Quinn, Ruairí

Budget Statement 2013 (Continued)

Not so.

Not so.

The Deputy wrote the speech too early.

Financial Resolution No. 9: Income Tax (Continued)

I move the following Financial Resolutions:

Financial Resolution No. 14: Capital Acquisitions Tax

Financial Resolution No. 10 gives legislative effect to the budget announcement that the rates of deposit interest retention tax, DIRT, will increase by three percentage points with effect from 1 J...

The resolution also amends section 267B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to increase the 30% rate, which applies to special share accounts and special term accounts held in credit unions, to a...

I apologise to Members. Was I expected to move all four together?

Does the Deputy want me to speak to them all now?

I have moved all four together but will speak seriatim on them.

Financial Resolution No. 14: Capital Acquisitions Tax (Continued)

It was the beginning of a disastrous slide to a zero tax base.

In ghost estates.

Could we have that in writing, preferably engraved in stone?

Was that a reply to a parliamentary question?

He never has before. Why would he start now?

So, Jim Gibbons was never beaten up by Fianna Fáil activists in the corridor.

I move the following Financial Resolution:

Financial Resolution No. 15: General

Written Answers follow Adjournment.

  The Dáil adjourned at 10.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 6 December 2012.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Was asked: the position regarding an application for a grant under the Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, a grant has already been awarded and an award let...

Was asked: if a person (details supplied) will be considered for a continuation of the maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in the case of the student referred by the Deputy, he appealed the decision in relation to the rate of g...

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Was asked: the emergency funding a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 can apply for to have the carpark near the school resurfaced in view of the road traffic incidents that have occurred at this location...

The school in question submitted an application in September 2012 for funding under the Emergency Works Grant to resurface the car park. As the scope of works for this project is outside the terms...

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Was asked: the position regarding the number of Student Universal Support Ireland grant applications refused, those allowed and those still in progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Was asked: the number of grants Student Universal Support Ireland have processed to date; the number of applications currently being processed each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Was asked: the total number of applications received by Student Universal Support Ireland and the total number of applications paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 20 and 28 together.

I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, as at the close of business on the 4th December, it has received 66,827 student grant applications for this year. Processing of 31...

As at 30th November 7,132 students awarded a maintenance grant have been paid. Maintenance grant payment runs are continuing on a weekly basis to ensure students get paid as soon as possible afte...

School Curriculum

Was asked: his plans to introduce any secondary school initiatives to deal with obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Was asked: his plans to introduce any national school initiatives to deal with obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

Our young people are educated about the dangers of eating food which is unhealthy during their primary and second level education. It is important to realise that school is just one small but inf...

Elements of this strand are supported by the "Food Dudes" programme which encourages children to eat more fruit and vegetables both in school and in the home. The programme is managed by Bord Bia...

At post-primary level, SPHE for Junior Cycle builds on the primary SPHE Curriculum. Nutrition and physical activity are specifically addressed in the SPHE module on 'Physical Health'. In addition...

The new Framework for Junior Cycle which I launched in October, promotes " Staying Well" as one of its key skills. In addition a number of the statements of learning promote wellbeing, confident ...

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Was asked: in view of recent developments at a school (details supplied) in County Limerick, if he will consider proposals that were made by this Deputy during the course of a topical issue debate on 27 Novem...

School building projects are tendered in line with public procurement procedures. There are two methods of tendering (the Restricted procedure and the Open procedure). In both procedures there are...

For less complex projects of a small to medium scale, the open procedure is generally used and all contractors meeting the minimum standards are entitled to submit a tender (thus facilitating the...

In any procurement process my Department adheres to the rules and guidelines set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the EU Commission in relation to public procurement. T...

On the issue of the administration of construction contracts, the Deputy will be aware that the Construction Contracts Bill 2010 as currently drafted will address some of the issues he has raised...

Public Procurement Tenders

Was asked: if there was an instruction given by him for schools to buy all their stationary from a central location; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Government's Public Service Reform Plan recognises the key strategic importance of public procurement and provides for the development of a new policy framework for procurement. The Department ...

The NPS is supporting Small and Medium Business Enterprises (SMEs) through its education and guidance strategies and many Irish SMEs have been successful in winning NPS frameworks in areas such a...

Teacher Training Provision

Was asked: if he will outline in tabular form the number of students per country who are currently attending teacher training colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The number of students currently enrolled in each of the five state funded primary colleges of education are set out in the following table. The statistics are not available centrally by county. ...

Schools Review

Was asked: the funding provided on a yearly basis under the minor works grants scheme in counties Cavan and Monaghan in each year since 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The information that the Deputy has requested regarding the Minor Works Scheme Payments for Cavan and Monaghan 2007-2011 is contained in the following table. Please note that the PE Equipment Gran...

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Was asked: his views on difficulties facing students who are unable to provide social welfare offices with proof of being enrolled in full-time education when applying for social welfare payments as they are ...

It is understood that the Deputy is referring to students who are on the back to education allowance (BTEA). Officials in my Department have confirmed with officials in the Department of Social Pro...

Was asked: the contingency plans in place when awarding the Student Universal Support Ireland grant application processing contract to Dublin Vocational Education Committee should a delay in the processing of...

In January 2011, VECs, local authorities or other public bodies interested in taking on administrative responsibility for the centralised student grants awarding and payments function were invited ...

  Question No. 20 answered with Question No. 11.

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Was asked: if existing student grant payments have been paid by all local authorities and vocational education committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Deputy may be aware, continuing students who are renewing their student grant for attendance on an existing course with their existing awarding authority, which will be either a local author...

A student grant comprises of two elements, maintenance and fees, with a number of students only qualifying for one of those elements. Those students qualifying for the fees element only would be...

Schools Building Projects Status

Was asked: if funding has been allocated for the provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Cork; if a site has been acquired; when building will commence; and if he will make a statement on the m...

I can confirm to the Deputy that the East Cork area has been identified as one of those projected to experience a significant increase in demand for school accommodation in the coming years and my ...

School Textbooks

Was asked: if he will address the situation in which students using tablet computers in the course of their studies pay VAT on their school textbooks while those purchasing the traditional textbooks do not; i...

The use of tablet computers and e-books is a welcome innovation and demonstrates the commitment of schools to the full integration of ICT in teaching and learning. In relation to the VAT rate charg...

Capitation Grants

Was asked: his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the financial difficulties facing schools; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

My Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools within the free education scheme. As the Deputy is aware Budget 2012 provided for a 2% reduction in the funding for capi...

School Management

Was asked: his plans to issue guidelines to boards of management in respect of the contentious issue of pupils purchasing presents for teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

It is my view that, in the current economic circumstances, the practice of parents or pupils purchasing gifts for teachers or other staff members places an unnecessary financial burden on parents a...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill

Was asked: if he will support an organisation (details supplied).

I am aware of the position adopted by the Munster Survivors Support Services Ltd that the contributions from the congregations should be given directly to the survivors and that the congregations s...

I would also point out that it was envisaged from the outset that the contributions sought from the congregations would be used towards the costs of the response to residential institutional abus...

  Question No. 28 answered with Question No. 11.