Written Answers Nos. 196-216
196. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the planned date on which Ireland will no longer be subject to post-programme surveillance having repaid at least 75% of the financial assistance it has received from other member states, the EFSF and other sources based on the current lending maturities and notwithstanding any potential changes to EFSM maturities. [50721/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the current lending maturities of Ireland’s EFSM loans, the NTMA has calculated that Ireland will have repaid 75% of peak EU (EFSF & EFSM) and bilateral loans combined by the third quarter of 2032. This timeframe does not take into account the effect of the maturity extension of the EFSM loans, which will not be known until the existing loans mature. It is therefore, as I said in my reply to your similar question last Wednesday, 20 November 2013, not possible to give a definitive date on which Post-Programme Surveillance will end.
197. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange for a person's local property tax liability details to be reviewed as it appears there are duplicate entries for the same person on the Revenue's records. [50743/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by Revenue that a key aspect of the work undertaken in connection with the administration of Local Property Tax (LPT) has been the development of a register of residential properties in the State. The development of the Property Register required Revenue to extract and consolidate data from multiple Government and non-Government sources. During this process duplicate records were added to the Register in some circumstances, mainly due to differences in address records. Revenue emphasised during its communications programme that errors in the compilation of the Property Register were inevitable given the scale of the task. Revenue also requested anybody who received incorrect communications about their properties to contact the LPT Helpline or write to the LPT Branch to ensure that the correct information was on file.
In the case raised by the Deputy, Revenue has confirmed that a duplicate address existed on the Register. The LPT team has now removed the duplicate and will make direct contact with the person to confirm the Property ID and PIN Code for the correct property and to provide assistance with the filing process.
198. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of cases the Revenue Commissioners have identified of single properties being registered as multiple properties because the house address may be partly or entirely in Irish; if there is an issue with some datasets having house names and addresses primarily in Irish and others primarily in English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50746/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a key aspect of the work undertaken by Revenue was the development of a comprehensive Register of residential properties in the State. The Register was developed using data drawn from a range of sources including Revenue’s own databases, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) database and data from utility companies. I am advised by Revenue that data from the various sources was cross-checked to ensure that the Local Property Tax (LPT) Register was as accurate as possible prior the issue of correspondence to property owners earlier this year. Revenue compared property address details in one database with the address details in other databases and used data matching software to assist in the matching process. Given the tight timeframes involved in developing the LPT Register, it was not considered practical to attempt to use software to match the addresses rendered in English and Irish, either in their entirety or in part. These addresses would therefore have been recorded on the LPT Register as separate property addresses. I am advised by the Commissioners that they are not able to quantify the number of cases where a duplicate address on the LPT Register was caused by an Irish and English equivalent of the same address, but I am assured that very few cases were involved.
The Deputy will be aware that in their public communications campaign, the Commissioners sought to forewarn property owners about potential errors in property details recorded on the LPT Register and provided clear guidance on the steps that should be taken by owners in these cases. In addition, the Revenue website advised property owners who received a duplicate LPT Return for their property to contact Revenue in writing, providing details of the duplicate property, in order to ensure that it was removed from the LPT Register and that any LPT charge associated with the duplicate property was cancelled. I am further advised that some individuals who received duplicate LPT Returns have already contacted Revenue and the Register has been updated accordingly. Work is ongoing to refine the Register and this will include the removal of any further duplicate properties that are identified.
199. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Finance if works (details supplied) will be considered under the home renovation incentive scheme. [50800/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I announced the Home Renovation Incentive in the recent Budget. This scheme will run from 25 October 2013 to 31 December 2015 and provides for tax relief for homeowners by way of a tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure incurred on repair, renovation or improvement work carried out on a principal private residence. I can confirm that landscaping works will be included for the purposes of this scheme.
201. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the tax reliefs that were abolished in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and the savings to the Exchequer on each of the tax reliefs that were abolished. [50857/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, virtually all of the area-based and property tax incentive schemes have now ended. Finance Act 2012 provides that Investors in accelerated capital allowance schemes will no longer be able to use any capital allowances beyond the tax life of the particular scheme where that tax life ends after 1 January 2015. Where the tax life of a scheme has ended before 1 January 2015 no carry forward of allowances into 2015 will be allowed. This delayed implementation is designed to give individuals sufficient time to adjust to the absence of the carry forward provision.
In addition, mortgage interest relief for principal private residences will no longer be available to house purchasers who purchase after the end of 2012 and will be fully abolished from 2018. Looking to the future, the existing scheme for film relief will be abolished from 1 January 2015 and replaced by a new “credits” scheme aimed at the film producers rather than passive investors. Also from 2015 consanguinity relief for transfers of non-residential property will be abolished.
The reliefs that were abolished in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to date are set out in the following table along with the estimated annual Exchequer saving, where available:
|
2011 |
Measures |
Full year saving €m (estimated) |
|
- |
BIK (Benefit-in-kind) exemption on certain professional subscriptions |
5 |
|
- |
Patent Royalty Exemption |
50 |
|
- |
Investment allowance for machinery and plant and for exploration expenditure |
<1 |
|
- |
Stamp Duty: farm consolidation relief |
1 |
|
2012 |
Measures |
Full year saving €m (estimated) |
|
- |
Illness benefit – removal of the 36 day exemption for illness benefit. |
13 |
|
- |
Stamp Duty: Abolition of stamp duty exemption for low value non-residential properties (below €10,000 in value) |
Specific figure unavailable |
|
2013 to date |
Measures |
Full year saving €m (estimated) |
|
- |
Maternity Benefit – removal of the tax exemption in respect of maternity benefit payments from 1 July 2013. |
40 |
|
- |
Top slicing relief - was abolished from 1 January 2013 in respect of ex-gratia discretionary termination lump sum payments where the non-statutory payment was €200,000 or over. |
10 |
|
- |
USC – the concessionary rate of USC which apply to those 1) aged 70 and over and 2) to those in receipt of medical card was removed were they had income in excess of €60, 000 per annum |
38 |
|
- |
Abolition of exemption from DIRT and income tax of certain interest paid on Special Term Accounts |
Specific figure unavailable |
|
- |
Ceilings of €1,000 per adult and €500 per child were introduced for tax relief on Medical Insurance Premiums from 16 October 2013. Any portion of the premium that exceeds these levels will no longer qualify for tax relief. |
127 |
|
- |
Revenue Job Assist ceased upon the commencement of the JobsPlus initiative. |
0 |
202. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices who are within six to12 months of completing their apprenticeship but have been made redundant; the number of apprentices made redundant who are within two years of completing their apprenticeship; the number of apprentices who are currently taking part in the redundant apprentice placement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50155/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the population of redundant apprentices recorded on the SOLAS Apprenticeship Client Services System at the end of October 2013 is 1,736. The breakdown across the different phases is attached for the Deputy's attention. The number of redundant apprentices currently on the Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme at the end of October is 185. It is expected that these will have completed their placement at the end of the year.
Population of redundant apprentices as at the end of October 2013
|
Status: |
Number: |
Details: |
|
Redundant Apprentices Referred |
605 |
Required to complete outstanding assessments before they can progress |
|
Redundant Apprentices - Phase 3 |
99 |
Phase 3 on-the-job training required to be completed to progress |
|
Redundant Apprentices – Phase 5 |
233 |
Phase 5 on-the-job training required to be completed to progress |
|
Redundant Apprentices – Phase 7 |
213 |
Require Phase 7 on-the-job required to be completed to progress |
|
Redundant Apprentices – all phases successfully completed |
495 |
Require to complete period of apprenticeship (CDM available) |
|
Redundant Apprentices Phase 2/4/6 |
91 |
Require to complete off-the-job training |
|
Total: |
1,736 |
- |
203. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding apprentices being charged college fees for block release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50543/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Annual Student Contribution is levied on students attending Institutes of Technology. The amount due by apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in Institutes of Technology during the academic year. This is typically one third of the Annual Student Contribution (€2,500 for academic year 2013/2014) paid by students attending for the full academic year but it can be greater for certain trades where longer periods are spent in Institutes of Technology.
Since 2004, FÁS/SOLAS has paid a part of the Annual Student Contribution due in respect of apprentices, with apprentices themselves paying the part of the contribution relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS will cease making payments to Institutes of Technology and apprentices will pay the pro rata Annual Student Contribution. Apprentices are paid a training allowance by SOLAS for phases of their training spent in Institutes of Technology. This allowance is equivalent to the wages they receive from their employers for on the job phases and this is unaffected by the budgetary changes.
204. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of each funding approval provided under the Momentum programme for courses (details supplied); if there was a public call for applications; and the way the successful training providers were selected. [50554/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS who manage the Momentum programme. I understand that contracts issued under the Momentum programme operate on an outcome based payments system and to achieve the maximum amount of the contract the company will need to recruit the full number of participants, train them and assess them. The monetary amount of the contracts are set out below.
The Momentum operating framework was advertised in mid-2012 and potential providers were required to pre-qualify. Project submissions from those pre-qualified businesses were scored and selected based on the rules of the framework. The funding approvals for the courses in question are set out as follows.
Fuel Efficient Truck Driver: Maximum value of contract €239.313.20
Fuel Efficient Bus/Coach Driver: Maximum value of contract €240,776.80
205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is currently on a reserve waiting list for Naas Technology Project FÁS course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50817/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS. I understand from SOLAS that the individual in question was interviewed for the above course. As this course was oversubscribed she has been placed on a reserve list for the next course which is due to start in March 2014.
206. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it his intention to force pay cuts and other unilateral measures as contained within the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 on those teachers who continue to reject the Haddington Road Agreement. [49530/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions of Circular 31/2013, which give effect to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 in the Education sector, will continue to apply in the case of teachers who are not covered by the Haddington Road Agreement. It is particularly significant that the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement are more favourable for virtually all teachers than those of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013. This is particularly true in the case of new entrant teachers.
The context of the Haddington Road Agreement was the need to address the major and unprecedented financial difficulties facing the State. At this stage all Public Service unions, with the exception of ASTI have accepted the terms of this Agreement. We are now in a situation in which ASTI members have not accepted the Agreement and are not operating the changes to the supervision and substitution scheme provided for in the Agreement that the other teacher unions are operating. Given that situation, I have indicated, as has my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, that the continued payment of the supervision and substitution allowance to ASTI members is unsustainable.
We have provided time and space for the recent discussions between officials from my Department and the ASTI in a final effort to resolve this issue, and it is now a matter for the membership of the ASTI to make their decision in relation to the outcome of those discussions. However, I would be less than frank if I did not make the point that the payment of the supervision and substitution allowance cannot be continued.
207. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Sandra McLellan den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad atá ar intinn ag an Roinn a dhéanamh lena chinntiú go bhfaighfidh scoileanna Gaeltachta a ndóthain tacaíochta agus áiseanna. [44227/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad atá ar intinn ag an Roinn a dhéanamh chun a chinntiú go bhfaighfidh scoileanna Gaeltachta a ndóthain tacaíochta agus áiseanna. [44626/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
In line with the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy, a range of curricular measures are already in place to support Gaeltacht schools. The development of a new integrated language curriculum at primary level is well advanced. This curriculum will include learning outcomes specific to the language learning needs of pupils that learn through Irish, including those in Gaeltacht schools. Work has also commenced on the development of a new specification for Irish at Junior Cycle. Consideration is also being given to the development of a specialised short course in Irish for use in Irish medium schools as part of the new Junior Cycle.
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta has greatly improved the range of educational resources and materials available for teaching through Irish. The co-location of COGG with the NCCA will enhance COGG's capacity in this work by enabling the development of curriculum by the NCCA and materials in Irish in COGG to take place in a closely co-ordinated way. The Department of Education and Skills is also undertaking a comprehensive review of education provided in the Gaeltacht. This review will take account of the particular challenges with regard to teaching through Irish in Gaeltacht schools and the planning provisions in the Gaeltacht Act 2013. The purpose of the review is to identify options for the delivery of education in Gaeltacht primary schools and post-primary schools of various linguistic profiles, and to clarify expectations and policy with regard to teaching through Irish in such schools. Arising from the review, it is expected that a range of policy options for the provision of education in Gaeltacht schools will be provided and that any additional supports required in the future will be identified.
Tá raon beartas ar bun de réir forfheidhmiú na Straitéise Fiche Bliain chun tacú leis na scoileanna Gaeltachta. Tá dul chun cinn maith déanta le curaclam nua don Ghaeilge a fhorbairt ag an mbunleibhéal. Cuimseoidh an curaclam seo torthaí foghlama atá sainiúil do riachtanais foghlama teanga na ndaltaí a fhoghlaimíonn trí Ghaeilge, lena n-áirítear iad siúd sna scoileanna Gaeltachta. Tá tús curtha chomh maith le sonrúchán nua don Ghaeilge nua don tSraith Shóisearach a fhorbairt. Tá machnamh á dhéanamh ar ghearrchúrsa speisialaithe a fhorbairt ar féidir leis na scoileanna lán- Ghaeilge a úsáid mar chuid den Teastas Sóisearach nua. Tá raon na n-acmhainní agus na n-ábhar oideachais atá ar fáil chun tacú le teagasc trí Ghaeilge méadaithe go mór ag an gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG). Cuirfidh comhshuíomh COGG leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta le cumas COGG san obair seo trí ligean d'fhorbairt na gcuraclam ag CNCM agus d'fhorbairt na n-ábhar i nGaeilge ag COGG, tarlúint ar bhealach atá comhordaithe go dlúth. Chomh maith leis sin, tá athbhreithniú cuimsitheach tosaithe ag an Roinn seo ar an oideachas a chuirtear ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht. Áireoidh an t-athbhreithniú seo na dúshláin ar leith a bhaineann le teagasc trí Ghaeilge sna scoileanna Gaeltachta agus na forálacha pleanála san Acht Gaeltachta 2013. Is é cuspóir an athbhreithnithe ná chun roghanna a aithint i dtaca le soláthar oideachais i mbunscoileanna agus in iar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta a bhfuil próifílí teangeolaíocha éagsúla acu, agus chun ionchais agus polasaí a shoiléiriú maidir le teagasc trí Ghaeilge sna scoileanna sin. Ag eascairt as an athbhreithniú, táthar ag súil go ndéanfar forbairt ar raon na roghanna polasaí do sholáthar oideachais i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus go ndéanfar aon tacaíochtaí breise a bheidh ag teastáil amach anseo a aithint.
209. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Sandra McLellan den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna ráiteas a dhéanamh maidir le todhchaí COGG; cad é éifeacht an chinnidh a rinne sé COGG a thabhairt faoi scáth CNCM; cad iad na himpleachtaí a bheidh ag an gcinneadh sin i dtaca leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; an bhfuil an cinneadh seo fós le cur i bhfeidhm [44224/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá mo chinneadh polasaí déanta agam COGG agus an CNCM a chomhshuí. Chuir mé an Chomh-aireacht ar an eolas faoi seo agus phléigh mé go hiomlán leo é i Samhain 2012. Táim cinnte gur fearr a n-éascófar le feidhmiú mholtaí na straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010 - 2030, de bharr iad a bheith comhshuite, agus, ina theannta sin, le feidhmiú Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012, agus leis an leasú curaclach atá ar siúl faoi láthair ar an mbunoideachas agus ar an iar-bhunoideachas. Beidh tuilleadh deiseanna ann chun sinéirge a chur ar siúl idir obair na CNCM de réir mar a fhorbraíonn sé curaclaim agus obair COGG de réir mar a ghineann sé acmhainní. Tá a Bord, a buiséad agus a lucht foirne féin ag COGG.
210. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector as outlined in the programme for Government. [44102/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I published the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector in April 2012 and I outlined my Action Plan in response to the Report in June 2012. My Department is implementing that Action Plan and progress is being made in a number of areas, including divesting of patronage in areas of stable population, inclusiveness in primary education, Education about Religion and Beliefs and Ethics and the provision of Irish medium schools.
Surveys of parental preferences regarding patronage were conducted in over 40 areas in the country. The Catholic Patrons in 28 areas where parental demand for change was confirmed through parental survey outcomes have been contacted and asked to consider options for reconfiguring their schools to allow the transfer of a school to a new patron. I launched a public consultation on inclusiveness in primary schools in September. The consultation period ended last Friday, 22 November, and approximately 350 submissions have been received. The submissions, together with the Forum Report findings and recommendations in this area, will be considered in the preparation of a White Paper which will chart the way forward.
I have asked the NCCA to develop a programme on Education about Religion and Beliefs and Ethics. The inclusive processes of the NCCA will allow an opportunity for all interested parties, including faith and non-faith interests to have their views taken into account inn the development of such programmes. The Forum Advisory Group made a number of recommendations concerning the provision of Irish medium schools and analysis has begun of the start-up and growth of Irish medium schools as proposed by the Advisory Group. This analysis will inform future policy development in this area.
211. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the failure of the Skillnets programme to meet its targets in terms of providing training to recipients of jobseeker payments; and if the shortfall has any impact on the delivery of Pathways to Work. [43374/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Skillnets' funding mandate with my Department, Skillnets are required to provide training and related services to 40,000 persons or the equivalent in training days (200,000). Of this total figure, training and related services must be provided to 8,000 unemployed or part-time workers, or to the equivalent in training days (47,500). In 2012, Skillnets delivered 53,381 training days to unemployed or part-time workers, which was 12% above target.
212. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50132/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department facilitates payments in a number of different ways, principally via banking online through commercial bank accounts, via cheques, bank drafts and postal money orders. Within the Government sector my Department also facilitates payments from other Government Departments via the Office of the Pay Master General's system of Internal Fund Transfers. My Department has not historically collected payments via debit or credit cards and has, therefore, not operated merchant agreements for such payment services. Details relating to payment services in respect of bodies/institutions under my Department's remit are a matter for each body/institution. However, if the Deputy has a specific interest in a particular body/institution I will have my officials follow up with the relevant organisation.
213. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he proposes to take to ensure that gym facilities are available to students attending a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50165/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has a large General Purpose room as part of its suite of accommodation. It is open to the school authorities to utilise this facility for physical education purposes, including the activities to which the Deputy refers.
214. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update in respect of his Department's efforts to secure a location for a premises of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50178/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for new school accommodation for the school to which he refers. Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on the matter at this time.
215. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding cuts of 90% to education for the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50181/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principle of inclusion is at the core of the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006 and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment. This is undertaken through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school evaluation. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system are allocated on the basis of identified individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background.
Travellers now avail of the following mainstream resources, similar to all other children:
- Free Pre-school Year
- School transport
- Classroom Teacher Allocation at Primary and Post-Primary level
- Learning Resource Teachers at Primary and Post-Primary Level in the case of identified special educational need
- Further and adult Education.
The cuts to which the Deputy refers are referenced in the recent report published by Pavee Point 'Travelling with Austerity' and refers to reduction in funding for segregated Traveller-specific programmes. However, no corresponding reference is made to the fact that some of this funding has been redeployed to accommodate Travellers in mainstream programmes. Nor does the Report take account of overall resources within the education system which are also availed of by Traveller children. The Traveller Education Advisory and Consultative Forum, which has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Strategy is currently working to a thematic approach to address the core issues of attendance, attainment, and retention of young Travellers in education. Membership of the Forum includes Traveller representative groups and representatives of the education partners and of relevant policy areas of the Department of Education and Skills.
216. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork and replacement of three prefabricated classrooms therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50211/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department are in receipt of a recent application from the school referred to seeking to replace three prefabricated classrooms. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the school seeking additional information. Once a response has been received, my Department will then be in a position to consider the application further.
