Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

NAMA Staff Remuneration

Jerry Buttimer

81. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of salaries paid by the National Assets Management Agency to its employees, in bands of €25,000; the number of employees in each band; the qualifications and experience of the employees in each band; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42484/12]

NAMA Staff Remuneration

Jerry Buttimer

82. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance the benchmarks and criteria used by the National Assets Management Agency in determining the salaries paid to its employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42485/12]

NAMA Portfolio Value

Michael McGrath

83. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all items of art that have come under the control of National Asset Management Agency since the agency's establishment including details of the number of such items; the estimated aggregate value and the number of NAMA debtors involved; the full details including proceeds of any sales of art that have been executed so far showing separately sales by NAMA and sales arranged by NAMA debtors with the agency's consent; if he will provide details of the sales arrangements that have applied including tendering procedures and the name of any selling agents appointed by NAMA and by NAMA debtors with the consent of NAMA; and if he will provide details of any further plans the agency has for the disposal of any items of art under its control. [42509/12]

NAMA Court Cases

Michael McGrath

84. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of court cases that the National Assets Management Agency has taken or plans to take to secure reversal of asset transfers by NAMA debtors which the agency believes were designed to put assets beyond the reach of the agency; if he will provide a statement of value and a breakdown of the type of assets which been returned to the agency thus far including cash, property and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42511/12]

NAMA Portfolio Value

Michael McGrath

85. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of properties that have been sold that is legally binding contracts in place by the National Assets Management Agency or by agents acting on behalf of NAMA or by agents appointed by NAMA controlled debtors and, of this number, if he will confirm for each category the number and total value of such properties which were up for sale on the open market and publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42512/12]

European Council Meetings

Bernard Durkan

86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of individual structures applicable throughout the EU are sufficient to ensure each members states’ Minister for Finance or equivalent is sufficiently aware of the need for a cohesive and coordinated approach to debt and economic problems affecting all member states throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42524/12]

EU-IMF Programme of Support

Bernard Durkan

87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if, at EU Council Finance Ministers’ meetings, the need for recognition for the vulnerability of those member states in a programme or bailout situation has been recognised with a view to ensuring that individual Ministers do not jeopardise such countries and their economies for domestic political reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42525/12]

Debt Relief

Bernard Durkan

88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in achieving improvements by way of terms and or interest rates in respect of this country’s borrowings arising from the EU debt rescue provisions entered into by his predecessors; the actual monetary value of such improvements to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42526/12]

EU-IMF Programme of Support

Bernard Durkan

89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he has had meaningful discussions with his colleagues in other EU member states which, like Ireland, have similar debt problems with a view to achieving a consensus approach which ultimately will be of benefit to the entire European Union as well as the indebted countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42527/12]

Economic Competitiveness

Bernard Durkan

90. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which this economy has become more competitive in the past five years on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42528/12]

Sovereign Debt

Bernard Durkan

91. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the steps taken to date in terms of interaction between Ireland’s Central Bank, other member states’ Central Banks and the ECB are sufficient to address the need for a coordinated approach in terms of fiscal strategy, debt repayment and economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42529/12]

Price Inflation

Bernard Durkan

92. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent, if any, to which he has recognised any possible inflationary tendencies in the Irish economy; if any corrective steps are required to address any issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42530/12]

Exchequer Returns Publication

Bernard Durkan

93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which Exchequer returns are on target and thereby affecting his approach to Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42531/12]

Sovereign Debt

Bernard Durkan

94. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he can foresee the benefits of debt repayment arrangements for larger European countries being of direct and positive impact on this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42532/12]

Sovereign Debt

Bernard Durkan

95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which his colleagues at EU level are prepared to accept the need for a Europe-wide approach to sovereign debt repayment that will enable and facilitate a reasonable level of economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42533/12]

Public Services Provision

Brian Stanley

96. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if his Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42562/12]

Public Services Provision

Brian Stanley

97. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance if his Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42583/12]

Access to Higher Education

Brendan Smith

98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the funds invested in the DARE third level scheme; if there are Departmental funds involved; if so, the amount of same; if he has an analysis of the number of DARE student places allocated by each third level college/university to each of the faculties; if he will outline the breakdown in relation to agricultural science degree or its equivalent since the commencement of the scheme; the qualifying criteria for same; if he will list the third level colleges/universities that are operating the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42432/12]

School Services Staff

Tom Fleming

99. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will immediately address the detrimental effect the cutting of guidance counselling in schools across County Kerry will have on our young people as they struggle to cope with the myriad of personal and family problems that permeate all sectors of modern communities; his views on whether it will take a tragedy before he sees the damage that has been done to the education system by reducing or eradicating the access that students have had to the support of a professionally trained guidance counsellor when they need it in secondary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42463/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Robert Troy

100. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which third level grants will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42479/12]