Written Answers Nos. 116-122
116. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans that have been put in place to locate a new venue for court sittings once the refurbishment of the courthouse in Mullingar, County Westmeath, gets under way. [42414/14]
View answer117. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe that has been put in place to commence and complete the refurbishment works on the courthouse in Mullingar, County Westmeath. [42415/14]
View answer118. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if funding has been ring-fenced for the planned refurbishment works at the courthouse in Mullingar, County Westmeath. [42416/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 118, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that they are now at an advanced stage in planning the proposed refurbishment of Mullingar Courthouse which is part of the Government's infrastructure stimulus package.
The proposed refurbishment of Mullingar Courthouse is one of seven projects included in a Courts Bundle which is to be delivered by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Courts Bundle is currently in a procurement process which is being managed by the National Development Finance Agency. The funding of these projects will be by way of a unitary charge payment to the successful PPP company which is a monthly payment over the life of the project to cover the design, construction, financing and service provision and will commence on completion of the project, which is expected to be in 2017. These payments will be provided for in the Courts Service multi-annual capital provisions.
It is expected that the contract for the Courts PPP Bundle will be signed in the final quarter of 2015 and that construction will commence soon afterwards with the work to be completed during 2017.
The Courts Service is currently looking at possible alternative locations for court sittings in Mullingar once construction work commences on the courthouse. One possible location being considered is the use of accommodation within the Columb Barracks site in Mullingar and the Courts Service is in discussions with the Office of Public Works and the Department of Defence on this matter. The Courts Service has a limited budget for any works that might be necessary to make an alternative venue suitable for court use and is looking to achieve a solution which is effective and economic.
119. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a list of applicants for positions on boards of State bodies in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42465/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that there is no central list of applicants retained for positions on State Boards or bodies under the remit of my Department.
Expressions of interest are sought as and when positions arise.
120. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who are out of school who attend courses run by the home-school officers; the number of children who are out of school long term who avail of the services of the home-school officers; and if records are kept of all those to whom courses or assistance is provided. [42320/14]
View answer121. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of school completion schemes; the budget for the school completion scheme; and the percentage of that budget which provides for salaries and expenses. [42321/14]
View answer122. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who are out of school who attend courses run by the school completion scheme; the number of children who are out of school long term who avail of the services of the school completion scheme; and if records are kept of all those to whom courses or assistance is provided. [42322/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 122, inclusive, together.
Since its establishment on 1 January 2014, the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme and Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme, both of which are elements of the School Support Programme under the Department of Education and Skills' DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion.
The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of its target cohort. The Programme is aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’ DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. It involves 124 locally managed school completion projects and related initiatives operating across 470 primary and 224 post-primary schools. It provides targeted supports to approximately 36,000 children and young people. The programme's project model gives local communities the autonomy to devise innovative approaches to address the needs of young people most at risk of early school leaving.
The School Completion Programme budget allocation for 2014 is €24.756 million. It is estimated by the Child and Family Agency that approximately 75% of this is expended on employment costs associated with projects.
The School Completion Programme interventions are focussed on children and young people at risk of early school leaving rather than on their parents. In the case of each local projects the interventions provided form the basis of the annual School Retention Plan which is the basis for the funding provided to the projects. Projects are required to submit annual reports to the Agency, based on reviews of activity and interventions, including information on the participation levels of at risk pupils.
Typically, projects offer homework clubs; breakfast clubs; mentoring programmes; learning support; social and personal development programmes. Support for out of school children in any project is an important objective of the programme. I am advised by the Agency that approximately 2% of children who are targeted under the School Completion Programme are out of school. In the 2012/2013 school year, some such 595 children were supported under the Programme.
The Home School Community Liaison Scheme is a school-based preventative scheme. It aims to promote and develop partnership between parents, teachers and community in order to enhance pupils’ learning opportunities and assist their retention and participation in the educational system. Under the scheme, 402 local coordinators, who are serving teachers, serve 605 schools and organise locally based activities to encourage greater contact between parents and families and the school to tackle issues which impinge on participation in school and, ultimately, on the quality of learning.
I have been advised by the Child and Family Agency that overall information relating to the numbers of parents of children that are out of school who participate in the diverse range of Home School Community Liaison Scheme activities and supports is not readily available.
