Parliamentary questions

Tax Code

Eoghan Murphy

153. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider modifying the various statements issued by the Revenue to persons so that these would state the total tax paid by a person as a percentage of their income as well as providing the various breakdowns under the different headings. [56488/12]

Property Taxation Application

Eoghan Murphy

154. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will review a case regarding the assessment of the value of certain properties for the local property tax (details supplied) [56490/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Eoghan Murphy

155. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if there will be provisions in the property tax for properties (details supplied). [56491/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Eoghan Murphy

156. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a detailed breakdown of any non salary entitlements or benefits going to current and new employees of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation as part of their terms of employment. [56492/12]

Tax Rebates

Eoghan Murphy

157. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 174 of 15 May 2012, if he will be granting a fuel rebate to bus and coach companies. [56493/12]

European Council Meetings

Simon Harris

158. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Finance the formations of the EU Councils of Ministers on which he sits; the number of meetings of that Council held from 9 March 2011 to date in 2012; the number of those meetings he attended; the number attended by a Minister of State; the number attended by an Irish official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [56547/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Dominic Hannigan

159. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Finance if any provision will be made with the property tax for executors of wills to be entitled to defer payment until the property is sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56602/12]

Tax Reliefs Cost

Éamon Ó Cuív

160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the total cost to the Exchequer in a full year of new tax reliefs introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013, directed at the agricultural sector, the break down of the saving per relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56612/12]

Tax Yield

Éamon Ó Cuív

161. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the estimate of extra tax that will be collected in a full year due to changes in taxes directed at the agricultural sector, including the VAT rebate for unregistered farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56613/12]

Tax Rebates

Éamon Ó Cuív

162. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if the new proposed diesel rebate scheme will apply to the marine transport sector and the bus and coach sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56614/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Dominic Hannigan

163. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Finance if homes with confirmed pyrite will be exempted from the property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56640/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Peter Mathews

164. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Finance his plans to allow executors of wills to be included in the list of persons allowed to defer payment of the property tax, where the executor of the will, their spouse are sole or indeed the joint beneficiary of the property concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56733/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Dominic Hannigan

165. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Finance if an estate (details supplied) in County Meath will be exempt from the property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56740/12]

Property Taxation Application

Dara Calleary

166. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance the way he proposes to place an indicative value on homes under the property tax measure in view of the fact that three and four bedroom homes in counties Donegal and Mayo are being sold at auction this year for less than €30,000; his views on whether the property tax agenda is flawed at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56742/12]

Revenue Commissioners Investigations

Dara Calleary

167. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners are obliged to carry out a revenue audit on a couples finances when one member of the couple request such an audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/12]

Banking Operations

Ciara Conway

168. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Finance with regard to the covered institutions, the number of claims made by customers alleging overpayment as opposed to overcharging on personal and commercial loans since the guarantee was put in place; the number and percentage of such claims that succeeded; the amount of payments in tens of thousands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56792/12]

Pensions Levy Issues

James Bannon

169. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Finance if he will reverse the decision to impose a 0.6% levy imposed on private and occupational pension fund assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56804/12]

Tax Reliefs Application

Noel Coonan

170. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding capital gains liability in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reasons, if any, the exemption is not applied to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56818/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Michael McGrath

171. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be affected by the change to the universal social charge for persons over 70 years. [56828/12]

Tax Rebates

Derek Nolan

172. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the proposed diesel rebate scheme to other transportation sectors, such as the marine transportation sector, in order to help businesses create sustainable transportation options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56831/12]

Tax Rebates

Michael McCarthy

173. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Finance the qualification criteria for hauliers who wish to avail of the fuel rebate introduced in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56833/12]

NAMA Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

174. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 11 December 2012, if he will confirm the fees paid by the National Assets Management Agency or its debtor for the provision of an independent valuation or independent valuations in the case of the sale of the property (details supplied). [56851/12]

NAMA Staff Pensions

Pearse Doherty

175. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to the announcement by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in which he is the sole shareholder of 100% of the shares, that IBRC has engaged a person (details supplied) as chief risk officer and newspaper reports that he has approved a salary for them of more than €500,000 per annum, if he will identify the person or persons at the National Asset Management Agency who undertake a role equivalent to chief risk officer; and if he will confirm the salary or salary range payable by NAMA for those undertaking that function. [56863/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

176. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the reason the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland (details supplied) is earning in 2012 approximately 40% less than his deputy. [56864/12]

Banking Sector Remuneration

Pearse Doherty

177. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an explanation as to the reason there are at least six staff at the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation earning more than €400,000 per annum whilst no staff at the National Asset Management Agency earn salaries in 2012 of more than €400,000 per annum. [56865/12]

NAMA Portfolio Value

Pearse Doherty

178. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the financial quantum of loans net of provisions being managed by the National Asset Management Agency at 30 June 2012 and being managed by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation at the same date. [56866/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Pearse Doherty

179. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the latest estimate of the dates by which the National Asset Management Agency and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation will be wound up. [56867/12]

NAMA Operations

Pearse Doherty

180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the profit or loss of the National Asset Management Agency for the six months ending 30 June 2012 and the profit or loss of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation for the same period. [56868/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Pearse Doherty

181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the metrics by which he assesses the ongoing performance of the National Asset Management Agency and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation. [56869/12]

Banks Recapitalisation

Pearse Doherty

182. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 18 September 2012, when he said that the National Asset Management Agency does not compete with the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation for resources and customers, and following the statement by the chief executive officer of IBRC (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee on 31 October 2012 when he said we are not the only organisation in the country which has this type of portfolio, as we go through the process of building teams, they are at risk, they get poached, and not only by other State owned organisations but also by foreign organisations which have difficult and distressed portfolios which they need to work out and his response to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 6 November 2012 in which he confirmed that 14 staff had been recruited by NAMA from IBRC, if he will reconfirm his position that there is no competition between NAMA and IBRC for resources. [56870/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Pearse Doherty

183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm if the Revenue Commissioner has preferential creditor status relating to debts accruing for non-payment of the property tax, that is if there is non-payment on a property and the property has a mortgage on it, when the property is sold, does the Revenue have access to claim the debt owed to it over the mortgage provider's claim to the amount the property for which is soldr. [56872/12]

Tax Code

Bernard Durkan

184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if in the context of double taxation agreement or similar arrangement, a US/Irish citizen having dual citizenship is restricted to entitlement to one pension only either from the US or from this country, if the person opts for one or either he/she becomes debarred from a US pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56877/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Pearse Doherty

185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a projection of receipts for the new property tax in 2013; if the same degree of non-compliance as pertains in 2012 for the household charge applies in 2013 for the property tax. [56902/12]

Property Taxation Collection

Pearse Doherty

186. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the consideration given when forecasting the revenue to be generated by the new property tax, to deferrals and charges for unpaid tax, reducing the loans recovered by banks who may have mortgages outstanding on specific properties, as a result of the Revenue Commissioners having priority in recovering unpaid property tax ahead of other charges on the property. [56903/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

187. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the estimated income that would be generated for the State by raising the universal social charge by 3% on all taxable income above €70,000 and for each €5,000 increment thereafter up to and including €120,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56911/12]

Tax Code

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

188. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide the estimated income that would be generated by placing a 1% levy on each unit of alcohol sold here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56912/12]

Tax Rebates

Seán Kyne

189. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending the diesel rebate for hauliers, as announced in Budget 2013, to the marine transportation sector in recognition of the boost such a measure would have on the expansion of the industry and the economic benefits which will accrue to local, in particular rural, areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56921/12]

NAMA Property Sales

Ann Phelan

190. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the National Assets Management Agency the status of moneys paid by NAMA to Carlow County Council in respect of local estates upkeep of those estates and lighting and so on. [56937/12]

Revenue Commissioners Investigations

Eoghan Murphy

191. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 11 December 2012, if he will provide more detailed information on the work being undertaken by the Revenue Commissioners with a Government Department and a public sector agency regarding means testing for State benefits. [56938/12]

Universal Social Charge Payments

Olivia Mitchell

192. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider either this year or for next year's budget dealing with the anomaly caused by the €60,000 threshold attracting a 7% universal social charge whereby an income of €60,0011 produces a loss of €13,000 in income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56955/12]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Michael Healy-Rae

193. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene to try and help young couples who are struggling to pay their mortgages; his further views on whether mortgages should be reduced to reflect the now much lower valuation of the property as against the high price paid for the houses during the boom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56957/12]

Property Taxation Exemptions

Maureen O'Sullivan

194. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if the new Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012 will exempt executors of wills for whom the selling of a property is their responsibility but who are not the beneficiaries of that property, or if the Bill will allow deferring of payment until the property is sold; if the exemption of executors of wills will not be included in the Bill if he will include them in a waiver programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56966/12]

Tax Rebates

Colm Keaveney

195. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in view of his various replies to both written and oral parliamentary questions regarding the granting of an essential users excise rebate to road hauliers, where he stated I should point out that a fuel rebate system, as sought by the IRHA, could not under EU law be restricted to Irish licensed hauliers but would have to be extended to all vehicles intended exclusively for the carriage of goods by road with a maximum permissible gross laden weight of not less than 7.5 tonnes, in addition, the rebate would have to include the carriage of passengers by a motor vehicle of category M2 or category M3 as defined in Council Directive 70/156/EEC, the reason he confined the granting of the rebate to licensed road hauliers in Budget 2013 and excluded passenger transport operators from the scheme in view of his statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56996/12]

Tax Rebates

Colm Keaveney

196. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance if he has sought permission from the EU Commission to introduce an essential users rebate for road haulage operators; the case he has put forward to have haulage operators classed as essential users while excluding passenger transport operators from this classification; if the Commission has not already been notified, if he will consider seeking permission to have passenger transport operators included in the scheme in view of the fact that in addition to excise duty, passenger transport is subject to 23% VAT on fuel which is non refundable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56997/12]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Brendan Griffin

197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the allocation of funding to a school(details supplied) in County Kerry to provide an autism unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56336/12]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

198. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any concerns have been conveyed to him in relation to non-payment, underpayment or late payment for work done on projects funded by his Department since his appointment in March 2011. [56345/12]

Maternity Benefit Issues

Michael McGrath

199. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the background to the maternity leave in lieu arrangements for teachers that he is proposing to abolish in 2013; the number of teachers that will be affected in a calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56370/12]

Public Sector Staff Grades

Mary Lou McDonald

200. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he intends to review the salary grading structure of the public service as it affects his Department as committed to in the Programme for Government. [56383/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Sean Fleming

201. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56395/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Sean Fleming

202. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56398/12]

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Sean Fleming

203. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56400/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

John McGuinness

204. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) County Kilkenny will be processed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56405/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

John McGuinness

205. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will be issued without delay to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56406/12]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Denis Naughten

206. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of student grant applications that have been received by Student Universal Support Ireland on a county basis; the number that have been processed, awarded, paid, refused or awaiting decision to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56412/12]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Michael Lowry

207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an application for emergency works for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reasons this application was refused; if his attention has been drawn to the health and safety issues in the school arising from this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56422/12]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Jonathan O'Brien

208. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide copies of the minutes of meetings held between is Department and professional bodies representing behaviour analysts over the past decade, as his Department researched and devised its policy on the education of children with autism. [56442/12]

Maternity Benefit Issues

Catherine Murphy

209. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to his statement following Budget 2013, if it is his intention to reduce entitlement of teachers and special needs assistants to maternity leave-in-lieu arrangements; if it is his intention to eliminate all entitlements to such maternity leave-in-lieu arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56449/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Shane Ross

210. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will bring forward any derogation for fee-charging protestant secondary schools from the two point increase in pupil teacher ratio, in view of the fact that the ultimate impact of this change will mean that increasing numbers of protestant families will not be able to send their children to the school of their ethos and choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56452/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Finian McGrath

211. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact of the teacher/pupil ratio on costs to families in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [56471/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Finian McGrath

212. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that farming families receive more educational grants than urban or PAYE families. [56472/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Sandra McLellan

213. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when grants will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56473/12]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Clare Daly

214. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the change over to Student Universal Support Ireland, the amount by which the costs will exceed the savings for year one and two. [56475/12]

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Clare Daly

215. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in comparison to last year's figures the number of new or first time grant applications have been received this year. [56476/12]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Clare Daly

216. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in future years will there be an overall reduction in the moneys allocated for student grants and the proposed figures for same. [56477/12]

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Clare Daly

217. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in future years will access to grant aid and third level places for the children of low wage families and persons be withdrawn. [56478/12]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

218. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the impact of changes to pupil-teacher ratios on PLC courses and the total number of teaching posts in the Cavan/Monaghan area in view of Budget 2013; if he will detail the impact assessment that was conducted in advance of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56479/12]

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Michael Healy-Rae

219. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the delay in the administration of student grants in 2012, if he will consider reverting to the old system whereby the grants were administered through the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56501/12]

European Council Meetings

Simon Harris

220. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the formations of the EU Councils of Ministers on which he sits; the number of meetings of that Council held from 9 March 2011 to date in 2012; the number of those meetings he attended; the number attended by a Minister of State; the number attended by an Irish official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [56545/12]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Finian McGrath

221. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the impact of increasing the pupil teacher ratio in fee paying schools (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [56557/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Sean Fleming

222. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will commence on a project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56563/12]

Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure

Sean Fleming

223. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the impact of the loss of employment that will arise in various areas as a result of all primary and secondary schools having to obtain their hygiene supplies from certain suppliers and that smaller suppliers who are not in a position to provide an extensive national or regional service even where their prices are good have been excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56567/12]

Schools Building Projects Status

Sean Fleming

224. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will commence on a project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56573/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Sean Fleming

225. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56580/12]

Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta

Charlie McConalogue

226. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Charlie McConalogue den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an dtuigeann sé an baol a bhaineann leis an gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, a lonnú san fhoirgneamh céanna leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta, CNCM, mar ós fíric idirnáisiúnta í go dtéann mórtheanga i bhfeidhm ar mhionteanga agus ós rud é go mbeidh i bhfad Éireann níos mó daoine ag obair le CNCM tá an-bhaol ann do theanga oibre COGG; ag breathnú siar anois air, an fearr an cinneadh maidir le CNCM agus COGG a lonnú le chéile a fhreaschur; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [56596/12]

Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta

Charlie McConalogue

227. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Charlie McConalogue den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an mbeidh sé de dhualgas ar fhoireann na Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, níos mó Béarla a úsáid ina gcuid oibre de thoradh an chinnidh a rinne sé COGG a chur faoi choimirce na Comhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta; ag breathnú siar anois air, an fearr an cinneadh sin a fhreaschur; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [56597/12]

Departmental Budgets

Charlie McConalogue

228. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the €25 million in cash reserves in the third level institutions which he identified as part of his savings of €90 million in his Departments budget for 2013; if he will include and breakdown by institution if possible of these reserves; if there are further cash reserves in the third level sector over and above the €25 million he has identified in his Budget 2013 figures. [56623/12]

Departmental Budgets

Charlie McConalogue

229. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the €13 million in cash reserves in the vocational education committee sector which he identified as part of his savings of €90 million in his Departments budget for 2013 and to include a breakdown by vocational education committee if possible of these reserves; if there are further cash reserves in the VEC sector over and above the €13 million he has identified in his Budget 2013 figures. [56624/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Nicky McFadden

230. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student application grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56626/12]

Capitation Grants

Michael Lowry

231. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the availability of emergency funds for primary schools who are under severe financial pressure at present and cannot maintain basic day to day costs; if there is a mechanism to assist such schools; and if so, the way schools can access same. [56638/12]

School Accommodation

Tom Hayes

232. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on an application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56641/12]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Charlie McConalogue

233. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has ensured that all schools being constructed under public private partnership proposals will have inbuilt wifi and CCTV as part of their development. [56655/12]

Student Grant Scheme Reform

Charlie McConalogue

234. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a capital assets test for means testing eligibility for third level student maintenance grants; the budget savings, if any, he has factored into his 2013 budget figures from any measures he may plan to introduce. [56665/12]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Sean Fleming

235. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate if a student (details supplied) in County Laois is eligible to receive the special rate of maintenance of €5,915, having being approved a standard rate full maintenance grant of €3,025 under the student grant scheme 2012 in view of the fact that his father is on jobseekers allowance for 373 days before the 31 August 2012 and if there is discretion to allow the special rate of maintenance to be paid as the financial loss to the student will be €2,890 because his father was on jobseekers allowance for 18 days less than the required 391 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56671/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

236. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if attendance on gaeltacht placement is a required element of programmes of initial primary teacher education and a requirement for registration; the cost of such placements and the financial assistance available to students to attend such course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56677/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

237. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the cost of Gaeltacht placements particularly to students in receipt of higher education grants, if he intends to provide grant aid to attend these courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56678/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Éamon Ó Cuív

238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals in the 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language in relation to Gaeltacht placements for primary school teacher education students; the steps he has taken to ensure the implementation of this aspect of the strategy; the funding provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56679/12]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Charlie McConalogue

239. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of posts that will be lost in PLC schools as a result of the changes to the pupil teacher ratio in budget 2013 in view of the fact that a significant number of teachers in the further education sector are on part-time fixed term contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56716/12]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Charlie McConalogue

240. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons teaching in PLC schools; the number that are in full time permanent posts and the number that are employed on part time fixed term contract posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56717/12]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Charlie McConalogue

241. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that many of the 200 posts to be lost in PLC schools next year are specialist posts, the impact that this will have on cuts to specialist courses and the specialist courses that will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56718/12]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Charlie McConalogue

242. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the number of posts that will be lost in each of the colleges of further education next year following cuts to PLC schools in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56719/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Charlie McConalogue

243. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any level of subsidy will be provided for students in first year in 2012-2013 towards the cost of their two week teacher training courses over the Easter term break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56749/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Charlie McConalogue

244. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of subsidy that was provided to each student undertaking primary teacher training courses in 2011-2012 towards their mandatory two week Irish training courses in a Gaeltacht college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56750/12]

Teacher Training Provision

Charlie McConalogue

245. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has decided to discontinue subsidising two week Irish training courses in the Gaeltacht, which are mandatory for first year students who are studying to become primary education teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56751/12]

Irish Language Issues

Tom Fleming

246. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in view of its being moved into the aegis of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta will continue to be facilitated in conducting all business through Irish and the ongoing research pertaining to the teaching of Irish as a first and second language will continue to be facilitated; if he envisages any curtailment of services or research otherwise undertaken by the COGG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56756/12]

School Staffing

Eoghan Murphy

247. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the current system of subbing lists in use in primary schools, in particular insofar as the way in which substitute teachers are selected for positions in schools and offered covering work on a day to day or week to week basis, to be unbiased and fair. [56760/12]

School Staffing

Eoghan Murphy

248. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to retired teachers doing substitution work, in particular the supervision of trainee teachers in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56761/12]

School Transport Provision

Pat Breen

249. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has not been facilitated with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56793/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Patrick O'Donovan

250. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for third level grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and when a decision will be made on same. [56811/12]

School Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

251. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make representations to ensure that schools will not have to pay the same fixed energy costs as small and medium business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56819/12]

Schools Numbers

Bernard Durkan

252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of post primary schools throughout the country and fully operational in the current academic year; the number, if any, in the DEIS category; the extent to which the remainder are fee-paying schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56837/12]