Written Answers Nos. 102-122
102. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the appropriate annual percentage multiplier for increases in general government tax revenue relative to GDP, GNP and GNI growth, for example, the amount each point of growth would be expected to be reflected in tax revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47313/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no clear guide as to the impact of different growth rates of GDP, GNP or GNI on general government revenue as the exact effect is a function of the composition of growth. For example, increased economic activity driven by exports does not have as significant an impact on the public finances as, for example, domestically driven growth.
As a general rule of thumb, assuming no change in tax policy, every increase of 1 percentage point of nominal GDP will result in about a 1 percentage point increase in general government revenue.
103. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance if the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare who have applied for the help-to-buy scheme can be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47322/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Help-to-Buy (HTB) scheme is available to individuals who sign a contract during the period 19 July 2016 and 31 December 2019.
- S. 477C(3) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (Help to Buy) requires that an applicant "..entered into a contract with a qualifying contractor for the purchase by that individual of a qualifying residence..." in the "qualifying period".
- S. 477C(1)(a) provides that "'qualifying period' means the period commencing on 19 July 2016 and ending on 31 December 2019;".
I am advised by Revenue that the persons concerned signed their contract on 18 July 2016 and on that basis do not qualify for the scheme. While the persons concerned were advised accordingly by Revenue on 27 October 2017, the HTB is a self-assessment scheme and unfortunately the claim was automatically processed and a tax repayment was transferred to the nominated bank account of the persons concerned on 1 November 2017. I am advised by Revenue that a letter has since issued advising the persons concerned that the repayment of tax received must be refunded to Revenue.
104. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason contracts have not been signed in relation to necessary upgrading works at Ballinasloe Garda station which were due to begin in October 2017; when these works are scheduled to commence in view of health and safety issues at the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47170/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is expected that tender evaluation for the works for Ballinsloe Garda Station will be completed in the near future, following which a contract should be placed by the end of the year.
105. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the meeting scheduled between his Department and representatives of various Departments with trade unions representing community employment supervisors was cancelled; when this meeting will be reconvened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47217/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn considering the particular matter regarding entitlements for community service supervisors, regard must be had to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created. A scoping exercise is currently being finalised by officials in this Department and should be completed later this year. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it was necessary to postpone the meeting scheduled for 2nd November. A meeting of the Forum has been arranged to discuss the scoping exercise in the coming weeks.
It continues to be the position that state organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees in question are, or were, employees of private companies notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding.
106. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of reopening a Garda station (details supplied) in Dublin 18; if plans for these refurbishments have been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47238/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraStepaside Garda is in the full ownership of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland. The station was closed on 14th March 2013 as part of the rationalisation programme of An Garda Síochána, as announced in the 2013 Policing Plan.
The Commissioners put a guardianship arrangement in place with Camelot in 2014. My officials have recently advised Camelot that, in accordance with the contractual agreement in place, a 25 day notice to vacate the premises will issue. This is subject to an assessment of when refurbishment works to facilitate the reopening of the Garda Station will begin.
A full brief of works will be required from An Garda Síochána in order to assess the cost of reopening the station at Stepaside.
107. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contingencies in place to deal with increased water levels in rivers and waterways; the extra measures that have been established to deal with the upcoming winter months; the amount dedicated towards these contingencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47239/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the overall management and co-ordination to local flooding events rests with the Local Authorities. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government leads the national co-ordination during a severe weather event, including flooding.
The OPW carries out a statutory maintenance programme on 11,500 km of river channel and approximately 730 km of embankments nationally, on arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995.
The Government has invested €325m in major flood defence schemes since 1995 that are protecting approximately 8,500 properties with an estimated benefit to the country of damages avoided of over €1.5bn. The OPW continues to deliver on its existing programme of major flood relief schemes, and currently has ten schemes at construction and twenty-six at different stages of design or planning.
The €40m expended by the OPW's Minor Flood Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for 650 small scale local authority projects is providing flood protection to over 6,200 properties.
State Agencies continually monitor and, where possible, control river levels within their areas of responsibility, including on the Shannon. The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group established in 2016 is trialling the lowering of levels in Lough Allen to complement existing water level protocols in place for Lough Ree. It is also targeting maintenance works along the Shannon. These additional actions can help, in a small way, to manage flood risk.
The OPW’s proactive flood risk planning, through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme in the past number of years is nearing completion. I would hope by the end of this year to seek the approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans developed under the CFRAM process. Thereafter I would hope to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those Plans that will, over the coming years, be taken to detailed design to protect those communities at assessed risk.
There are a range of other measures already in place to protect against a flood risk, including:
- planning guidelines promoting sustainable planning and development,
- improved national and local emergency flood response plans, and
- guidance to households and businesses on planning for a flood event. The Government’s Be Winter Ready campaign is an important aspect of this initiative.
108. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which his Department has noted negative or positive impacts from Brexit; the steps required to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47240/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no doubt but that Brexit will pose significant challenges for Ireland. The Government is committed to addressing these challenges, to mitigating the impacts and to maximising the available opportunities.
Last May the Government published a document setting out in detail its approach and the structures it had put in place to ensure a strategic and whole-of-Government response.
Within my own Department a dedicated Brexit/EU/North South Unit is responsible for coordinating Brexit issues and for contributing to the whole-of Government response.
Across Government, work is continuing on addressing the challenges as well as the opportunities posed by Brexit. This builds on ongoing cross-Government research and analysis.
In addition, the Government is continuing to work with stakeholders, through the All-Island Civic Dialogue process and other stakeholder events.
109. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made in the implementation of the property asset management delivery plan; if a database has been compiled detailing all property owned by the State and local authorities; the number of properties that are classified as vacant; his plans for these vacant properties; if these properties are suitable for residential purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47241/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra'Accommodating Change – Measuring Success’, the Government’s Property Asset Management Delivery Plan (the Delivery Plan), was published in July 2013. The key objective of the actions in the Plan was to “manage the Public Service property portfolio in a professional, co-ordinated and efficient manner that maximises value for money and facilitates business needs and service provision”.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), with its Chairman as the Delivery Plan’s Senior Responsible Officer, led the development of the Plan. A Steering Group comprising public property stakeholders was established to oversee progress on the delivery of the actions by across the participating State bodies.
Significant progress was made in the implementation of the Delivery Plan actions, as reported in the Final Progress Report on the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016 (July 2017). The utility and further development of certain outputs, under many of the actions, is continuing after the designated Reform Plan timeframe.
One of those outputs that will require continued maintenance and development is the Intra-State Property Register. The Register currently has basic details on over 24,000 owned or leased properties by 94 individual organisations, including Central Government, Local Government, the HSE and Non-Commercial State organisations. These properties, in the main, are office and other buildings used by State organisations in the exercise of their functions. There are gaps in the data relating to individual properties. The register is a work-in-progress and efforts are continuing to improve the accuracy of the data on the Register and to fill the gaps where data is missing.
The Intra-State Register is one of a number of inter-linked outputs under the Delivery Plan that provide a platform for a more integrated and strategic management of the State’s Property portfolio. The intention is that holders of State property assets should increasingly view property from a more strategic, State point of view rather than an individual or organisation viewpoint. When an organisation has a property for disposal, the first method of disposal to be considered is the transfer of the surplus property to another State organisation. The State Property Register facilitates this prioritised method of disposal by obliging State organisations with surplus property to identify it as such on the Register, and allow other State organisations a minimum of one month to express an interest. It is for this reason that the State Property Register records that a property is ‘surplus to requirements’ rather than ‘vacant’.
I think that there is an important distinction between these two classifications, as ‘surplus to requirements’ indicates that the decision has been made to dispose, which is unlikely to match the number of properties that are vacant but not surplus to requirements. The Register does not record vacant properties.
It is important to note that while the OPW hosts the Register, the properties and the data are the responsibility of each of the 94 State organisations. Each organisation is responsible for the efficient management of those properties. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars issued under the Delivery Plan outline the need for regular review of an organisation’s property needs; and the use of appropriate appraisal processes for all decisions related to the acquisition, disposal and retention of property to ensure that the best use is made of State property assets to achieve value for money.
I understand that the Housing Delivery Office in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government did undertake an exercise to identify those State and semi-State lands that were deemed surplus to requirements in urban areas where housing pressures are most acute. The exercise involved consultation with the various State and semi-State bodies including the OPW. The results of this exercise are on the Rebuilding Ireland website.
My officials in the OPW regularly review our own property portfolio to identify any properties that might be surplus. In the past year, a number of properties have transferred from the OPW to other State bodies to assist in alleviating homelessness.
110. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the additional financial measures he will employ in 2018 to develop flood defences across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47242/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total allocation of €101 million approximately for overall flood risk management has been provided in the 2018 Vote of the Office of Public Works (OPW) representing an increase of 35% on the equivalent 2017 Estimates allocation. This allocation primarily covers the costs of implementing flood defence capital works and the ongoing maintenance programme for completed Arterial Drainage Schemes. The 2018 total allocation includes a provision of €70m approximately for expenditure on flood defence works which is an increase of some €25m over the 2017 allocation. This significant increase is part of the commitment of €430 million for flood risk management under the Government's six-year Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 which will see the annual allocation for flood defence expenditure rise from €45m currently to €100million by 2021.
The 2018 allocation will allow the OPW to continue with its existing programme of major flood relief schemes which currently has ten schemes at construction with another 26 at different stages of design or planning. Over the next 12 months, the OPW hopes to commence the construction of another nine major schemes from this programme with a total value of over €230 million and these, along with the rest of the schemes in the programme will, when completed, provide flood protection to approximately 12,000 properties.
The 2018 allocation will allow for the continuation of the OPW's Minor Flood Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This successful Scheme has allowed approximately 650 small scale local authority projects to be approved for funding at a cost of €40million, with completed projects to date providing flood protection to over 6,200 properties.
The OPW will also soon have completed its Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) studies which have been undertaken throughout the country over the last number of years and which have concentrated on the areas of most significant flood risk. It is expected that the resultant Flood Risk Management Plans will be published in the near future once they have been approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Plans contain proposed flood defence works for approximately 140 additional areas at a projected cost of close to €600million and the projects arising from these Plans will start to be implemented on a prioritised basis from next year onwards.
Approximately 100 of these projects will be major schemes with the remainder falling into the minor works category which will enable the relevant Local Authorities to advance them reasonably quickly with funding being provided by the OPW.
111. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he will take to ensure that spending priorities are sufficiently focused in view of the threat to the economy of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47243/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe exact nature of the relationship that will exist between the EU and the UK following Brexit is yet to be agreed. The impact of Brexit on Ireland will depend on the outcome of the complex negotiations still under way. While this poses challenges in planning our response, it is important to note that Ireland’s economy is in a strong position to deal with these challenges.
In recent years we have seen economic growth becoming more firmly established, and our public finances have remained on a sustainable path. As set out on Budget Day this year, 2018 will be the fourth successive year in which we will be able to increase expenditure on public services and infrastructure. The Government’s priority is to protect and consolidate the progress that has been made to date. Consequently, it is important to maintain a focus not just on the level of expenditure, but also on how public funds are being spent. In this context the Spending Review process allows for the systematic examination of existing spending programmes to assess their effectiveness in meeting policy objectives.
On Budget day in October I announced an additional allocation of capital expenditure of €4.3 billion over the next four years, up to the end of our existing Capital Plan in 2021. This additional allocation is central to our response to Brexit and will allow our State and its agencies to properly plan major infrastructure projects over the medium term, while also ensuring communities and businesses can plan ahead. This additional funding has been allocated following the review of the Capital Plan, with this review providing an evidence base, reflecting sectoral gaps identified by robust analysis.
Supporting the areas of our economy that may be significantly impacted by Brexit will be a key element of the Government’s response. To this end, as outlined in the Expenditure Report 2018, additional expenditure amounts have been specifically allocated to provide for Brexit related measures across a number of Departments including: the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation; the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Education, as well as delivering benefits for the individual and for society, is also vital to keeping our economy competitive and attracting investment in a post-Brexit world. Continued investment in education remains a priority of this Government. The allocation for Education in 2018 of over €10 billion represents a new peak for the sector and over 16.5% of total gross voted expenditure.
In addition to expenditure measures, there are also a number of whole-of-Government arrangements already in place as part of our response to Brexit, such as the Cabinet Committee chaired by the Taoiseach. We are also strengthening our relevant Departments, Agencies and overseas missions to ensure that they have the necessary capacity, capabilities and expertise to address the issues that may arise as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
112. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on his Department’s discussions with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection regarding the implementation of Labour Court recommendation, LRC 19293, regarding the rights of community employment scheme supervisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47244/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn considering the particular matter referred to, regard must be had to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created. A scoping exercise is currently being progressed by officials in this Department and should be completed later this year. A meeting of the Forum has been arranged to discuss the scoping exercise in the coming weeks.
It continues to be the position that state organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees in question are, or were, employees of private companies notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding.
113. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be provided to the National Botanic Gardens o carry out restoration works to the two historic greenhouses, the cactus house and the giant waterlily house, which are both listed buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRefurbishment of glasshouses is an objective of the Office of Public Works. However, bearing in mind the limited capital funding available and the necessity to prioritise expenditure of that funding, it is unlikely that the multi-million euro works will proceed in the short term. The Commissioners are open to proposals from the private sector and will be exploring options in this regard. In the meantime, research on and scoping of the necessary restoration works will be continuing.
114. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be provided to the National Botanic Gardens in order to increase its staffing levels in its scientific and horticultural teams which are at an acutely low level in terms of sustaining the gardens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47253/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Botanic Gardens has housed the National Herbarium since 1970. In 2006 the staffing level of the Herbarium was raised from four employees to six. Unfortunately the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Civil Service has meant that of the 4 vacancies that occured during this period none could filled as they arose.
I can now advise the Seputy the post of Taxonomist, who will act as the Keeper of the Herbarium, has recently been advertised and an appointment will be made as soon as possible. It is hoped to augment the staff compliment with further appointments over time.
Within the Horticultural staff we now have a complete team of 23 horticulturists.
115. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if discretionary funding was allocated by the Office of Public Works to Clare County Council after Storm Darwin in 2014 for repair works to the embankments on the Shannon and Fergus estuaries for works to be carried out on private lands.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47268/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if discretionary funding was allocated by the Office of Public Works to Limerick city and county council after Storm Darwin in 2014 for repair works to the embankments on the Shannon estuary for works to be carried out.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47269/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
Following the severe storms of Winter 2013/2014 total funding of €9,712,385 was provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to Clare County Council for the repair of damaged coastal protection infrastructure including repairs along the Shannon and Fergus Estuary Embankments. I am advised by Clare County Council that works on the repair of the embankments in question have progressed at a number of locations in 2017 and that the remainder will be carried out in 2018 subject to planning and environmental considerations.
Limerick City and County Council did not seek funding from the OPW for repairs to the embankments in question.
117. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received a request to meet with a person (details supplied); if so, if he will meet with the person; and when the meeting will take place. [47171/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet with a person (details supplied); if he has considered the requests made by the person on behalf of institutional abuse survivors; his plans to grant these requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47172/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and I have arranged to meet with the individual later this week.
118. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to ensure that the SUSI appeals body expedites an appeal by a person (details supplied) who has appealed against a refusal to grant them the third level tuition fees sought in respect of their university course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47220/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to have correspondence (details supplied) processed; if this matter can be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47219/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the correspondence referred to in this instance was not previously received by my Department.
I understand that the student to which the Deputy refers, recently appealed the decision of the Appeals Officer of the awarding authority (SUSI) to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board (SGAB). The appeal will be heard within the 60 day timeframe set out in the Student Support Act 2011. The decision of the SGAB will be communicated directly to the student in due course.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
Also, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners at www.revenue.ie.
119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to facilitate an extension at a school (details supplied); if required funding can be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47154/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme (2019-2021). In this regard, my Department will be liaising with the school in due course in the context of initiating the preparatory work for the proposed project.
120. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the issues raised by a school (details supplied) in relation to the number of teachers provided to it; if an appeal from the school can be considered on the basis of the high number of enrolled students with special needs; if he will review the appeal criteria outlined in circular 0017/2017 and consider the inclusion of specific provision for the number of children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47156/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0017/2017.
Firhouse Educate Together National School submitted an application to the April and October meeting of the Appeals Board under three separate Criterion, Accommodation, Class Size and Developing. The Appeals Board determined that these appeals did not warrant the allocation of additional posts for the 2017/18 school year on confirmation of pupil enrolments on the 30th September 2017.
The Staffing Schedule also includes a separate provision where schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds. The school referred to by the Deputy was successful in being granted one additional post on developing grounds for the 2017/18 school year based on confirmed enrolments. The school has been notified accordingly.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
In relation to the new model for the allocation of Special Education Teachers to schools, DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7th March 2017.
The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning support and high incidence special educational needs, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocation process which provided additional resource teaching supports to schools, to support pupils assessed as having Low Incidence disabilities.
The new Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
Under the new allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.
Included within this is an allocation for:
- A school educational profile component; which includes:
- An allocation for pupils with complex needs.
- The learning support needs in schools as evidenced by attainment levels in standardised test results.
- The social context of the school including disadvantage and gender.
- Baseline component provided to every mainstream school to support inclusion, prevention of learning difficulties and early intervention.
The provision of a profiled allocation is designed to give a fairer allocation for each school which recognises that all schools need an allocation for special needs support, but which provides a graduated allocation which takes into account the actual level of need in each school.
The special education teaching allocation provided for this school for 2017/18 was 48.05 hours.
The profiling model had indicated a profiled special educational need for this school, relative to that of other schools, of 47.50 teaching hours.
However, as no school received an allocation, on the introduction of the new model, which was less than the allocation they received in the previous school year, the school maintained an allocation of 48.05 hours and it was indicated that within this allocation there was a retained element of 0.55 hrs.
Where a school profile significantly changes following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increase year on year additional allocations may be made.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in DES Circular 17/2017 (Primary School Staffing Schedule) and DES 10,11,12/2017 (Post Primary School Staffing Schedule).
Schools who qualified for additional mainstream developing school posts in accordance with these criteria also qualified for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.
Firhouse NS school was provided with an additional net SEN allocation of 2.45 hours on the grounds that the school qualified for one additional developing mainstream teaching post.
The school received a revised total special education teaching allocation of 50.5 hours.
This allocation equates to over 2 full time additional Special Education Teachers.
It is acknowledged and accepted that schools will have some additional pupils with special educational needs enrolling to their school subsequent to the profiles having been developed.
However, for the most part these will be balanced by the fact that some students who had additional teaching needs in the previous year will have left the school. The baseline is also designed to ensure that schools have some capacity to provide additional support to pupils.
The additional allocations made where schools qualify for developing mainstream teaching posts take account of growing enrolments.
It is also acknowledged that there will be some schools where exceptional circumstances may arise.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) will also be available to support schools where schools have developed and implemented appropriate plans for the deployment of their special education needs teaching resources, but the school considers that further support may be required. This support may involve Continuing Professional Development or further training for school staff, advice in relation to the support plans that are in place, and possibly a review process once schools can clearly demonstrate that exceptional circumstances have arisen in the school.
The NCSE has now published details of how schools can seek a review of their allocations, including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
Should this school consider that they fulfil the criteria for a review on the grounds of exceptional circumstances, details of this review process are available at:
http://ncse.ie/review-of-special-education-teacher-supports-where-there-are-exceptional-circumstances-or-needs-arising-in-a-school.
121. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason depreciation of interest on borrowings is taken as means rather than outgoings in the consideration of SUSI grant applications; if the applications for a grant for 2016 and 2017 in the name of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed in view of the fact that the family are suffering financial hardship having failed to qualify for the maximum grant support; if the actual financial circumstances of the family will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47162/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraStudent grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households. All earnings including overtime must be assessed for the calculation of reckonable income.
The Student Grant Scheme provides for higher income thresholds for larger families. In addition to this, further increases in the income thresholds are provided for where additional family members are attending further and/or higher education at the same time.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
Also, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners at www.revenue.ie.
