Niall Collins
Ceist:114. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Finance the cost of adapting the employment and investment incentive (details supplied), in tabular form. [50947/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployment Investment Incentive Scheme
Ceisteanna (114)
Freagraí scríofa
I am informed by Revenue that based on 2016 data, the latest year for which data are available, the estimated cost to the Exchequer from increasing the current allowable tax relief cap of €150,000 available to an individual investor under the EII scheme in the manner described by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
EII Relief Cap |
Cost € Million |
|
€200,000 |
0.9 |
|
€300,000 |
2.2 |
|
€400,000 |
2.9 |
|
€500,000 |
3.4 |
|
€600,000 |
3.8 |
|
€700,000 |
4.2 |
|
€800,000 |
4.5 |
|
€900,000 |
4.8 |
|
€1M |
5.0 |
|
€1.1M |
5.2 |
|
€1.2M |
5.3 |
|
€1.3M |
5.4 |
This costing assumes a maximum relief of 30% and does not allow for the additional 10% relief that is currently available under this scheme after a period of 4 years from the initial investment.
It may also be of interest to the Deputy that a report on the Employment and Investment Incentive (EII) scheme is available on the Revenue website at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/eii.aspx.
This report provides EII statistics regarding qualifying companies, investors, investment amounts and also Exchequer costs. The report covers the years from 2012, the year in which the scheme was first introduced, to 2016, the latest year for which data is available.
Vehicle Registration Data
Ceisteanna (115, 116)
Timmy Dooley
Ceist:115. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Finance the cost of extending a vehicle registration tax, VRT, rebate to electric vehicles only for each of the years up to 2023. [50962/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTimmy Dooley
Ceist:116. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Finance the cost of extending a vehicle registration tax, VRT, rebate to electric and hybrid vehicles for each of the years up to 2023. [50963/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
I am informed by Revenue that the cost of the Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) rebate for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles in 2017 is estimated at €5 million and €10 million respectively, giving a total estimated cost of €15 million for the year.
Revenue does not have information to enable it provide an accurate forecast of the future growth of electric and hybrid vehicles. As such it is not possible to determine the cost of extending the VRT rebate to electric and hybrid vehicles out to 2023.
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (117)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:117. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if all correspondence between the European Commission and his Department regarding a case (details supplied) will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51177/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 30 August 2016, it was announced that the Commission had issued a negative decision in the Apple State Aid case. This concluded the investigation that had been on-going formally since June 2014.
Ireland has never accepted the Commission’s analysis in the Apple State aid Decision. However, we have always been clear that the Government is fully committed to ensuring that recovery of the alleged Apple State aid takes place without delay and has committed significant resources to ensuring this is achieved as quickly as possible whilst ensuring that the interests of the Irish taxpayer are adequately protected.
In this regard, Irish officials and experts have been engaged in intensive work to ensure that the State complies with all its recovery obligations as soon as possible, and have been in constant contact with the European Commission on all aspects of this process for over a year.
It is not appropriate for me to discuss or publish the nature of the correspondence between Ireland and the European Commission relating to the investigation or the recovery process, as such correspondence is confidential between Ireland and the European Commission.
Finally, the Government profoundly disagrees with the European Commission’s analysis in the Apple State aid case. As this is the subject of open legal proceedings, it will not be possible to comment further in this regard.
Flood Prevention Measures
Ceisteanna (118)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:118. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costs associated with Garda stations that remain closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51105/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested is being collated and a response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme
Ceisteanna (119)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the outcome of discussions regarding catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, and the need to introduce measures to deal with flooding in the Ballybay area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50811/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the publication of Flood Risk Management Plans.
These final Plans are currently undergoing an independent review of the strategic level environmental assessments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Once this independent review of all Plans is completed and observations addressed, I would hope by the end of this year or early 2018, 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, through a prioritised approach, to detailed design to protect those communities at assessed risk.
The preferred measure for Ballybay published in the draft Plans in 2016 consisted of a series of flood embankments and walls. These hard defences will extend for a total length of 2.5km with an average height of 1.6m. If approved, as part of the final Plans this option will provide protection to approximately 61 properties at risk of uvial ooding. Approval for proposed schemes in the Plans, allows for their progression to detailed design, further environmental assessments and public consultation.
Community Employment Schemes Supervisors
Ceisteanna (120)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:120. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the provision of a pension for community employment scheme supervisors; the actions taken by him to resolve this issue; if he will report on the meetings held by the high-level forum since it was established to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50859/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the April meeting of the Community Sector High Level Forum, my Department outlined its intention to conduct a detailed scoping exercise in order to comprehensively examine and assess the full potential implications of the issues under consideration. In considering the particular matter referred to, regard must be had to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created.
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. In considering the matter, regard must be had to costs and the precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created given that the individuals employed in that sector are not employed by the State, even if many of the services they provide are funded by the State.
A meeting of the Forum took place last Thursday, 23 November, at which the findings of the scoping exercise were shared with members of the Forum. A following meeting to deal with technical questions arising from the exercise will be arranged in the coming weeks.
Public Sector Staff Data
Ceisteanna (121)
John McGuinness
Ceist:121. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the names of persons who serve on the Top Level Appointments Committee for the Civil Service; the length of time that each one has served on the committee; the number of appointments made since its inception; his plans for reform of this committee; his further plans to replace members of the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50891/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, open publicly advertised competition is a key principle of senior level appointments to posts across the public service reflecting the Government's commitment to ensure that such posts, which are central to the effective performance of our system of public administration, are filled by high-calibre candidates.
In my area of direct responsibility, the civil service, recruitment in relation to senior level appointments above Principal Officer is undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Committee, (TLAC). TLAC holds competitions for and advises, as appropriate, Ministers and/or the Government on appointments to civil service posts at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary and equivalent levels.
The policy on open competitions for Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts has been in place since 2007 and for Secretary General and equivalent posts since 2012.
TLAC operates under the Code of Practice issued by the Commission for Public Service Appointments in accordance with the principles of merit, consistency, accountability, probity, best practice and professional confidentiality.
TLAC operates in an independent manner and strictly on the basis of open competition and merit and is responsible for determining its own procedures and remit, subject to Government decisions as appropriate.
In 2011 the Government agreed to a restructuring of TLAC so that the membership should comprise:
- Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
- Secretary General to the Government.
- Two other Secretaries General appointed for three year terms.
- Five members from outside the civil service appointed for three year terms, one of whom would be the chairperson.
In July 2015 the Government approved the further expansion to seven external members (including the Chairperson) and six internal members.
The current members of TLAC are:
- Mr Robert Watt, Secretary General, D/Public Expenditure & Reform - ex-officio member since - April 2011.
- Mr Martin Fraser, Secretary General, D/Taoiseach – ex-officio member since - July 2011.
- Mr Maurice Quinn, Secretary General, D/Defence – Internal TLAC Member since - 01 September 2015 – 3 yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.
- Mr Jim Breslin, Secretary General, D/Health – Internal TLAC Member since - 01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.
- Ms Brid Horan, Non-Executive Director – External TLAC Members since - 01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.
- Mr Charles Dolan, Director, Consulting Ltd – External TLAC Member since - 01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.
- Mr Tony Keohane, Former Chairman, Tesco Ltd – External TLAC Member since - 01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.
- Ms Jane Williams, Managing Partner/Sia Partners – Chairwoman of TLAC since - 08 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 08 November 2019. Previous to being appointed Chairwoman, was an External TLAC Member since - 5 Nov 2013.
- Ms Bride Rosney, Former special advisor to President Mary Robinson – External TLAC Member since - 15 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 15 November 2019.
- Mr Phillip Matthews, Qualified Executive and Team Coach and former President/CEO and Board Member, National College of Ireland – External TLAC Member since - 15 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 15 November 2019.
- Mr Conor Brady, Former Editor, Irish Times and former Member of GSOC – External TLAC Member since - 15 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 15 November 2019.
- Mr Mark Griffin, Secretary General, D/Communications, Climate Action & Environment – Internal TLAC Member since - 06 December 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 06 December 2019.
- Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General, D/Business, Enterprise & Innovation – Internal TLAC Member since - 01 August 2017 - 3yr term due to end - 01 August 2020.
Since TLAC’s inception in 1984, in the region of 615 appointments have been made.
Momentum Programme
Ceisteanna (122)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:122. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure on the Momentum programme; the estimated cost of increasing the number of places on the programme by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50910/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Momentum programme was created in 2012 during the economic downturn to address the needs of long term unemployed and young unemployed individuals. It funded the provision of free education and training projects to support over 12,500 jobseekers (who had been unemployed for twelve months or more) to gain skills and access employment opportunities in growing sectors of the economy.
It was delivered through two programme iterations. The first (Momentum I) ran over the period 2012-2014, and the second (Momentum II) commenced in 2014 and concluded earlier this year. Momentum 1 cost in the order of €17m and Momentum II cost almost €19m. The cost of another round of Momentum with 20% greater numbers than Momentum II would be €22.8 million. It is likely that this total cost would be spread over more than a single year.
Given the overall improvement in the economic position, the welcome decline in the numbers who are unemployed and the consequent reduction in demand for training, there are no plans for a further round of the Momentum programme and participants are not currently being recruited.
Independent evaluations of both programmes have been carried out and published and are available on the SOLAS website at www.solas.ie
School Accommodation Provision
Ceisteanna (123, 127)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that has been made available for a school project (details supplied) to be completed in view of the fact that the current junior cycle students will have to continue their studies from fourth year on in temporary structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50736/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Murphy
Ceist:127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a school project (details supplied) that is at capacity in the context of physical space; his plans to rectify this for the 2018/2019 year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50774/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 127 together.
The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which she refers is included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. The project, which will provide a new permanent school building, has been devolved to Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board for delivery. I understand that planning permission has been secured and that the Stage 2B documents are substantially complete and are due to be submitted to my Department shortly.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that the school recently submitted an application for additional interim accommodation pending the construction of the new school building. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (124)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:124. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has assessed the need for an autism spectrum disorder specific special school in the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50752/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education classes included within them. However, Special Schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils whose needs cannot be adequately catered for in a mainstream school.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Policy Advice recommends that special schools should be designated and resourced to serve those pupils within the community who require special school placement rather than be limited to any specific category of disability, such as ASD. Many special schools now enrol students from disability categories other than from those provided for by their school designations.
The need to establish a new special school would normally be first identified by the National Council for Special Education in conjunction with my Department when they identify gaps in special needs provision in a given area.
There are 37 Special Schools in Dublin city and county. The NCSE has advised my Department that there is an emerging need for additional Special School placement options in the North Dublin area. My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special school placements can access such placements.
Home Tuition Scheme
Ceisteanna (125)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:125. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in receipt of the home tuition grant in the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50753/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for:
(a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme's eligibility criteria;
(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognized school;
(c) Students enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance.
The preferred approach is that children are educated in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, individualised education programmes, special needs assistants, school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with other pupils. Accordingly, Home Tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.
Approximately 56 children, in the area referred to by the Deputy, were sanctioned Home Tuition for the 2017/2018 school under the above strands of the scheme.
Details of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (126)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:126. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied); if it is to be transferred to the responsibility of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board; if so, when this will occur; if educational courses for persons with either physical or intellectual disabilities will be provided there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50754/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The site on which the college in question is currently situated has been purchased and transferred to my ownership. Subject to planning permission, it is planned to provide a primary school and a post primary school on the site.
The college in question is operated by the National Learning Network, a division of the Rehab group, with funding provided by City of Dublin Education and Training Board. The funding is provided under the Specialist Training Provider programme, which supports the provision of training for people with disabilities. With regard to the current site, there is a licence agreement in place which provides for the continued provision of existing services pending alternative arrangements being put in place by the college. There are no plans to transfer the site in question or the college to CDETB.
Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 123.
Schools Establishment
Ceisteanna (128)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:128. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to open an Educate Together national school in the Fermoy area of Cork. [50787/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change. Following surveys conducted by my Department in areas of stable population, sufficient demand emerged in 28 areas, including the Fermoy area. Under this patronage divesting process, ten new schools have opened from 2013 to 2016.
As the Deputy may be aware following discussions on patronage divesting with education stakeholders and patron bodies in 2016, on the 30th January 2017, I announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area. I believe that the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system with a target of reaching 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030.
In tandem with the implementation of the schools reconfiguration process, my Department is continuing to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in the areas already identified, including Fermoy.
Schools Administration
Ceisteanna (129)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are guidelines or regulations in place setting out the standards for cleanliness and hygiene which primary schools must meet, for example around toilet facilities and eating areas for school pupils; if so, if these guidelines are publicly available on his Department's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50809/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school. Matters such as cleanliness and hygiene in schools should be addressed by Boards of Management in accordance with relevant health and safety guidelines.
The body which has statutory responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met by all employers, including schools, is the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The Authority also provides information and advice to organisations, including schools, to assist them in ensuring that their responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace are met.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets out the responsibilities on individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The Statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils.
The HSA has published a number of resources specifically for schools to support them in managing health and safety in the school environment. It also provides a number of online training courses specifically for the school sector. Further details on the advice, resources and training courses available from the HSA can be obtained from the HSA's website www.hsa.ie.