Parliamentary questions

School Staff

Joan Burton

242. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the moratorium on filling certain promoted posts in schools will be lifted, since it was introduced as an emergency measure in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34779/16]

Teachers' Professional Development

Joan Burton

243. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the ways and total investment involved in which his Department supports teachers' continuous professional development at primary and post-primary levels; if he will provide this figure as a percentage of education spending overall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34780/16]

Commencement of Legislation

Joan Burton

244. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans and the timescale in respect of complementing the fitness-to-teach provisions of the Teaching Council Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34781/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joan Burton

245. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated timescale for and cost of the Government's programme commitment to reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in junior and senior infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34782/16]

School Patronage

Joan Burton

246. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location of all schools under religious patronage which he expects to be divested in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34783/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joan Burton

247. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider further improvements in the pupil-teacher ratio to help reduce the class size towards EU average in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34784/16]

Postgraduate Enrolments

Joan Burton

248. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the restoration of postgraduate grants and their necessity to open up access to postgraduate studies, ensure that a steady stream of persons achieve a postgraduate qualification for societal good and to ensure attractiveness to foreign investors. [34785/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Joan Burton

249. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for equating newly qualified teachers since 2011 and those that entered the workforce before; if he will report on discussions with the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34786/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Joan Burton

250. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access to special educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34787/16]

Irish Sign Language

Joan Burton

251. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access to Irish Sign Language courses for students with hearing disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34788/16]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Joan Burton

252. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used by his Department for deciding on applications for capital funding of junior, senior and post-primary schools. [34789/16]

School Management

Joan Burton

253. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to end the current ban on promotions at the primary school level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34790/16]

Legislative Process

Joan Burton

254. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Technological Universities Bill; when it is to return to Dáil Éireann; the necessary changes he proposes to make to the draft legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34791/16]

State Examinations Data

Joan Burton

255. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the reported failure rate at leaving certificate maths; the measures his Department proposes to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34792/16]

Institutes of Technology

Joan Burton

256. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the drop-out rate in third level institute of technology courses; the measures his Department proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34793/16]

Apprenticeship Data

Joan Burton

257. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of apprenticeships suitable for a number of employment vacancies, such as chefs and in the hospitality sector generally, to upskill young unemployed workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34794/16]

Apprenticeship Data

Joan Burton

258. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the uptake in the number of apprenticeships by females; if his Department has proposals to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34795/16]

Banking Sector

Joan Burton

15. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs regarding the investigation of the establishment of a local public bank network here as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33939/16]

Housing Provision

Joan Burton

37. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions his Department has had with the European Investment Bank, EIB, and other Departments to establish an off-balance sheet special purpose vehicle to draw down funding from the EIB to facilitate large scale mixed social and private residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33940/16]

Mortgage Lending

Joan Burton

38. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has had discussions with the Central Bank regarding mortgage deposit requirements for prospective first-time buyers seeking to purchase their home who cannot save a sufficient deposit due to rising residential rent costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33937/16]

Credit Unions

Joan Burton

46. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the implications for the credit union movement here of the decision by the Central Bank to seek the appointment of provisional liquidators to a credit union (details supplied); the discussions his Department has had with the Irish League of Credit Unions and Credit Union Development Association regarding this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33938/16]

Tax Collection

Joan Burton

50. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the status of his Department's work with the Revenue Commissioners in tackling the tax evasion uncovered in the Panama papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33936/16]

European Investment Bank

Joan Burton

81. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the detail of projects here supported by the European Investment Bank specifically in relation to housing, education, health and broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34091/16]

Motor Insurance

Joan Burton

82. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport have received initial recommendations following a review of rising motor insurance compensation; the status on the review of policy in the insurance sector, which his Department is currently undertaking in consultation with the Central Bank; the reforms he is considering to tackle the problem of motor insurance premiums that are rising at an annual rate of as much as 35%; if he will update the book of quantum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34092/16]

Financial Services Regulation

Joan Burton

83. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the proposals he is currently considering to ensure that mortgage holders and tenants and SMEs who have loans or credit from non-bank lenders or vulture funds are fully protected; if he is considering extending the provisions of the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2015 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34093/16]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Joan Burton

84. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the amount of funding which has been made available through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund for social and affordable housing provision; if he has satisfied himself with the current rates of interest being charged to borrowers through the fund; if he is reviewing the operation of the mechanisms through which credit is accessed from the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34094/16]

Stability and Growth Pact

Joan Burton

85. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the opinion expressed by the Dutch Minister of Finance and the chairman of the eurozone finance Ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, that European Union finance Ministers are concerned that the European Commission is not applying budget laws in the same way to large and small countries and is undermining confidence in the rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34095/16]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

86. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the further preparations and contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of a British exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34096/16]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

87. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the status of the proposed medium term tax strategy document; if it will be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas by July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34097/16]

Financial Institutions Levy

Joan Burton

88. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a full report on the way the annual €150 million banking levy will be calculated as it extends to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34098/16]

Programme for Government Implementation

Joan Burton

89. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance when he envisages the help-to-buy scheme as proposed under the programme for Government will be launched; the amount the scheme will cost; the level of assistance that will be offered under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34099/16]

Programme for Government Implementation

Joan Burton

90. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the status of the ongoing review of the Central Bank mortgage lending limits as specified in the programme for Government; the role of his Department in the review process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34100/16]

State Banking Sector

Joan Burton

91. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he expects that the State will still move to sell off all or part of a bank (details supplied); the estimated timeframe for this; the expected yield to the Exchequer; if this yield will be ring fenced for a particular purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34101/16]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

92. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans for reforming the current tax arrangements for the self employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34102/16]

Stability Programme Data

Joan Burton

93. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the status of the proposed development of alternative models for forecasting medium term potential growth as has been suggested by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council as an additional safeguard for detecting overheating in the economy. [34103/16]

Programme for Government Implementation

Joan Burton

94. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he has requested the Central Bank to procure an independent assessment of the arrears and negative equity loan books of the banks as per the recent programme for Government commitment; when this process will begin and conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34104/16]

Public Interest Directors

Joan Burton

95. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he has ceased appointing new public interest directors to the banks; the reform of the procedures for the appointment of bank directors by the State that are currently being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34105/16]

Fuel Laundering

Joan Burton

96. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to increase enforcement and sanctions for fuel laundering in view of the programme for Government commitment and the estimates in the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly report on cross-Border crime of the loss to the Eexchequer by fuel fraud to be in the range of €140 to €260 million per year; if he has met his Northern Irish counterpart on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34106/16]

Tax Code

Joan Burton

97. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance when he envisages a new tax on sugar drinks will be introduced; the estimated annual yield from such a tax; the rate at which he considers the new tax should be set and the types of drinks included within its scope; the preparation currently being undertaken by his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34107/16]

Central Bank of Ireland IT Operations

Joan Burton

98. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the recent comments by the Governor of the Central Bank (details supplied) that technological innovation may alter the role of central banks in managing the money supply and acting as a lender of last resort in the context of widespread adoption of private sector digital currencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34108/16]

Credit Availability

Joan Burton

99. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if he has reviewed the most recent quarterly bank watch study from ISME on the ability of small and medium firms to get loan approval and access to credit; his views on the refusal rate of 35% for requests for credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34109/16]

Corporation Tax Regime

Joan Burton

136. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the work his Department has carried out in ensuring that a minimum effective tax rate is paid by companies offsetting substantial losses accrued against their tax liabilities during the crash; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34400/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joan Burton

103. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the building of a school (details supplied); when construction is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33963/16]

Brexit Issues

Joan Burton

6. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the status of any further discussions with the devolved administrations in the United Kingdom, in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales regarding Brexit. [33530/16]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Joan Burton

215. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33317/16]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Joan Burton

216. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who was made redundant in May 2016 and received statutory redundancy in July 2016 is eligible for the back to education allowance on a level 8 course commencing in September 2017 where the person applies to the CAO for said course in November 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33318/16]

Credit Union Lending

Joan Burton

100. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has had discussions with the Irish League of Credit Unions regarding the establishment of a special purpose vehicle, SPV, to enable credit unions to invest surplus funds in to facilitate lending to the SME sector; if his Department is developing a structure for such a SPV for the credit union movement's surplus funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32564/16]

Third Level Staff Recruitment

Joan Burton

126. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to continue or amend the employment control framework, ECF, currently in place for higher education institutions; if he will consider a phased withdrawal of the ECF to ease the restriction on staffing in higher education institutions; if he will ensure that arts humanities departments have the same capacity to recruit academic staff as science technology engineering and maths departments in any amendment of the ECF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32576/16]

Industrial Disputes

Joan Burton

133. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether second level schools will close on dates other than those formally set out as strike days by the ASTI as a direct result and consequence of the withdrawal of ASTI members from supervision and substitution duties; if his Department will pay the wages of ASTI members who present for work on those days but who are unable to teach students because of the closure of schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32629/16]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Joan Burton

144. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an engineer's report detailing the need for replacement of 39 year old fire doors and apex windows in a school (details supplied), and that it was not included in the summer works programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32720/16]