Tuesday, 27 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 157 - 171

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (157)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

157. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views that many national schools in receipt of public funds are discriminating on religious grounds in their admission policies, in some instances requiring parents and children being forced to adopt or change their religion, attend religious celebrations, get their children baptised solely to be allowed to attend their local national school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3360/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

This Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

Existing equality legislation, which outlaws discrimination in relation to the admission of a student, makes provision for exemptions to apply in the case of single sex schools and in the case of schools where the objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values. The Equality legislation provides that any school that has this objective may, where it has more applicants than places available, admit a student of a particular religious denomination in preference to other students. However, it is important to be clear that it is a parent who decides the religious denomination of their child. It is not a decision of a school. The legislation also provides that a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values can refuse to admit a student who is not of that religion only where the school proves that this refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.

Parents have the right, if so desired, to ensure that their children do not receive religious instruction. In accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act (1998), no student can be required to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent of the student.

It is my firm view that all schools should be inclusive. It is with this spirit of inclusiveness that the proposed Admission to Schools Bill is designed. Drafting of the Bill is currently at an advanced stage and the Bill is on the Government legislative programme for publication early in the Spring/Summer session.

The draft Bill does not propose changes to the existing equality legislation. However, the draft Bill will provide for schools to explicitly state in the school's admission policy that it will not discriminate against an applicant for admission on the grounds of disability, special educational needs, sexual orientation, family status, membership of the traveller community, race, civil status, gender or religion. The draft Bill will also provide for schools to publish an enrolment policy which will include details of the school's arrangements for students who do not want to attend religious instruction.

The Bill and its associated regulations should see improved access to schools for all pupils and ensure there is consistency, fairness and transparency in the admissions policies of schools and in the service they provide to parents.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Ceisteanna (158)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

158. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the progress that is being made to have training in the hospitality sector included in the redesign of the apprenticeship programme under SOLAS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3260/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

In 2013 a number of representative bodies from the hospitality sector made submissions as part of a consultation process during the review of apprenticeship which was undertaken by an independent Review Group established by the then Minister.

The Review Group recommended that an Apprenticeship Council be established and that it manage a call for proposals for the development of apprenticeships in new areas. I established the Apprenticeship Council late last year and they have recently invited proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. The proposals will be assessed by the Apprenticeship Council against a range of criteria before recommendations are submitted to me on the establishment of new apprenticeships.

Meetings have been held with a range of interested sectors, including the hospitality sector. Groups in the sector will now be considering making a proposal under the process. The deadline for proposals is 31 March 2015.

Employment Data

Ceisteanna (159)

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

159. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Taoiseach the number of persons employed in County Louth from 2007 to 2014, in the manufacturing industry, including agribusiness, multinationals and small and medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3751/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

Relevant annual information is available from the CSO’s Business Demography release up to 2012. Data for 2013 is not yet available as it is dependent on the receipt of administrative data which are filed in 2014 but are not fully available to the CSO until March 2015.

The primary purpose of Business Demography is to provide estimates of numbers of enterprises and numbers of persons engaged. The data for Business Demography is based on the CSO Central Business Register. The Business Register is a register of all enterprises that are active in the State. There is no lower size limit, but for practical reasons, Business Demography data is based on enterprises that are registered with the Revenue Commissioners.

Table 1 details the number of persons engaged in Manufacturing Industry and in the total Private Business Economy in County Louth in the period 2007-2012.

Table 1 - Persons Engaged (Number) in Manufacturing and in the Private Business Economy in County Louth

Sector	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Manufacturing	6,575	6,127	5,078	5,022	4,733	4,826
Total Private Business Economy	30,362	29,262	24,393	22,846	22,648	22,085

The Private Business Economy comprises sectors B to N of the NACE Rev 2 classification - i.e. the following sectors:

B - Mining and quarrying

C - Manufacturing

D - Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

E - Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

F - Construction

G - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

H - Transportation and storage

I - Accommodation and food service activities

J - Information and communication

K* - Financial and insurance activities

L - Real estate activities

M - Professional, scientific and technical activities

N - Administrative and support service activities

*NACE code 64.20 (Activities of holding companies) is excluded from sector K

Table 2 provides a breakdown of persons engaged by size class for all enterprises (i.e. the total Private Business Economy) in County Louth.

Table 2 - Persons Engaged (Number) in Louth in all Enterprises by Employment Size and Year

-	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Micro-enterprises: Less than 10 persons	10,798	10,651	9,511	8,851	8,636	8,576
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs): 10-249 persons	16,056	15,265	11,872	11,524	11,714	11,693
Large enterprises: 250 or more persons	3,508	3,346	3,010	2,471	2,298	1,816
Total Private Business Economy	30,362	29,262	24,393	22,846	22,648	22,085

For confidentiality reasons, more detailed breakdowns of business sectors at county level are not available.

The CSO’s Business Demography Release 2012 and the Business in Ireland 2012 report are available at www.cso.ie.

Unemployment Data

Ceisteanna (160)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

160. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of the unemployment figures in Tallaght, Dublin 24, for the latest month for which figures are available; if he will also provide a comparison for the same month for the previous five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3281/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of unemployment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2014. Estimates of unemployment are produced by NUTS3 Regions. NUTS 3 Dublin region includes Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin. Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Tallaght area estimates from the QNHS.

Table 1a shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS3 Dublin region in Q3 of each year from 2009 to 2014. Table 1b shows the annual change in the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by NUTS3 Dublin region in Q3 of each year from 2010 to 2014.

The Live Register series gives a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and other registrants as registered with the Department of Social Protection. Figures are published for each county and local social welfare office. The most recent Live Register figures available are for December 2014.

Table 2a contains the numbers signing on in the Tallaght local office on the last Friday of each December from 2009 to 2014. Table 2b shows the annual change in the numbers signing on in the Tallaght local office on the last Friday of each December from 2010 to 2014. It should be noted that the Live Register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, and seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance.

Table 1a Persons aged 15 years and over unemployed (ILO) classified by NUTS3 Dublin region, Q3 2009 - Q3 2014

('000)

-	Q3 09	Q3 10	Q3 11	Q3 12	Q3 13	Q3 14
Unemployed	72.6	76.2	83.8	81.3	67.1	65.4

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Table 1b Persons aged 15 years and over unemployed (ILO) classified by NUTS3 Dublin region, Q3 2010 - Q3 2014- Annual change

('000)

-	Q3 10	Q3 11	Q3 12	Q3 13	Q3 14
Unemployed	3.5	7.6	-2.5	-14.2	-1.7

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Table 2a Persons on the Live Register in Tallaght Local Office, December 2009 - December 2014

-	Dec 2009	Dec 2010	Dec 2011	Dec 2012	Dec 2013	Dec 2014
Total persons	9,962	10,178	11,206	11,375	10,861	9,608

Source: CSO Live Register

Table 2b Persons on the Live Register in Tallaght Local Office, December 2010 - December 2014- Annual change

-	Dec 2010	Dec 2011	Dec 2012	Dec 2013	Dec 2014
Total persons	216	1,028	169	-514	-1,253

Source: CSO Live Register

Tribunals of Inquiry Expenditure

Ceisteanna (161)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the extent to which matters relating to the Moriarty tribunal have been concluded and final bills in respect of costs to all parties agreed and-or discharged or pending; if the tribunal is still ongoing and the basis of same; if further costs to the Exchequer are being incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3218/15]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Moriarty Tribunal was established in 1997 and published its Final Report in March 2011. Following publication of that Report, the Tribunal’s back-up team was substantially reduced. A small legal and administrative staff remains in place to deal with applications for third-party costs and with the ongoing business of wind-down. The Tribunal is also subject to a number of legal proceedings for which it uses its own legal resources as much as possible.

Total expenditure by my Department from the establishment of the Moriarty Tribunal in 1997 to end-December 2014 was €50.8 million.

My Department paid €3.7 million in respect of the Tribunal in 2014. This was made up of costs in respect of its legal team, administration, third-party costs and other (legal cost accountant fees and witness appearance costs).

The Sole Member has indicated to my Department that the majority of applications for third party costs have now been considered by him and that there remain only a very limited number of applications which are still being considered. He has made over 120 orders to date.

The Tribunal determines only entitlement to costs, not the costs themselves. When an order for costs is made, it is a matter for the claimant then to make a claim. Initially, claims were processed by the Chief State Solicitor's Office, using professional legal cost accountants, but claims received since early 2013 are processed by the State Claims Agency. Claims are usually settled in negotiation or, failing agreement, by the Taxing Master.

So far, a total of 49 claims have been settled, all by negotiation. The claims amounted to €10.76m and the amount paid in settlements was €4.77m. Of this, €2.55m was paid in 2014.

National Risk Assessment

Ceisteanna (162)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

162. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Taoiseach the status of the national risk assessment strategy and its planned implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3384/15]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

In September 2013, Government announced that it would publish annually a National Risk Assessment (NRA) the purpose of which is to offer a high level strategic overview of the risks (both financial and non-financial) which might have an adverse impact on Ireland's well-being. It is not intended to replicate detailed work on risk assessment and mitigation carried out by individual Departments and Agencies.

My Department co-ordinated preparation of a draft which was published in April 2014 for public consultation. A final National Risk Assessment for 2014 was published in October 2014.

Work has commenced on preparation of an updated National Risk Assessment for 2015 and I expect that a draft will be published in April.

Income Data

Ceisteanna (163)

James Bannon

Ceist:

163. Deputy James Bannon asked the Taoiseach the disposable per capita household income for the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive, in the midland counties of Longford and Westmeath as compared to County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3593/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The latest available estimates of disposable income per person at county level relate to 2011. Disposable incomes per person in Longford for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 were €18,792, €17,787 and €17,158. Disposable incomes per person in Westmeath in the same years were €19,263, €18,386 and €17,856, while disposable incomes per person in Dublin were €23,503, €20,697 and €21,329. These statistics are based on disposable income estimated for National Accounts purposes, allocated to county level based on Census of Population and population change estimates. Statistics on household incomes from the Survey of Income and Living Conditions for 2013 were published on January 21st; county level breakdowns are not available from this sample survey.

Ministerial Travel

Ceisteanna (164)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will itemise the exact cost of the Irish delegation's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in each of the past three years and the estimated cost for 2015; if all such costs will be broken down by admittance-ticket price per attendee, accommodation costs, travel costs, including use of the Government jet, food and entertainment costs, security costs; the number of persons that had all or part of the cost of their attendance covered by the State in each of the past three years and in 2015. [3708/15]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I have attended the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos for the past three years and again last week. The Forum provides a unique opportunity to engage with key figures in international business and politics and my focus while I am in Davos is to promote Ireland's strengths as a location for investment and trade and meet existing and potential investors in Ireland. In availing of this opportunity, I instruct my officials to ensure that costs are minimised and that the best value for money is pursued.

There are no admission/ticket costs associated with my attendance at the event for either myself or any accompanying officials, as I attend at the invitation of the WEF.

The delegation has travelled to Switzerland on the Government jet, the costs of which accrue to the Department of Defence, which operates and administers the Ministerial Air Transport Service.

Below is a breakdown of the costs to my Department of accommodation and transport for me and my delegation in Davos since 2012.

Cost to the Department of the Taoiseach re. participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos:

2012: Delegation = Taoiseach + 6 officials + a security officer

Accommodation - €5,418.29

Ground transport - €3,024.00

Travel & subsistence - € 280.00

Total - €8,722.29

2013: Delegation = Taoiseach + 6 officials + security officer

Accommodation - €5,449.24

Ground transport - €3,331.33

Travel & subsistence - €471.59

Total - €9,252.16

2014: Delegation = Taoiseach + 4 officials + a security officer

Accommodation - €4,376.33

Ground transport - €4,042.55

Travel & subsistence - €234.62

Total - €9,653.50

2015: Delegation = Taoiseach + 5 officials + a security officer

Accommodation - €2,229.16 paid to date; with a second invoice yet to be received.

Ground transport - Invoices have not yet been received

Travel & subsistence - Vouched claims have yet to be submitted.

Question No. 165 withdrawn.

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (166)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

166. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the details of the reduction to widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s pension in the past two budgets; if further cuts are envisaged; when the pensions will be restored to their previous levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3284/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The widows pension was introduced on 1st January 1936; it was extended to widowers on 28th October 1994, and extended to surviving civil partners from 1st January 2011. Once in payment, the pension remains payable while the person remains widowed or a surviving civil partner, (i.e. it is withdrawn if they re-marry), and is increased to the level of the State pension contributory at age 66.

The Deputy may wish to note there was no reduction in the last two budgets to the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension. The rate of payment for this pension has remained unchanged since January 2011, at €193.50 for those under age 66 and €230.30 for those aged 66 or over. Both of these are the maximum personal rates, with additional allowances payable in certain circumstances (e.g. dependent children).

In Budget 2015 the Government increased the living alone allowance to €9.00 for those who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments including the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension.

The overall concern of the Government in recent budgets has been to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates where possible. Maintaining the rate of the widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension and other core payments is critical in protecting people from poverty. The Government has no plans to change this policy.

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (167)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

167. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current schemes and supports available to a self-employed person who has lost their business and is now unemployed. [3286/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

Self-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as maternity benefit, adoptive benefit and guardians payment (contributory).

Self-employed workers may also access social welfare supports by establishing eligibility to assistance-based payments such as jobseeker’s allowance and disability allowance. In the case of jobseeker’s allowance they can apply for the means-tested jobseeker’s allowance if their business ceases or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services. In assessing means from self-employment, income from the previous twelve months is used as an indicator of likely future earnings. Given the variety of self-employment situations, the means assessment procedures are applied in a flexible manner to ensure that any circumstances that would be likely to lead to a significant variation, either upward or downward, in the level of a person’s income from one year to the next are taken into consideration. It is recognised that the downturn in the economy had an impact on many self-employed persons with a consequent reduction in their income and activity levels. This may be reflected in any assessment of their means from self-employment for jobseeker’s allowance purposes. As in the case of a non-self-employed claimant for jobseeker’s allowance or disability allowance, the means of husband/wife, civil partner or co-habitant will be taken into account in deciding on entitlement to a payment.

Self-employed people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance have access to the full range of activation measures available through the State. Given the scale of unemployment levels, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people. However, many services are available to the formerly self-employed who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment.

Some employment services, such as assistance with job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with the Department’s employment services offices, regardless of their social welfare status. Unemployed persons, including the previously self-employed, not in receipt of payments may also be eligible to avail of upskilling opportunities but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course. Springboard courses are open to people who were previously self-employed, regardless of their social welfare status.

Ministerial Meetings

Ceisteanna (168)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

168. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will meet with the Tara Mines pensioners group (details supplied). [3291/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I met the deputy last week. The deputy has agreed to submit a report prepared by the group.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (169)

Noel Coonan

Ceist:

169. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when an application for a domiciliary care allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3315/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance was received on 11 November 2014 from the person concerned. The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 23 January 2015 advising of the decision.

In the case of the application which was refused on medical grounds the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the decision to be reviewed or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.

Disability Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (170)

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

170. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3421/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 17/12/14. Entitlement to DA is based on satisfying medical, means and residency conditions. A decision will be made on the application as soon as possible and the person will be notified directly of the outcome.

Family Income Supplement

Ceisteanna (171)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Ceist:

171. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the family income supplement payment must stay the same for 12 months even if there is a change in the family's income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3474/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The family income supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment as compared to social welfare payments.

Expenditure on FIS for 2014 is estimated to be of the order of €281 million and it is currently paid to some 50,306 families in respect of almost 111,583 children.

An integral part of the FIS scheme is that once the level of payment is determined, it continues to be payable at that rate for a period of 52 weeks, provided that the person remains in full-time employment. However, in the following two circumstances, the weekly rate of FIS can be revised during the year:

- If a claimant starts to care for an additional child in the course of the 52 weeks;

- If a claimant was getting a one-parent family payment and this payment was stopped because their youngest child reached the relevant age limit, then the FIS rate can be reassessed to take account of the loss of their one-parent family payment.

The rate of payment will not change if there is an increase or decrease in the recipient’s earnings. A key advantage of this approach, which is unique to the FIS scheme, is that claimants can be certain that they will receive a guaranteed level of income support throughout the period. This certainty is important to the success of the scheme as it provides a real incentive to workers with families to avail of employment opportunities. For those who experience a reduction in their income over the course of the year, the rate of payment will be reassessed at the end of the 52 weeks upon renewal of a FIS claim.

This aspect of the FIS scheme is also important in minimising the administrative effort associated with the operation of this scheme and helps to speed up processing times for claims for FIS, which could otherwise be subject to delays due to frequent reviews.

I have no plans to change the existing arrangements.