Written Answers Nos. 82-101
83. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons that requested a P21 balancing statement from the Revenue Commissioners; the refunds issued to persons and additional tax collected from persons as a result in each of the years 2010 to 2016 in aggregate form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26498/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra84. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners would automatically issue the refund due to a person in a situation in which a person would be entitled to a refund of tax overpaid in a calendar year but does not request a P21 balancing statement or put in a claim for an income tax refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26499/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together.
The following table sets out the number of End of Year Statements (P21s) for PAYE taxpayers that have issued, to date, for the years 2012 to 2016:
|
Year |
Total Issued |
|
2012 |
1,071,941 |
|
2013 |
1,115,476 |
|
2014 |
1,000,670 |
|
2015 |
838,588 |
|
2016 |
422,578 |
In the time available I am advised by Revenue that it was not possible to compile the same information for the other years requested by the Deputy or to confirm the value of the underpayments and overpayments involved. This information will be provided directly to the Deputy when it is available.
I am advised by Revenue that current practice is that an End of Year Statement (P21) is issued only on foot of a request from a taxpayer or if a taxpayer completes a Form 12 tax return. This approach, based on specific request or the filing of a Form 12, ensures that a taxpayer’s record is fully up-to-date before the P21 issues and avoids the possibility of incorrect notification of an undercharge or an overcharge to the taxpayer where Revenue may not be in possession of the full facts relevant to the taxpayer.
I know that Revenue has taken a number of initiatives to assist PAYE taxpayers to comply with their obligations and claim their entitlements ensuring, insofar as possible, that they pay the right amount of tax at the right time. These initiatives include:
- The automatic granting of certain tax credits each year based on the latest information available so that taxpayers who do not claim their entitlements still receive them.
- The receipt of ongoing and up-to-date information from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) ensuring that any tax due on DSP payments is collected through the PAYE system.
- The provision of modern, user-friendly online services through Revenue’s myaccount facility to allow taxpayers manage their own tax affairs. These include:
- A facility since January 2017 to automatically divide tax credits and rate bands across different employments (in cases where the customer has more than one job or occupational pension or, in joint assessment cases, where both spouses/civil partners have a job or pension) based on information provided by the taxpayer. This ensures that a taxpayer gets the full benefit of tax credits and rate bands and reduces the possibility of an under or overpayment of tax.
- A simple online End of Year Statement (P21) request facility where there are no changes to be made to the taxpayer’s record (in effect a confirmation by the taxpayer that Revenue’s records are fully reflective of their personal circumstances, including income details.
- An online tax return (Form 12) that is pre-populated with information available to Revenue to enable taxpayers to get an end of year review.
- A RevApp launched in October 2016 which assists taxpayers to keep track of and store their receipts, such as health expenses, during the year.
- A short version of the paper Form 12 to assist customers unable to use online services to claim their entitlements and obtain a refund of tax, where appropriate.
- Various campaigns to raise awareness of entitlements including numerous radio interviews, advertising campaigns and outreach visits. Last October, Revenue wrote to 137,000 PAYE taxpayers who made no changes to their tax record in the previous four years to advise them to review their records to ensure they were claiming all their entitlements and to remind them of the four-year time limit for claiming a tax refund. Up to April 2017, almost 11,000 taxpayers have received refunds to a value of around €23 million on foot of these letters.
The Deputy will be aware that Revenue is currently undertaking a PAYE Modernisation Project and is examining the option of conducting an automatic end of year review for all PAYE taxpayers based on the receipt of payroll data in realtime directly from the payroll systems of employers and pension providers. In such a situation it would be possible for PAYE taxpayers to have an opportunity to update their record before the review is finalised by Revenue so as to ensure that the end of year review fully reflects the relevant personal circumstances of each taxpayer.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
85. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance when he will publish the summer economic statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26500/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Summer Economic Statement (SES) is a key element of the reformed budgetary process which complements the Stability Programme Update. While the macroeconomic outlook will be as set out in the Stability Programme Update, the SES will provide an updated assessment of the fiscal space available for 2018. It will also outline the key elements of the Government’s economic strategy.
The SES is expected to be published in mid-June.
86. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons that have applied to date for the first-time buyer help-to-buy scheme; the estimated value of those claims; the estimated cost of the scheme for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26501/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, there are two stages involved in the Help to Buy process. Stage 1 is the Application Stage, wherein prospective applicants can query whether they qualify for the incentive. They can also get clarity on the maximum amount of rebate they could potentially benefit from, based on their tax paid in a four-year period. Stage 2 is the Claims Stage, wherein applicants that decide to proceed with purchasing or building a qualifying property must provide documentary evidence of the relevant property transaction or their mortgage draw down.
As of Thursday 25 May 2017 Revenue has received 6,607 applications to Stage 1 of the Help to Buy incentive, of which 4,095 have been approved. However, it is possible that many of these applicants may never make a claim to Stage 2 for a variety of reasons. These could include individuals who do not go on to obtain mortgage approval, who may decide to purchase a second-hand property, or who are not able to source the new home that they desire.
To date, 1,917 Stage 2 claims have been made, of which 1,376 have been approved. The total estimated cost of these claims to the Exchequer is €20.3 million, of which €10.1 million represents retrospective claims (in respect of the period 19 July to 31 December 2016). Given that the estimated cost for claims approved under the incentive for the first 5 months of 2017 comes to €10.2 million, my officials estimate that the cost of the incentive this year will largely be in line with the original estimate of €50 million.
HTB incentive statistics are updated regularly by the Revenue Commissioners and can be accessed on their website at: http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/statistics/htb-incentive-stats.html.
87. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the yield for January and February 2017 from the changes introduced in section 22 of the Finance Act 2016 concerning the section 110 tax structure and from the changes introduced in section 23 of the Finance Act 2016 concerning real estate funds; his estimate of the combined yield from these measures in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26502/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the 2016 Finance Act I introduced provisions to address concerns raised in both the media and the Dáil regarding the use of section 110 companies and certain Irish collective investment vehicles by international investors to minimise their tax payments on Irish property transactions.
In relation to Section 110 companies the amendments made in Finance Act 2016 will ensure that tax will be payable on their profits from Irish property transactions from 6 September 2016 onwards.
I also introduced the Irish Real Estate Fund (IREF) legislation to address the issue of non-resident investors, who have been investing in Irish property through fund structures, avoiding a charge to Irish tax on profits arising from Irish real estate.
The measures were designed in a very targeted manner to ensure that the Irish tax base will be protected where Irish property transactions are taking place within collective investment vehicles and Section 110 companies whilst not affecting Ireland's wider funds and securitisation industries.
In relation to the two measures, a yield of €50 million was included in Budget 2017. This estimate was both conservative and prudent. To forecast the yield from these amendments into the future requires predicting changes in property prices as well as behavioural changes; as such it is still too early for the Department or Revenue to estimate any potential yield beyond 2017, however based on receipts received to date it is likely that the expected yield in 2017 will be exceeded.
I am advised by Revenue that it is not possible to identify separately any element of the combined yield from the two measures in the tax yield to date in 2017.
88. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank has plans to investigate whether persons with business loans were wrongly denied their contractual right to return to a tracker rate following a period on a fixed rate or have not been put on the correct tracker rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26503/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Central Bank that business loans provided to businesses are not in the scope of the Central Bank’s ongoing tracker examination. However some business loans which are connected to Private Dwelling Homes and Buy to Lets may come within scope due to the connection.
The Tracker Mortgage Examination requires lenders, which offered tracker interest rate mortgages to their customers, to review all mortgage accounts from the date when the lender commenced offering tracker interest rate mortgages until 31 December 2015 in respect of both Private Dwelling Houses and Buy-to-Let properties:
1. that originated on tracker interest rates;
2. that had tracker interest rates applied at any stage during the term of the underlying mortgage agreements; and/or
3. where the underlying mortgage agreements provided for contractual rights to or options for tracker interest rates at any stage during the term of the agreements.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Central Bank recently published an update report on the Tracker Mortgage Examination, which sets out amongst other areas, the scope of the Examination. The Report is available at the following link:
https://www.centralbank.ie/docs/default-source/consumer-hub-library/tracker-issues/report-tracker-related-mortgage-issues.pdf?sfvrsn=6
89. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the impact of the collapse of a company (details supplied); if those with outstanding claims are facing losses; the role of the insurance compensation fund; the role of an organisation (details supplied); the estimated number and value of outstanding claims; the estimated shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26504/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Insurance Company plc (Enterprise) is a Gibraltar incorporated company and, therefore, the Enterprise liquidation is being carried out under the laws of Gibraltar. The situation around the Enterprise liquidation is an evolving one. The position as it currently stands is as set out below.
A Provisional Liquidator was appointed to Enterprise on 25 July 2016. A report of the Provisional Liquidator was considered by the Supreme Court of Gibraltar on 26 October 2016, after which the Supreme Court agreed with the appointment of a liquidator to Enterprise. Upon appointment, the Liquidator disclaimed all Enterprise motor policies resulting in all motor policies written by Enterprise ceasing to be effective from midnight 26 October 2016.
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission has provided the Department of Finance officials with the following information (as of May 2017):
- The Liquidator has appointed Wrightway Underwriting Ltd to manage claims arising under insurance policies written by Enterprise in Ireland. Claims adjudicated upon and validated will be accepted by the Liquidator as insurance creditors in the Enterprise estate.
- The latest information indicates that there are 230 live claims from Irish policyholders arising from the motor insurance business with an estimated claims reserve value of €8.4 million.
- The Liquidator is unable to estimate at this time the timing or amount of any distribution he may be able to make to insurance creditors.
Of relevance is the recent decision of the Supreme Court in Law Society v MIBI. On 25 May 2017, the Court overturned the decisions of the High Court and Court of Appeal finding that the Insurance Compensation Fund is liable for third party claims. The decision to deem the Insurance Compensation Fund liable clarifies that the Office of the Accountant of the Courts of Justice will be responsible for organising, with the assistance of the State Claims Agency, the payment of 65% of the amount due from each outstanding third party claim, or €825,000, whichever is the lesser.
It is likely that in respect of third party claimants a proportion of the balance, of 35%, of a claim will be met from the proceeds of the distribution of assets on completion of the liquidation process.
90. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the amount of warehoused mortgage debt under the split mortgage solution for both principal dwelling homes and buy-to-let mortgages by institution on an aggregate basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26506/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions data published by the Central Bank indicates that over €3 billion of loan balances were classified as “Split Mortgage” restructures at end Q4 2016, based on PDH and BTL portfolios across all entities (including banks, retail credit firms and unregulated loan owners). The Central Bank does not publish information on the warehoused component of the split mortgage restructure. However, the Central Bank has advised that, based on its data, under half of the €3 billion in loan balances relates to the warehoused / split component of the restructure.
91. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the regulatory status of personal contract plans and the regulatory status of the car finance companies offering these products; if his Department or the Central Bank is examining this product from a consumer or regulatory perspective; the number and value of such plans entered into in the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26507/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersonal Contract Plans (PCP) are a form of Hire Purchase and both the Central Bank and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have certain functions and legal powers in relation to the provision of hire-purchase agreements.
The CCPC is responsible under the Consumer Credit Act 1995, for the authorisation of credit intermediaries, some of whom may sell PCPs to consumers on behalf of a finance company. A "credit intermediary" is defined as "a person...who in the course of his business arranges or offers to arrange for a consumer the provision of credit or the letting of goods in return for a commission, payment or consideration of any kind from the provider of the credit or the owner, as the case may be".
The CCPC provides licenses to credit intermediaries and keeps an online list of credit intermediaries holding a valid authorisation which is available on the CCPC website www.ccpc.ie. The CCPC also deals with complaints about the advertising of Credit Agreements and the advertising of car finance on credit intermediary websites and in the media.
The CCPC has a specific statutory remit to provide personal finance information and education to assist consumers. In this regard the CCPC has conducted research into the car market and car finance, and conducted numerous public awareness campaigns on the issue of car finance. I understand that the next campaign, which is due to coincide with the release of 172 registration cars, will commence in the coming weeks. The CCPC is also about to undertake further research to help inform its work in the PCP area.
The Consumer Credit Act 1995 sets out requirements in relation to the provision of hire-purchase agreements. However, it should be noted that hire-purchase providers are not subject (for the provision of a hire purchase agreement) to the requirements of the Consumer Protection Code 2012.
If a consumer has concerns regarding the activities of credit intermediaries, they may wish to contact the CCPC. The Financial Services Ombudsman can also investigate complaints from individual consumers about credit intermediaries.
92. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the regulation in which it states there is a timeframe to declare a motor vehicle that is entering from abroad as personal property of an Irish citizen who has lived abroad for a number of years in view of the fact that on the transfer of residence section on the Revenue Commissioner's website it makes no reference to a timeframe within which to qualify for relief from tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26512/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe relief from Vehicle Registration Tax when transferring residence is provided for in the Finance Act 1992, section 134 and Statutory Instrument No. 59 of 1993 Vehicle Registration Tax (Permanent Reliefs) Regulations, 1993. Regulation 4(5)(a) of that S.I. provides that the relief will not be granted where the vehicle is brought into the State more than twelve months after the date of transfer of residence.
Where a vehicle is brought into the State, regulation 8 of Statutory Instrument No. 318 of 1992 Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations 1992, provides that a person who is not authorised must make an appointment for a pre-registration examination within seven days and register the vehicle not later than thirty days after its arrival in the State.
The leaflet entitled “Transfer of Residence”, which is available on http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/leaflets/tax-relief-transfer-residence.html, highlights the procedures for bringing vehicles into the State when transferring residence and also outlines the time frames for registration once the vehicle arrives in the State.
93. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funds for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26274/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department approved funding in respect of a Category 3 application, mechanical works, under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS)(2016-2017) from the school to which he refers, with the school advised of the decision through my Department's on-line Esinet portal.
The school has recently submitted a request to my Department seeking to redirect the funding approved towards an alternative priority project, subsequently identified. Additional information and costings in respect of the proposed alternative project has been requested from the school and, once received, the request will be considered further by my Department.
94. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expenses incurred by his Department relating to insurance of all types in each of the past five years; the cost of each insurance policy held by his Department over the same time period per annum; if he will provide the same data for all bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26284/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is guided in its consideration of the need for insurance by the stipulations of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Public Financial Procedures guidance manual. Section C.8 (11 and 12) of the Public Financial Procedures offers guidance for all Government Department's in regard to their consideration of insurance risks and also offers general guidance that the Exchequer, in the main, carries its own insurance.
In the schools sector capitation funding is provided in respect of day to day running costs including insurance costs. The State Indemnity applies in the Community and Comprehensive School sector so these schools do not have a requirement to have their own insurance.
The National Treasury Management Agency is designated as the State Body which operates with a commercial remit to provide asset and liability management services to Government and is designated as the State Claims Agency when performing the claims and risk management functions delegated to it under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act, 2000.
Agencies under the aegis of my Department, whether funded by grant aid, own resources, or other funding sources may avail of appropriate insurance cover via their funding mechanism. My Department does not gather data in regard to the insurance cover availed of by agencies under its aegis and the information sought is a matter for each individual agency concerned.
95. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review the school transport policy, particularly when it comes to eligibility, in view of the fact the rules that were introduced in 2012 prevent students from availing of school transport to local schools (details supplied). [26298/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Changes to the eligibility criteria for my Department's School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme.
The school transport approach complements the overall Department policy which is to ensure that specific school accommodation needs for defined geographical areas are addressed in an orderly fashion.
The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
96. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Government's timeframe to end the pay inequality that teachers endure, in view of the fact that it has now been six years of discrimination (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26319/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. A previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale, which in the case of teachers had the effect of reducing their starting pay by a further 4-5%. Later in 2011, the Government placed a cap on the overall level of qualification allowances that could be earned by teachers.
Subsequently in 2012, following the public service-wide review of allowances, the Government withdrew qualification allowances for new teachers altogether. However, the Government partially compensated for this by deciding that new entrant teachers would henceforth commence on a new salary scale which had a starting point higher than the starting point of the old scale.
The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I have used this to negotiate substantial improvements in pay for new teachers. The agreement reached with TUI and INTO will see pay rises of between 15-22% (between €4600 and €6700) for new entrant teachers. The agreements also provide for earlier permanency for younger teachers, new promotion opportunities and new flexibilities in working hours.
The agreements have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver full equality at later points in the scale. This is substantial progress and strikes an equitable balance with other claims for funding on my Department, particularly needs such as enhanced service for children with special educational needs, for disadvantaged schools, for growing schools, for Higher Education and for apprenticeships.
It must be borne in mind that the pay reduction for post-2011 entrants to the public service applied to all public servants and not just teachers, and that any restoration of these measures in respect of teachers would be expected to be applied elsewhere across the public service. While I am not in a position to provide an estimate of the total cost of restoring all post-1 January 2011 entrants in all areas of the public service to the pre-2011 pay scale arrangements, I can say that in the case of education and training sector employees, including teachers, the estimated current full year cost would be in the order of €85 million. Clearly, the cost across the entire public service would be substantially higher.
However there are other types of equality that we must also bear in mind, for example equality between public servants and people who work elsewhere or don’t work at all. It would also not be equal or fair for us to do unaffordable deals with particular groups of public servants that mean that we do not have the money left in the public purse to provide increases in social welfare payments for vulnerable groups, tax reductions for people at work, or investments in improvements in public services that people rely on.
In education, there is a well-established increment system. Teachers are not paid equally. For example, the pay scale for teachers appointed prior to 2011 ranges from €32,009 to €60,155 depending on the date that the individual began teaching. Part of the negotiation to date has secured a convergence of the scales of recruits at different periods.
Any further negotiation on new entrant pay cannot focus on just one sector. A broader assessment of pay and new entrant pay will be informed by the recently published analysis of the Public Service Pay Commission. The Government established the Commission to examine pay levels across the public service, including entry levels of pay. The Government also supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
I accept that the teacher unions have outstanding pay demands and that the new entrant deal does not travel the full distance that they set out to achieve. However, it does represent significant progress, and the door is not closed to the trade union movement seeking to advance the issue further in the context of public service pay talks. My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, invited the Public Services Committee of ICTU to discussions on public service pay and a continued approach to the unwinding of the FEMPI legislation and these discussions are now underway.
97. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to the forum on entrepreneurship in schools held by his Department on 10 September 2015 and having regard to action point 107 objective 4.6 on entrepreneurship education in the action plan for education 2017, the steps taken to date; his plans to give effect to these objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26358/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Education includes actions to develop and publish a new Entrepreneurship Education policy statement and to develop new Entrepreneurship Education Guidelines for schools.
Work is currently underway on the development of an Entrepreneurial Education Policy Statement. It is the intention that the Policy Statement will cover the whole of the education and training system including primary and post primary schools.
The development of new Entrepreneurship Education Guidelines for Schools will be informed by the Policy Statement.
98. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the participation rate in lifelong learning for each of the years 2014 to 2016, and to date in 2017; the EU average rate based on latest data in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26429/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraParticipation rates in lifelong learning for each of the years 2014 to 2016 in Ireland and the EU average are set out in the following table and are based on the latest EUROSTAT data, which was updated at the end of April, this year. Rates for 2017 are not yet available.
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
EU 28 average |
10.8 |
10.7 |
10.8 |
|
Ireland |
6.9 |
6.5 |
6.4 |
National policies including the National Skills Strategy 2025, the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy and the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 all acknowledge through a range of actions, that the development of the skills of those at work will play a key role in the context of lifelong learning, and confirm the need to work with employers and employees.
Work is nearing completion on the development of a policy framework for the FET sector to support employee development which along with an implementation plan will be published this year and will contribute to meeting the targets set in the National Skills Strategy 2025 to increase participation in lifelong learning to 10% by 2020 and 15% by 2025.
99. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of persons in the labour force that have basic or above basic digital skills based on the latest data; the corresponding EU average rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26430/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEUROSTAT data for 2016, the latest available, records that the percentage of the labour force in Ireland with basic overall digital skills is 22% with the EU average being 30%. 28% of the labour force in Ireland had above basic digital skills as against an EU average of 33%.
A range of actions are in place across the entire education system to support the acquisition of enhanced digital skills and to increase the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning.
In March 2014, my Department and the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, launched the ICT Skills Action Plan 2014 - 2018. The plan sets out a collaborative, system-wide response, across Departments, agencies and the education and enterprise sectors aimed at building the domestic supply of graduates from the education system and ensuring Ireland maintains a strong ICT talent pool and promoting Ireland internationally as a centre for high-level ICT skills. The ICT Action Plan is currently being reviewed and I intend to include actions related to the development of digital skills at all levels in the new plan.
A number of significant developments have taken place since the ICT Action Plan was published. In 2015, my Department published the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 and last year the National Skills Strategy 2025 was published, each of which includes a range of relevant actions that will support the development of digital skills both directly through curricula and through technology enhanced learning.
A key theme in the 2017 Action Plan for Education is enhanced use of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment at all levels. Actions this year include the commencement of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, supporting SOLAS on the implementation of the Strategy for Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) in FET 2016-2019 which this year will see each ETB develop bring your own device policies and a TEL Action Plan in each ETB.
Within the Higher Education sector, a number of actions are included to implement the Roadmap for Enhancement in a Digital World 2015-2017 aimed at supporting the development and embedding of digital capacity in teaching and learning activities and developing consistent digital experiences for learners.
100. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if retired teachers are kept on the register of teachers maintained by the Teaching Council of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26474/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the regulatory and standards body for the teaching profession. A core function of the Council is to maintain the register of teachers in the State.
Under Section 30 of the Acts, teachers are required to be registered with the Council in order to receive a state funded salary.
To remain on the register each teacher must apply to renew their annual registration and pay the fee (currently €65).
While the Council is responsible for maintaining the Register of Teachers, the employment status of teachers does not fall within its remit and retired teachers may remain of the Register subject to renewing their registration on annual basis.
101. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the supplementary panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26484/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers to schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
Circular 0074/2016 sets out the arrangements for panel access for fixed-term/temporary and part-time teachers to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2017/18 school year.
Applicants must meet all of the published criteria in order to gain access to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.
The teacher referred to by the Deputy failed to meet the criteria and is therefore ineligible to be included on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.
