Parliamentary questions

Banks Recapitalisation

Michael McGrath

201. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of contingent convertible capital notes and preference shares the State holds in the covered banks; the dates on which these were acquired; the interest payable on each security; their maturity dates; his plans for these investments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1873/13]

Pension Provisions

Olivia Mitchell

202. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the reason the early access to pension funds as announced in Budget 2013 is limited insofar as it applied only to funded additional voluntary contributions; if he will consider including personal pensions going into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1874/13]

Tax Yield

Pearse Doherty

203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail the total tax take as a percentage of GNP from 1992 to 2012. [1895/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Kevin Humphreys

204. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were fully funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1905/13]

State Banking Sector

Kevin Humphreys

205. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if Irish Life returned a dividend to the State in 2012; if he will indicate if the company was profitable in that time; if he expects to receive a dividend in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1915/13]

State Banking Sector

Kevin Humphreys

206. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of Allied Irish Bank, he will outline the amount of public money invested by the State in the bank since 2008; the fees paid by the bank for the various deposit guarantees since then; the other sums paid by the bank to the State for repurchase of warrants and any other fees; the preference share and contingent capital holding and the coupon rate; the amount that has been paid so far and the amount to be paid in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1916/13]

State Banking Sector

Kevin Humphreys

207. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of Permanent TSB, he will outline the amount of public money invested by the State in the bank since 2008 and the fees paid by the bank for the various deposit guarantees since then; the other sums paid by the bank to the State for repurchase of warrants and any other fees; the preference share and contingent capital holding and the coupon rate; the amount that has been paid so far and the amount to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1917/13]

Contingent Capital Notes

Kevin Humphreys

208. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of the sale of the €1 billion note of contingent capital in Bank of Ireland, the sale was handled by the National Treasury Management Agency or his Department; if the sale was advertised; the way the sale will impact on the Exchequer deficit for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1918/13]

Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Kevin Humphreys

209. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the investments that were made by the Strategic Investment Fund in 2012 and in what sectors; the amount invested; the amount of matching funds raised from private sources; the plans for investment in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1919/13]

General Government Debt

Kevin Humphreys

210. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if the General Government Deficit is projected to be below 8% following the publication of the December Exchequer returns; if he will confirm what the finalised GGD for 2012 was; the expected GGD at end of 2013 following these developments and the full implementation of policy changes announced in Budget 2013; if it will be below 7.5% if all targets are met as projected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1920/13]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Kevin Humphreys

211. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that the high earners restriction of specified tax reliefs still applied to charitable donations; if, following his statement on budget day, he will outline specifically the proposals he wants the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform to consider on philanthropic donations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1921/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Kevin Humphreys

212. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an explanation for the expenditure of €26,709,000 on Central Bank - Coin Issue under Note 5 Non-Voted Current Expenditure in the December Exchequer Statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1922/13]

EU Funding

Kevin Humphreys

213. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the contribution to the EU Budget from 2006 to 2012; if he will outline the sources of those revenue under specific legislation and the reason for annual increases; the expected cost in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1923/13]

Capital Programme Expenditure

Kevin Humphreys

214. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the source of the €30,496,000 of Miscellaneous Capital Receipts as listed in Note 3 - Capital Receipts of the December Exchequer Statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1924/13]

Tax Yield

Kevin Humphreys

215. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the €250,384,000 of Customs receipts as listed in the December Exchequer Statement; if all of that is remitted to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1925/13]

Tax Yield

Kevin Humphreys

216. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown by excise duty source of the €4.7 billion yield as listed in the December Exchequer Statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1926/13]

Tax Yield

Kevin Humphreys

217. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the specific source such as residential property, commercial property etcetera, of the €1,428 billion yield of stamps as listed in the December Exchequer Statement; if he will provide that along with the individual yields from 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1927/13]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Billy Timmins

218. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the fuel relief on our school transport, to our health services and to our rural transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1960/13]

Disabled Drivers Grants

Joan Collins

219. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Finance if the tax relief for disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme is planned on being increased from the current figure of €15,875 in line with the increase in purchase costs, conversion costs and maintenance costs (details supplied) and if he will confirm that the tax relief is over two years and will remain so. [1963/13]

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Mary Lou McDonald

220. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 96 and 97 of 17 October 2012, when he intends to forward a response; the reason it has taken him at least three months to respond to questions relating to consultancy and legal expenditure by his Department. [2018/13]

Fuel Laundering

Niall Collins

221. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance his actions on tackling illegal fuel laundering; his future plans in confronting the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54525/12]

Black Economy Issues

Dara Calleary

222. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance the initiatives he is taking to combat the black market and other illegal activity in the retail sector; if his attention has been drawn to the impact of such activity on the retail business, retail jobs and on the public Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51853/12]

NewERA Establishment

Michael Moynihan

223. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date on the New Era project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53261/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Kevin Humphreys

224. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were partially funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2036/13]

European Globalisation Fund

Joe Higgins

225. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the disbursement of the European Globalisation Fund to workers made redundant from Dell in Limerick in 2009 the number of those workers that benefitted from that fund to the extent of accessing courses and starting new businesses; of those who started new businesses the number they managed to employ and finally the number of the workers that remain on the live register. [1309/13]

Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments

Niall Collins

226. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of regulatory impact assessments that have been carried out by his Department in the past twelve months; and the list of regulatory impact assessments carried out within his Department in the past twelve months. [57758/12]

Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments

Charlie McConalogue

227. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any impact assessment was carried out prior to announcing the two point increase in post leaving certificate schools in budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57816/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Charlie McConalogue

228. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full impact of the increase in the pupil teacher ratio in post leaving certificate schools in terms of posts lost, reduced number of places and courses cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57817/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Charlie McConalogue

229. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will take to ensure that places are not reduced and important specialist courses are not cancelled as a result of the increase in the teacher pupil ratio in post leaving certificate schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57818/12]

Vocational Education Committees Staff

Charlie McConalogue

230. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the nature of the reserves that he says are residing with the vocational education committees and which will prevent the €13 million cuts to VEC's in Budget 2013 impacting upon service levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57819/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Dara Calleary

231. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Student Universal Support Ireland have requested the same information on three separate occasions from a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will expedite the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57822/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Robert Troy

232. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a third level grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [57846/12]

Teaching Qualifications

Pat Breen

233. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the criteria (details supplied) for newly qualified teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57852/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Clare Daly

234. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 11 December 2012; the date of the change in his Departments attitude towards Rush and Lusk Educate Togethers permanent building and the reason it was de-selected vis-a-vie the other schools on that list. [57853/12]

Capitation Grants

Clare Daly

235. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance that can be given to school (details supplied) to assist in meeting the running costs of the school in view of the size of the building which is not yet fully occupied by the full number of classes which would secure an adequate capitation grant. [57856/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Robert Troy

236. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a third level grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [57857/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Dara Calleary

237. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not yet had their student grant application processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57859/12]

State Agencies

Patrick O'Donovan

238. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57876/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

239. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite an application for a third level grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57893/12]

Teachers' Remuneration

Billy Timmins

240. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a circular detailing pay scales for new entrants to teaching (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57898/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Sean Fleming

241. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a third level grant will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57900/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Jonathan O'Brien

242. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to fears that the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio from 17:1 - 19:1 will result in a 10% cut to staff in the Cork College of Commerce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57904/12]

Third Level Institutions Mergers

Robert Dowds

243. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the Church of Ireland College of Education and Trinity College Dublin in relation to a possible merger. [57928/12]

Third Level Institutions Mergers

Robert Dowds

244. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between Saint Patrick's College, Drumcondra and Dublin City University in relation to a possible merger. [57929/12]

Youth Unemployment Data

Eoghan Murphy

245. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the 2012 McKinsey Center for Government Report, Education to Employment: Designing a System that Works. [57936/12]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Arthur Spring

246. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Kerry who are awaiting grant approval from Student Universal Support Ireland. [57944/12]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Arthur Spring

247. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Kerry who were denied a student grant. [57945/12]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Arthur Spring

248. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Kerry who were approved for a student grant. [57946/12]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Sandra McLellan

249. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students still awaiting a decision and payment of their higher education grant on the 1 January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57978/12]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Charlie McConalogue

250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is a difference in the revised sick leave arrangements Circular 0033/2010 between teaching staff and special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57988/12]