Written Answers Nos. 87-95
87. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the extension of the dates of adult literacy courses being taught in adult literacy and basic education centres nationwide; and if summer courses will be introduced for students who wish to continue their learning during the traditional summer break in education. [27699/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, through SOLAS, funds adult and community education which is delivered locally by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The extent of the literacy service to be provided and the organisation of classes is a matter for each ETB to decide in accordance with local demand and needs.
88. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding securing a site for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27704/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been working in conjunction with Cork County Council towards securing a permanent site to meet the needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that potential options have been identified and the Department is progressing the current preferred option. However the acquisition of the preferred site option is subject to the completion of a process which is currently ongoing. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in the list of projects announced on March 2012, as part of the 5 year School Building Programme, to commence construction in the years 2015/2016.
91. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the availability of a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27745/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was initially refused due to late return of documents. The student appealed to the Appeals Officer in SUSI and following a review of the case a letter issued to the student on the 23 June 2014, requesting documentation in relation to previous education. The appeal will be finalised as soon as this information is received.
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. Applicants have up to 30 days within which to appeal a SUSI decision to the Appeals Board and the Appeals Board has discretion to extend the appeals period by a further 30 days. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
92. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the new arrangements for the provision of training through the education and training boards and the proposal to transfer the financial provision for training from Dundalk Training Centre to the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board and similarly the new arrangements for the IT system, if he will confirm that the appropriate staffing complement will also be transferred from Dundalk to the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board by the end of 2014 to enable that ETB to meet its training obligations as provided for in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reform of the further education and training (FET) sector envisages a key role for education and training boards (ETBs) in relation to the future delivery of FET in an integrated manner. Part of this involves the transfer of training centres from SOLAS to ETBs. 7 training centres and their staff transferred to ETBs on 1 January 2014. A further 12 training centres will transfer to 7 ETBs on 1 July 2014. Each training centre is moving to the ETB in whose functional area the centre is located. In the case of Dundalk Training Centre, it will become part of Louth and Meath ETB on 1 July 2014. 5 ETBs, including Cavan and Monaghan ETB, are not receiving a training centre.
There has been extensive discussion on this matter between ETBs, SOLAS and the Department. While recognising that the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 provides for all ETBs having training functions, the paramount consideration for my Department is the continuity of training services for learners. An agreed position for 2014 is in place whereby ETBs with training centres retain primary responsibility for training and continue to provide services to areas which do not have training centres. There is a process underway to consider the position for 2015 and beyond and a number of options are being examined.
93. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether pensions should be paid to former Deputies-Ministers who may have acted outside the law; if there are any proposals to ensure that Deputies'-Ministers' pensions are reduced accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27670/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the position as set out in PQ 11041/13 and 11518/13 of 5 March 2013.
94. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 17 June 2014, his views on the removal of the transition pension, where a 65-year old having to retire is forced to sign on for jobseeker's benefit for the interim year 65-66; and his views on persons, working in the Civil Service and Health Service Executive, who for the second time in their lives will be forced to leave their job - the first time being when ladies married and were no longer allowed to work in the Civil Service, An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive and the second time having to retire at 65 years of age - and are penalised at pension age as their first contribution was paid a long number of years ago and any subsequent pension is divided by the number of years contributions are paid in. [27770/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt should be pointed out that public service workers who retire at the relevant mandatory retirement age, normally 65, continue be able to draw their occupational public service pension. The pensions (and contributions) of the majority of public servants who are fully insured and are in defined benefit pension schemes are, like many occupational pension schemes, integrated (or co-ordinated) with social welfare benefits. This means the occupational pension is paid on the assumption that the pensioner also receives the State Pension.
In instances when the State Pension is not payable, a discretionary supplementary pension may be payable under the relevant public service pension scheme to bring the pension up to the same amount as would be paid to a public servant whose pension is not integrated. In such cases, a supplementary pension is only payable where the individual, through no fault of their own, does not qualify for social welfare benefit or qualifies at less than the maximum personal rate. In order to avoid any difficulty in the payment of this supplementary pension, it is necessary to claim any available social welfare benefits in order to receive a supplementary pension. This situation is not new and in particular applies to public servants who have a retirement age below 65. While State Pension provision and entitlements are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, I have no plans to introduce any special arrangements in respect of retiring public servants in this regard.
95. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Industrial Development Agency has been in discussion with the management of Medtronic following the purchase of the Covidien plants in Athlone and Tullamore; the implications of this sale for employment on the three sites at Athlone, Tullamore and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27701/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland has ongoing close relationships with both Medtronic and Covidien both in Ireland and in the United States. The Agency informs me that it will continue to engage with all parties to endeavour to influence a positive outcome for Ireland as the structure of the merger develops and decisions are made.
I understand that completion of the transaction is subject to the approval by both Medtronic and Covidien shareholders and requires regulatory clearances in the U.S., the E.U., China and certain other countries. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth calendar quarter of 2014 or early 2015. The combination of Medtronic and Covidien’s highly complementary product portfolios will allow the combined entity to address device needs in virtually every major device segment and I will seek to ensure that potential opportunities which may be developed for the Irish plants are rigorously pursued.
