Parliamentary questions

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

192. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the Educational Building Society, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49475/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

193. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Bank of Ireland, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49476/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

194. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Irish Nationwide Building Society, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49477/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

195. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Anglo Irish Bank, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49478/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

196. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2011; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49479/12]

Public Interest Directors

Pearse Doherty

197. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in detail the responsibilities of public interest directors in the formerly six covered financial institutions and to contrast those responsibilities with the responsibilities of other directors on the boards of those financial institutions. [49480/12]

Public Interest Directors

Pearse Doherty

198. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an assessment of the performance of each the public interest directors at the six formerly covered financial institutions. [49481/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

199. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of Irish Life and Permanent if he will provide a listing of the public interest directors appointed to that bank since 2008; the total remuneration paid to each such director and the date on which their appointments expire. [49482/12]

European Stability Mechanism

Pearse Doherty

200. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the €509,504,000 contribution paid by the State to the European Stability Mechanism in October 2012, the interest rate and expected date of receipt that applies to interest receivable on this contribution. [49483/12]

European Stability Mechanism

Pearse Doherty

201. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the €509,504,000 paid by the State to the European Stability Mechanism in October 2012, the treatment of this and other future payments to the ESM in calculating the deficit target as set out in the memorandum of understanding with the IMF-EU-ECB. [49484/12]

Economic Data

Pearse Doherty

202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his latest estimate of nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2012. [49485/12]

Economic Data

Pearse Doherty

203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his latest estimate of the 2012 State deficit which stood at €14,071,652,000 at the end of October 2012. [49486/12]

Economic Data

Pearse Doherty

204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance his latest estimate of deficit gross domestic product in 2012 and if it remains the case that the State will meet its target deficit GDP of 8.6% or less in 2012 as set out in the memorandum of understanding with the IMF-EU-ECB. [49487/12]

Pension Provisions

Pearse Doherty

205. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the €1.1billion top-up made by Allied Irish Banks to that Bank’s group pension scheme in August 2012, set out the contact or contacts the Bank had with him or his Department regarding to the transaction, specifically the date and nature of the contact or contacts. [49491/12]

Pension Provisions

Pearse Doherty

206. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the €1.1 billion top-up made by Allied Irish Banks to the group pension scheme in August 2012, if he provided approval for this transaction in a bank in which he owns 99.8% of the shares; and if so, the date of the provision of any such approval. [49492/12]

Pension Provisions

Pearse Doherty

207. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the €1.1 billion top-up made by Allied Irish Banks to the group pension scheme in August 2012, if he will identify in the stress testing undertaken by the Central Bank of Ireland with Barclays Capital, BlackRock and the Boston Consulting Group in early 2011 which resulted in the publication of the financial measures programme on 31 March 2011 where in this work was the €1.1 billion shortfall in the AIB pension fund examined or identified. [49493/12]

Pension Provisions

Pearse Doherty

208. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the €1.1billion top-up made by Allied Irish Banks to the group pension scheme in August 2012, if he will estimate the capital value needed by a pension fund in order to make an annual payment of €529,000 to a scheme member, as is reportedly the case with annual payments to the former chief executive officer of AIB, Mr Eugene Sheehy. [49494/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

209. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the following financial institutions, Allied Irish Banks, Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Nationwide Building Society, Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Educational Building Society, Permanent TSB, Irish Life, Irish Life and Permanent, if he will provide in tabular form the annual total of top-ups made to company pension schemes in each of the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011; if he wll further provide the total of top-ups made to company pension schemes to date in 2012. [49495/12]

State Properties Data

Pearse Doherty

210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list detailing the property vested in the State since 8 March 2011 pursuant to section 73 of the Succession Act 1965, showing the name of the deceased and a brief description of the property. [49498/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

211. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form, with respect to the Permanent TSB, the number of the staff whose annual salary at 31 December 2011 fell in the following bands €400,000 and above, €300,000 to €399,999, €200,000 to €299,999 and €150,000 to €199,999. [49499/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

212. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form, with respect to the Irish Life, the number of the staff whose annual salary at 31 December 2011 fell in the following bands €400,000 and above, €300,000 to €399,999, €200,000 to €299,999 and €150,000 to €199,999. [49500/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

213. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the salary paid to the Chief Executive Officer of Permanent TSB; and if he will provide a listing and quantification of any additional benefits paid, and in respect of any expense allowance; if he will confirm if such allowances are paid only in respect of vouched and receipted expenditure. [49501/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

214. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Chief Executive Officer of Permanent TSB is employed on a temporary contract; if so, the date on which this contract was entered into; the termination date of this contract; if he will quantify any termination payments provided for under the contract. [49502/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

215. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Chief Executive Officer of Permanent TSB is employed on a continuing or permanent contract; if so, if he will quantify any termination payments provided for under the contract. [49503/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

216. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has contacted Permanent TSB, whose shares are 99.5% owned by him, requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver. [49504/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the salary paid to the Chief Executive Officer of Irish Life; if he will provide a listing and quantification of any additional benefits paid; and in respect of any expenses allowance if he will confirm if such allowances are paid only in respect of vouched and receipted expenditure. [49505/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

218. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Chief Executive Officer of Irish Life is employed on a temporary contract; if so, the date on which this contract was entered into; the termination date of this contract; if he will quantify any termination payments provided for under the contract. [49506/12]

Financial Services Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

219. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Chief Executive Officer of Irish Life is employed on a continuing or permanent contract; and if so if he will quantify any termination payments provided for under the contract. [49507/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

220. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he has contacted Irish Life, a company wholly owned by him, requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; and if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver. [49508/12]

Mortgage Interest Relief Extension

Ged Nash

221. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending for a year the mortgage relief measures announced in Budget 2012 in view of the fact that we are only just starting to see the beginning of a possible recovery in the property market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49513/12]

Mortgage Resolution Processes

Robert Troy

222. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a definitive timeline as to when Permanent TSB will be rolling out the mortgage to rent scheme. [49524/12]

Tax Code

Olivia Mitchell

223. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider in the upcoming budget the case of buy to let landlords in circumstances where the formula used to subtract losses from 25% of interest paid to the bank Budget 2011 may result in taxable gain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49543/12]

Bank Debt Restructuring

Maureen O'Sullivan

224. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish a schedule identifying all those financial institutions that have ultimate recourse to the German sovereign exchequer in the event of default which derived a benefit or which were protected from loss by the bank guarantee given by the then Government on behalf of the Irish people on 28 September 2010; if he will publish his estimate of the gain conferred on those institutions by way of the guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49573/12]

Banking Operations

Terence Flanagan

225. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the measures he and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation are taking to recover overseas property that was formerly in the name of the Quinn Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49585/12]

Budget 2013

Terence Flanagan

226. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if Budget 2013 will require more cuts and taxes as growth rates have been reduced by his Department for next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49586/12]

Tax Collection

Joe Higgins

227. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the number of tax cases in the following bands (details supplied) that are composed of individual earners as opposed to couples. [49623/12]

Tax Collection Forecasts

Joe Higgins

228. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Finance the current average effective rate of tax including PRSI and universal social charge of persons earning within the bands (details supplied) and the amount of additional revenue that would be collected if the nominal and effective rates were adjusted. [49624/12]

NAMA Expenditure

Gerry Adams

229. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance the fees that are paid to companies who provide property valuations for the National Asset Management Agency; the fees for this service that were paid in each of the years since NAMA was established; the persons who were the top ten recipients of these fees in each of the years since NAMA was established. [49629/12]

NAMA Expenditure

Gerry Adams

230. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the legal fees paid by the National Asset Management Agency to date in 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of the recipients of those fees including the amount each recipient received from NAMA; and for the total legal fees incurred by NAMA since its establishment. [49630/12]

IBRC Investigations

Gerry Adams

231. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the legal fees incurred by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in each year since its establishment. [49631/12]

Departmental Agencies Expenditure

Billy Kelleher

232. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for, by State agencies under his remit for spending on the areas of communications, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49652/12]

Fuel Trader's Licence

John McGuinness

233. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the consultation that has taken place between Revenue and fuel retailers relevant to the fees charged and the new regulations in respect of a fuel traders licence; if consideration was given to the costs involved for smaller operators in this sector relevant to the new compliance requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49691/12]

European Stability Mechanism

Finian McGrath

234. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the moneys paid to the ESM following ratification of the ESM Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49704/12]

Liquor Licence Numbers

Brendan Griffin

235. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the number of licensed premises in the State; the number of pubs and the turnover breakdown of these pubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49741/12]

Tax Code

Gerry Adams

236. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if he has given any consideration to the introduction of a levy on alcohol products which are sold unopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49783/12]

Financial Services Regulation

Kevin Humphreys

237. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if the rule of 78 method of calculating interest regulated is banned here for hire purchase or leasing agreements, loans or mortgages; if he will specify where it can or cannot be used on financial transactions; if he will indicate the legislation and sections therein that regulate this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49798/12]

IBRC Investigations

Gerry Adams

238. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 on 23 October 2012, if he will confirm if the awarding of the loan sale advisory contract to UBS by Irish Bank Resolution Corporation under the bank's structured procurement process followed the same tendering process as referred to in the answer to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 23 October 2012, including where a request for quotation was published on Official Journal of the European Union; if he will confirm if this was not the same tendering process for the appointment of UBS; the reason IBRC adopted a different tendering process for the awarding of the contract to UBS; if he will confirm the number of competing bidders against UBS for the contract with IBRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49803/12]

IBRC Investigations

Gerry Adams

239. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 23 October 2012, if he will confirm irrespective of his statement that the secondment of a person (details supplied) into Irish Bank Resolution Corporation should not be adversely inferred as a lack of confidence by him in the management or board of the bank; if it is the case that he retains confidence in the management and the board of IBRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49804/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Gerry Adams

240. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the total nominal amount in euro of Anglo Irish Bank subordinated bonds that were governed by English Law that were subsequently subjected to a subordinated debt buy back in November and December 2010; if he will confirm the total nominal amount in euro of Irish Nationwide subordinated bonds, Irish Life and Permanent subordinated bonds and Allied Irish Banks subordinated bonds that were governed by English Law that were subsequently subjected to subordinated debt buy backs in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49805/12]

Sovereign Debt

Gerry Adams

241. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail the total nominal amount in euro of Irish Government bonds which are governed by English Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49806/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Gerry Adams

242. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 132 of 6 March 2012, if he will detail the total amount of interest paid on the subordinated bonds held by Fir Tree Capital Funds from Anglo Irish Bank, now Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, for their €200 million of subordinated notes in Anglo Irish Bank since the 29 of December 2010 to date; if he will detail if he continues to refuse to interfere with IBRC’s contractual obligation to pay interest and principal on these notes; if he will confirm if he has directed IBRC or invited Fir Tree Capital Funds directly to agree to take voluntary losses on the principal amount to be paid as was the case with all other Anglo Irish Bank subordinated bondholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49808/12]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Gerry Adams

243. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 6 November 2012, if he will outline the ongoing costs on the Exchequer in terms of tax foregone as a result of legacy property reliefs in 2011 and 2012. [49979/12]

State Banking Sector

Gerry Adams

244. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 24 October 2012, if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of fees paid to each of the public interest directors in each of the covered institutions since the bank bailout in 2008. [49980/12]

Motor Tax Exemptions

Joe McHugh

245. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance with reference to the Treaty of Rome, Chapter 1, The Customs Union Article 25 (ex Article 12), his views on the Vehicle Registration Tax (Permanent Reliefs) Regulations 1993 and section 134(1) of the Finance Act 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50034/12]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Joe McHugh

246. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance the work being carried out by the Revenue Commissioners to combat the sale of illicit cigarettes here; if he will compare the quantities of seizures of cigarettes for 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; if he will outline with reference to the 2009 Revenue and Office of Tobacco Control estimate, the up to date estimate proportion of cigarettes consumed here which are illicit; the communication between his Department and the Revenue Commissioners regarding enhancing pursuit of illicit trading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50042/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Brendan Ryan

247. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Finance in the Budget 2013, if he plans any changes to the Universal Social Charge for Deeds of Covenant as it relates to permanently incapacitated minors, in order to remove them from liability to pay the charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50075/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Brendan Ryan

248. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money that was collected from the Universal Social Charge from Deeds of Covenant in respect of permanently incapacitated minors in 2011 and to date 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50076/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Brendan Ryan

249. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will itemise the way the money collected from the universal social charge is used; if it entitles persons to specific benefits and entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50077/12]

Social Insurance Refunds

Patrick Nulty

250. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 6 June 2012 and No. 234 of 18 September 2012 when a PRSI refund will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; when the person's refund will be granted; the reason the person has still not been contacted as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50078/12]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Brendan Griffin

251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the number of mortgage holders that are repaying mortgages across all of the banks operating here at more than 35% of their net income; and the total value of these mortgages. [50115/12]

Public Sector Staff Issues

Seán Kyne

252. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the public service have been afforded in contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the public service agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50642/12]

Pension Provisions

Terence Flanagan

253. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance how well funded all semi-State company pension schemes are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50655/12]

FÁS Training Programmes

Peadar Tóibín

254. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in detail the number, type, location and spaces available on FÁS courses in County Meath available to the unemployed. [49779/12]

FÁS Training Programmes

Bernard Durkan

255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of training places created in the past two years; the extent to which such schemes can be augmented in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50146/12]

Pension Provisions

Dan Neville

256. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49399/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Jack Wall

257. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views regarding a submission (details supplied); if this matter will be reviewed in view of the proposal in the submission that the school in conjunction with university can confidently deliver the vision of the report; if so, the mechanism to be used and the period involved regarding such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49473/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Barry Cowen

258. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when they may expect a decision. [49510/12]

Schools Amalgamation

Michael Colreavy

259. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding the amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49558/12]

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Charlie McConalogue

260. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on media reports that there has been a miscalculation within his Department's budget regarding the cost of retirements and the impact that this will have on cuts to the education budget in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49562/12]

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Charlie McConalogue

261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount by which his Department has miscalculated the cost of recent retirements within his Department; if he will clarify any other costs which were miscalculated and which will impact upon cuts to education in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49563/12]

Third Level Funding

Charlie McConalogue

262. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of postgraduate fees being charged in each university in 2012 and the details of fees in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49564/12]

Third Level Funding

Charlie McConalogue

263. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the 2% cut in core funding for the higher education sector implemented as part of Budget 2012 has been passed on to students in the form of increased postgraduate fees this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49565/12]

Third Level Funding

Charlie McConalogue

264. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been an increase in postgraduate fees this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49566/12]

Higher Education Courses Applications

Charlie McConalogue

265. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who began a postgraduate course for 2012/2013; the number that commenced a postgraduate course in 2011/2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49567/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Charlie McConalogue

266. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether students who have yet to receive their student grant approval are having difficulty accessing important student services as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49568/12]

School Patronage

Charlie McConalogue

267. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the response rate to date to the survey of parents in Whitehall, Trim, Tramore, Castlebar and Arklow as part of the survey on primary school patronage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49569/12]

Bullying in Schools

Charlie McConalogue

268. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date of the Working Group on Bullying; when he expects this group to complete its work and publish new recommendations regarding tackling bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49570/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Joe McHugh

269. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the efficacy of an agency (details supplied) of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49602/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Billy Timmins

270. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding scooter user access for students who need to use scooters to get into lecture halls at a university (details supplied) but are finding it almost impossible to access their lecture theatres on their scooters; the steps that have been taken by the university to ensure that all students can attend the university regardless of disability and the plans they have to enable scooter users to access their lecture theatres without the present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49642/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Billy Timmins

271. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding scooter user access for students who need to use scooters to get into the student accommodation at a university (details supplied) but are finding it almost impossible to access the student accommodation on their scooters; the steps that have been taken by the university to ensure that all students can access the student accommodation at the university regardless of disability and the plans they have to enable scooter users to access their accommodation without the present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49643/12]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Billy Kelleher

272. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49650/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Robert Troy

273. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite grant applications in respect of persons (details supplied). [49672/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Creed

274. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update regarding the progress at design stage for a new school (details provided) in County Cork; when he expects to be in a position to move this project to planning application stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49681/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Creed

275. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the building contractor appointed in respect of the new school constructions announced in County Cork recently; when he expects construction to commence on these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49696/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Creed

276. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm receipt of an application for additional accommodation/prefabricated classroom replacement from a school (details supplied) in County Cork; when a decision on this request will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49697/12]

Third Level Courses Availability

Dominic Hannigan

277. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a travel allowance for springboard participants who have to travel long distances from their homes to their places of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49705/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Barry Cowen

278. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a student grant. [49727/12]

School Transport Provision

Charlie McConalogue

279. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if junior and senior infant children who have a school day which is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day and who avail of concessionary school transport entitled to remain on school premises if the board of management policy is that all children in junior and senior infants must be collected an hour earlier than the other classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49739/12]

School Transport Provision

Charlie McConalogue

280. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if junior and senior infant children who have a school day which is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day and who are eligible for school transport entitled to remain on school premises if the board of management policy is that all children in junior and senior infants must be collected an hour earlier than the other classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49740/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Robert Troy

281. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a second level school in an area (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [49757/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Robert Troy

282. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with the board of management of a school (details supplied) and the outcome of same. [49758/12]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Pearse Doherty

283. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons a school (details supplied) in County Donegal has not been considered eligible for funding under the current school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49788/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Michael Healy-Rae

284. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the retention of home economics teaching education at a campus (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will provide this campus and NUI Galway an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to fulfil the vision of the Initial Teacher Education report in the most cost effective manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49792/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Michelle Mulherin

285. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will be made; and if the application will be expedited. [49867/12]

State Examinations Issues

Simon Harris

286. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the criteria in place for a student to avail of a smaller exam centre in a State exam and also for a student to have a person read the exam questions during the junior or leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49868/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Seamus Healy

287. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene with the third level colleges to ensure that students are not denied access to the colleges IT services due to the fact that they cannot be permanently registered because of the delays in approving grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49933/12]

Adult Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

288. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the Adult Refugee Programme's annual budget spent on language teachers' salaries for the direct delivery of the service. [49938/12]

Adult Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

289. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the Adult Refugee Programme's annual budget spent on administration costs by the lead vocational education committee, County Dublin [49939/12]

Adult Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

290. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the reason that the Adult Refugee Programme in Ringsend College and Ballsbridge College, Dublin, is being earmarked for closure while other courses and agencies, for example, ALCES, BTEI, DALC continue to be funded. [49940/12]

Departmental Funding

John O'Mahony

291. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a minor works grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49949/12]