consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs. This power will come into effect on Monday 3rd December 2018.

I has asked the NCSE to engage with the education partners and finalise the procedures in advance of this date.

This new power will build on the work which has been done in recent years to facilitate schools to open special classes.

My Department will continue to support the NCSE in opening ASD special classes in areas where there is an identified need.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (93)

Noel Rock

Question:

93. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provisions have been made in his budget submission to lower the teacher-student ratio in DEIS schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40415/18]

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Written answers

My aim for Budget 2019, as it has been in previous years, is to progressively deliver on the commitments set out in the Action Plan for Education, in the Programme for a Partnership Government and in the Confidence and Supply Arrangement and to meet demographic and demand pressures, which can have significant resource implications. It is in that context that I will formulate my specific budgetary priorities.

I have set 4 key areas where I am seeking to make improvements in order to meet our objective to make the Irish Education and Training service the best in Europe: the quality of the learning experience; the capacity to meet the needs of those at a disadvantage or with special needs to fulfil their potential; the environment for schools to be innovative and continuously improve their capacity to serve their pupils' needs; and the collaboration and bridges which education and training institutions build with their wider communities to meet the changing needs of our country.

DEIS Plan 2017 allows for a reduced class size in Urban Band 1 primary schools to accommodate class size of 20:1 at junior classes and 24:1 at senior classes to support those students at the highest risk of educational disadvantage. Under DEIS Plan 2017, there is a commitment to evaluate the level of teaching resources for schools participating in the School Support Programme to inform future policy in this area and this evaluation is currently underway.

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