October | 2011 | EoghanMurphy.ie

Month: October 2011

Posted October 30th, 2011

Question No. 241 Ref No: 30844/11

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that approved retirement funds are liable to PRSI at class S and those with an annuity of an equal amount are exempt from paying PRSI; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

- Eoghan Murphy.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

REPLY

Minister for Social Protection: Joan Burton, TD

Under social welfare legislation any payments received by way of pension are not regarded as reckonable emoluments for the purposes of self-employed Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI). Pension annuities provide a secure means of converting savings into pension income to be paid over the span of the individual’s life and thereby avoid the danger that pensioners could exhaust their pension savings in their lifetime. Annuities payable under a retirement annuity contract are, therefore, regarded as a payment by way of pension and not subject to PRSI.

Approved retirement funds or ARFs are funds managed by a qualifying fund manager into which an individual may invest the proceeds of their pension fund when they retire. The income and gains of such funds are exempt from tax within the fund. Any amounts withdrawn from an ARF are referred to as a distribution. A distribution is treated as income from an employment and accordingly subject to income tax within the PAYE system. Unlike annuity products, ARFs are not pensions but are treated as assets. As such, distributions from ARFs fall within the charge to self-employed PRSI. It should however be noted that only distributions made before pension age will attract the charge to PRSI as social insurance only applies to individuals between the ages of 16 and 66. Once the individual reaches pension age, PRSI will not be charged.

Question No: 106 Ref: 28407/11

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount she intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in her Department.

- Eoghan Murphy.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011

REPLY

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. The Department is focused on ensuring that all work is carried out in a fashion designed to achieve best value for money in the use of public funds to achieve its objectives.

The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) including the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making.

In this regard, the Department expects to spend some €1,100,000 for the engagement of consultants, including business, social inclusion and I.T., in 2011.

The Department is not at present carrying out any Value for Money (VfM) reviews as a result of the Government decision to defer the selection of the 2011 Value for Money reviews, which are agreed by Government each year, pending the outcome of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Comprehensive Review of Expenditure currently being completed.

Question No: 212 Ref No: 28041/11

To the Minister for Social Protection:

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that overtime has been approved for senior community welfare officers in the rent unit in order to bring rent applications up to date; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that this is at a higher cost than maintaining those staff on a lower wage who have recently been made redundant and who are now applying for welfare benefits.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

REPLY

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

Late last year agreement was reached between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and unions representing the Community Welfare Officers that the staff of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) would transfer to the Department of Social Protection with effect from 1st January 2011 on a secondment basis initially. The period of secondment lasted for 9 months until the end of September 2011. During this period these staff remained employees of the HSE but were subject to the general direction and control of the Minster for Social Protection.

From 1 October 2011 these staff are transferred fully to the Department as civil servants and are accountable to the Minister in the same way as other civil servants.

I have been advised that a number of staff in the CWS were employed in a temporary capacity by the HSE in 2010 for a period of six months, including some of the staff in the rent unit in question. These contracts were subsequently extended to June 2011 from when they were gradually withdrawn. It was never intended that these staff would be retained on a permanent basis or that they would transfer to this department. They remain employed elsewhere in the HSE.

In the context of the transfer of functions from the HSE to the Department a number of Transition Managers were appointed from within the Community Welfare Service, to work with the Department of Social Protection to oversee the transfer of the service to the Department. The relevant Transition Managers are currently in the process of examining the service implications arising from the loss of these temporary staff.

Due to the high volume of applications received and the loss of these staff a short term backlog of applications arose. Overtime working was approved to clear this backlog.

The backlog is currently being processed and it is expected that there will be no backlog by the middle of October . Thereafter it is not envisaged that overtime will be required to maintain the day to day operation of the unit. Applications received up to the middle of September have been assessed for entitlement.

Question No: 256 Ref No: 24775/11

To the Minister for Social Protection:

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of persons estimated to begin drawing down additional social welfare payments as a gap solution between reaching retirement at age 65 years and receiving the State pension at age 66 years; and the cost to the Exchequer of same.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The position has not changed since reply to Question number 136 (PQ Ref No. 23721/11) on 14 September 2011.

Question Nos: 228, 240 & 257 Ref Nos: 24498/11, 24583/11, 24776/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if measures are in place to ensure the most vulnerable in society, especially the over 70′s medical card holders, will not be adversely affected by the cuts in the household benefits package.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

I propose to take questions 228, 240 and 257 together.

The savings in the fuel allowance scheme and household benefits package were provided for last December in Budget 2011 but were not specified or announced by the Government at that time.

From September 2011 the fuel allowance has been standardised at €20 per week, the rate currently received by the majority of customers, with no additional allowance for living in a smokeless area. The cost of the telephone allowance is reduced following negotiations with Eircom which will ensure that customers receive €26.86 of value on their bills, at a cost to the State of €22.22 per month. The number of free units provided under the electricity and gas allowance will be reduced to the level at the start of 2007 (from 2,400 to 1,800). These three measures will generate savings of €17 million in 2011 and €65 million annually.

The rationale for paying the smokeless allowance to customers in smokeless areas cannot be maintained. The price differential between the types of coal is as low as 2% while the allowance represents an addition of 20% to the fuel allowance. Use of coal has dropped considerably, to about 3%. It is inequitable to continue paying this top-up allowance to some customers and not others when the purpose for which it was intended no longer applies.

As regards the telephone allowance, the deal negotiated with Eircom represents good value for the State and the customer. The main saving is that the Department will no longer pay a monthly rental for handsets, but customers will be able to keep their set at no charge. Indeed a lot of households no longer use or have their original handsets so it makes no sense that the State would continue to pick up this cost.

The reduction in units in the electricity allowance and equivalent gas allowance is essential to control spending. Because the allowances are based on units the full cost of energy increases has been borne by the State, with no incentive for customers to switch to other cheaper companies. Currently, up to 82,000 (21%) customers under-use their allowance of 2,400 units. Only 16% of social welfare customers have switched companies compared to 42% nationally. People will be able to offset some of the reduction in units by availing of cheaper rates.

A poverty impact assessment was carried out in the context of developing a range of options for the future administration of the household benefits package in a de-regulated domestic energy market. While this focused on the potential impact of changing the electricity allowance from a unit base to a cash base to avail of cheaper rates available it also examined the issue of the vulnerability of older people who are the main recipients of the household benefits package.

Data for the 2009 EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) show that households comprising predominantly older people had lower consistent poverty rates than other age categories. Single adults aged over 65 with no children had a consistent poverty rate of 0.6% while people in households with 2 adults at least one of whom was aged 65 or over with no children had a consistent poverty rate of 1.0%. In 2009, in the general population, 5.5% of people were in consistent poverty.

My Department will spend over €530 million in 2011 on the fuel scheme and the telephone, gas and electricity elements of the household benefits package which will benefit over 630,000 people. Help will also continue to be available for people with special or additional heating needs through the Heating Supplement and Exceptional Needs Payment Scheme under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

Along with other Departments and agencies, my Department has been working with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on an Affordable Energy Strategy which will be published shortly. The most cost-effective means of protecting households from energy poverty in the long term is to reduce their consumption of energy through improving the thermal efficiency of the home. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has administered an energy efficiency programme for privately owned low income households (Warmer Homes) since 2001. Over 65,000 such households have benefited to date, with a further 15,000 expected to receive energy efficiency upgrades this year. A similar upgrade programme is also in place for local authority houses.

In addition, my colleague the Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D. announced this week that Electricity and Gas customers experiencing financial hardship will not be disconnected this winter provided they have entered a payment plan or have agreed to the installations of a pay-as-you-go meter. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is to work with all gas and electricity supply companies to implement the initiative.

Furthermore, myself and my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D. are in the process of seeking greater discounts from the ESB in the context of the electricity allowance. However to date I have been disappointed at the apparent reluctance of the ESB to offer what I would regard as meaningful discounts. In circumstances where a large percentage of the ESB’s customers are in arrears, my Department is effectively guaranteeing the payment of 390,000 customers’ bills on exceptionally favourable payment terms; it is therefore a matter of serious concern to me that the ESB is either unwilling or unable to offer my Department a discount that is commensurate with the benefits it derives from the electricity allowance.

My officials have been liaising with Minister Rabbitte’s officials in relation to this matter and we hope to be in a position to arrange a meeting with the CEO of the ESB in order to urgently progress this matter.

As regards informing our customers, these changes were announced by my Department on 12th July 2011. On foot of a press release there was significant coverage in the national papers, radio and television. Information, including a Frequently Asked Questions segment was available on my Department’s website www.welfare.ie. My Department’s phone system was updated with a recorded message advising changes to the scheme and a Lo-call number was available for any enquiries. Given the volume of customers in receipt of either a fuel allowance or household benefits package the cost of changing the slip in post offices or writing to customers individually on the changes would be prohibitive in an environment where departments are under pressure to achieve savings.

Question No: 217

Ref No: 24768/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount generated from PRSI contributions in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010; and the corresponding percentage of total revenue generating in those years.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The total value of PRSI contributions paid into my Department’s Social Insurance Fund in each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 is set out in the following table:

PRSI Receipts

Year	2010	2009	2008	2007
	€ million	€ million	€ million	€ million
TOTAL	6,708	7,165	7,984	7,722

PRSI contributions on average accounted for 99% of revenue generated by the Department in the four years 2007 to 2010. The Social Insurance Fund also received additional income by way of a return on the Social Insurance Investment Accounts and rental income amounting to €407million and €176,000 respectively in this period. The figures contained in the table are net of the Health Contribution and the National Training Levy which were collected up to last year as part of PRSI contributions and paid over the Health Service Executive and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The above figures do not include revenue generated by the Exchequer through general taxation and applied to social welfare purposes, such as funding means tested social assistance payments or universal entitlements such as Child Benefit.

Question No: 290

Ref No: 23721/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of people that are estimated to begin drawing down additional social welfare payments as a gap solution between reaching retirement at age 65 years and receiving the State pension at age 66 years; the cost of same to the Exchequer.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Reply:

State pension (transition) (SPT) is currently paid to people aged 65 who have a minimum yearly average of 24 social insurance contributions and who have retired from work. Currently it ceases at age 66 when the claimant transfers to State pension (contributory) (SPC).

In 2010, there was an average of 8,955 recipients of State pension (transition) with expenditure of €108 million. This compares to 273,005 SPC recipients at a cost of €3.45 billion.   Less than 25 per cent of the SPT customers were in employment at the time of claim while 44 per cent were on a social welfare payment prior to receiving SPT. A further 25 per cent were retired from work at the time of claim.

This means, based on recipients in 2010, that approximately 2,200 customers may be impacted (for one year) by the abolition of SPT. They may be in a position to remain in employment or qualify for another social welfare payment. They may (the following year) be able to qualify for SPC at age 66.

As announced in the National Pensions Framework, State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This will begin in 2014 with the standardisation of State pension age at 66.   State pension age will be increased to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 in 2028. It is worth noting that, until the early 1970s, the qualifying age for State pension (contributory) was 70 years of age. By gradually increasing the qualifying age for State pension, people will be further encouraged to remain in employment beyond 65 years of age.

The Quarterly National Household Survey Q4 2010 showed that the numbers currently at work drop dramatically at 65 years of age. While 77.2 per cent of people aged 45-54 years are in employment, this drops to 64.3 per cent for 55-64 year-olds and to just 8.7 per cent for people aged 65 years or older. It is clear, therefore, that the challenges facing the Irish pension system are significant. Increases in life expectancy mean that more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. While this is to be welcomed, this has obvious and significant implications in relation to the future costs of State pension provision.   The fundamental principle that people need to participate in the workforce for longer needs to be emphasised and they need to contribute more towards their pensions if they are to achieve the income they expect or would like to have in retirement.

Question No: 352 Ref No: 22125/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if any steps are in place to review the personal public service system in view of the discrepancy between the quantity of personal public service numbers in circulation and population figures.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The two sets of figures referred to by the Deputy are not directly comparable, as one refers to the numbers issued since 1979 and the other refers to the current population. In that context, there is no discrepancy.

The Department of Social Protection is responsible for maintaining the national database of Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers which are stored on the Department’s Central Records System (CRS). There are currently 7.4 million customer records on CRS each of which is identified by a unique PPS number. The PPS number in its current format was originally a tax reference number. With the introduction of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) in 1979 an individual’s PAY AS You Earn (PAYE) tax reference number became known as a Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number. The RSI number was re-named the Personal Public Service (PPS) number in 1998 to reflect its future use as a unique identifier across the wider public service.

CRS is a complete database of all the historical tax reference numbers which were used to pre-populate the database in 1979 and every PPS number which has been issued since then. In addition to those persons currently resident in the State who have been issued with a PPS Number, the figure of 7.4 million also includes any individual who, since 1979, required a PPS number and;

1)         has died,

2)         has been resident in the State and has subsequently left the jurisdiction, and

3)         has not been resident in the State (e.g. an individual resident abroad who has benefited from an Irish Estate – the Revenue Commissioners have a    requirement that all beneficiaries of Irish Estates should have a PPS number)

The Department is continuously monitoring customer records on its CRS in order to preserve and enhance the quality of the data including, where appropriate, consolidating duplicate PPS numbers as they emerge.

Question No: 119

Ref No: 18037/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 23 June 2011, where it is stated that a TD is not a legal entity and therefore ineligible to participate in the national internship scheme; is the Oireachtas not a legal entity and will TD’s not then be able to hire interns under the national internship scheme through the Oireachtas.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.)

The national internship scheme is open to private, public and community and voluntary sectors. The Houses of the Oireachtas, as a public body, could participate in the scheme as a host organisation. It is intended that officials in my Department will contact the Houses of the Oireachtas commission to discuss the possibility of the commission participating in scheme.

Question No. 118

Ref No: 18036/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a person (details supplied) who ceased claiming social welfare after having qualified for the enterprise allowance scheme, who is now not eligible for a paid position on a FÁS scheme as they have not been receiving social welfare payments.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

(Details: Johnny Ryan is an archaeologist who was receiving social welfare until 2009 when he qualified for an Enterprise Allowance, enabling him to start his own business. The scheme finishes on 22nd June of this year. He wants to apply to FAS/IBEC for the FAS WPP1 scheme to work with Dublin City archaeologist Ruth Johnson. It appears, however, while he is eligible to apply he is not eligible to be paid for his work as he needs to be receiving social welfare to qualify for payment. He has been told the Enterprise Allowance does not count in the regard.)

REPLY

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.)

Any unemployed individual may participate in the FAS Work Placement Programme. However, should an unemployed individual wish to be in receipt of a social welfare payment during their participation on the FÁS Work Placement Programme they must receive one of the following payments for at least 3 months prior to commencing the programme:

·               Jobseekers Allowance

·               Jobseekers Benefit

·               Disability Allowance,

·               Blind Pension,

·               Invalidity Pension,

·               Illness Benefit or

·               Lone parents allowance

Individuals who have been in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance have been self-employed for two years. Jobseekers allowance is, in general, the most relevant scheme in these circumstances. When their entitlement to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance expires they must, if they wish to claim jobseekers allowance, satisfy the conditions for that scheme which include a means test. If they are still self-employed the means test will take into account, inter alia, prospective income from self employment for the next 12 months.

For the purposes of receiving a social welfare payment while participating on the FÁS Work Placement Programme, time spent in receipt of the Back to Work

Ref No: 23721/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Reply:

State pension (transition) (SPT) is currently paid to people aged 65 who have a minimum yearly average of 24 social insurance contributions and who have retired from work. Currently it ceases at age 66 when the claimant transfers to State pension (contributory) (SPC).

In 2010, there was an average of 8,955 recipients of State pension (transition) with expenditure of €108 million. This compares to 273,005 SPC recipients at a cost of €3.45 billion.   Less than 25 per cent of the SPT customers were in employment at the time of claim while 44 per cent were on a social welfare payment prior to receiving SPT. A further 25 per cent were retired from work at the time of claim.

This means, based on recipients in 2010, that approximately 2,200 customers may be impacted (for one year) by the abolition of SPT. They may be in a position to remain in employment or qualify for another social welfare payment. They may (the following year) be able to qualify for SPC at age 66.

As announced in the National Pensions Framework, State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This will begin in 2014 with the standardisation of State pension age at 66.   State pension age will be increased to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 in 2028. It is worth noting that, until the early 1970s, the qualifying age for State pension (contributory) was 70 years of age. By gradually increasing the qualifying age for State pension, people will be further encouraged to remain in employment beyond 65 years of age.

The Quarterly National Household Survey Q4 2010 showed that the numbers currently at work drop dramatically at 65 years of age. While 77.2 per cent of people aged 45-54 years are in employment, this drops to 64.3 per cent for 55-64 year-olds and to just 8.7 per cent for people aged 65 years or older. It is clear, therefore, that the challenges facing the Irish pension system are significant. Increases in life expectancy mean that more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. While this is to be welcomed, this has obvious and significant implications in relation to the future costs of State pension provision.   The fundamental principle that people need to participate in the workforce for longer needs to be emphasised and they need to contribute more towards their pensions if they are to achieve the income they expect or would like to have in retirement.

Question No: 352 Ref No: 22125/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The two sets of figures referred to by the Deputy are not directly comparable, as one refers to the numbers issued since 1979 and the other refers to the current population. In that context, there is no discrepancy.

The Department of Social Protection is responsible for maintaining the national database of Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers which are stored on the Department’s Central Records System (CRS). There are currently 7.4 million customer records on CRS each of which is identified by a unique PPS number. The PPS number in its current format was originally a tax reference number. With the introduction of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) in 1979 an individual’s PAY AS You Earn (PAYE) tax reference number became known as a Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number. The RSI number was re-named the Personal Public Service (PPS) number in 1998 to reflect its future use as a unique identifier across the wider public service.

CRS is a complete database of all the historical tax reference numbers which were used to pre-populate the database in 1979 and every PPS number which has been issued since then. In addition to those persons currently resident in the State who have been issued with a PPS Number, the figure of 7.4 million also includes any individual who, since 1979, required a PPS number and;

1)         has died,

2)         has been resident in the State and has subsequently left the jurisdiction, and

3)         has not been resident in the State (e.g. an individual resident abroad who has benefited from an Irish Estate – the Revenue Commissioners have a    requirement that all beneficiaries of Irish Estates should have a PPS number)

The Department is continuously monitoring customer records on its CRS in order to preserve and enhance the quality of the data including, where appropriate, consolidating duplicate PPS numbers as they emerge.

Question No: 119

Ref No: 18037/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.)

The national internship scheme is open to private, public and community and voluntary sectors. The Houses of the Oireachtas, as a public body, could participate in the scheme as a host organisation. It is intended that officials in my Department will contact the Houses of the Oireachtas commission to discuss the possibility of the commission participating in scheme.

Question No. 118

Ref No: 18036/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

REPLY

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.)

Any unemployed individual may participate in the FAS Work Placement Programme. However, should an unemployed individual wish to be in receipt of a social welfare payment during their participation on the FÁS Work Placement Programme they must receive one of the following payments for at least 3 months prior to commencing the programme:

·               Jobseekers Allowance

·               Jobseekers Benefit

·               Disability Allowance,

·               Blind Pension,

·               Invalidity Pension,

·               Illness Benefit or

·               Lone parents allowance

For the purposes of receiving a social welfare payment while participating on the FÁS Work Placement Programme, time spent in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is ineligible as individuals in receipt of this allowance were self-employed.

Individuals who have been in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance have been self-employed for two years. Jobseekers allowance is, in general, the most relevant scheme in these circumstances. When their entitlement to the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance expires they must, if they wish to claim jobseekers allowance, satisfy the conditions for that scheme which include a means test. If they are still self-employed the means test will take into account, inter alia, prospective income from self employment for the next 12 months.

Question No: 116

Ref No: 18035/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if, in respect of Government plans to increase the retirement age to 66 in 2014, there is a provision for those who are presently contractually obliged to retire at age 65 and will retire in 2014 and will therefore not be entitled to receive their contributory pensions until one year after they finish work. – Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The effective date for standardisation of State pension age is 1 January 2014. Therefore, anyone who retires in 2014 will not receive State pension (transition). Should an individual not be able to remain in employment past the age of 65, he or she would be entitled to apply for another social welfare payment for the period between the cessation of employment and the State pension age of 66.

Therefore, as provided for in the National Pensions Framework, State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This will begin in 2014 with the standardisation of State pension age at 66. State pension age will be increased to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 in 2028. The legislative changes being included in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011 also fulfill one of the commitments in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland.

The background to the changes in State pension age is that the challenges facing the Irish pension system are significant. Life expectancy is increasing. The population share of those aged 65 and over is expected to more than double between now and 2051, from 11% to approximately 22-26% around 2050 – 2060. In contrast, the share of the working age population is projected to decline gradually from 68% to 58%.

There are currently six people of working age for every pensioner and this ratio is expected to decrease to approximately two to one by mid-century. Spending on public pensions, that is, social welfare pensions and public service occupational pensions, is projected to increase from approximately 5 ½ % of GDP in 2008, to almost 15% in 2050.

Question No: 290

Ref No: 15847/11

To the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider introducing a requirement on pension fund managers to disclose their fees on a continual basis so as to encourage competition and cut costs.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 15th June, 2011.

R E P L Y

Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton T.D.):

The Government supports and encourages people to make provision for an adequate income in retirement. It does this through the provision of a State pension (contributory) which is currently 33% approx. of the gross average industrial earnings and through generous tax relief on supplementary pension savings.

It is important that an individual’s pension savings is invested wisely and that charges incurred in the administration of a pension scheme are minimised. The Government recognises the difficulty that people can have in understanding the various charges that can arise and how these charges are applied. In this regard, I have requested the Implementation Group for the National Pensions Framework to examine options to bring simplification and transparency to the issue of pension charges. This group is chaired by my Department and includes a number of officials from the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Pensions Board. Following the outcome of this work, I will bring forward regulations to increase the transparency of pension charges, if appropriate.

2011 questions for Public Expenditure and Reform

Posted October 30th, 2011

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 203

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there will be any provisions in Budget 2012 to reduce the number of quangos..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

Ref No: 30845/11

REPLY

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Mr Howlin):

The question of rationalisation and the reduction in the number of State bodies is being considered in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and the overall budgetary and estimates process for 2012, and decisions on such matters will be made by the Government over the coming weeks.

The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State Agencies states that rationalisation must be cost effective and lead to a more transparent, accountable and efficient public service. The overriding imperative is the absolute requirement to achieve major savings in all areas of expenditure and to reduce staff numbers and administrative overheads. This underscores the need for radical streamlining of bodies, abolishing those bodies whose remit is no longer essential and amalgamation of other agencies or sharing of services between bodies, so that public services and functions can be delivered more cost-effectively.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 202

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if 70% of the President’s remuneration package is tax free; and if he will clarify the total worth of the President’s remuneration package..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

Ref No: 30843/11

REPLY

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform ( Mr Howlin) :

Under the Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1973, the personal remuneration of the President is set at the rate paid to the Chief Justice plus ten per cent. In accordance with the Act, the personal remuneration of the current President is €325,507 p.a. and is subject to the normal income tax code including the Universal Social Charge. The remuneration of the current President is protected under the Constitution by virtue of Article 12.11.3 which provides that the emoluments and allowances of the President shall not be reduced while in Office.

In line with its stated intention to provide for reduced salary rates for new members of the judiciary, the Government has provided for a revised rate of pay of €249,014 to apply to the person who takes up the office of President following the enactment and commencement of the Single Pension Scheme and Remuneration Bill, 2011. That Bill is currently before the Oireachtas.

Under the legislation the President also receives an allowance related to the Office of €317,434 p.a. which meets the expenses incurred in providing for state functions etc.

I acknowledge that notwithstanding the Constitutional protection afforded to the emoluments of the President while in Office, the current President has voluntarily waived sums due in respect of her entitlements under the legislation. A similar facility will be open to the new President on election.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 80

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28406/11

REPLY

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform ( Mr Howlin) :

The 2011 Estimate for my Vote includes the following provision for consultancy expenditure:

Administrative Budget €7k

Programme Consultancy Costs €75k

At this point I do not envisage that the full allocation will be required but the final requirement cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty.

I do not envisage that any of this provision will be attributed to contracts to identify value for money in my Department.

The following table contains the relevant information in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department:

Agency, Body, Office Detail

Office of Public Works The estimate in administration subheads for consultancy fees and value for money on Vote 10 for OPW in 2011 is €54,000. Of this amount €33,000 relates to Value for Money and Policy Review consultancy contracts. Additional Information:In the course of its normal business activity, the Office of Public Works engages technical consultants on many of its projects, primarily architectural and engineering. The costs of these consultancies would be included in the overall project.

State Laboratory The State Laboratory intends to spend €12,000 on consultancy fees in 2011. This spend relates to Internal Audit services only.

Commission for Public Service Appointments The Estimate for 2011 includes a provision for Consultancy spend of €158,000. To date in 2011 total spend amounts to €25,000 and it is not envisaged that the full amount of the provision will be required to the end of the year. None of this is attributable to contracts related to identifying value for money.

Public Appointments Service Nil spend on consultancy in 2011.

Valuation Office The Valuation Office envisages spending €70,000 approximately on consultancies in 2011. None of the consultancies are specifically geared towards the identification of value for money.

Office of the Ombudsman

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 78

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of National Lottery money spent on health; and the percentage of European lottery money spent on health each year..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28043/11

REPLY

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform ( Mr Howlin) :

Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services (REV)each year gives a breakdown by Department of all the expenditure areas that are supported by the proceeds of the National Lottery. It is estimated that a total of €230 million will be available in 2011 from the Lottery.

The total allocation in the REV for 2011 for the subheads in the Health Votes (39 and 40) which are part-funded by Lottery proceeds is €13.3 million. As Lottery funding is treated as an item of non-tax revenue to the exchequer, it is not possible to indicate the amount or percentage of Lottery funding provided to any particular Vote or subhead. However, it is estimated that in 2011 total funding from the Lottery will represent 66% of the overall allocation for all subheads which are part-funded by the Lottery.

No distinction is made between funds raised by the National Lottery from European lottery games and from ot

Total consultancy expenditure for 2011 will be approximately €75,000. None of the consultancies are specifically geared towards the identification of value for money.

Posted October 30th, 2011

QUESTION NO: 398

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount paid to gardaí in overtime for attending in court in 2010; and the way this compares to the amount paid by the Director of Public Prosecutions in barristers’ fees in the same year..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The Garda authorities have estimated that in 2010 expenditure on overtime arising from the attendance of Garda personnel in court amounted to approximately €13.5m.

As I am not responsible for the payment of legal fees on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions I do not have the other details referred to by the Deputy.

QUESTION NO: 397

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the costs to the State of the legal aid scheme in 2010 and 2011..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I wish to inform the Deputy that the State incurs costs in respect of two separate categories of legal aid. The costs incurred in 2010 and 2011 are as follows:

Criminal Legal Aid

Expenditure on criminal legal aid for 2010 was €56.544 million and to date in 2011 is €44.752 million.

Civil Legal Aid

The Legal Aid Board received Exchequer funding of €32.192 million in 2010 which included €7.967 million in respect of the Refugee Legal Service (RLS). To date in 2011 Exchequer funding to the Board has amounted to €22.528 million, including €4.819 million for the RLS.

I have no function in the matter of legal costs incurred by the National Asset Management Agency as this is a matter for the Minister for Finance.

QUESTION NO: 383

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 18th October, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding proposals and recommendations coming from him in relation to reforming the business permission scheme into an enterprise and investment visa..

- Eoghan Murphy.

REPLY.

As I informed the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 131 on 6 October 2011, I am currently considering recommendations for a new immigration scheme for entrepreneurship and investment.

<Previous PQ>

QUESTION NO: 131

Chun an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Athchóirithe Dlí To the Minister for Justice and Equality

QUESTION: * To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he anticipates the new legislation on entrepreneurs and investment visas to be tabled in Dáil Éireann..

- Eoghan Murphy

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

ANSWER:

I can confirm that my Department has been working on new immigration schemes in the area of entrepreneurship and investment. I believe there is scope for dynamic initiatives from my Department to contribute to our national recovery and the area of entrepreneurship and investment is a prime opportunity. I am currently considering recommendations for a scheme which will not require legislation to be tabled before the Oireachtas.

QUESTION NO: 138

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I would like to inform the Deputy that the estimated spend by my Department on consultancy in 2011 is in the region of €53,000 and the estimated spend on Value for Money reviews for 2011 is in the region of €2,000. It should be noted that all Value for Money reviews are now carried out in – house by Departmental staff.

QUESTION NO: 131

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he anticipates the new legislation on entrepreneurs and investment visas to be tabled in Dáil Éireann..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I can confirm that my Department has been working on new immigration schemes in the area of entrepreneurship and investment. I believe there is scope for dynamic initiatives from my Department to contribute to our national recovery and the area of entrepreneurship and investment is a prime opportunity. I am currently considering recommendations for a scheme which will not require legislation to be tabled before the Oireachtas.

QUESTION NOS: 61, 388, 397 & 398

DÁIL QUESTIONS addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Eoghan Muprhy

for ORAL on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

* 388. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the proposed abolition of upward only rent reviews for existing leases..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The Programme for Government indicates that legislation will be introduced to end upward only rent reviews for existing business leases. Following on from an initial consultation process with the Attorney General, I have forwarded outline proposals to her for further examination and development.

Those proposals have already been the subject of preliminary discussion by Government. The recently published Legislative Programme indicates that the relevant legislation will be published during the current Dail session.

On a related matter, it is also my intention to secure the speedy enactment of the Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009 which is awaiting Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann. Among the Committee Stage amendments which I will be proposing in relation to that Bill is a series of amendments relating to the establishment of a public database containing relevant details of letting arrangements and rent reviews in the commercial property market. It has long been acknowledged that the absence of such a database has contributed to the undoubted information deficit which exists in this area. When established, the information contained in the database will introduce a welcome degree of transparency into the workings of the commercial property market. Accurate information about rent levels is a critical element in ensuring that a true market rent emerges from the rent review process and I am acutely conscious of the fact that the perceived absence of such information has led to a lack of confidence in the current rent review system.

QUESTION NO: 389

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has examined the report from his Department following their visit to Stockholm; and if he has reviewed at the Attorney General’s recent advices regarding the legal and constitutional implications of introducing a ban on the sale of sex..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

In 2010, the Swedish government completed an evaluation of its 1999 legislation criminalising the purchase of sexual services. Following its publication, the Dignity Project arranged a visit to Stockholm to learn more about the evaluation. The delegation included representation from my Department. The Dignity Project was a research project funded by the EU. An inter-agency and inter-jurisdictional initiative led by the Dublin Employment Pact and the Immigrant Council of Ireland, it examined services provided to victims of human trafficking with a view to replicating best practice models in partner countries. My Department’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Garda National Immigration Bureau were partners with observer status.

In this jurisdiction, it is not an offence to sell sex. In general, it is not an offence to purchase sex either. Consequently, neither party to the transaction is currently criminalised. Any proposal to amend the law in terms of criminalising the purchase of sex would therefore, require very careful examination.

Our legislative approach to prostitution is based on protecting society from the more intrusive aspects of such activity from a public order perspective, while also seeking to protect prostitutes from exploitation. Accordingly, it is an offence to solicit in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution. The offence can be committed by the prostitute, the client or a third party – a pimp, for example. It is also an offence to organise prostitution, coerce or compel a person to be a prostitute, knowingly live on the earnings of a prostitute, or keep or manage a brothel.

In addition, our 2008 human trafficking legislation made it an offence to knowingly solicit or importune a trafficked person, in any place, for the purpose of prostitution.

I am examining a report prepared by my department following the visit to Stockholm and which was submitted to the Attorney General’s Office. I am also examining the Attorney’s advices concerning the legal and constitutional implications of introducing a ban on the purchase of sex. .

QUESTION NO: 605

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the Start Mortgages decision; and the steps that are being taken to revise the 2009 legislation in relation to response orders by including amending legislation in the miscellaneous provisions bill..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The position is that my Department is in consultations with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the implications of the High Court judgment concerned. The action to be taken is dependent on the outcome of those discussions.

QUESTION NO: 387

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 19th July, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the case of a person (details supplied).

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for further permission to remain in the State has been received from the legal representatives of the person referred to by the Deputy. I have noted the unfortunate circumstances of the person’s situation and I will be making a decision in this case shortly.

I will inform the Deputy of the outcome.

QUESTION NO: 386

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 19th July, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to change the law in relation to the length of time minor offences remain on a person’s record..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I am pleased to say that I intend to publish the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill in the Autumn. The Bill, which will build on the recommendations in the 2007 Law Reform Commission Report on Spent Convictions, will provide for the non-disclosure of certain convictions when a person is seeking employment, once certain conditions have been met. These conditions will relate mainly to the nature of the offence, the length of time since the person was convicted and the type of employment they are seeking. Certain convictions, including convictions for sexual offences will be excluded from the benefits of the Bill, while anyone wishing to work with children or vulnerable adults will have to disclose their previous convictions.

QUESTION NO: 153

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce powers for members of An Garda Síochána to enable them to confiscate alcohol from persons drinking in public.

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The position is that section 37A of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, as inserted by section 14 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, contains detailed provisions permitting a member of the Garda Siochana to seize intoxicating liquor in the possession of a person under 18 years of age. This power may be exercised where the member believes with reasonable cause that intoxicating liquor in a bottle or other container has been, is being or is intended to be consumed by the person concerned in a place other than a private dwelling.

Moreover, section 8A of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, as inserted by section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, provides that a member of the Garda Siochana may, in certain circumstances, seize and remove intoxicating liquor in a bottle or other container from a person. The circumstances in which this power may be exercised include those where the member believes with reasonable cause that the person concerned is acting in a place other than a private dwelling in a manner that gives rise to a reasonable apprehension for the safety of persons or property or for the maintenance of the public peace.

QUESTION NO: 148

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider reversing the fee for obtaining a special exemption order to pre-2008 levels, half the price of the current fee..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The increase in fees applicable to Special Exemption Orders provided for in the District Courts (Fees) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 202 of 2008) was the first such increase since 2004. The current court fee is €300. A report on this matter was commissioned by the Irish Nightclub Industry Association and I recently met with members of the Association to discuss their concerns. While I am aware of the pressures on licensees, I am also aware that there is a need to maintain a balance in this matter and I have no proposals at the present time to reduce this fee.

QUESTION NO: 125

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Thursday, 23rd June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce the 116000 European hotline for missing children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I am informed that the telephone number to which the Deputy refers has been reserved by the European Commission as a common missing children telephone hotline for the entire EU. It is made available by national telecoms regulators to organisations they consider to be qualified to offer such a service. The allocation of the number in Ireland is therefore a matter in the first instance for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

I am informed that ComReg has published an information note on its website which makes all relevant information available to potential applicants who may wish to provide the 116 000 service. It also issued on a number of occasions national press advertisements inviting applications, most recently on 20 June.

QUESTION NO: 124

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN on Thursday, 23rd June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the vetting system for those working with children (details supplied); the reason that this process is taking so long; and his plans to improve the system..

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides a centralised vetting service for all registered organisations nationwide. The organisation to which the Deputy refers is registered with the GCVU for employment vetting purposes. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that there have been no changes to the procedures in place for the processing of Garda vetting applications.

The length of time currently being taken to process vetting applications is a matter of concern and I am determined to take action to address it. I recognise that it is important to process these applications within a reasonable time frame both for the benefit of the applicants and the organisations involved.

A number of immediate measures are being taken to improve the situation. The sanction of the Department of Finance has been obtained to retain the services of ten temporary employees in the GCVU. A further sanction has been obtained to engage an additional ten temporary employees for the Unit and the process of recruiting these is underway. This should have an impact on processing times. In addition, further steps are under consideration with a view to alleviating the pressure on the staff of the GCVU and to reduce the time taken for the processing of applications.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that at present there is a total of five Gardaí, 76 full-time Garda civilian personnel and ten temporary civilian personnel assigned to the GCVU. This represents a very significant increase in the level of personnel assigned to the unit, which stood at only 13 before the current process of development in Garda vetting began in 2005.

The average processing time for vetting applications fluctuates in line with periods of increased demand. In processing an individual vetting application, additional time may be required in cases where clarification is needed as to the details provided or where other enquiries need to be made, for example, when the person in question has lived and worked abroad. There will always be a reasonably significant time period required to process a vetting application. Registered organisations have been advised to take account of this in their recruitment and selection process. However, the Gardaí make every effort to reduce the time to the minimum possible consistent with carrying out what are very necessary checks. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that, at present, the average processing time for vetting applications received at the GCVU is approximately 10 weeks.

The GCVU has managed a substantial increase over recent years in the numbers of vetting applications it receives from around 188,000 in 2007 to almost 292,000 in 2010. At present, there are approximately 55,000 applications in the course of being processed.

QUESTION NO: 458

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN ANSWER on Wednesday, 15th June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the introduction of legislation to compel management companies of private multi-housing developments to include the views of all tenants both renting and buying when drafting or amending rules governing the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

The position is that section 23 of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 provides that an owners’ management company may, as respects the multi-unit development for which that company has responsibility, make house rules relating to the effective operation and maintenance of the development. These rules must be consistent with any covenants or conditions contained in the title documents and be made in a manner consistent with the objective of advancing the quiet and peaceful occupation of residential units in the development and the fair and equitable balancing of the rights and obligations of the occupiers and unit owners.

Except where house rules are made prior to the sale of the first residential unit in new developments, such rules shall not be made unless they have been considered and approved by a meeting of unit owners. Notice of any such meeting must be given to each unit owner not less than 21 days in advance and the notice must be accompanied by a draft of the proposed rules. If the rules are approved, the owners’ management company must provide a copy to each unit owner. The same procedure applies to any changes in rules.

Section 23 also provides that it shall be a term of every letting of a residential unit in a multi-unit development that the letting is subject to observance of the house rules by all those occupying the property.

QUESTION NO: 175

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)by Deputy Eoghan Murphy for WRITTEN ANSWERon Thursday, 9th June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the business visa scheme came into force; the number who have availed of this scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Eoghan Murphy

REPLY.

I presume the Deputy is referring to the administrative scheme operated by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department known as Business Permission.

Non-EEA nationals who wish to pursue a business activity (in a capacity other than as an employed person for whom an employer would have to obtain a work permit) must first obtain Business Permission. Information outlining the requirements of the Business Permission scheme which are very specific can be obtained from the INIS website “www.inis.gov.ie” listed under Business Permission.

The Business Permission scheme has been in existence for well in excess of 10 years. From the statistics readily available, I can inform the Deputy that in the period of 2008 to 30 April 2011, some 411 applications for Business Permission were received by INIS. In the same period, 218 applications were approved, 172 refused and 80 deemed abandoned.

The Deputy may also be interested in my recent reply to Parliamentary Question No. 107 (Ref. 1443/11) of 2 June 2011 confirming that my Department is presently working on a new immigration scheme in the area of entrepreneurship and investment.

QUESTION NO: 107

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter)by Deputy Eoghan Murphy
for WRITTEN ANSWER on Thursday, 2nd June, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered the adoption of an entrepreneur visa similar to that in the UK..

- Eoghan Murphy

Minister Alan Shatter TD

I can confirm that my Department has been working on new immigration schemes in the area of entrepreneurship and investment. As I indicated in my contribution to Dail debate on the launch of a short term visa waiver programme for visitors travelling to Ireland from the UK, I believe there is scope for my Department to play a more proactive role in the national recovery effort and the area of entrepreneurship and investment is a case in point. I expect to receive recommendations in this area in early course.

Added: 26 May 2011

DÁIL QUESTIONS addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Mr. Shatter) for WRITTEN ANSWER on Wednesday, 25th May, 2011.

* 149. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered the introduction of a rent control system (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

* 141. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered combining a rent control system with a compulsory rental order system (details supplied).

Minister Alan Shatter TD

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government indicates that legislation will be introduced to end upward only rent reviews for existing leases. I am engaged in on-going consultations with the Attorney General in order to determine how this matter can best be dealt with. That consultation process will, of course, take account of all relevant proposals which are pertinent to this matter, and will also have regard to the views and positions of stakeholders and interested parties. However, there are no proposals in contemplation for the introduction of a rent control system at this time.

Added: 9 May 2011

To the Minister for Justice and Equality:

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider, in the interests of independence, transparency and accountability, making the Irish Human Rights Commission directly accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas instead of his Department.

Minister Alan Shatter TD

Under current legislation the Chief Executive of the Commission is accountable to the Public Accounts Committee. The Commission can also be required to make a presentation to an Oireachtas Committee on any matter that has been considered by the Commission. I am satisfied that the independence of the Commission and its ability under current arrangements to discharge its responsibilities in a transparent way are not in doubt.

To the Minister for Justice and Equality:

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans regarding the introduction of legislation to enhance and enforce the rights of persons with autism.

Minister Alan Shatter TD

Ireland has comprehensive legal protection against discrimination on the ground of disability. Persons with disabilities, including persons with autism, are protected from discrimination and afforded reasonable accommodation in access to goods and services and in the field of employment, under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2008 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2008, respectively. In enforcing their right to non-discrimination, people with disabilities and their carers may seek advice from the Equality Authority. If they feel they have been discriminated against contrary to law, they may make a complaint to the Equality Tribunal.

I might also mention that it is the Government’s intention to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under the Convention are being met.

To the Minister for Justice and Equality:

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption, which was signed on 9 December 2003; and if, in signing the convention, any qualifying declarations or reservations were made at the time.

Minister Alan Shatter TD

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption was signed on behalf of Ireland, without any reservation, when the Instrument was opened for signature in December 2003. Arrangements are currently being made to enable ratification of this measure, so that, following Government approval, the Convention can be adopted by the State.

To the Minister for Justice and Equality:

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to transpose in to domestic law Article 12 of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption; and if any other Articles from this convention still need to be suitably addressed by him and the expected timetable for doing so.

Minister Alan Shatter TD

The Government is committed to consolidating and reforming the law on corruption. My officials have commenced work with a view to bringing proposals to Government in due course. The provisions of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, along with the provisions of all other relevant international instruments, will be considered in the development of those proposals.

To the Minister for Justice and Equality:

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will bring forward the Gambling Bill in view of the fact that the Betting (Amendment) Bill is expected to be published during the summer session and that both bills are closely interlinked in terms of properly licensing and regulating gambling in this country..

Minister Alan Shatter TD

The purpose of the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2011, to be published by the Minister for Finance, is to bring internet and telephone betting within the licensing provisions of the Betting Act, 1931. Provision has already been made in the Finance Act 2011 to tax such forms of betting, subject to the adoption of a licensing procedure.

The Deputy may also be aware that a document entitledOptions for Regulating Gambling was published last December, as part of a review of gambling being conducted by my Department. The previous Government declined to adopt a policy on gambling arising from that review. It falls to me, therefore, to consider whether the proposals outlined in Options for Regulating Gambling represent the best choices in terms of settling a revised regulatory architecture for gambling, into the future. Any legislative proposals arising from my examination and subsequent discussions at Cabinet, will follow in the normal course.

Tanaiste, Foreign Affairs and Trade questions 2011

Posted October 30th, 2011

Question No. 93

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the trade function has moved under his remit, if not when will this occur, if it has happened – to what extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

Ref No: 30847/11

REPLY

An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mr. Gilmore)

Following a Government decision on 24 May last, the transfer of trade promotion functions from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade took place on 1 June. The transfer gives my Department an enhanced role in trade promotion.

On a practical level, my Department now has responsibility for the management of the Export Trade Council and of our Joint Economic Commissions which Ireland maintains with a number of countries.

I chaired the first meeting of the Export Trade Council, on Thursday 29 September 2011. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government the new Council will strengthen cooperation and coordination across all Government Departments and State Agencies involved in the promotion and development of trade and exports and will oversee the progressive implementation of the recommendations set out inTrading and Investing in a Smart Economy published last autumn.

I will lead the Irish delegation at the forthcoming meeting of our Joint Economic Commission with the Russian Federation scheduled to take place on 7 November next in Moscow.

The transfer of trade functions has resulted in a closer working relationship with Enterprise Ireland, particularly in relation overseas trade missions which they organise and which are led by myself or my colleague the Minister for State for Trade and Development. Minister O’Sullivan has recently led trade missions to London, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and will shortly lead one to South Africa. I attended the annual meeting of Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum (APIBF) in Seoul, on 14 October 2011 and while in the region, took the opportunity to travel to Tokyo to have a number of meetings there focussed on trade and economic issues.

The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation retains lead responsibility for trade policy, which includes representing Ireland’s trade interests in the context of the EU Common Commercial Policy and at the World Trade Organisation.

Question No. 43

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28402/11

Reply

My Department manages expenditure under two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Co-Operation).

In 2011, an allocation of €108,000 has been made for consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews in Vote 28. Most of this budget has been allocated towards the provision of specialised ICT consultancy services which are essential in order to maintain the security and integrity of the Department’s ICT networks. In line with Government policy, the Department has significantly reduced its spending on consultancy services in recent years. Since 2008, this budget line has been reduced by 81%.

The Vote 29 consultancy budget for 2011 is €1.4 million. My Department, through Irish Aid (Ireland’s official development assistance programme), commissions consultancy services where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department and where independent appraisal, audit, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects is required. Given the overall scale, range and diversity of the Irish Aid programme, it is necessary, from time to time, to complement our in-house capacity with specialised skills and advice. These commissions sometimes involve examination of value for money issues as part of a wider set of objectives for the project. In these situations it is not possible to separately identify the VFM element of the total costs.

The consultancy expenditure is constantly monitored to ensure that it does not exceed the level required for the proper management of the aid programme.

Question No. 115

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of Ireland’s commitment to international arms control, in particular nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament and in view of Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE, which we will take up in 2012, if he will inform Dáil Éireann of when he intends to implement Ireland’s accession to the Antarctic treaty.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

Ref No: 24783/11

REPLY

The question of Ireland’s possible accession to the Antarctic Treaty System is under consideration in those Government Departments which have responsibility for the areas covered by the Antarctic Treaties.

A Government Decision of 9 June 2010 authorised the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and the other relevant Ministers to conduct preparatory work on this issue. A process of inter-departmental consultation, chaired by my Department, is continuing. This includes an assessment of the legislative implications of accession; it is apparent that these could be significant.

Question No. 114

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a decision has been reached in relation to retaining an Irish embassy in the Vatican.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.

Ref No: 24771/11

REPLY

I am currently reviewing our network of diplomatic and consular missions in the context of the Government’s comprehensive review of expenditure. It would be inappropriate and discourteous for me to speculate on the outcome of that review as regards individual missions.

Question No. 33

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of all those Heads of State outside of the European Union that the European Council has formally called on to step down.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 14th April, 2011.

Ref No: 8034/11

An Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore TD

The European Union maintains diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world. Through engagement with these countries, the EU aims to promote the common values and interests of the Union, to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law and to promote respect for human rights. The European Council, which defines the general political direction and priorities of the EU, has, on occasion, called on a foreign Head of State or Government to step down. Such a call, however, represents just one, limited way of promoting EU values and influencing the process of change within a country.

In relation to Libya, the Deputy will be aware of the Government’s view that Colonel Gaddafi and his family should surrender power and leave the political stage in order to allow the Libyan people to peacefully determine their future. This is also the considered view of our EU partners, as clearly expressed by the European Councils on 11 and 25 March, and again by the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 April.

Calling for Colonel Gaddafi to relinquish power does not amount to actively seeking regime change. He has clearly lost all legitimacy to rule and there are no circumstances in which one could envisage the vast majority of the Libyan people being prepared to have him continue as their Head of Government, in light of the violence and repression he has visited upon them. Ultimately, however, it remains for Colonel Gaddafi to draw his own conclusions and recognise that he and his regime have no political future in Libya. Extensive diplomatic and economic restrictive measures have also been imposed by the EU against Libya.

Following the Presidential elections in Cote d’Ivoire last year, Alassane Ouattara was declared the victor but the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to accept the result. While the Foreign Affairs Council did not call on Gbagbo to step down, its conclusions on 31 January stated that it would only consider legitimate those institutions and bodies who placed themselves under the authority of President-elect Ouattara. The EU also imposed restrictive measures on Gbagbo and his allies. Gbagbo was arrested on Monday, 11 April, and is in the custody of the forces of President Ouattara.

To ask the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the mechanisms in place to ensure that overseas development aid funding is spent as intended once drawn down by the recipient, that is, in accordance with the stated objectives of the programme receiving funding.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 14th April, 2011.

Ref No: 8036/11

Minister of State, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, TD

Irish Aid has rigorous planning, monitoring, evaluation and audit mechanisms in place. This ensures that all funds are spent effectively and are used for the stated objectives of the programmes receiving funding.

Irish Aid planning processes have a strong results focus which identifies specific objectives and results against which Irish Aid programmes are measured and evaluated. All development aid funding is disbursed based on clear and detailed proposals in line with these specific objectives. Proposals are appraised by Irish Aid staff as well as by an independent external Programme Appraisal and Evaluation Group using a number of different criteria, including quality of intended impact, sustainability, cost effectiveness and efficiency in the use of resources.

Programmes in receipt of funding from Irish Aid are continually monitored and assessed, by both staff in the field and at headquarters, to ensure that they are achieving results and that the intended objectives and goals are being accomplished. This takes place through regular supervision and reporting, and external reviews are also conducted as necessary.

Irish Aid programmes are regularly audited and evaluated by independent evaluation and audit firms as well as by Irish Aid’s Evaluation and Audit Unit, including internal auditors based in our Programme Countries. The Unit’s work is also reviewed by the Department’s independent Audit Committee. These evaluations and audits provide assurance that funds are used for the purposes intended and have a particular focus on poverty outcomes and value for money.

While we are working in some of the most difficult environments in the world, I am satisfied that the monitoring, evaluation and audit systems which we have in place provide the best assurance that development aid funding is used for the intended objectives.

Question No. 36

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the last time a value for money audit was conducted in relation to moneys allocated under overseas development aid programme..

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 14th April, 2011.

Ref No: 8037/11

Minister of State, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, TD

The last value for money work relating to the overseas development aid programme was completed in November 2009. This was a review of Irish Aid’s expenditure of €340 million devoted to HIV/AIDS programmes for the period 2000 to 2007. This report was published and is available in the Dáil Library and on the Irish Aid website.

Further value for money work is planned to be undertaken in 2011. This value for money exercise will be a review of Irish Aid’s support to Concern Worldwide under the Multi-Annual Programme Scheme for NGOs over the period 2007-2010.

Question No. 99

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his understanding of the concept of military neutrality; the way this differs from neutrality and the extent to which both these concepts must evolve in relation to our membership of the European Union post entry in to force of the Lisbon Treaty..

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2011.

Ref No: 9529/11

An Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore TD

In the strict sense of international law and practice, the question of neutrality does not arise during peacetime but only during a state of war, when the neutrality of a state would be embodied in an attitude of impartiality towards the belligerents.

Ireland is one of a number of States which proclaims to pursue a policy of neutrality or non-alignment in peacetime. It is a matter for each of these States to determine the nature and characteristics of its policies. Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality, which has been pursued by successive Governments, is characterised by non-participation in military alliances.

This is not a policy of isolationism and is fully consistent with Ireland’s foreign policy of active international engagement. The values on which our traditional policy of military neutrality rests inform Ireland’s broader foreign policy, including through our participation in international peacekeeping, our contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding, our work for human rights and development, and our efforts to promote disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

Indeed, it is these very same values which have underpinned and motivated Ireland’s long and distinguished record of support for and participation in military operations sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council in the cause of international peace and security.

The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), as set out in the Lisbon Treaty, is an integral part and operational arm of the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The CSDP is entirely consistent with Ireland’s values and interests, including the primacy of the United Nations in the maintenance of global peace and security. While the CSDP is an evolving process directed towards the achievement of ever-greater effectiveness, successive Treaties since the Maastricht Treaty have stipulated that Union policy in this area shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member States.

Ireland’s participation in a European common defence is prohibited by Article 29.4.9 of the Constitution. Any change in that position could take place only with the approval of the people in a referendum to amend the Constitution.

Question No. 34

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a detailed breakdown of overseas development aid spending in 2009 and 2010; the amount that was allocated, by country and region, as well as programme of support and if money allocated in the years in question was drawn down.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 14th April, 2011.

Ref No: 8035/11

Minister of State, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, TD

For 2010, Ireland spent €675 million on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Of this total, €521 million was administered by my Department through Irish Aid. A further €154 million was accounted for by ODA eligible expenditure made through other Government Departments, and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Cooperation budget.

This level of expenditure resulted in Ireland spending approximately 0.53% of its GNP on ODA – and ensured Ireland met, and indeed exceeded, the wider EU target of 0.51%.

Comparative figures for 2009 show that Ireland spent a total of €722 million on ODA, which represented 0.54% of GNP.

Ireland’s aid programme is internationally recognised as being of the highest quality and having a sharp focus on poverty reduction, with hunger eradication at its core. The latest OECD review of Ireland’s aid programme has described the programme as “cutting edge”. Most of Ireland’s bilateral ODA is directed to the least developed countries, with a particular focus on a limited number of very poor partner countries, called Programme Countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ireland’s aid programme is based on the promotion of sustainable development results and has a particular focus on the social sectors of health, education, governance and addressing food security and hunger. Funding is delivered through a wide range of partner organisations including Programme Country national systems, NGOs and Missionary Organisations and UN and other international specialist agencies.

My Department is currently in the process of finalising the detailed analysis of Ireland’s ODA expenditure for 2010, which will be published shortly in the Irish Aid annual report. The detailed analysis of Ireland’s 2009 ODA expenditure is available in the 2009 annual report which can be accessed through the Irish Aid website at www.irishaid.gov.ie

Posted October 30th, 2011

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 113

To ask the Minister for Finance when he is due to report on the Section 23 consultation process..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

Ref No: 30842/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : The public consultation on Section 23-type reliefs and other “legacy” property-based tax reliefs, undertaken by my Department concluded at the end of July. Over 700 submissions were made during the consultation, which forms part of an impact assessment process to assess the potential effects of amending, curtailing and/or abolishing such reliefs, in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for Government to curtail tax shelters which benefit very high income earners.

Submissions were received from a wide range of organisations and from individuals, and varied in length and scope. These submissions are currently being examined and are adding to our understanding of the dynamic of these reliefs and providing a valuable source of information on the possible impacts on the State and investor groups of potential changes to the treatment of property-based legacy reliefs.

It is anticipated that the analysis of the submissions along with the results of the impact assessment process will be available for consideration in the context of the forthcoming budget.

As the Deputy is aware it is not customary to comment in advance of the Budget on any matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 105

To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm the cost to the State for the legal costs incurred by the National Asset Management Agency in 2010 and to date 2011..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th October, 2011.

Ref No: 30848/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : Fees and expenses incurred by NAMA are recovered through the operating activities of the agency. They are published in the quarterly reports of NAMA, which are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the NAMA website.

The second quarterly report for the period ending 30 June 2011, accompanied by financial statements for the second quarter, was submitted to me as required by the end of September 2011 and I will lay the report before each House of the Oireachtas shortly.

The aggregate legal costs for the year 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 are as follows:

2010€m Q1 2011€m

Legal Fees 3.31 0.88

The figures in the table above do not include legal fees incurred by NAMA as part of the loan due diligence process, which are recovered from the five participating institutions through a reduction in the consideration paid for acquired loans.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 55

To ask the Minister for Finance the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28401/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) :          The 2011 Estimate for my Vote includes the following provision for consultancy expenditure:

Administrative Budget:                                                                                                   €0.028m

Consultancy costs associated with the stabilisation of the Banking Sector:         €3.515m

At this point I do not envisage that the full allocation will be required but, due to the uncertain nature of the work, the final requirement cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty.

I do not envisage that any of this provision will be attributed to contract work related to value for money.

The following table contains the relevant information in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Agency, Body, Office Detail

National Treasury Management Agency The projected costs of legal and consultancy fees for the NTMA for 2011 are €8 million. This amount includes fees in relation to banking system functions and takes account of fees incurred by the Department of Finance post the transfer of banking functions to the Department (5 August 2011). It excludes banking consultancy fees recoverable from the financial institutions. Under the Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the Department of Finance, the NTMA continue to pay the third-party consultancy fees of the Banking Unit until 31 December 2011.The above projected costs do not include consultancy fees incurred by NAMA which are paid out of NAMA’s operating income. In 2011, legal and consultancy fees for NAMA are expected to be €29.9m.

Office of the Revenue Commissioners The amount provided for in 2011 in the Revenue Commissioners Revised Estimates Volume under Consultancy Services and Value for Money and Policy Reviews is €108,000. The amount spent to date in 2011 is €31,365 (including €2,405 to those contracted to identify value for money). The projected total expenditure to the end of the year is c€45,000.

Office of the Appeals Commissioners Nil expenditure on Consultancy in 2011

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has an Estimate of €700,000 for 2011 in subhead A.7 Consultancy. Of this amount €500,000 is to provide specialist expertise in conducting the audit of the National Asset Management Agency and €200,000 is provided more generally for specialist expertise in connection with the reporting work carried out by the Office. The consultancy expenditure on NAMA related work is considered a cost of audit and is recouped from NAMA through Appropriations in Aid.To the end of September the Office has spent about €86,000, most of which is recoupable from the NAMA audit. To the end of the year it is expected that the Office will not spend more than about €100,000.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 58, 63 and 113

To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to review the current legislation governing the opening hours of bookmakers..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23716/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) :

The proposed Betting (Amendment) Bill, which is being drafted at present, will amend the 1931 Betting Act to inter alia establish the regulatory framework for the licensing of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges, including measures to enforce the regulatory framework. The extension of the opening hours of retail betting shops over the winter period is being considered in that context.

The drafting of the Bill, which is fairly complex, is well advanced. The Bill is likely to be published in the autumn.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 120

To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 89 and 93 of 10 May 2011 regarding employment contracts of all the senior management in financial institutions covered by the State guarantee, the stage the review is at; when it will be completed; and if he will give details of any preliminary details..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23725/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : As the Deputy is aware, in April of this year, the NTMA requested a review of remuneration policies and practices by each of the covered institutions. In that regard, the institutions were asked to consider measures that could be taken to realign staff expectations with regard to remuneration and benefits in the current economic environment and financial circumstances of the banks.

The review exercise is ongoing. I fully recognise that there is a real public interest in the levels of remuneration at the covered institutions and I will endeavour to have this completed in the shortest timeframe possible with a view to putting the information into the public domain.

DÁIL QUESTION

No 119

To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering alternative courses of action for lenders other than the current moratorium on the enforcement of repossessions..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23724/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : The Deputy may wish to note that a Working Group has been established under the Economic Management Council to consider the state of implementation of the main recommendations of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Group which published its final report in November 2010.

This Group has also been asked to consider and develop further necessary actions to alleviate the increasing mortgage over-indebtedness problem. I expect that the Group will have its work completed shortly.

DÁIL QUESTION

No 118

To ask the Minister for Finance if any adjustment will be made in the future to take into account those who paid their pension levy out of their personal pension..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23722/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I assume the Deputy is proposing that the amount of the pension levy passed on to individuals over the period of the levy should be available to them as a credit against their future tax liabilities.

The moneys raised from the pension fund levy will be used to pay for the reductions in VAT, PRSI and the air travel tax as well as for the additional expenditure measures announced in the Jobs Initiative in May last. These and the other various measures in the Initiative represent the first steps by this Government towards improving the competitiveness of important sectors of the economy and facilitating the return to work of people currently unemployed.

No 119

To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering alternative courses of action for lenders other than the current moratorium on the enforcement of repossessions..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23724/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : The Deputy may wish to note that a Working Group has been established under the Economic Management Council to consider the state of implementation of the main recommendations of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Group which published its final report in November 2010.

This Group has also been asked to consider and develop further necessary actions to alleviate the increasing mortgage over-indebtedness problem. I expect that the Group will have its work completed shortly.

DÁIL QUESTION

No 118

To ask the Minister for Finance if any adjustment will be made in the future to take into account those who paid their pension levy out of their personal pension..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23722/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I assume the Deputy is proposing that the amount of the pension levy passed on to individuals over the period of the levy should be available to them as a credit against their future tax liabilities.

The moneys raised from the pension fund levy will be used to pay for the reductions in VAT, PRSI and the air travel tax as well as for the additional expenditure measures announced in the Jobs Initiative in May last. These and the other various measures in the Initiative represent the first steps by this Government towards improving the competitiveness of important sectors of the economy and facilitating the return to work of people currently unemployed.

Given our commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support and the current difficulties in the public finances, the Jobs Initiative must be funded on a cost neutral basis. Since the proceeds of the levy are already committed in the manner I’ve described, a commitment to allow the levy to also be used as a tax credit against future tax liabilities would mean that the Jobs Initiative would not be cost neutral. I cannot therefore agree to the proposal.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 117

To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to protect those who had their finances managed by a company (details supplied)..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23720/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : Following the collapse of Home Payments Ltd (HPL) last month, the Central Bank commenced an investigation into the matter. This investigation is on-going and I await the final report from the Bank. However, I can confirm that the Central Bank has informed me that, as HPL was not authorised or licensed by the Bank, clients are not eligible for a compensation scheme/deposit protection scheme and, in addition, clients of HPL do not have recourse to the Financial Services Ombudsman. Since the collapse, the Central Bank has worked with the National Consumer Agency and with regulatory and industry bodies to provide assistance to customers of HPL who are at a financial loss.

The Bank has also informed me that it is undertaking a review of all firms in the State which appear to offer customers debt advice and/or debt management type services.

The Government is committed to having in place an effective regulatory/supervisory system for those firms providing a household budgeting and bill payment service, a debt management service and/or a debt advice service. The findings of the investigations by the Central Bank into HPL and into the other firms will inform what regulatory/supervisory system should be put in place for firms providing these services – whether provided separately or bundled together – or, alternatively, what amendments to the current regulatory/supervisory framework may be required.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 115 and 116

To ask the Minister for Finance if existing legislation allows for regulation of debt-management and debt-advice services companies.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23718/11

To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to regulate debt-management and debt-advice services companies.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23719/11

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I intend to answer Question Numbers 115 and 116 together.

The Government is committed to having in place an effective regulatory system for debt-management and debt-advice companies.

To that end, my officials are in consultation with the Central Bank in examining what legislative proposals would be appropriate in this area.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 114

To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce National Car Test VAT rate to 13% to bring it in line with the VAT rate for other services..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 14th September, 2011.

Ref No: 23717/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the repairing or maintaining of movable goods, including motor vehicles, is liable to VAT at the reduced rate of 13.5% in accordance with paragraph 20(1), Schedule 3 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010. The service of vehicle testing, that entails an inspection of a vehicle rather than its repair or maintenance, is liable to VAT at the standard rate of 21% in accordance with section 46(1)(a) of the VAT Consolidation Act.

There is no provision under the EU VAT Directive that would allow for a reduced VAT rate to apply to testing services.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 91

To ask the Minister for Finance if a reduction in stamp duty on commercial properties has been considered to bring Irish rates in line with the 1% rate charged in London..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

Ref No: 22118/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : The top rate of non-residential Stamp Duty was reduced from 9% to 6% in 2008. (The Deputy may be aware that residential Stamp Duty rates were reduced in December 2010 to 1% on consideration up to €1 million and 2% on the balance over 1 million.)

The Stamp Duty Land Tax rate in the UK is not a straightforward 1% across the board. The charge can be up to 4% and the rate charged depends on a number of factors, including whether a property is freehold or leasehold, and whether the property is residential, non-residential or mixed-use. Also, the purchase of a new lease with a substantial annual rent may attract an additional Stamp Duty Land Tax charge. It is, therefore, a more complex tax than our Stamp Duty on transfers of non-residential property, where the primary factor that determines the rate is the consideration for the property.

Any potential taxation changes will be determined in the context of the Budget and Finance Bill and following the comprehensive spending review.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 89

To ask the Minister for Finance the strategies he has in place for increasing and maintaining deposits in Irish Banks; and his views on a zero rate of DIRT for one year as a possible option..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

Ref No: 22116/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : As the Deputy will be aware, deposits in Irish banks were on a downward trajectory during 2009 and 2010 as fears grew about the health of their balance sheets and rating agencies downgraded their recommendations. The government’s first priority was therefore to ensure that they were adequately capitalised to not only restore depositor and investor confidence, but to ensure they were in a position to support the economy going forward in terms of new lending.

The Central Bank completed an in depth analysis of the banks’ balance sheets in Q1 of this year using external consultants and the €24 billion capital need identified as a result of this exercise is currently being provided for. The exercise has generally been judged a success by the market a result which was highlighted again last week when the EBA stress tests results were released.

As I understand it, the result of this further recapitalisation of the banks is that if depositors on the ground now have any concerns it tends to resolve around uncertainties at a European level rather than the health of the Irish banking system.

Of course recapitalisation of our banks takes place against a general restructuring effort which will shrink not only the number of players in the market but the size and shape of these institutions and this will also bear fruit in terms of providing a road map to stability.

At a broader level the government remains focused on stabilising and growing the domestic economy such that rising incomes will be reflected in increased deposits in the Irish banking system.

As regards the suggestion of a zero rate of DIRT for one year, if this proposal was introduced that yield would be lost to the Exchequer and the money would have to be found elsewhere, whether through increased taxation from other sources or reduced expenditure. To indicate the amount that may be involved, the 2010 yield from DIRT was €445 million. I do not feel charging DIRT on deposit interest is a significant deterrent to saving, especially since DIRT is a final liability tax (that is, no further income tax is due on interest subject to DIRT) and income subject to DIRT is not liable to the Universal Social Charge. Even if reducing the DIRT rate encouraged savings in Irish Banks, making the reduction for one year would not encourage the maintenance of deposits there. Also, under European law we would be required to charge the same rate of tax on deposit interest in banks throughout the EU.

I have no plans at this time to make the suggested change. However, any taxation changes will be determined in the context of the Budget and Finance Bill.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 88 and 96

To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to encourage banks to provide timely credit for small and medium enterprises..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

Ref No: 22115/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I propose to answer questions and together.

The Deputies will be aware that the banking system restructuring plan creates capacity for the two Pillar Banks, Bank of Ireland and AIB, to provide lending in excess of €30 billion in the next three years. SME and new mortgage lending for these banks is expected to be in the range of €16-20bn over this period. In each bank, a team of senior managers will be dedicated to the task of ensuring lending continues to grow to support economic growth. This lending capacity is incorporated into the banks’ deleveraging plans which allow for repayment of Central Bank funding through asset run-off and disposals over the period to 2013.

Both pillar banks provide my Department with monthly figures on balance sheet volumes, sanctioned facilities and geographic and industrial breakdowns of their SME lending. The Deputies may also be aware that under the terms of the government recapitalisation, both banks also produce a quarterly report which incorporates figures for sanctions and drawdowns by SMEs. The data contained in these reports will continue to be reviewed and analysed by my Department and the Credit Review Office to ensure that the banks are compliant with the terms of the Government recapitalisation as it relates to the provision of credit for SMEs.

I expect the pillar banks which have received considerable Government support to develop and offer a range of products to support SMEs and to ensure that lending targets are met.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 87

To ask the Minister for Finance if it is his intention to balance the national budget; and the year he estimates that this will happen..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

Ref No: 22114/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : The Government is committed to restoring order to the public finances and as an intermediate step, reducing the General Government deficit to less than 3% of GDP by 2015. The Programme for Government states that further reductions in the deficit will be required thereafter. However, the current budgetary projections contained in the Stability Programme Update, published in April, are only available out to 2015. Based on these projections, the Budget will not be in balance by 2015 but importantly will no longer be in excessive deficit. It is also important to note that a primary surplus – that is an excess of revenues over expenditure excluding debt interest – of 1.7% of GDP is forecast to emerge in 2014.

NO 86 and 90

To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to any proposals to create a new Irish Bank in order to increase competition within the banking sector..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

Ref No: 22113/11

To ask the Minister for Finance if any strategies are in places to encourage foreign banks to open here..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.

Ref No: 22117/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I propose to take questions 86 and 90 together.

The Deputy will be aware of my Statement on Banking of 31 March 2011 where I set out Government policy in relation to the matters the Deputy has raised.

A fundamental element of Government Strategy has been to restore a functioning banking system and the Government has made particular commitments to recapitalising the banks and restructuring the banking sector as part of its Programme for Government. This radical restructuring of the banking system is designed to put our banking system on a firm footing which is essential to Ireland’s economic recovery.

The recent positive review delivered by the Troika as well as the EBA stress test results for the two pillar banks reinforces that decision and puts us on the path to re-start stability and economic growth in core businesses based on a sound and well capitalised banking system with two pillar institutions.

While there are, at present, a number of foreign owned entities that operate within the Irish banking market and I would welcome further interest that foreign entities may have in entering the Irish market.

QUESTION NO: *67

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Brian Hayes, TD

by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN ANSWER on Tuesday, 19th July, 2011.

* To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 7 July 2011, if he has communicated these initiatives to other Departments; and if he will keep indicators of their performance in this area..

- Eoghan Murphy TD

REPLY.

The Office of Public Works has involvement with energy conservation initiatives in the various buildings in its portfolio. A state-wide energy conservation campaign entitled “Optimising Power @ Work” was launched in January 2008. The aim of the initiative was to achieve a reduction of 15% in energy consumption in each of approximately 250 large buildings located throughout the country, which are owned/leased by the OPW for use by Government Departments and Agencies. The main focus of the project was the implementation of an intensive staff energy awareness campaign in each building, at the same time ensuring that the buildings were being operated in the most efficient manner possible with respect to all energy consuming processes, while maintaining or improving comfort conditions. The project also included basic energy audits of the buildings.

The initiative delivered average total savings of approximately 12%, €2.6 m annually, taking account of non-participating buildings.

A second phase of the Optimising Power @ Work campaign was launched in late 2010 and the target for this programme is to achieve a 20% energy saving over a 2 year period. In general Phase 2 of the project involves intensively targeting buildings, which under-performed in the first phase. We continue to work with the established energy teams in all the buildings to optimise their energy performance and identify areas where further improvements can be made.

Savings to date of approximately 14% have been achieved. This figure however reflects additional buildings that have only recently joined the project and have not yet shown savings. It is expected that the savings will improve considerably over the coming months as the new energy teams in these buildings become established and proactive.

Data for both electrical and heating fuel consumption is automatically collected from each building in the campaign, using a dedicated monitoring system. As part of Optimising Power @ Work, using this data, each building is provided with a monthly energy report, which provides information on their current energy performance compared to the target and recommendations on how it can be improved.

DÁIL QUESTION

NO 50

To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to harmonise IT systems across Departments to improve compatibility and improve communication; the platform he has considered; and if migration to a cloud computing solution has been considered..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 23rd June, 2011.

Ref No: 16853/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : As with all enterprises, public or private sector, compatibility and communication between disparate systems is generally achieved by the use of recognised industry-standard data formats where available. All guidance reflects to need for public bodies to comply with international standards and to implement industry standards where international ones do not exist. The Programme for Government sets out how we plan to rationalise the usage of ICT and encourage greater sharing of ICT infrastructures, services and resources over time, building on some of the initiatives that have already been implemented for the procurement of ICT hardware, networking, telecommunications, and software licensing and support. Cloud Computing is very much to the fore of our thinking. In that regard, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is engaged in research and conducting trials with a number of major international ICT companies to determine what works best for public bodies, and to develop compelling commercial models for adoption.

DÁIL QUESTION NO. 65

To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a proposal (details supplied) to assist those who are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011.

Ref No: 14964/11

(Details: For those who genuinely cannot deal with their indebtedness, and who have discarded other assets such as costly cars, second or holiday homes and investments, should lenders not then be prepared to ‘buy’ an interest in the family home, based on its current market value, such that the remaining balance due to the bank can be serviced by the home owner. The homeowner would have the right to buy back the interest at some future date at the higher amount of its then market value and the original amount plus rolled up interest. A scheme built around this concept should provide home security for deserving families who want to honour their mortgage obligations but cannot for the time being.)

REPLY

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan) :

I would like to inform the Deputy that there are a number of measures in place to assist mortgage holders who are in genuine difficulties with regard to the payment of their mortgages.

The Deputy will be aware of the work of the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt. This Group published its final Report in November 2010. All of the Expert Group’s recommendations are listed in Chapter 2 of the Report which can be accessed at www.finance.gov.ie .

One of the recommendations of the Group was that lenders should offer a Deferred Interest Scheme (DIS) to borrowers. Under this Scheme, borrowers are allowed, subject to certain criteria being satisfied, to pay at least 66% of their mortgage interest but less than 100%. Payment of the balance may be deferred for up to 5 years. Lenders representing the majority of the market have already indicated their willingness to implement the Group’s proposals for a DIS or a variation of it. I am awaiting information from the Central Bank on the up-to-date position on this and, on receipt, I will communicate the information to the Deputy. While the scheme is voluntary for all lenders, those who have signed up in support of the scheme will be monitored by the Central Bank to ensure compliance.

Since the publication of the Group’s Report, the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) has been revised by the Central Bank to reflect many of the recommendations, including key recommendations relating to the introduction by all regulated lenders of a standardised Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP). The most significant changes in the revised CCMA include:

·               Lenders are prohibited from moving borrowers in arrears from existing tracker mortgages,

·               Penalty interest charges may not be imposed on borrowers in arrears who co-operate with the MARP,

·               Harassment of borrowers through unsolicited communications is outlawed,

·               Borrowers in financial difficulties, but not in arrears, are allowed to come under the MARP,

·               When a lender is determining the 12 month period the lender must wait before applying to the courts to commence legal action, the lender must exclude any time period during which a borrower is complying with the terms of an alternative repayment arrangement, making an appeal to the internal appeals board or making a complaint to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

The revised CCMA came into effect on 1 January 2011 and can be accessed at www.centralbank.ie. Lenders are required to comply with the CCMA as a matter of law but have been given a period of six months grace ending on 30 June 2011 to put in place the requisite systems and training of staff necessary to support the implementation of the MARP.

The recommendation of the Group to amend the local authority needs assessment process has been implemented by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Local authorities have been provided with guidance on the treatment of applicants for social housing support whose mortgages have been deemed unsustainable. Discussions are on-going between that Department and the Irish Bankers’ Federation to enable borrowers, whose properties are to be repossessed to remain in their homes for a period of time, pending the sourcing of appropriate accommodation by the housing authority.

As regards the recommendations of the Group in relation to the Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme (MIS), I have been informed by the Department of Social Protection that the implementation of these recommendations will require changes to both primary and secondary legislation. That Department is currently finalising an implementation plan that will set out a framework for the future of the MIS.

People in debt or in danger of getting into debt can avail of the services of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. This is a national, free, confidential and independent service.

DÁIL QUESTION NO. 66 and 67

To ask the Minister for Finance if the recent recapitalisation of Permanent TSB will affect individuals with shares in Irish Life and Permanent Group Holdings plc; if the recapitalisation of PTSB will result in the transfer of wealth from IL&P shareholders to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011.

Ref No: 14967/11

To ask the Minister for Finance if issues surrounding the Irish Life and Permanent situation as it pertains to shareholders (details supplied) have been brought to his attention and whether the points contained therein have been addressed.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011.

Ref No: 14968/11

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) :

I propose to reply to questions 66 and 67 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, important aspects of the matters raised in his questions on this issue are commercially sensitive and it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment beyond what I have stated in my reply to parliamentary question of 25 May 2011 – ref no 13046/11.

REPLY (cont’d)

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan), 25 May 2011, Ref No 13046/11:

I have reviewed the issues raised, by the Deputy, on behalf of an employee shareholder of Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) who raised concerns regarding his shareholding consequent on the forthcoming recapitalisation of the institution which has been mandated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI).

In relation to the concerns raised about the capital requirement for the institution, I would point out that such requirements for all of the four institutions, announced on 31st March 2011, were determined by the CBI and its advisors having regard to the situation of the institutions concerned. This process took place completely independent from me as Minister and my Department. I would point out that ILP was not treated any differently to any of the other institutions in this process. The outcomes were a function of each bank’s particular circumstances and characteristics, not different targets or processes. Furthermore, it should be well understood by observers at this stage that given the serious financial circumstances in which the banks and the State now finds themselves, the latest round of stress tests had to be seen by all as extremely credible and robust and I believe the results that were released have been seen and accepted as such by the markets.

Regarding the concerns raised as to how shareholders may be treated in the forthcoming recapitalisation of the institution, I would point out that, as previously announced, ILP must raise its €4bn requirement by end July, subject to appropriate adjustment for expected asset sales. ILP currently intends to offer its non-banking businesses for sale by end October.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 66
To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a proposal (details supplied) along with the proposed pension levy on pension funds..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 2nd June, 2011.
Ref No: 14039/11

(Details: If private sector employees are to be taxed, then then this tax should ultimately be used as a tax credit to me when an individual comes to retire – if an individual pays €10,000 in pension taxes over the next 4 years then they could get an additional €10,000 index linked allowance when that individual comes to retire.)

REPLY

Minister for Finance ( Mr Noonan) : I assume that what is being proposed in the details supplied with the Deputy’s question is that the amount of the pension levy passed on to individuals over the period of the levy should be available to them as a credit against future income tax liabilities.

The moneys to be raised from the pension fund levy will be used to pay for the reductions in VAT, PRSI and the air travel tax as well as for the additional expenditure measures announced in the Jobs Initiative last month. These and the other various measures in the Initiative represent the first steps by this Government towards improving the competitiveness of important sectors of the economy and facilitating the return to work of people currently unemployed.

Given our commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support and the current difficulties in the public finances, the Jobs Initiative must be funded on a cost neutral basis. Since the proceeds of the levy are already committed in the manner I’ve described, a commitment to allow the levy to also be used as a tax credit against future tax liabilities would mean that the Jobs Initiative would not be cost neutral. I cannot therefore agree to the proposal.

Added: 26 May 2011

DÁIL QUESTION NO 94

To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered the following proposal (details supplied) to assist those in negative equity..

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 25th May, 2011.
Ref No: 13008/11

Details: The following could apply for anyone who bought from 2004 onwards, has moved out of their PPR and who have no other property. Any rent received would be tax free. A clause could be introduced stating that monthly rent could not exceed the monthly repayments on their mortgage. To police the matter, a statement could be sent in by individuals with their Form 12 to the Revenue Commissioners. This matter has arisen as many incorrectly feel that as long as rent does not exceed monthly repayments they are not eligible for income tax. Given that the last Government reduced the interest allowance for tax exemption from 100% to 75%, this break would benefit people at the bottom of the ladder greatly.)

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan):

In the Programme for Government we committed to helping homeowners in distress to weather the recession and outlined a number of proposals aimed at protecting homeowners and their families. These proposals and the Deputy’s submission will be examined in tandem with the normal process of reviewing and considering taxation measures and reliefs in the context of ongoing budgetary and economic policy.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 145

To ask the Minister for Finance the protections in place for persons who have invested in prize bonds and the Post Office in the event of our financial situation becoming more precarious.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 17th May, 2011.
Ref No: 11820/11

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan):

All State Savings money is placed directly with the Irish Government, and repayment of all NTMA State Savings money, which includes principal, interest and bonus payments if due (or, in respect of Prize Bonds, cash prizes), is a direct, unconditional obligation of the Government of Ireland.

State Savings is the brand name used by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) to describe the range of savings products offered by the NTMA to personal savers.

The suite of State Savings products includes Savings Certificates, Savings Bonds, Prize Bonds, National Solidarity Bond, Instalment Savings and Deposit Accounts such as the Ordinary Deposit Account and the Deposit Account Plus.

An Post and the Prize Bond Company are agents of the NTMA for the operation of the State Savings schemes. However, neither An Post nor the Prize Bond Company retain or manage any State Savings money. All State Savings money is a part of the national debt which is under the management of the National Treasury Management Agency.

NTMA State Savings products have been an important and dependable component of Government borrowing for many years and make a valuable contribution to the national finances.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 146

To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a proposal regarding the VHI health insurance premiums and income tax (details supplied).

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 17th May, 2011.
Ref No: 11825/11

Details: VHI, a state-owned body, has increased it’s premium for over-65′s while reducing cover for these older clients. The proposal is that all healthcare costs and health insurance premiums should be allowed against one’s taxable income for both income tax and the new USC at one’s marginal rate, as used to be the case in respect of income tax

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan):

The position is that health expenses relief is granted at the standard rate only, in respect of expenses incurred from 1 January 2009 except for nursing home expenses which continue to be granted at the marginal rate (up to 41%). Further information can be found in leaflet IT6 and Tax Briefing 68 on www.Revenue.ie

It should be noted that the Finance Act 2010 also allows relief at the marginal rate in respect of private contributions made towards the cost of the upkeep of an individual under the Fair Deal Scheme for nursing home care.

Section 470 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for income tax relief in respect of payments made to authorised insurers under relevant contracts in respect of medical insurance and dental insurance. Income tax relief is granted at the standard rate of tax and is generally granted at source under the Tax Relief at Source system (TRS).

In order to provide additional assistance to those aged 60 years or more, additional tax credits are made available under section 470B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 where medical insurance is renewed or entered into. The amount of these additional tax credits was increased by section 9 of the Finance Act 2011 and is now €625 where the individual is aged between 60 and 70 years; €1,275 where the individual is aged between 70 and 80 years; and €1,725 where the individual is aged over 80 years. These additional tax credits are also given under the TRS system.

The universal social charge (USC) was introduced with effect from 1 January 2011. USC applies to gross income without any provision for tax credits or reliefs for expenditures such as pension contributions or medical expenses. There is an exempt annual threshold of €4,004 (€77 per week).

However, where this threshold is exceeded, the entire amount is chargeable. The standard rates of charge are:

2% on the first €10,036,

4% on the next €5,980, and

7% on the balance.

The USC does, however, provide relief for those who are in possession of a full medical card or a Health Amendment Act card or who are aged 70 years or over in that the maximum rate of charge of USC for individuals in receipt of employment or pension income is capped at 4% irrespective of the level of their income. In the case of individuals who are in receipt of income subject to the self-assessment system of taxation, this 4% rate increases to 7% where an individual’s income from self-employment exceeds €100,000.

A comprehensive publication of “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) in relation to the USC has been posted on the Revenue website and is updated at regular intervals. This charge is separate from income tax.

I should point out that there is no proposal in the Programme for Government to allow income tax relief or USC relief at the marginal rate in respect of healthcare costs or health insurance premiums.

However, as a matter of policy, taxation measures are reviewed on a regular basis as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 147

To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered a proposal to tax children’s allowance as an alternative to means testing the children’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 17th May, 2011.
Ref No: 11827/11

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan):

The position is that there is no specific proposal in theProgramme for Government to means test or tax child benefit payments.

However, as a matter of policy, taxation measures are reviewed on a regular basis as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.

DÁIL QUESTION NO 148

To ask the Minister for Finance if a proposal (details supplied) has been brought to his attention regarding the Irish bank executives’ compensation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 17th May, 2011.
Ref No: 11828/11

The banks could simply claim an inability to pay these vast compensation sums due to their massive losses, as such claims by firms were, in the past, accepted by the Labour Courts.

Minister for Finance (Mr Noonan):

The Deputy may wish to note in relation to the matter of remuneration at the covered institutions that the NTMA have recently, on behalf of my Department, requested the CEOs of each of the covered institutions to review remuneration policy and practices in their institutions. In this context the covered institutions have been requested to consult with my Department in advance of giving any additional commitments on redundancy payments. The institutions have also been asked to consider measures that could be undertaken to align staff expectations with regard to benefits/remuneration to the changed economic environment and the financial circumstances of the banks.

Added: 9 May 2011

To ask the Minister for Finance his views regarding the proposal (details supplied) to use changes in the application of VAT on those visiting the country as a short term method of increasing tourism numbers.

Minister for Finance Mr Noonan TD

Irish VAT law is governed by the EU VAT Directive. Articles 146 and 147 of this Directive provide for a scheme whereby persons from outside the EU can claim a refund on VAT charged to them on any goods purchased here that are brought outside the Community. This is known as the retail export scheme. The scheme specifically applies to goods and not services, and refunds can be obtained only on purchases of goods, such as souvenirs, gifts etc., bought for non-business purposes, which the tourist or traveller brings with them when leaving the EU. No refund can be obtained for goods that remain in Ireland, or for any services, such as hotel accommodation, car-hire or restaurant meals. For the refund to apply, the goods must be taken outside of the European Union by the purchaser. The basic principle is that the goods are treated as exports and are not consumed in the European Union. In this context, EU VAT law does not allow for a scheme as outlined by the Deputy.

Question No 147

To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the development or redevelopment of branch offices by Bank of Ireland and AIB; if he will provide detail of such work and money allocated in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and if he intends to put a stop to any such plans in relation to the significant restructuring of the bank which is currently underway.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2011.

Ref No: 9539/11

Minister for Finance Mr Noonan TD

The Government operates at arms’ length from the banks and does not become involved in these types of operational matters. I do not have any views on the development or redevelopment of branch offices by the banks mentioned and I do not consider it appropriate to get involved in these matters. I might add that I have already received representations in relation to a redevelopment in the Deputy’s constituency and advised the representor accordingly.

Question No 149

To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 5 April 2011, if he will provide a summary of those areas or issues he understands the provision in the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 to contribute to the social and economic development of the State apply to..

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd May, 2011.

Ref No: 9541/11

Minister for Finance Mr Noonan TD

NAMA has a commercial remit and its overriding objective is to generate a return for the taxpayer. However, within the context of its commercial remit and consistent with section 2 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, NAMA is at all times open to considering proposals aimed at contributing to broader social and economic objectives. This includes facilitating public bodies in the creation of vibrant sustainable communities. The NAMA Board has also committed to giving first option to State bodies on the purchase of property which may be suitable for their purposes where these bodies have requirements such as schools, parks, and so on.

NAMA assures me that it will play a key social and economic role by regenerating activity in the property market through its asset sales strategy and through its provision of liquidity to the banks in the form of NAMA securities which can be used as collateral for funding.

Indeed, I understand that both the Minister for Housing and Planning and officials of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government have had discussions with NAMA on the issue of social and affordable housing in order to explore potential solutions which would enable such housing to be provided on a commercial basis. NAMA has also engaged with the Minister and with the Department on the issue of unfinished housing estates.

Question No 40

To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reverse the decision of the last Government to withdraw the patent income tax exemption, an important exemption which underlines Ireland’s commitment to research and development and which, if restored, would also confirm his commitment to putting research and development at the heart of plans or recovery.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 14th April, 2011.

Ref No: 8039/11

Minister for Finance Mr Noonan TD

The decision to abolish the relief was taken in the light of a recommendation to this effect by the Commission on Taxation. The Commission’s views on this relief were quite definitive. It found that it had not had the desired impact on innovation and R&D activity and that, despite various refinements to the scheme over the years, the relief was not a particularly well-targeted measure providing good value for money. The Commission also expressed the view that the relief had not resulted to any great extent in companies carrying out R&D activity and that it was being used in some cases by companies “as a tax avoidance device to remunerate employees”.

The Government agrees with the conclusions of the Commission and believes that in the current challenging times scarce resources should be focussed instead on the R&D tax credit scheme. The R&D credit scheme provides a more direct and effective incentive for enterprises to innovate and invest in R&D activities and the scheme has been enhanced considerably in recent years to make it one of the most competitive of its kind anywhere.

Abolition of the patent income exemption will yield €50 million to the Exchequer in a full year.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government states that this Government “will reduce, cap or abolish … tax shelters which benefit very high income earners. We will also ensure the implementation of a minimum effective tax rate of 30% for very high earners.”

Considering that the patent income exemption had been used as a tax efficient means of rewarding employees and directors, I will not be reversing the decision to abolish the exemption.

Question No 107

To ask the Minister for Finance in the interest of protecting the integrity and objectivity of the civil service, if h

€100,000.

2011 questions for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Posted October 30th, 2011

DAIL QUESTION NO. 212

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding key recommendation 9.8 of the Report of the Innovation Task Force on launching a marketing campaign to promote Ireland as a start-up hub for innovation and export-oriented companies.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 18th October, 2011.

Ref No: 29725/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

Recommendation 9.8 of the report of the Innovation task Force proposed the launch of a marketing campaign, initially on a pilot basis, to promote Ireland as an excellent location for starting innovative export-oriented companies.

I will shortly be making an announcement about an initiative to attract overseas entrepreneurs to come to Ireland to set up a new company here or develop an innovative idea or service.

I believe that the contribution of foreign entrepreneurs to the Irish economic recovery effort is a resource with considerable potential. Entrepreneurs, not currently living in Ireland, can be encouraged to bring their ideas and entrepreneurial drive to Ireland, and establish an enterprise here. The entrepreneurs may be of the Irish diaspora who are returning to Ireland, non-Irish who have been resident here and subsequently returned home, or indeed people with no previous connection to Ireland. In time, these companies have the potential to develop to become a source of wealth and job creation for this economy.

This initiative will be one more step in orienting Ireland as a start-up hub for innovation and export-oriented companies.

DAIL QUESTION NO. 210 & 211

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding supporting recommendation 9.5 of the Report of the Innovation Task Force on introducing an Entrepreneurial Tax Credit.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 18th October, 2011.

Ref No: 29723/11

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding supporting recommendation 9.6 of the Report of the Innovation Task Force on introducing Founder Share Options which are eligible only for CGT treatment.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 18th October, 2011.

Ref No: 29724/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

I propose taking questions 210 and 211 together.

As specified in the report of the Innovation Task Force the Minister for Finance is the lead actor for follow up on these recommendations, as with all recommendations regarding tax.

My Department works closely with the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, Forfás, IDA, Enterprise Ireland and industry representative organisations in developing tax policy proposals to support enterprise, promote the creation of jobs and to encourage and support innovation. The following principles underpin the elaboration of tax proposals brought forward from the perspective of my Department and its agencies:

Entrepreneurs should have the incentive to set-up new businesses;

Early stage risky yet high potential start-up companies should be able to attract sufficient risk capital;

The tax system should encourage job creation by companies; and

Individuals should have a financial incentive to enter and stay within the workforce.

As is usual my Department engages annually in discussions in the Tax Strategy Group on the optimal tax package for the following year’s budget, and this is being undertaken for the 2012 Budget.

DAIL QUESTION

NO. 83

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28404/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

Proposed expenditure by my Department, its Offices and Agencies on Value for Money consultancy exercises in 2011 is €119,000.

DAIL QUESTION NO. 82

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the agency workers regulation legislation; and if he is engaging with, or consulting agencies as the legislation is being drafted.

- Eoghan Murphy.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28042/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

The EU Directive on Temporary Agency Workers (2008/14/EC) is due to be transposed into Irish law by 5 December 2011 and my Department is working to meet this deadline. A central aim of the Directive is to ensure protection of temporary agency workers by applying the principle of equal treatment in their basic working and employment conditions.

Of course a key feature of the Directive, is that it provides the possibility for the social partners, at the national level, to conclude an agreement which would, while respecting the necessary protections to be afforded to agency workers, allow for some variation in the application of the equal treatment principle such as in relation to the operation of a “qualifying period” before equal treatment would apply.

My Department is currently engaged with the national social partners in discussions on the possibility of concluding a framework agreement in time to meet the legislative deadline and I am pleased that these discussions are very constructive. Given the tight legislative timeframe of 5 December 2011, there are considerable pressures to conclude these discussions and it is my sincere hope that agreement can be achieved between both sides. Government places considerable value on agreement being reached with the national social partners on this issue given the very difficult labour market challenges currently facing this country and the need for all of us to play our part in improving our competitiveness in the global market with every measure possible to sustain existing jobs and grow employment. This ability for Irish businesses to be able to compete in the global marketplace is particularly relevant given that in the UK, our leading trading partner, a 12-week “qualifying period” before equal treatment is accorded to agency workers has been agreed.

A public consultation on the transposition of the EU Directive on temporary agency work into national law was undertaken by my Department in October 2010 and this drew responses from a number of stakeholders and interested parties, inrecommendations regarding tax.

My Department works closely with the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, Forfás, IDA, Enterprise Ireland and industry representative organisations in developing tax policy proposals to support enterprise, promote the creation of jobs and to encourage and support innovation. The following principles underpin the elaboration of tax proposals brought forward from the perspective of my Department and its agencies:

Entrepreneurs should have the incentive to set-up new businesses;

Early stage risky yet high potential start-up companies should be able to attract sufficient risk capital;

The tax system should encourage job creation by companies; and

Individuals should have a financial incentive to enter and stay within the workforce.

As is usual my Department engages annually in discussions in the Tax Strategy Group on the optimal tax package for the following year’s budget, and this is being undertaken for the 2012 Budget.

DAIL QUESTION

NO. 83

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount he intends to spend on consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for money in his Department.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28404/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

Proposed expenditure by my Department, its Offices and Agencies on Value for Money consultancy exercises in 2011 is €119,000.

DAIL QUESTION NO. 82

- Eoghan Murphy.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Ref No: 28042/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

The EU Directive on Temporary Agency Workers (2008/14/EC) is due to be transposed into Irish law by 5 December 2011 and my Department is working to meet this deadline. A central aim of the Directive is to ensure protection of temporary agency workers by applying the principle of equal treatment in their basic working and employment conditions.

Of course a key feature of the Directive, is that it provides the possibility for the social partners, at the national level, to conclude an agreement which would, while respecting the necessary protections to be afforded to agency workers, allow for some variation in the application of the equal treatment principle such as in relation to the operation of a “qualifying period” before equal treatment would apply.

My Department is currently engaged with the national social partners in discussions on the possibility of concluding a framework agreement in time to meet the legislative deadline and I am pleased that these discussions are very constructive. Given the tight legislative timeframe of 5 December 2011, there are considerable pressures to conclude these discussions and it is my sincere hope that agreement can be achieved between both sides. Government places considerable value on agreement being reached with the national social partners on this issue given the very difficult labour market challenges currently facing this country and the need for all of us to play our part in improving our competitiveness in the global market with every measure possible to sustain existing jobs and grow employment. This ability for Irish businesses to be able to compete in the global marketplace is particularly relevant given that in the UK, our leading trading partner, a 12-week “qualifying period” before equal treatment is accorded to agency workers has been agreed.

A public consultation on the transposition of the EU Directive on temporary agency work into national law was undertaken by my Department in October 2010 and this drew responses from a number of stakeholders and interested parties, including from a number of recruitment agencies. In the case of a number of respondents, follow-up meetings have taken place with officials of my Department to provide more indepth information to inform the preparation of the draft legislation. Contact in this regard with key stakeholders is ongoing.

In terms of progressing the legislation, it is my intention, very shortly, to seek Government approval for the formal drafting of the Scheme of a Bill to transpose the Directive that will be capable of taking on board the outcome of the discussions with the national social partners as earlier described, if these are successful.

DAIL QUESTION NO. 139

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the managing director of a company [Microsoft UK] has admitted that cloud data is not protected against the USA Patriot Act and his plans to raise this at EU level with the Commissioner.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 7th July, 2011.

Ref No: 19348/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation (Mr. Bruton)

My attention had not been drawn to the specific comments of the UK company MD to which the deputy refers. However, I am aware that the Irish equivalent company point out that cloud data is not in any different position than any other kind of data in terms of its exposure to government access, whether by the US or many other countries.

A recent report by ENISA, the EU body responsible for information security concluded that holding data in the cloud could represent both a risk and a protection in that the concentrations of data may be an attractive target but the economies of scale can allow defenses to be more robust. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner has pointed out that robust EU and national data protection laws must be complied with and that the legislation is technology neutral and must be complied with equally when data is moved to the cloud.

Ireland is extremely well-placed to take advantage of the rapidly-growing international potential of cloud computing. A recent report commissioned by Microsoft has estimated that by 2014 the cloud computing industry in Ireland could be worth €9.5billion and employ 8,600 people. Now more than ever we must do everything we can to seize opportunities like this. I do not believe that these jobs will be created automatically, and government must act decisively and urgently if we are to position Ireland as a world leader in this high-growth sector. In May I announced the establishment of a €5million applied research centre in cloud computing, which will bring industry and researchers in this sector together in order to turn good ideas into good jobs

I have also established a cross-Government implementation group on cloud computing, to support the implementation of the ambitious Programme for Government commitment on cloud computing.

DAIL QUESTION NO. 109

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the issues of the catering industry in respect of the employment regulation orders and joint labour committee review (details supplied)..

- Eoghan Murphy.

For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 30th June, 2011.

Details Attached

Ref No: 18033/11

R E P L Y

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

2011 questions for Education and Skills

Posted October 30th, 2011

Uimhir:69
Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to open a primary school in Dublin 6..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.

Reference Number: 28046/11

Freagra
Minister Ruairí Quinn

In June of this year I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years, comprising of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools to cater for the increase in school going population across these identified locations. It is not proposed to open a new primary school in the general Dublin 6 area as the demographics of the area do not support the need for a new school.

Uimhir:58

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for dyspraxia has been considered in Budget 2012..

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28045/11

Freagra
Minister Ruairí Quinn

Firstly, I wish to reiterate this Government’s commitment to the provision of
resources for children with special educational needs.
The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for
this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the
educational experience of children, young people and students.
Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion –
will be spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs this year.
This provision is in line with expenditure in 2010 and shows that despite the
current economic difficulties, funding for special education has not been cut.
The continued commitment of this Government to special education provision, at
a time when savings are being required across a range of expenditure areas,
will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to have
access to educational facilities in line with their requirements.
The funding allocation for the Education Sector for 2012 and for future years
will be determined in the context of the overall Estimates and Budgetary
process, a key element of which will be the results of the Comprehensive
Reviews of Expenditure (CRE) undertaken by all Government Departments.

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that my Department provides a range of
teaching and care supports for children of school-going age with special
educational needs, including children with dyspraxia. The precise level of
support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child.

Children with dyspraxia may be entitled to additional provision in school,
either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if
the educational psychological assessment places the child in the high incidence
disability category or through an allocation of additional resources if the
child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need,
as defined by my Department’s circular.

The Deputy is aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is
responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers
(SENOs), for allocating resources to schools to support children with special
educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in
allocating such support.

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any plans to make Irish
a non-compulsory subject at leaving certificate level (details supplied); and
if so, when does he predict this will happen..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 16th November, 2011.
Reference Number: 35022/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year
Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and
targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum
and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. The
priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the
teaching of Irish. Only when these steps have been implemented, the question of
whether Irish should be optional at Leaving Certificate will be considered.
A revised Leaving Certificate curriculum in Irish began in all schools in
September 2010 for first examination in 2012. The revised programme provides
for an increase in the proportion of marks available for oral assessment to
40%, and is aimed at promoting a significant shift in emphasis towards Irish as
a spoken language, where students can communicate and interact in a spontaneous
way, and where Irish is spoken every day in schools.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been asked to review
this syllabus in the light of the experiences of students in the first
examination.

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount he intends to spend on
consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for
money in his Department..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28400/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
One Value for Money Review on Small Primary Schools is currently underway and
is expected to be completed by year end. However, no costs have been incurred
to date in 2011 and none are envisaged.
The estimated figure for expenditure on consultancies by my Department in 2011
is in the region of €429,000.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28400/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
One Value for Money Review on Small Primary Schools is currently underway and
is expected to be completed by year end. However, no costs have been incurred
to date in 2011 and none are envisaged.

The estimated figure for expenditure on consultancies by my Department in 2011
is in the region of €429,000.

- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28400/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn

One Value for Money Review on Small Primary Schools is currently underway and
is expected to be completed by year end. However, no costs have been incurred
to date in 2011 and none are envisaged.

The estimated figure for expenditure on consultancies by my Department in 2011
is in the region of €429,000.

Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha

To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount he intends to spend on
consultancy fees in 2011, in particular those contracted to identify value for
money in his Department..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28400/11

Freagra
Minister Ruairí Quinn: to date in 2011 and none are envisaged.

The estimated figure for expenditure on consultancies by my Department in 2011
is in the region of €429,000.

Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28400/11

Freagra
Minister Ruairí Quinn:

One Value for Money Review on Small Primary Schools is currently underway and
is expected to be completed by year end. However, no costs have been incurred
to date in 2011 and none are envisaged.

The estimated figure for expenditure on consultancies by my Department in 2011
is in the region of €429,000.

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for dyspraxia has been
considered in Budget 2012..
- Eoghan Murphy.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 6th October, 2011.
Reference Number: 28045/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
Firstly, I wish to reiterate this Government’s commitment to the provision of
resources for children with special educational needs.
The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for
this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the
educational experience of children, young people and students.
Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion –
will be spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs this year.
This provision is in line with expenditure in 2010 and shows that despite the
current economic difficulties, funding for special education has not been cut.
The continued commitment of this Government to special education provision, at
a time when savings are being required across a range of expenditure areas,
will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to have
access to educational facilities in line with their requirements.
The funding allocation for the Education Sector for 2012 and for future years
will be determined in the context of the overall Estimates and Budgetary
process, a key element of which will be the results of the Comprehensive
Reviews of Expenditure (CRE) undertaken by all Government Departments.
I wish to clarify for the Deputy that my Department provides a range of
teaching and care supports for children of school-going age with special
educational needs, including children with dyspraxia. The precise level of
support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child.
Children with dyspraxia may be entitled to additional provision in school,
either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if
the educational psychological assessment places the child in the high incidence
disability category or through an allocation of additional resources if the
child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need,
as defined by my Department’s circular.
The Deputy is aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is
responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers
(SENOs), for allocating resources to schools to support children with special
educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in
allocating such support.

Uimhir:171

Uimhir:170
Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a site containing a
school building and land, purchased by his Department on Haddington Road,
Dublin 4..

- Eoghan Murphy.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.
Reference Number: 24773/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
My Department has acquired the former school building and lands at the location
to which the Deputy refers to provide additional school accommodation for the
projected increase in pupil numbers in the area.
It is intended that the site will be developed to meet some of this need and
this is currently being explored by my Department in consultation with the
existing primary schools.

Uimhir:191 Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasoning behind Dublin City
Council changing the requirements for non-adjacent grants for independent
mature students, resulting in a cut of €2000; and the reason this cut is not
means tested in the case of a person(details supplied)..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.
Reference Number: 22122/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
The changes to the student grants scheme to which the Deputy refers were
introduced by the previous Fianna Fáil – Green Party Government under Budget
2011.
These changes alter the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate
of grant from 24kms to 45kms and remove the automatic entitlement of mature
students to the non-adjacent rate of grant.
While these measures will result in changes to the rate of grant payable, none
of the measures will result in a student losing a grant or becoming ineligible
for a grant.
All student grants applications are means tested and qualifying students
receive the rate of grant available under the scheme in accordance with their
individual circumstances.
Students on particularly low incomes will continue to receive a “top-up” in the
special rate of maintenance grant and the Student Assistance Fund at some €5m
continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level
institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.

Uimhir:164

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a
person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 regarding the loss of a special needs
assistant for this person..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 19th July, 2011.
Reference Number: 20777/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
Firstly, I wish to clarify for the Deputy that Special Needs Assistant (SNA)
allocations are not permanent, as the level of SNA support allocated to a
school may be increased or decreased as pupils who qualify for SNA support
enrol or leave a school. They are also decreased where a child’s care needs may
have diminished over time.
I wish to clarify also that the recruitment and deployment of SNAs within
schools are matters for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs
should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support
requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has
been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and
on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the
SNA support is utilised.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)
is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs
Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs
Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational
needs. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such
support. This now includes a requirement for the NCSE to have regard to an
overall cap on the number of SNA posts.
The NCSE has issued a circular to all schools advising of the allocation
process for the 2011/2012 school year. A key feature of the amended scheme will
be to provide for an annual allocation of Special Needs Assistant support to
eligible schools.
The NCSE is currently in the process of informing schools of their annual SNA
allocation for the coming school year.

The NCSE will advise schools early in the new school year of a review process
to review allocation decisions to ensure that correct procedures were followed
and that they comply with my Department’s policy. The merits of individual
allocation decisions will not be open to appeal under this mechanism.
It will be expected that schools, before requesting a review, will be in a
position to demonstrate that they have made every effort to manage their
allocation of SNA posts to best effect.

Uimhir:154

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to
the bureaucratic and costly requirements imposed on schools awaiting the summer
works programme; and his plans to reform this system..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 19th July, 2011.
Reference Number: 20786/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
As the Deputy is aware all funding allocated under my Department’s Devolved
Schemes including the Summer Works Scheme to allow school management
authorities carry out building or improvement works to their schools, must be
offered to the market in accordance with EU and National procurement guidelines.
School management authorities must comply with all the requirements of
Technical Guidance Documents TGD 007 and TGD 008 (Design Team Procedures for
Small Works and Engaging Professional Consultants for Small Works respectively)
which are available on my Department’s website. Failure to do so may expose the
school management authorities to challenge and subsequent financial penalties
from a consultant or contractor who feels he/she was not afforded an
opportunity to tender. Any such challenge could also result in the project
being substantially delayed.
As these guidelines provide a balanced approach by allowing access for smaller
firms while also ensuring that appropriate consultants are engaged for small
works I do not propose to make any changes.

Uimhir:76

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha

To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase interest in
maths and science, either through incentivisation at examination time or
further modification to the respective curricula and the way they are taught..
- Eoghan Murphy.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 23rd June, 2011.
Reference Number: 16852/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
A major programme of reform in mathematics, Project Maths, began in all second
level schools at both junior and senior cycle in September last, building on
the experience of 24 schools which began the programme in 2008. Project Maths
is designed to encourage better understanding of mathematics, to reinforce its
practical relevance to everyday life and to ensure better curriculum continuity
across the system. It is supported by a comprehensive investment in
professional development for teachers which will continue to at least 2013.
Mathematics has the highest particpation of any subject in the Leaving
Certificate, but only some 16% sit Higher level mathematics. A key aim of
Project Maths is to encourage more students to take the subject at higher
level. A further incentive will apply from 2012, under which 25 additional CAO
points will apply to all students scoring at least grade D3 in higher level
Mathematics.
Project Maths is supported by materials and resources on the website
www.ProjectMaths.ie and by an industry education partnership designed to add
value through co-operation across higher education, second level and industry.
The work of the Discover Science and Engineering programme, which has extended
its remit to Mathematics, is also important in this respect. In addition,
career awareness information on opportunities in the science technology,
engineering and mathematics sectors is featured on www.careersportal.ie, a
guidance tool which is now widely used in schools.
In science, the key challenges are to improve participation in senior cycle
Physics and Chemistry. As part of this approach, the National Council for
Curriculum and Assessment has developed revised draft syllabuses for Leaving
Certificate Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and is currently engaging in a
public consultation on these, prior to submitting its advice to my Department.
An important objective is to build on the hands-on investigative approaches
already in place in junior cycle, and to strengthen the emphasis on practical
assessment and the inter-disciplinary nature of science in society.
The forthcoming national and literacy and numeracy strategy will also play an
important role in strentheings these skills in schools.

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made to
include history as a core subject in the junior cycle..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.
Reference Number: 24774/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn
The NCCA has been asked to review the junior certificate and advise on the
scope for reform designed to strengthen literacy and numeracy, embed key
skills, promote active learning and enhanced creativity and innovation, and
ensure appropriate ways of generating evidence of learning. Concerns have also
been raised about curriculum overload, and rote learning.
The Council has completed a public consultation process and has published a
report of the consultation findings on its website www.ncca.ie . The Council is
currently finalising its advice to me on the direction of reform, in
consultation with the partners in education. I expect to receive the advice
shortly.
I am aware that teachers of history and geography have raised concerns that
their subjects will no longer be compulsory. The requirement to study history
and geography in a secondary school but to have different options in vocational
schools is a historical anomaly which is no longer appropriate. I believe that
students should have as wide a choice as is feasible in their schools given the
overall level of student demand and interest, the teaching resources available,
and the qualifications profile of staff. They should also acquire a range of
knowledge, essential skills and values which will contribute to lifelong
learning, and effective social and economic participation. The importance of
history and geography in promoting critical analysis skills, interculturalism,
an understanding of human development, democracy, past and current world
issues, and the skills for an environmentally sustainable life are fully
appreciated. I will be guided by the NCCA’s advice in this matter.

Uimhir:170

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, further to the commitment in
the Programme for a National Government 2011-2016 to replace FÁS, if he will
clarify the specific functions currently undertaken by FÁS which are his
responsibility; if these will remain within his remit; if any other functions
of FÁS will be transferred to his Department; the timeline for same and the
proposed replacement of FÁS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
-Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 15th June, 2011.
Reference Number: 15794/11, 15846/11

Freagra
Minister of State, Ciarán Cannon
I propose to take questions 170 and 176 together.
Following the commencement on 1 January 2011 of the relevant sections of the
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010, the Department of Social
Protection assumed the funding and overall responsibility for FÁS employment
services and employment programmes.
My Department has retained the funding and overall responsibility for the
remaining functions of FÁS, including the provision of skills training. As far
as the training activities of FÁS are concerned, I am currently reviewing
options regarding the provision of further education and training and the
structures to support it.

Uimhir:92
Ceist Pharlaiminte Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the
restrictive practices that are in place in State schools with a Catholic ethos,
such as that disqualifying unbaptised children from enrolment, are acceptable;
and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011.
Reference Number: 14963/11

Freagra
Minister Ruairí Quinn It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement
an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard
a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children
from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis
of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such
circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process
and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and
must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally
obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that
policy that principles of equality and the rights of parents to send their
children to a school of the parents choice are respected.

Equality legislation, which also outlaws discrimination in relation to the
admission of a student, makes provision for exemptions to apply in the case of
single sex schools and in the case of schools where the objective is to provide
education in an environment that promotes certain religious values. The
legislation provides that any school that has this objective may admit a
student of a particular religious denomination in preference to other students.

Uimhir:91
Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to set up an educate
together primary school in the Dublin 4 area..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011.
Reference Number: 14962/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn

A review of the criteria and procedures for the establishment of new primary
schools has been undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation and its
report has recently been published on my Department’s website. It will be
necessary to consider the report’s recommendations and proposals. In the
interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in
areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing
schools and which require the provision of new schools.

The establishment of new schools, including the request for an educate together
primary school in the Dublin 4 area, will be considered in this context.

In line with a commitment given in The Programme for Government I have launched
a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector which will enable all
stakeholders including parents to engage in open debate on change of patronage
in communities where it is appropriate and necessary. The Forum intends to
develop a mechanism by which a change of patronage in existing schools can
occur.

I want to assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring our education
system caters for a pluralism of choice which reflects the needs of Ireland
today and into the future.

Uimhir:69
Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a website (details
supplied) still states that no decision to cut higher education grants has been
finalised when individuals affected by this cut have been notified by their
local councils of the change; when this decision was finalised; and if he will
make a statement on the matter.
- Eoghan Murphy.

studentfinance.ie

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011 .
Reference Number: 14970/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn

My Department is aware of the position with the website in question. It has
been in contact with the HEA in relation to this. While some updates have been
carried to reflect the changes introduced under Budget 2011 by the previous
Fianna Fáil – Green Party Government, work on updating it fully for the 2011/12
academic year is on-going. This will be completed when the student grant
scheme for the 2011/12 academic year is available. I expect to be in a
position to publish this shortly.

Uimhir:68

Ceist Pharlaiminte Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the cuts being made to
third level grants for the coming academic year 2011/2012 (details supplied),
if a provision will be considered for those who entered into courses of two
years duration, as distinct from two separate years of study.
- Eoghan Murphy.

To ask the Minister for Finance, in light of the cuts being made to third level
grants for the coming academic year 2011/2012, (which will see maintenance
grants payments for vocational courses of study cut by 50%) will a provision be
considered for those who entered into courses of 2 years duration, as distinct
from two separate years of study, as many such students will be unable to
complete their course requirements if affected by such cuts.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 9th June, 2011.
Reference Number: 14969/11

Freagra I regret that the economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not
in a position to reverse or vary any of the changes to the student grant
measures announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil – Green Party
Government.

Minister Ruairí Quinn

I am very conscious of the fundamental role played by the student grant schemes
in supporting families who are putting their children through further and
higher education and I understand their concerns at the 2011 budgetary
measures. I will take account of these in considering any future changes to the
student grant schemes as part of the budgetary process for 2012 and beyond,
having regard to the position of the public finances.

Uimhir:68

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn

Added: 26 May 2011

Uimhir: 213 Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha

To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the proposed new maths syllabus project codenamed project maths which has been designed to tackle both the issue of poor levels of performance in maths in the Leaving Certificate and the problem of the lack of teachers who are maths graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 17th May, 2011.
Reference Number: 11822/11

Minister Ruairí Quinn

Project Maths began in all second level schools in September 2010, building on the experience of 24 schools which began the initiative in 2008. The programme is designed to encourage better understanding of mathematics, to reinforce its practical relevance to everyday life, and to ensure better curriculum continuity across the system. A key objective is to improve attainment levels in Maths and to encourage more students to take the subject at higher level.

Project Maths has been widely welcomed by the partners in education, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, the National Competitiveness Council, Engineers Ireland, the Task Force on Innovation, and by higher education and industry interests. Improving understanding of and attainment in mathematics is a critical part of the strategy to promote Ireland as a smart economy

Project Maths is being implemented in junior and senior cycle simultaneously, and is being phased in over a three period across 5 strands of mathematics as follows:

Phase 1: Strand 1 – Statistics and Probability + Strand 2 – Geometry and Trigonometry

Phase 2: Strand 1+2+ Strand 3 – Number + Strand 4 – Algebra

Phase 3: Strand 1+2+3+4+ Strand 5 – Functions

The programme is being supported by a comprehensive programme of investment in professional development for teachers, and the provision of resource materials, details of which are available at www.projectmaths.ie

I am aware of the issues which have been highlighted in regard to the qualifications of mathematics teachers. Information from the Teaching Council when applied to the estimated 5900 staff teaching mathematics at second level, would suggest that 65% have a qualification in mathematics.

The deployment of teachers to subjects which are not part of their major qualification is also a feature of education systems in other jurisdictions. For example, a report in 2010 on the issue of out-of-field teaching in mathematics (www.nce-mstl.ie) shows that Finland, Canada and Australia, (which ranked 2nd, 6th, and 8th respectively in Mathematics out of 57 countries in the 2006 OECD PISA (Programme of International Student Assessment)) study had 68%, 25% and 72% respectively of students taught by certified teachers with mathematics as a major qualification.

As part of Project Maths, funds have been provided for the development of post graduate courses in mathematics for those who need additional support, or who do not hold a qualification in mathematics. My Department proposes to tender for these courses shortly.

Added: 9 May 2011

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st April, 2011.
Reference Number: 8943/11

To the Minister for Education and Science:

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the qualification requirements for special needs assistants includes junior certificate level Irish.

Minister Ruairí Quinn TD

The current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) include the specific requirement that a person hold a Grade D in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Junior Certificate or equivalent examination.

Under Circular 0021/2011, issued by my Department in March this year, the minimum required standard of education for appointment to the post of SNA has been amended. People appointed to SNA posts from 1 September 2011 will be required to have:

1. A FETAC level 3 major qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, OR 2. A minimum of three grade Ds in the Junior Certificate, OR 3. Equivalent.

%0

Bruton launches new 10 million euro International Start-Up Fund to draw overseas entrepreneurs.

Posted October 27th, 2011

Fantastic news from Minister Bruton..

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today [Thursday] launched a €10 million International Start-Up Fund, aimed at encouraging overseas entrepreneurs to locate start-up businesses in Ireland:

·        The fund will be administered by Enterprise Ireland and will be open to company promoters anywhere in the world, but will be targeted particularly at the Irish diaspora, international expatriates, the “New Diaspora” (people from overseas who have previously worked or studied in Ireland), as well as serial and mobile entrepreneurs
·        Key geographical targets will include North America, UK, Europe and Australia
·        Key target sectors include Internet, Games, Cloud Computing, Medtech and Financial Services sectors
·        The fund will target investor-ready projects seeking between €200,000 and €500,000
·        Funding will be in the form of an equity stake taken by the State in the company

To support the marketing of the fund overseas Enterprise Ireland will be appointing a number of high profile successful Irish entrepreneurs to act as International Start Up Ambassadors. Dylan Collins, one of the most experienced Internet entrepreneurs in Europe, is one of the first to accept the role of fund Ambassador.

Announcing the fund, Minister Bruton said:

“This Government’s ambition is not only to turn the country around and get employment growing again, but to once again create a dynamic economy that is the envy of the world and has over two million people at work.

“This will not be easy, but one key strand of our new industrial strategy will be to create a genuine indigenous engine of growth. As I have said before, our ambition must not only be to attract the next Google or Microsoft to Ireland, but we must also seek to grow the next Google or Microsoft in Ireland. Indigenous companies provide proportionally more than three times more benefit to the Irish economy than multinational companies.

“Today’s announcement is a direct intervention by government to create more start-up companies here. Across the world, many of the start-up companies which go on to succeed and create jobs are driven by people within a small class of mobile, innovative, serial entrepreneurs. What the Irish Government is saying very clearly today to the international technology community gathered in Dublin is – come and start your company in Ireland, we are open for business, and we will support you”.

“There is no reason why Ireland should not be a global centre for international start-ups. We already have a growing number of mobile start-ups locating here, and with strong Government supports, a business-friendly environment, a deep pool of skills as well as all the benefits that come with a base of multinational companies that is the envy of the world”.

Commenting on the new initiative Frank Ryan, Enterprise Ireland Chief Executive said:

‘Stimulating the flow of new High Potential Start-Ups and supporting their growth are fundamental building blocks in Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for economic growth and job creation. We want mobile entrepreneurs to locate their businesses in Ireland and to see Enterprise Ireland as their dedicated partner.

‘The addition of the €10m fund provides a core offering around which the rest of our overseas entrepreneurship marketing and promotion efforts will be centred. The attraction of overseas entrepreneurs to Ireland is an important opportunity to expand our start up activity and they will significantly add to the diversity and skill-base of the Irish start up community’.

Dylan Collins, Irish serial entrepreneur who has established highly successful companies in various countries, said:

“I am delighted to be the first international ambassador for this start up fund. It’s an excellent way to build on Ireland’s position as one of the leading startup hubs in Europe. If you’re in a startup anywhere in the world which has international ambition, you need to come and talk to us right now”.

Louis Ravenet, a serial US entrepreneur who earlier this year set up his company 2PaperDolls in Ireland, commented on what motivated him to move his business to Ireland:

“Ireland has a number of advantages for an early-stage business – it’s efficient, highly networked, co-operative and it is extremely refreshing that there isn’t a ‘hold cards close to the chest’ attitude here. 2PaperDolls is growing and we have found skilled software developers in good supply in the Irish market. And from a cost perspective, Ireland is a great place to do business – you have the low corporate tax rate and it’s inexpensive compared to other world-class capital cities for office space, housing, schools and getting around”.

To find out more about the International Start Up Fund and Ireland as a location for your business visit: www.startinireland.com

To apply for the fund contact:
Start in Ireland Enquiry Desk, Tel: +353 1 7272140, startinireland@enterprise-ireland.com

Fire crews attempting to close the floodgate at Newbridge Avenue

Statement to the Dail following the severe flooding in Dublin-South East.

Posted October 25th, 2011

Following the severe flooding in Dublin South-East last night, Eoghan Murphy requested that the Ceann Comhairle make this a priority topic for discussions in the Dáil today. Due to the importance of this issue, and requests made by other TD’s in the Dublin and Wicklow areas, special time was afforded to debate this issue. Responding to Minister Brian Hayes, Eoghan said the following:

I do not believe this is only about money. We must acknowledge that the local authority in Dublin city is no longer the correct responsible authority to deal with emergency responses in this city. Deputy Costello has already alluded to the lack of response from the local council last night. I can only outline my own experience. I tried to telephone officials at 9 p.m. last night but the emergency response number for the city council was down. When I managed to get somebody on their private mobile phone, they were not even aware that the number was down. I went onto the website but there was no indication that the number was down, nor was there any indication of the road closures or transport disruptions that had been occurring in the city for approximately four hours.

When I went to Gordon Street with Councillor Kieran Binchy I found Deputy Humphreys there helping residents to sandbag their homes. I did not see any council officials. I learned that the flooding of those homes could have been averted had the council acted more quickly, but at that stage it had not acted at all. I commend Deputy Humphreys for what he did. The people there owe him a debt of gratitude for the effort he put in. It was something to see.

I then went to Newbridge Avenue to see the flood defence walls along the Dodder. The floodgates were still open, although it was between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. The residents and fire crews were trying to close them and when they did, they found they could not lock them because they did not have the correct keys. When the council officials arrived, they did not have them either. We can spend all the money in the world, and we have spent €3 million on the flood defence wall on this stretch of the Dodder, but that type of incompetence renders flood defences meaningless and useless. The local authority must hold up its hands and explain why those gates were not closed. People telephoned Dublin City Council in the afternoon to recommend that they be closed as a precautionary measure, but that did not happen.

Businesses in this city pay rates; in Dublin, 25% of the businesses nationally pay 50% of the total amount of rates to local authorities. Is the local authority the correct authority to protect their properties and businesses in this regard? Can we turn to home owners and ask them to pay rates to a council that cannot protect their properties? I realise the Minister cannot answer these questions directly but it is incredibly important that the local authority does. I believe its representatives should appear before an Oireachtas committee and answer these questions. If they have explanations, they should give them and if they do not, they should put their hands up. I recommend that the Minister consider a proper emergency response plan for this city, one that does not fall to the responsibility of the local authority in the city.

Question on National Office of Suicide Prevention

Posted October 25th, 2011

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Health (Ms. Lynch)
by Deputy Eoghan Murphy

for WRITTEN ANSWER on 25/10/2011

* To ask the Minister for Health the steps being made to increase the funding of the National office of Suicide Prevention.

REPLY.

The Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change – the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy (2006) and Reach Out -the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005 – 2014. This commitment was clearly shown in the Programme for Government which provides for the ring-fencing of €35 million annually from within the overall health budget to develop community mental health services and to implement Reach Out. This is currently being considered as part of the Estimates process for 2012 and future years. Any increases in funding for the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) will be decided in this context.

Older posts

Month: October 2011

2011 questions for Public Expenditure and Reform

Tanaiste, Foreign Affairs and Trade questions 2011

2011 questions for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

2011 questions for Education and Skills

Bruton launches new 10 million euro International Start-Up Fund to draw overseas entrepreneurs.

Statement to the Dail following the severe flooding in Dublin-South East.

Question on National Office of Suicide Prevention

Archives

Navigation

Search

Latest Video

Facebook

From the Blog

Agency, Body, Office	Detail
Office of Public Works	The estimate in administration subheads for consultancy fees and value for money on Vote 10 for OPW in 2011 is €54,000. Of this amount €33,000 relates to Value for Money and Policy Review consultancy contracts. Additional Information:In the course of its normal business activity, the Office of Public Works engages technical consultants on many of its projects, primarily architectural and engineering. The costs of these consultancies would be included in the overall project.
State Laboratory	The State Laboratory intends to spend €12,000 on consultancy fees in 2011. This spend relates to Internal Audit services only.
Commission for Public Service Appointments	The Estimate for 2011 includes a provision for Consultancy spend of €158,000. To date in 2011 total spend amounts to €25,000 and it is not envisaged that the full amount of the provision will be required to the end of the year. None of this is attributable to contracts related to identifying value for money.
Public Appointments Service	Nil spend on consultancy in 2011.
Valuation Office	The Valuation Office envisages spending €70,000 approximately on consultancies in 2011. None of the consultancies are specifically geared towards the identification of value for money.
Office of the Ombudsman

Agency, Body, Office	Detail
National Treasury Management Agency	The projected costs of legal and consultancy fees for the NTMA for 2011 are €8 million. This amount includes fees in relation to banking system functions and takes account of fees incurred by the Department of Finance post the transfer of banking functions to the Department (5 August 2011). It excludes banking consultancy fees recoverable from the financial institutions. Under the Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the Department of Finance, the NTMA continue to pay the third-party consultancy fees of the Banking Unit until 31 December 2011.The above projected costs do not include consultancy fees incurred by NAMA which are paid out of NAMA’s operating income. In 2011, legal and consultancy fees for NAMA are expected to be €29.9m.
Office of the Revenue Commissioners	The amount provided for in 2011 in the Revenue Commissioners Revised Estimates Volume under Consultancy Services and Value for Money and Policy Reviews is €108,000. The amount spent to date in 2011 is €31,365 (including €2,405 to those contracted to identify value for money). The projected total expenditure to the end of the year is c€45,000.
Office of the Appeals Commissioners	Nil expenditure on Consultancy in 2011
Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General	The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has an Estimate of €700,000 for 2011 in subhead A.7 Consultancy. Of this amount €500,000 is to provide specialist expertise in conducting the audit of the National Asset Management Agency and €200,000 is provided more generally for specialist expertise in connection with the reporting work carried out by the Office. The consultancy expenditure on NAMA related work is considered a cost of audit and is recouped from NAMA through Appropriations in Aid.To the end of September the Office has spent about €86,000, most of which is recoupable from the NAMA audit. To the end of the year it is expected that the Office will not spend more than about €100,000.