Written Answers Nos. 62-70
62. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance further to the Central Bank of Ireland's planned pilot scheme for debt mediation, the reason the Money Advice and Budgeting Service was not engaged in the process; his views on the involvement of a charity which is funded by the credit industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28556/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe service provider for the pilot framework approach to the co-ordinated resolution of multiple debts owed by a distressed borrower has not yet been selected. However, I am informed by the Central Bank that a process to select a provider is to be run over the course of June and that all parties who have expressed an interest in participation will be considered. As part of this process, consideration will be given to how the prospective providers can demonstrate that the service will be impartial and independent.
63. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the position on unclaimed prize bond prizes; the way these funds are used; the role, if any, of the dormant accounts funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28571/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra64. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the value of unclaimed prize bonds in each of the past ten years. [28572/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) is responsible for the State Savings schemes which includes Prize Bonds. I am informed by the NTMA that they define unclaimed prizes from the Prize Bond draws as prizes that have remained unclaimed for more than six months. Unclaimed prizes remain a liability of the NTMA to the Prize Bond holder – or their estate in the case of deceased customers. Unclaimed prizes are not transferred to the Dormant Accounts fund but are held in a Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) account and thus are available to the Exchequer.
The NTMA has advised that the value of unclaimed prizes from the Prize Bond draw amounted to €2.146 million as at the end of May 2013. Amounts unclaimed in respect of previous years are as follows:
|
Draw Year |
Amount (€m) outstanding at end-May 2013 |
|
Older |
0.73 |
|
2003 |
0.07 |
|
2004 |
0.09 |
|
2005 |
0.09 |
|
2006 |
0.10 |
|
2007 |
0.11 |
|
2008 |
0.12 |
|
2009 |
0.15 |
|
2010 |
0.18 |
|
2011 |
0.21 |
|
2012 |
0.30 |
|
Total |
2.15 |
Details of all unclaimed prizes are available on the website StateSavings.ie or can be obtained by writing to State Savings, GPO, FREEPOST, Dublin 1.
65. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on the proposed building project at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28409/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school building project referred to was included in the €50 million investment in new school building projects recently announced as part of the Government's "Investing in Infrastructure and Jobs" Package.
The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning with the design team currently working on the completion of stage 2(b). When the stage 2(b) submission has been received and reviewed and assuming no issues arise, my Department will be in contact with the School Authorities in relation to progressing the project to tender and construction.
66. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will grant the recommendation made within the relevant report for full-time special needs assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [28413/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.
The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the care needs of all of the qualifying children enrolled in the school, and on the basis of the assessed care needs of the children.
All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March 2013. The NCSE are currently processing these applications and schools will be notified by SENOs of their resource teaching and SNA allocation for 2013/14 in advance of the coming school year, based on the number of valid applications received.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
67. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive an additional teacher in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28425/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2013/2014 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0013/2013) which is available on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. These arrangements include the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a mainstream classroom post under the developing school criteria to the Primary Allocations Section of the Department. Having considered the school's application in the context of the published grounds, the application was refused as it did not meet the relevant criteria. The school was notified accordingly.
68. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) who has appealed the decision made by SUSI to disallow their application. [28431/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 25th February, 2013 advising him that he was deemed ineligible to receive a grant. SUSI also confirmed that to date they have received no appeal from the applicant.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the appeals officer in SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
69. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of prefabs that will be replaced in schools (details supplied) in County Wicklow, under his Department's prefab replacement scheme, phase 2, announced on 10 June 2013; the value of the grants that will be made available to each school; the number of prefabs he intends to replace under this scheme at each of the said schools; the number of students in each school that this will benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28458/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, on 10th June 2013 I announced a further initiative to replace prefab units in schools with permanent accommodation.
A total of €15 million has been allocated in 2013/14 to replace prefabs and provide permanent classrooms and resource rooms for some 2,650 students. Schools being considered under this scheme, including the schools referred to by the Deputy, have now received letters and questionnaires in relation to the level of prefabricated accommodation in use in their school. Once responses have been received and assessed, my Department will determine the number of prefabs to be replaced and the value of the grants that will be made available to each of the schools.
The level of accommodation to be provided to each school will be published on my Departments website when approved.
70. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will begin on the new school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and when students will be moved to their temporary classrooms. [28464/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning.
The project has been authorised to proceed to Stage 2(b) which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. The project is listed on the five year school building programme to go to construction in 2014/2015.
