Written Answers Nos. 69-77
69. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the number of former semi-State agency executives or employees, on an agency basis, in receipt of pensions in excess of €90,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52157/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNTMA employees are members of the NTMA defined benefit superannuation scheme or else have Personal Retirement Savings Accounts. The pension benefits of members of the NTMA superannuation scheme prior to 1 January 2010 are based on final salary. The pension benefits of members who joined the scheme on or after 1 January 2010 are based on career average earnings. Unlike most public pension schemes which are funded on a pay as you go basis the NTMA superannuation scheme is a funded scheme. Pension entitlements are within the standard entitlements in the model public sector defined benefit superannuation scheme. Pension contribution payments are not made to individual employees – they are paid into the scheme. The level of potential pension payments to members is dependent on length of service, based on final salary or career average earnings, with 1/80th of salary accruing for each year of service. There are 3 persons in receipt of pensions from the NTMA in excess of €90,000 per annum. The Offices under the ambit of my Department are not semi-State agencies.
70. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if in view of the skills gap among Irish citizens in terms of filling technology sector jobs and the scaling down of projects designed to stimulate a domestic technology skills base such as the Digital Hub, the measures he is proposing to foster our domestic technology skills base with the aim of job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51920/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe joint Government-Industry Action Plan, which I launched in January this year, was developed as a direct response to specific skills shortages in the ICT sector. The Plan outlines a range of short, medium and long term measures to develop a sustainable domestic supply of high quality ICT graduates to support the further expansion and development of ICT sector and support innovation and growth across other sectors of the economy.
As part of the Plan, more than 800 places have been made available from March 2012 on intensive level 8 ICT skills conversion programmes, designed and delivered in partnership with industry. Graduates of the programmes will be available in early 2013. The HEA has just issued a tender for a second phase of the conversion programmes from early 2013. In addition, 1,800 people enrolled on ICT programmes as part of Springboard 2011 and a further 2,200 places have been made available on ICT programmes under the second phase of Springboard 2012.
The Plan has also helped to raise awareness of employment opportunities in ICT and there was an increase of 20% in CAO first preference applications for Computing courses in 2012. There was also an increase of 35% in the numbers of students taking higher level maths in the Leaving Certificate following the introduction of bonus points in 2012. Other actions provided for in the Plan are also under way including the establishment in January 2012 of a high level Academic Industry Foresight Group, chaired by the Chair of the HEA and with strong industry high level industry membership.
71. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an alternative to the Student Assistance Fund which will cease to exist after 2013 and his plan to make further cuts to the maintenance grant. [51671/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The objective of the Student Assistance Fund, is to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. These funds are managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department and are funded under the National Development Plan, with assistance from the European Social Fund.
No decisions have yet been taken on the amount that will be allocated to Ireland or the programmes to be funded in the next round of EU Structural Funds for the period 2014-2020. Some €13.2m is available in the Third Level Access Measure Fund overall in the 2012/13 academic year. I have no plans at present to discontinue the Student Assistance Fund.
The Deputy will appreciate that as the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget, including Budget 2013, is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the Budget announcement.
72. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the consequences that come with raising the student contribution charge. [51673/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the student contribution increased from €2,000 to €2,250 for the current academic year. The contribution is paid by the Exchequer in respect of students who qualify under my Department's student grant scheme.
The Government is aware of the financial pressures on families and, conscious of this, tax relief provisions have been put in place which provide for tax relief at the standard rate of tax for full-time fees in excess of €2,250. In addition, my Department, through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), requested institutions to put arrangements in place whereby students may pay the contribution in two instalments. I have been assured by the HEA that these arrangements are now in place.
73. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was originally told they were eligible to apply for a student grant even though they were attending Dublin Business School and only found out at the beginning of November that the college was not eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51677/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's student grant scheme, eligible students may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
74. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the application for a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [51679/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Ireland (SUSI), the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the student referred to by the Deputy submitted a grant application after the closing date on the 19th September. Upon initial assessment it was determined that form was not completed in full and the student has been advised by letter to re-apply.
75. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a vocational education committee (details supplied) is not tendering for heating oil and instead is extending its contract with the previous supplier whose contract expired in April 2012; his views on whether this represents the best option for the taxpayer. [51683/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe VEC to which the Deputy refers has confirmed to my Department that the contract with its supplier for heating oil ended on the 30th April 2012. As its schools and centres were closed over the summer months and there was no ordering requirement, and on the basis that a new Public Procurement Framework Agreement for the procurement of Bulk Liquid Fuels would be in place in the Autumn of 2012, the VEC extended its contract with the supplier, with the retention of existing rebates. In the event the Framework Agreement was not in place, although my understanding is that it is intended that it will be early in 2013.
The VEC has informed my Department that the existing rebates offer value for money as they include a guaranteed automatic price reduction to the variable market price. The VEC receives price notifications on a weekly basis from the provider which outline market price and the applicable rebate.
It is my Department's view that VECs, whether commissioning public services or providing them directly, have a duty to strive for economy, efficiency, transparency and effectiveness in their expenditure. Circular 39/2011 drew the attention of VECs to their obligations with regard to procurement, to the importance of adherence to EU Directives and national regulations in regard to advertising, and to the use of objective tendering procedures for awarding contracts above certain value thresholds.
CEOs were reminded in Circular 39/2011 that, as public servants, they have a responsibility to ensure that funds provided by the Exchequer are expended in a manner which is economic, efficient, transparent, and effective and achieves the very best value for the taxpayer. My Department will remind the CEO of the VEC of the obligations under Circular 39/2011.
76. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the additional staff working in the Student Universal Support Ireland, if they received the necessary training, the type of training they are undergoing and the number of days or weeks of training they will receive and the location at which they are being trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51692/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra77. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional staff that have been drafted in to deal with the debacle in the Student Universal Support Ireland grant processing section in the last two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51695/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.
In total, there is now 96 staff working in Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), 33 of which are permanent and 63 of which are temporary. 20 of the 63 temporary seasonal staff were recruited in the last two months.
SUSI is also supported by 79 temporary staff working on document management and helpdesk support in the outsourced company engaged by SUSI to support the processing of student grants. This includes 40 additional resources since September. An additional 50 temporary staff have been approved on top of the 79 in the outsourced company. In addition, officials in my Department have been providing assistance to SUSI on an on-going basis.
Currently, all new staff in Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) must complete a one week induction training. This training covers all of the main policies and procedures required to successfully handle grant applications. This is usually covered over three separate days before they commence into "Grad Bay". This is where the staff will get hands on experience on the system. They will go through pre-assessment of applications and ensure that all policies and procedures are met. This is usually completed after 2 days. They are continually monitored and issues arising are resolved. Any repeat trends are then focused on and incorporated into any other training that is required.
From here, the new staff will commence working with their teams, where they will continue to be monitored and assessed. One-to-One training session takes place between the team leaders and the new staff to cover off any issues that have been encountered. There is an expectation of a week on week increase of the amount of applications being assessed, as well as a reduction in auditing issues.
Training folders equipped with lesson handouts and articles from the Student Grant Scheme 2012 are the means of knowledge transfer.
All existing staff are afforded the opportunity to complete any additional training that they may require. A training needs analysis was completed to find the main areas of required training, and training/information packs have been created to match this. There is a digital training folder that all staff have access to, which is continually updated and added to. There is input from all members of the team, to generate a sharing of knowledge and skills. This allows for day to day issues to be solved at first point. There is also additional audit analysis completed between the training team and quality control.
Training in the outsourced company is arranged in conjunction with SUSI and takes place on site in Cork where the duration and type of training depends on the function on which the staff are being trained for.
