Written Answers Nos. 111-130
111. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Finance to change the value added tax status on bus transport operators to a zero rate rather than an exempt status to enable them to reclaim value added tax payments, as part of a programme to incentivise the use of public transport. [11524/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the transport of passengers and their accompanying baggage is exempt from VAT in Ireland under paragraph 14(3) of Schedule 1 to the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 as amended. Therefore, the services of bus transport operators are exempt from VAT. Persons whose services are exempt from VAT are not required to register for VAT or charge VAT on the supply of their services.
While persons who are VAT exempt cannot recover any VAT incurred on goods and services incurred in relation to their business such as fuel, tyres and mechanic charges, there is a special provision within the VAT code to allow a refund of VAT incurred on the purchase of touring coaches. Under VAT Refund Order SI. 266 of 2012 coach operators who are exempt from VAT may, subject to the conditions in the Order, be entitled to a refund of the VAT paid on the purchase of touring coaches that are no more than 2 years old and are within specified dimensions.
It is not possible under EU law for Ireland to apply a zero rate to the services of private bus operators.
112. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a refund of value added tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11581/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the person concerned applied for tax relief under the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme in respect of a change of car. This application has been approved and an exemption notification will be available to download by the person concerned on 10 June 2016. The delay in availability of the exemption is due to the fact that beneficiaries of the scheme are required to keep their car for a minimum two year period before they become entitled to make a further claim. In the case of the person concerned, that two year period expires on 10 June 2016.
113. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to his statement in Dáil Éireann during Private Members' Time on 17 May 2016 that Irish bank shares went down by 10% across the line on the date the Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016 was published; the specific date he is referring to and the opening and closing share price for each bank on that date, and the evidence of any correlation between the two issues. [11592/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, markets react quickly to new information as and when it becomes available. In relation to the current issue, the key date was 9 May when there was wide media coverage including an article in The Irish Times which reported that the Deputy "hopes to publish a Bill within two weeks which will propose giving the Central Bank extra powers to help it to coerce banks to cut rates." The Deputy confirmed this in an interview on RTE on the same date.
Between open 9 May and close 17 May, the movement in the share prices of BOI and PTSB, and the impact on the State's stake in the two banks, are set out in the following table:
|
Open 9 May 2016 |
Close 17 May 2016 |
Movement - % |
|
|
BOI Share price per share Market capitalisation States stake |
€0.239 €7,735m €1,079m |
€0.235 €7,605m €1,061m |
-2% |
|
PTSB Share price per share Market capitalisation States stake |
€2.458 €1,118m €838m |
€1.920 €873m €654m |
-22% |
|
Total value of States stake |
€1,917m |
€1,715m |
-10.5% |
The source of the share price data included in the table is as per the Irish Stock Exchange.
The table does not include AIB as, although quoted on the ISE, its 0.1% freefloat means its trading price is not regarded as a reliable indicator of valuation. However, the AIB price fell from €8.2 to €6.823 in the same period - a drop of 17%. Finally, it is worth highlighting that the industry standard index of European bank shares was flat over the same period - 142.12 start of trading on 9 May; 142.35 at close of trading on 17 May.
114. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 17 May 2016 and his reference to Government investment in gross fixed capital formation, GFCF, if he can average all investment in capital over a four year period or just an amount based on the annual general Government GFCF outturn as produced by the Central Statistics Office; and if so, the maximum amount available to be averaged based on this outturn for each of the years 2017 to 2021. [11602/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs detailed in Parliamentary Question (PQ) Number 202 (of 17/05/2016), under the expenditure benchmark, only investment in Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), based on the annual general government GFCF out-turn as produced by the Central Statistics Office, is permitted to be averaged over a four year period by the European Commission. Capital expenditure not defined as GFCF is not subject to this treatment and cannot be averaged in the same manner as GFCF.
There will be a mid-term review of the Capital Programme in 2017 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is in this context that the allocation of additional exchequer capital expenditure will be determined. Until the specific allocations are determined it will not be possible to quantify the amount available to be averaged.
115. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Finance the number of homes that the National Asset Management Agency owns in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11660/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would advise the Deputy that NAMA does not own property. NAMA acquired loans and its relationship to property is that of a secured lender; the same, for example, as AIB or Bank of Ireland. In that capacity, NAMA holds security over properties that are owned by its debtors or, in the case of enforcement, which are managed on behalf of those debtors by duly appointed insolvency practitioners.
NAMA advise that there are approximately 6,000 completed residential properties within its loan portfolio. I am further advised that 99% of these properties are occupied. The other 1% is frictional vacancy due to tenants relocating as leases roll over and expire.
In Louth, NAMA has an exposure to approximately 120 residential properties, through its loans, made up of four houses, three of which are currently occupied and one of which is on the market for sale, and 116 apartments, 109 of which are currently occupied and the remaining seven of which are in the process of being tenanted.
116. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance the status of agricultural land used or leased out for the production of renewable energies in respect of capital acquisition tax in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11685/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that gifts and inheritances of agricultural property, including land, qualify for relief (known as 'agricultural relief') from the payment of Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) once certain conditions are satisfied. Section 89 of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act (CATCA) 2003 provides for 'agricultural relief'. The relief takes the form of a 90% reduction in the taxable market value of the gifted or inherited agricultural property.
The person taking the gift or inheritance (the 'beneficiary') of the agricultural property must qualify as a 'farmer' for the purpose of section 89 CATCA 2003. This means that a beneficiary's agricultural property must comprise 80% by gross market value of the beneficiary's total property at a particular date. The Revenue Commissioners take the view that land that is used for the production of renewable energy (such as solar panels) is not agricultural property for the purpose of establishing whether or not a beneficiary satisfies this '80%' test. Thus, depending on the particular proportions of both agricultural and non-agricultural property comprised in a gift or inheritance, the use of agricultural land for the production of renewable energy may result in a beneficiary's failure to satisfy the '80%' test and to qualify for agricultural relief.
A condition for agricultural relief that applies in relation to gifts and inheritances taken on or after 1 January 2015 is that a beneficiary, or a lessee where the beneficiary leases the agricultural land, must actually farm the land for a period of at least six years after taking the gift or inheritance. As it would not generally be possible to farm any land on which equipment for the production of renewable energy is installed, the change in the use of land from farming to the production of renewable energy within the required six-year period would result in a withdrawal of some, or all, of any agricultural relief that had been granted, depending on how much of the land is diverted to this alternative use.
117. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance why the incapacitated child tax allowance is not automatically awarded to eligible taxpayers; if there is a provision for backdating this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11687/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legislation governing entitlement to the incapacitated child tax credit is contained in section 465 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended. The legislation provides that an individual is entitled to the tax credit for a year if he or she proves that at any time during that year he or she had a child living who is under 18 years of age and is permanently incapacitated by reason of mental or physical infirmity, or if over the age of 18 years at the beginning of the year, is permanently incapacitated from maintaining himself/herself and had become so permanently incapacitated either before reaching 21 years of age or after that age while receiving full-time instruction at any university, college, school or other educational establishment.
A child under 18 is regarded as permanently incapacitated by reason of mental or physical infirmity only if that infirmity is such that, if the child were over 18, there would be a reasonable expectation that he/she would be incapacitated from maintaining himself/herself.
In order to establish entitlement to the credit in respect of any such child, medical evidence is required to confirm both the extent of the incapacity and whether the incapacity permanently prevents the child from being able in the long term to maintain himself or herself independently when over the age of 18 years. Once this confirmation has been provided in the initial claim, the credit continues to be awarded to the eligible taxpayer in subsequent tax years provided the conditions continue to be met.
Subject to compliance with the terms of section 465 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the granting of the credit may be backdated for up to four years.
118. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the status of a payment to the Revenue Commissioners by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11702/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that its clear preference is to engage with taxpayers experiencing tax payment difficulties and agree mutually acceptable solutions rather than deploying debt collection/enforcement sanctions to secure payment of outstanding liability. However, such engagement is dependent on open and honest discussion by the taxpayer, including a clear commitment to agree a solution. Revenue advise me that the persons concerned failed to engage with them in regard to a tax debt due. The consequences of non-compliance and failure to engage with Revenue are that interest is due on late payment and sheriff fees are payable where the debt is referred to the sheriff for collection. The persons concerned would have been aware of Revenue's intention to enforce collection of the debt in the event of non-engagement and that is what happened in this instance.
I am advised that while the tax due has since been paid, the sheriff's fees and interest are still due. The persons concerned will need to make arrangements with the sheriff to pay the interest and fees due without delay.
119. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if, and why, no criminal prosecution may be brought if the administrative sanctions procedure under Part IIIC of the 1942 Central Bank Act leads to the imposition of a monetary penalty; to review this provision in order to ensure that appropriate sanction is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11751/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act, 2004, amended Part IIIC of the Central Bank Act, 1942, the Administrative Sanctions Procedure (ASP), to provide that where a monetary penalty is imposed on a financial service provider or person concerned in the management of a financial service provider, that provider or other person is not liable to be prosecuted or punished for the same offence. The reverse is also the case; if the provider or person has been charged with an offence involving a breach of regulatory requirements, they may not have a monetary penalty imposed upon them under the ASP.
This provision was introduced in compliance with the legal principle of "ne bis in idem," which essentially amounts to a prohibition of punishment twice for the same offence, a principle recognised in EU law, European Convention on Human Rights law and constitutional law.
However, in recognition of this, before proceeding with an administrative sanction action in circumstances where a criminal offence may also lie, the Central Bank will consider whether criminal proceedings would be more appropriate and where necessary will consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions in this regard.
The ASP was reviewed and amended by the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013. That Act, among other matters, amended the sanctions available to the Central Bank, including by adding powers to suspend and revoke authorisations of financial service providers and by doubling the maximum monetary penalties.
120. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the status of the cycle to work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cycle To Work Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2009. With a view to keeping the Scheme simple and reducing administration on the part of employers, there is no notification procedure for employers involved. Accordingly, the Revenue Commissioners do not have statistics on the uptake of the Scheme and there are no figures available either for the cost to the Exchequer or the number of cycles purchased.
It was estimated at the time of the introduction of the Scheme that approximately 7,000 employees would avail of it over the first five-year period of its operation at a cost of €0.4 million in a full year. However anecdotal evidence would suggest that it has been considerably more successful than this.
The Scheme operates on a self-administration basis, and relief is automatically available provided the employer is satisfied that the conditions of their particular scheme meet the requirements of the legislation. The purchase of bicycles and associated safety equipment by employers for employees or directors is subject to the normal Revenue audit procedure with the normal obligations on employers to maintain records (e.g. delivery dockets, invoices, payments details, etc.).
121. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Finance the gross fixed capital formation for investment in aircraft for leasing and intangibles; for core investment excluding investment in aircraft for leasing and intangibles; for public investment at market prices; the level of gross fixed capital formation in total as a percentage of gross domestic product, GDP; the level of gross fixed capital formation excluding investment in aircraft for leasing and intangibles expressed as a percentage of GDP; the debt to GDP ratio; the effect of the exclusion from GDP of investment in aircraft for leasing and intangibles on the debt to GDP ratio, for each quarter in the years 2011 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11780/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the requested publicly available data, as published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), on an annual basis, at current market prices.
|
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) (€m) |
29,921 |
33,450 |
31,677 |
36,511 |
47,249 |
|
- of which |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible Investment (€m) |
9,665 |
11,794 |
9,585 |
9,786 |
20,442 |
|
GDP (€m) |
173,940 |
174,845 |
179,448 |
189,046 |
214,623 |
|
GFCF (% of GDP) |
17.2 |
19.1 |
17.7 |
19.3 |
22.0 |
|
General Government (GG) Gross Debt (€m) |
189,707 |
209,986 |
215,298 |
203,295 |
201,266 |
|
GG Gross Debt (% of GDP) |
109.1 |
120.1 |
120.0 |
107.5 |
93.8 |
|
Other transport equipment (SITC79: mainly aircraft) (€m)(1) |
6,095 |
7,615 |
4,937 |
6,255 |
4,762 |
|
General Government Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GG GFCF)(€m)(2) |
4,138 |
3,566 |
3,302 |
4,002 |
3,903 |
Source: CSO National Income and Expenditure 2014; Quarterly National Accounts for 2015.
Notes: (1) CSO Goods Exports and Imports. Does not correspond exactly to aircraft investment for GFCF purposes.
(2) CSO Government Finance Statistics April 2016.
The CSO publishes annual but not quarterly data on aircraft and intangible investment. Similarly, the CSO does not publish any disaggregation of aircraft investment by sector, whether for leasing or any other purpose. Also, the CSO does not publish data on core investment i.e. excluding investment in aircraft for leasing and intangibles.
Aircraft investment, as presented in the annual national accounts, at current market prices, by the CSO is entirely GDP neutral i.e. for every one unit increase in investment there is a corresponding increase in imports. The exclusion of aircraft investment would therefore have no impact on the debt-to-GDP ratio. The majority of intangible investment is also imported. In fact, the substantial increase in intangible investment in 2015 was mainly attributable to the bringing onshore of intellectual property assets which were imported throughout the year. However, as the CSO does not publish data on the exact import content of intangible investment it is not possible to provide a precise estimate of the impact of excluding intangible investment on the debt-to-GDP ratio.
122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the effect on the fiscal space of a windfall gain following the wind-up of the National Asset Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11800/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the effect on the fiscal space if the National Asset Management Agency transfers assets to the State at the end of its term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11801/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
It will be a decision for the Government as to how any surplus returned by NAMA when it has completed its work will be utilised.
As per section 60(2) of the NAMA Act 2009, NAMA may use surplus funds to redeem and cancel its debt. Surplus funds remaining after this redemption may only be returned to the Central Fund once NAMA's debt has been redeemed. In addition, as per Section 60(3) of the NAMA, assets remaining at the eventual dissolution of NAMA will be transferred to the Minister or paid into the Exchequer.
NAMA is currently progressing its objectives, which includes funding the delivery of 20,000 residential housing units, on a commercial and profit maximising basis, by end 2020, on sites securing NAMA's loans.
Any surplus funds paid into the Exchequer following the wind-up of NAMA would most likely be recorded in the General Government accounts as a withdrawal of equity under Eurostat rules. This means that such proceeds would not count as General Government Revenue and, therefore, have no beneficial impact on Ireland's General Government Balance (GGB). Furthermore, it will not have any effect on the calculation of available fiscal space.
If NAMA hands over any remaining assets to the Minister for Finance, this would most likely be recorded as a withdrawal of equity in kind and similarly would have no impact on GGB or available fiscal space. The use of such assets will be a matter for the Minister and the Government when and if there is such a transfer.
124. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Finance the details of lands suitable for development that are under the control of the National Asset Management Agency including map format but excluding completed developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11876/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy was recently provided in response to Parliamentary Question 72 of 14 April 2016, which is available from the Oireachtas website. The relevant elements of that response are set out below for the Deputy's ease of reference, and provides a county by county breakdown of residential development land within NAMA's portfolio. This breakdown is not available in map format as this would run contrary to sections 99 and 202 of the NAMA Act which preclude NAMA from disclosing debtor information, which is defined to include information on debtor assets.
NAMA, through its loans, has an indirect exposure to approximately 2,800 hectares of residential development land in Ireland. This land is owned by NAMA debtors or, in the case of enforcement, is managed on behalf of debtors by duly appointed insolvency practitioners.
Section 10 of the NAMA Act requires NAMA to obtain the best financial return for the State, deal expeditiously with the assets acquired by it and protect, or otherwise, enhance the value of those assets. In line with this commercial mandate, NAMA is working with debtors and receivers to identify, where commercially viable, opportunities to bring forward new residential development on this land. In this respect, NAMA has indicated that it expects to be in a position to fund, on a commercial basis, up to 20,000 new residential units in Ireland by 2020. NAMA advise me that approximately 1,500 hectares, of the 2,800 hectares within its portfolio, will be required to deliver the 20,000 new units by 2020.
Development on the remaining lands is currently constrained by a combination of commercial, planning and infrastructure challenges. In many locations within as well as outside the Greater Dublin Area, new development is not commercially viable at present.
NAMA continues to work directly with key stakeholders such as Irish Water, Transport for Ireland, and Local Authorities regarding sites under its control with specific infrastructural requirements such as roads, water and sewerage, in order to increase their commercial viability and progress them through the developments phases.
Table 1: Breakdown by county of residential development land controlled by NAMA debtors and receivers as of April 2016
|
County |
Sum of Area (Hectares) |
|
Carlow |
13 |
|
Clare |
5 |
|
Cork |
620 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
|
Dublin |
1,173 |
|
Galway |
48 |
|
Kildare |
204 |
|
Kilkenny |
33 |
|
Laois |
30 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
|
Limerick |
115 |
|
Louth |
13 |
|
Mayo |
11 |
|
Meath |
100 |
|
Monaghan |
5 |
|
Offaly |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
5 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
|
Waterford |
57 |
|
Westmeath |
77 |
|
Wexford |
30 |
|
Wicklow |
240 |
|
Grand Total |
2,806 |
125. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expand the provision of high-quality broadband to all primary schools, as is currently the case for secondary schools. [11340/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with technical solutions available in the market and within required financial parameters. As the Deputy is aware, all post primary schools receive at least 100mbts connectivity through a programme undertaken jointly between the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (now the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources) and my Department. That programme is now fully funded and operated by this Department.
Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme, the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised schools. A framework involving 14 providers was put in place in 2012 which has ensured improved solutions are available to primary schools. The most recent draw down off the framework last September saw approximately 90% of school connections retendered, with over 1,100 schools awarded connections of 30Mbit/s or greater. Approximately 400 of these connections have been installed to date and the remainder will be installed in the coming months.
Under the current programme the Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, within the parameters of the programme and in compliance with procurement and contractual obligations.
However, the need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the new Digital Strategy for Schools and the Department will collaborate with the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources to address this as a priority action. Work on the implementation of the Strategy is now under way.
126. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reinstating the SOLAS training allowance for 2017 in tabular form. [11504/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTraining allowances, funded by my Department through SOLAS, are paid to some participants on Further Education and Training programmes in lieu of their payments from the Department of Social Protection. These payments continue to be paid.
An additional training allowance used be paid to long term unemployed people as an incentive to participate in Further Education and Training programmes. The payment was reduced from €31.80 per week to €20 per week as part of Budget 2011 and as part of Budget 2014 it was decided to cease this payment for all participants commencing courses after 1 January 2014.
Travel supports continue to be available to these participants where appropriate.
The cost of reinstating the long term bonus payment is estimated at €6.7 million in a full year.
127. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le scoil nua atá beartaithe do Ghaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí, Baile Dhún na nGall, ón am a fógraíodh an togra seo ar Chlár Caipitil na Scoileanna; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [11167/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol gan dabht don Teachta, áiríodh tionscadal tógála don scoil dá dtagraíonn sé sa Chlár Caipitil 6 Bliana de chuid mo Roinne a fógraíodh i mí na Samhna seo caite agus tá an tionscadal sin le dul chun tógála in 2019 - 2021.
Mar is eol, b'fhéidir, don Teachta, chuir an scoil i gceist moladh faoi bhráid go ndéanfaí an foirgneamh buan scoile a sheachadadh níos luaithe ná mar a leagadh amach sa Chlár Caipitil tríd an bhfoirgneamh a sheachadadh in 2 chéim. Ar an mholadh sin bheith breithnithe, cinneadh nach sásófaí na riachtanais de réir mar atá siad leagtha amach i gCáipéisí Treorach Teicniúla mo Roinne agus nach soláthrófaí an leibhéal cóiríochta a bheadh riachtanach do scoil 8 rangsheomra. Ina leith seo, cuireadh in iúl don údarás scoile nach bhféadfaí faomhadh a thabhairt don seachadadh céimnithe a bhí molta acu.
Ina dhiaidh sin, cuireadh le chéile an Sceideal Foriomlán Cóiríochta do scoil 8 rangsheomra agus ghlac an t-údarás scoile leis sin le déanaí. Is féidir leis an tionscadal dul ar aghaidh anois chuig an bpróiseas pleanála ailtireachta agus beidh mo Roinnse i dteagmháil leis an scoil arís go gairid maidir leis seo.
128. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has approved an application for a grant from a school (details supplied); if he will issue formal notification; if not, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11172/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are currently liaising with the school to which the Deputy refers as to how and why the application for additional funding for its devolved school building project arises. When all of the relevant information has been supplied by the school and reviewed the school will be informed of my Department's decision.
129. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will issue a decision on an application for additional accommodation by a primary school in west County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11179/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process is finalised.
130. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the report on the findings of the 2015-2016 national audit of guidance counselling practice in second level schools and colleges of further education; if he will reverse the cuts made to the allocation of guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11189/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government 'A Programme for a Partnership Government' has a commitment to enhance the guidance counsellor allocation in our secondary schools.
The current budget provides an improved staffing allocation to second level schools for the purpose of enhancing guidance provision. This improvement takes effect from next September. It brings the basis of allocation from 19:1 to 18.7:1 for the 2016/17 school year. This improvement of 0.3 in PTR allocation is a restoration of 50% of the teaching resources that were removed when the allocation of guidance posts was brought within quota.
The delivery of the 50% restoration through a change in the staffing schedule will allow each school to determine how best to allocate the additional resources to meet the guidance needs of the school. The circular issued earlier this year by my Department outlining the allocation of teaching resources clearly stated that this additional resource is to complement existing resources in order to best meet the guidance needs of the school in line with the school's guidance plan.
I am aware of the survey the Deputy refers to but it is not clear how this survey could take into account the improved allocation for guidance announced in the Budget, given that it only applies from September next.
It is important to note that in previous changes to guidance counselling allocations in 2012, as a consequence of the Budget adjustment which had to be made at the time, all 195 DEIS schools were effectively sheltered from these changes as a result of the more favourable staffing schedule of 18.25:1. This was a 0.75 point improvement compared to the current PTR of 19:1 that applies in non-fee-paying second-level schools.
That was a very important protection for the cohort of our schools in DEIS most in need of support. DEIS schools will also further benefit from the 0.3 improvement to the staffing schedule which will give them an enhanced allocation on the basis of 17.95:1 in respect of the 2016/17 school year.
Given that the DEIS schools were protected at that time it will require further analysis and discussion with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors to see what dynamic gave rise to what was reported as DEIS Schools having borne the brunt of reduced guidance provision.
In the next Budget I will consider the best approach to further meeting commitments in the Programme for Government.
