Written Answers Nos. 101-111
101. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 24 May 2012, the progress made to date in establishing a new designation for small isolated rural schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42503/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 24 May 2012 I indicated that the State will continue to support educational provision for communities in isolated areas. The changes to the staffing schedule of small primary schools are being phased in over a three year period to allow schools to plan for their future, including possible amalgamation options. Ireland has a high proportion of primary schools relative to our population and a relatively high proportion of small primary schools. A value for money review of small primary school provision is at an advanced stage of preparation. Among the issues the review examines is the location of small schools relative to each other and to other schools of a similar type; account is taken of isolation. I expect to publish the review shortly and I look forward to debating its findings with the House.
102. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the retention of current staffing numbers at a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon; when it is expected to publish plans for rural schools; if he will maintain current staffing numbers pending such an announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42504/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra73 small primary schools were originally due to lose a classroom teacher in September 2012 as a result of the budget measure to increase the relevant pupil thresholds. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board considered appeals from any of the 73 schools that could show that their projected enrolments for September 2012 were sufficient to allow them retain their classroom teacher over the longer term. 38 small schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy had their appeals provisionally upheld by the Appeals Board subject to confirmation that their actual enrolments in September 2012 reach the required level. The required level of enrolment projected by the school in question failed to materialise at 30 September 2012, resulting in the loss of a classroom post.
A Value for Money review of small primary schools is almost complete and my Department expects to publish the report in the near future. I hope that this report will foster constructive engagement both in the Oireachtas and among all interested parties in looking at the challenges ahead and how best to make provision for primary education in rural and dispersed communities.
In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement.
103. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will set out in tabular form the starting salary grade for a newly employed teacher at both primary and post primary level for each year from 2005 to 2012; the available allowances to a newly employed teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42521/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe starting points on the Common Basic Scale and the allowances available to newly employed teachers prior to the recent Government decision on allowances are set out in the following table. Not all of the allowances listed were available to every teacher as entitlement was based on the qualifications held by the individual and/or the nature of the post for which they were employed. Prior to 1 January 2011, teachers who completed a three year teacher-training course commenced on the second point of the salary scale. Teachers who completed a four year training course commenced on the third point, as did post primary teachers with a Higher Diploma in Education (or equivalent). New entrant teachers with effect from 1 January 2011 started on the first point of the scale.
Following the recent Government decision, certain allowances are no longer payable to new beneficiaries. New entrant teachers with effect from 1 February 2012 will not receive qualification allowances, but will start on a salary which is equivalent to the fourth point of the existing scale.
Teachers' Common Basic Scale
|
1/6/05 |
1/12/05 |
1/6/06 |
1/12/06 |
1/6/07 |
1/3/08 |
1/9/08 |
1/1/10 |
New Entrants post 1/1/11 |
New Entrants post 1/2/12 |
|
|
1 |
€ 28,388 |
€ 28,814 |
€ 29,534 |
€ 30,420 |
€ 31,028 |
€ 31,804 |
€ 32,599 |
€ 30,904 |
€ 27,814 |
|
|
2 |
€ 29,393 |
€ 29,834 |
€ 30,580 |
€ 31,497 |
€ 32,127 |
€ 32,930 |
€ 33,753 |
€ 31,972 |
€ 28,775 |
|
|
3 |
€ 30,399 |
€ 30,855 |
€ 31,626 |
€ 32,575 |
€ 33,227 |
€ 34,058 |
€ 34,909 |
€ 33,041 |
€ 29,737 |
|
|
4 |
€ 31,409 |
€ 31,880 |
€ 32,677 |
€ 33,657 |
€ 34,330 |
€ 35,188 |
€ 36,068 |
€ 34,113 |
€ 30,702 |
€ 30,702 |
|
2005/2006 |
2006/2007 |
2007/2008 |
2008/2009 |
2009/2010 |
2010/2011 |
2010/2011 rate for new entrants post 1/1/11 |
||
|
1 |
Supervision & Substitution Allowance |
€ 1,640 |
€ 1,722 |
€ 1,789 |
€ 1,862 |
€ 1,811 |
€ 1,769 |
€ 1,592 |
|
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS |
1/6/05 |
1/12/05 |
1/6/06 |
1/12/06 |
1/6/07 |
1/3/08 |
1/9/08 |
1/1/10 |
New Entrants Post 1/1/11 |
|
|
2 |
(a) (i) H. Dip. in Ed. (Pass) |
€ 541 |
€ 549 |
€ 563 |
€ 580 |
€ 592 |
€ 607 |
€ 622 |
€ 591 |
€ 532 |
|
- |
(b) (i) H. Dip. in Ed. (1st or 2nd Hons) |
€ 1,133 |
€ 1,150 |
€ 1,179 |
€ 1,214 |
€ 1,238 |
€ 1,269 |
€ 1,301 |
€ 1,236 |
€ 1,112 |
|
- |
(ii) Ard Teastas Gaeilge |
€ 1,133 |
€ 1,150 |
€ 1,179 |
€ 1,214 |
€ 1,238 |
€ 1,269 |
€ 1,301 |
€ 1,236 |
€ 1,112 |
|
- |
(c) Primary Degree (Pass) |
€ 1,689 |
€ 1,714 |
€ 1,757 |
€ 1,810 |
€ 1,846 |
€ 1,892 |
€ 1,939 |
€ 1,842 |
€ 1,658 |
|
- |
(d) Masters Degree by thesis or exam (Pass) |
€ 4,508 |
€ 4,576 |
€ 4,690 |
€ 4,831 |
€ 4,928 |
€ 5,051 |
€ 5,177 |
€ 4,918 |
€ 4,426 |
|
- |
(e) Primary Degree (1st or 2nd Hons) |
€ 4,508 |
€ 4,576 |
€ 4,690 |
€ 4,831 |
€ 4,928 |
€ 5,051 |
€ 5,177 |
€ 4,918 |
€ 4,426 |
|
- |
(f) Masters Degree (1st or 2nd Hons) |
€ 5,037 |
€ 5,113 |
€ 5,241 |
€ 5,398 |
€ 5,506 |
€ 5,644 |
€ 5,785 |
€ 5,496 |
€ 4,946 |
|
- |
(g) Doctors Degree |
€5,627 |
€5,711 |
€5,854 |
€6,030 |
€6,151 |
€ 6,305 |
€ 6,463 |
€ 6,140 |
€ 5,526 |
*Only one of these allowances at (a) or (b) may be held together with one of the allowances at (c) to (g).
**Teachers first employed in the public sector on or after the 5th December 2011 and 31st January 2012 (inclusive) will be assessed for allowances on the basis of their qualifications at entry to the profession to a maximum combined allowance equivalent to that payable for an honours primary degree.
|
3 |
Diploma for Teachers of Deaf/ Blind/ Mentally and Physically Handicapped Children |
€ 2,233 |
€ 2,266 |
€ 2,323 |
€ 2,393 |
€ 2,441 |
€ 2,502 |
€ 2,565 |
€ 2,437 |
€ 2,193 |
|
- |
OTHER ALLOWANCES |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
4 |
Teaching through Irish |
€ 1,450 |
€ 1,472 |
€ 1,509 |
€ 1,554 |
€ 1,585 |
€ 1,625 |
€ 1,666 |
€ 1,583 |
€ 1,424 |
|
5 |
Gaeltacht Grant |
€ 2,807 |
€ 2,849 |
€ 2,920 |
€ 3,008 |
€ 3,068 |
€ 3,145 |
€ 3,224 |
€ 3,063 |
€ 2,757 |
|
6 |
Island Allowance |
€ 1,689 |
€ 1,714 |
€ 1,757 |
€ 1,810 |
€ 1,846 |
€ 1,892 |
€ 1,939 |
€ 1,842 |
€ 1,658 |
|
7 |
Honorarium - payable to teachers in the Prison Service |
€ 4,373 |
€ 4,439 |
€ 4,550 |
€ 4,687 |
€ 4,781 |
€ 4,901 |
€ 5,024 |
€ 4,773 |
€ 4,296 |
|
8 |
Allowance payable to teachers of apprentices in Dun Laoghaire and Co. Cork VECs |
€ 8,928 |
€ 9,062 |
€ 9,289 |
€ 9,568 |
€ 9,759 |
€ 10,003 |
€ 10,253 |
€ 9,740 |
€ 8.766 |
|
9 |
Secure Unit Allowance/ Disturbed Adolescent Allowance |
€ 2,013 |
€ 2,043 |
€ 2,094 |
€ 2,157 |
€ 2,200 |
€ 2,255 |
€ 2,311 |
€ 2,195 |
€ 1,976 |
104. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42560/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42581/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that as a matter of course there is ongoing liaison between my Department and local authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any proposed major housing developments and their possible implications for school provision. This level of close co-operation is underpinned by a Code of Practice for planning authorities on the provision of schools and the planning system.
In addition, I recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the County and City Managers' Association on cooperation between local authorities and my Department on the identification and acquisition of sites for school buildings.
Furthermore, in order to expedite the process of delivering projects and to maximise the output from within existing resources, my Department has been exploring alternative methods of delivering major school building projects. Louth County Council delivered a 16 classroom primary school on a greenfield site in Drogheda earlier this year and are currently engaged in the delivery of a post primary school on the same site. Discussions are ongoing with another local authority on the possible delivery of a school.
106. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are any safeguards in place to ensure that principal building contractors working under a contract with a public body pay their sub contractors for work carried out under the relevant State contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42502/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder a public works contract the contractual relationship is between the public body and the main contractor. The public body has no contractual relationship with a subcontractor. Therefore any contractual issue that arises during a contract is exclusively a matter between the main contractor and its sub-contractor.
I am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by sub-contractors. In this regard, the Deputy may be aware that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce new legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been denied payments from bigger companies. My colleague Minister Brian Hayes has been working with Senator Quinn to develop the Construction Contracts Bill, which is now before the Dáil, into a robust piece of legislation.
The main purpose of the Bill is to help address the issue of non-payment to construction sector subcontractors who have satisfactorily completed work on construction projects. Minister Hayes is now examining the Bill and will decide how best to proceed. It is important that a solution to the problem of non-payment must not place an unnecessary regulatory or cost burden on the parties to the dispute, other parties involved in the project, or the State.
107. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funds allocated by the Office of Public Works in respect of capital works for 2011 to cover capital works; and the amount spent. [42573/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital allocation on the Office of Public Works Vote in 2011 was €119m. In addition, €5m was allocated in unspent capital from the 2010 allocation. This gave an overall total of €124m for the year 2011.
Total capital expenditure in 2011 on the Office of Public Works Vote amounted to €112.952m.
Of the unspent allocation, €2.3m was used to fund current expenditure on the Vote within 2011, €8m capital funding was carried forward to the 2012 allocation under the Deferred Surrender Capital scheme and €0.588m was carried forward to 2012 under the terms of the Administrative Budget Agreement. These amount to €123.84m of the €124m available.
108. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the amount of income that has been generated from the 20% levy placed on public service pensions in excess of €100,000; if he will provide details of the number of former Ministers and former Office Holders affected by this levy; and the if he will make a statement on the matter. [42450/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the Deputy is referring to the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). The PSPR is an income–graduated reduction applied to each gross annual public service pension in excess of €12,000. It came into effect on 1 January 2011 as part of the then Government’s programme of measures to urgently address the serious position of the public finances.
In January of this year I introduced a new 20% PSPR rate on pension amounts above €100,000 (before then a 12% rate had applied on all pension amounts above €60,000). The change was made by section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011, which amended section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010.
The new rate is estimated to realize an additional €400,000 savings in a full year. Pensioner groups affected include former Office–holders (Presidents, Taoiseach, Ministers), former Chief Justices, Supreme Court and High Court Judges, former Civil Service Secretaries General, former Chief Executives of non-commercial state bodies, etc.
The details of former Ministers and former Office Holders affected by this levy will take some take to collate and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
109. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reconsider the lower rate of pay which he is enforcing on public sector workers, that is teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42478/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe adjustment to the pay scale for new entrant teachers along with other public service entrant grades was approved by the previous Government on 2 December 2010 and arose from the need to reduce exchequer pay costs having regard to the national financial position. The requirement to constrain such pay costs is ongoing and accordingly there are no plans to revisit this decision regarding the pay rates of public service entrant grades including teachers. Equally, it is not planned to change the position in respect of the recent Government decision to withdraw the payment of qualification allowances to new entrant teachers.
In the context of the removal of the qualifications allowances for new entrant teachers, the Government has decided that new entrant teachers who will no longer be in receipt of qualification allowances will commence on a salary of €30,702, which is equivalent to the fourth point of the existing teachers salary scale from 1 January 2011. In gross salary terms this amounts to an incremental salary gain of €2,888 on the base incremental point of the scale for new entrant teachers. New entrant teachers will also have the option of being paid a pensionable allowance of €1,592 for supervision and substitution, thereby bringing their starting salary to €32,294.
110. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out in tabular form the starting salary grade for a newly employed Administrative Officer in the Civil Service for each year from 2005 to 2012; the available allowances to a newly employed Administrative Officer in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42523/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe starting salary for an Administrative Officer from 1 January 2005 to date is as follows.
|
Year |
Salary |
|
2005 |
€29,456 |
|
2006 |
€31,052 |
|
2007 |
€32,783 |
|
2008 |
€33,439 |
|
2009 |
€35,132 |
|
2010 |
€33,247 |
|
2011 |
€29,922 |
|
2012 |
€29,922 |
There are no allowances available to Administrative Officers on appointment. In this regard an allowance would occasionally be approved for serving Administrative Officers on an exceptional basis for particular duties such as Private Secretary to a Minister or Secretary General of a Department, being on-call and acting up for higher duties.
111. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42567/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not work with local authorities in the delivery of services. This would be a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
