Written Answers Nos. 112-121
113. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance in regard to UK based insurance companies (details supplied) who have covered tens of thousands of Irish homes, the recourse open to home owners where the company says that the warranty has expired and it has no further responsibility, even though the claim was initiated before the end of the ten year guarantee, given that the Financial Ombudsman has said that they fall outside his remit. [32801/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy should note that UK based insurance companies, such as Premier Insurance are not regulated by the Irish Central Bank and therefore do not fall under the remit of the Irish Financial Services Ombudsman.
If a policyholder has a complaint about a UK based insurance company not honouring a claim on a policy, they can refer the matter to the UK financial ombudsman for adjudication. The UK Financial Ombudsman Service can be contacted at http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/.
114. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline each international organisation, international agency or international body that Ireland is a member of that his Department or a State body or agency under the aegis of his Department is responsible for or co-responsible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32810/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy’s question the list of international organisations of which Ireland is a member and which come under the remit of my Department is as follows:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The World Bank Group which consists of following five institutions:
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) which lends to governments of middle income and creditworthy low-income countries.
The International Development Association (IDA) which provides interest-free loans - called credits - and grants to governments of the poorest countries.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) which focuses on the private sector and assists developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilising capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments.
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) which offers political risk insurance (guarantees) to investors and lenders to promote foreign direct investment into developing countries to support economic growth, reduce poverty and improve people's lives.
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) which provides international facilities for conciliation and arbitration of investment disputes.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).
The European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
The European Stability Mechanism (ESM)
The European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF)
Bruegel, the Brussels-based economics think-tank
Details in respect of bodies which come under the aegis of my Department are as follows:
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General participates in consultations on the setting of global audit standards for State auditors through its membership of European and worldwide associations of national audit institutions. These bodies also serve as a means of sharing information about trends in public sector management and their implications for public audit, and for developing practical audit responses to common or cross-border issues, including the international financial crisis, environmental risks, and development aid. The bodies are as follows:
The International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI)
The European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI)
The EU Contact Committee
The National Treasury Management Agency
The National Treasury Management Agency is a member of the following organisation:
International Capital Market Association (ICMA)
The National Pensions Reserve Fund
The National Pensions Reserve Fund is a member of following organisations:
Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA)
The Central Bank of Ireland
The Central Bank is Ireland’s National Central Bank and financial supervisor. It is a member of the European System of Central Banks. In addition, the Central Bank of Ireland is involved with and participates in a wide number of international organisations including the IMF, the Bank of International Settlements, the Economic and Financial Committee and the European Supervisory Authorities - the EBA, EIOPA, ESMA and with the ESRB.
115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department continues to be made aware of and monitor incidents of various forms of bullying affecting children or teenagers, if adequate mechanisms are in place to meet any such requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32832/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department as individual school management authorities are not required to report incidents of bullying to my Department. As the Deputy is probably aware, on 29th of January last, Minister Fitzgerald and I published the Action Plan on Bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. As part of the Action Plan, new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and second level schools are currently in development in consultation with the education partners. These new procedures will include a specific reference to cyber bullying and to requirements for noting and reporting bullying incidents. These will be issued to all schools at the beginning of the next school year.
116. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32623/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application from the school in question for capital funding towards the project as outlined in the details supplied. The Deputy will be aware that my Department's priority is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. In the circumstances, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not in a position to provide funding for the works concerned.
117. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an ongoing situation that prevails in relation to a level 8 course at a third level institution (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if he will outline the steps his Department is taking to rectify the situation; if he will outline the measures that will be taken to reassure students undertaking this course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32624/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received representations on behalf of students enrolled on this programme which the institution concerned included in their CAO course offerings for the first time in 2012. I have asked the HEA to engage with the institution to identify how the situation can be resolved for the students and to report to me on the matter as soon as possible.
118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the number of special needs assistants allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Galway has been reduced from 4 to 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32665/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (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 (SNAs) 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. SNA allocations are made to schools by the NCSE annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support each year. 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. Details of the SNA allocations which have been made to schools by the NCSE for the 2013/2014 school year are now available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie, which provides details of the SNA allocations for each school on a school by school and per county basis. Where schools have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that these allocations were made, or where schools are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them for the coming school year, they should contact the NCSE regarding this matter. In general a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. 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.
119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a circular on the redeployment of special needs assistants will be circulated; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32666/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, a new set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). The Government has committed to implementing the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement for grades represented by Unions which have signed up to the Haddington Road Agreement. One aspect of the Haddington Road Agreement refers to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely, SIPTU and IMPACT, have now signed up to the Haddington Road Agreement, the Department has implemented supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2013/2014 school year. The detailed arrangements are set out in Departmental Circular 0037/2013 which issued on 1 July 2013. I will forward a copy of the circular and of the Haddington Road agreement to the Deputy.
120. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on an appeal of a decision on a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32689/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy appealed their decision. SUSI reviewed her application and she was issued with a decision on the appeal on the 26th June 2013. 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 Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
121. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the renovation and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Laois. [32696/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department have received correspondence from the school, referred to by the Deputy, in relation to their long term accommodation needs The school's proposals are currently being assessed and my Department will be in contact with the school authorities, concerned, on the matter shortly.
