Written Answers Nos. 163-9
163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there has been contact at official level recently with the Egyptian authorities on the continued detention of an Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46697/14]
View answerThere has been ongoing and regular contact at official and ministerial level since this individual’s detention began in August 2013.
From the outset, the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo has had continuous contact with the Egyptian authorities in relation to the case. Contacts have included numerous meetings at Ambassadorial level with senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Justice, and the office of the Prosecutor General. Embassy officials have also visited the individual in detention on over thirty occasions.
I have met this individual’s family and given them assurances regarding the continued assistance of my Department. Separately, officials in the Consular Division of my Department remain in ongoing, regular contact with them and have discussed the case with representatives of the Egyptian Embassy here in Dublin.
I have raised this case through direct contacts with the Egyptian government and through the European Union, including the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
On my first day in office as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I called my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry, to raise the Government’s concerns about the continued detention of this individual and the importance of due process in his case. I have since discussed this case with Minister Shoukry on a number of occasions. I have emphasised that this individual was only seventeen when the alleged offences took place, and the necessity for him to return to Ireland as soon as possible to continue his studies for his Leaving Certificate examination. I have asked that the charges against this individual be reviewed, and that he be released and permitted to return home to Ireland.
Ireland is precluded from directly interfering with the judicial process in Egypt. This is a difficult case in a complex and challenging context.
However, our concern at the continued and lengthy period of detention continues to be raised with the Egyptian authorities in a clear and sustained manner, together with the critical importance of due process in this case. It is the Government’s view that this individual should not be tried as part of a group trial involving a large number of defendants and on the basis of group charges, but solely on the basis of specific evidence.
The trial of this individual and his co-accused which was scheduled to be heard on 1 December was postponed until 6 January 2015. The Ambassador in Cairo attended the court on 1 December, and met with the individual after the hearing. I would like to take this opportunity to assure the Deputy that my officials will continue to work on this case and to raise the issue with our counterparts in Egypt, with a view to securing a review of his case, his release and return to his family.
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding school transport conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46635/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department.
Bus Éireann has advised the Department that in response to the expressed wishes of many school bus drivers - both Bus Éireann and private contractor school bus drivers - who wanted to remain in the position upon reaching retirement age at sixty-five years, and following the advice of their Medical Department, the Company decided to alter the compulsory retirement age for school bus drivers who provide services under the School Transport Scheme to enable experienced personnel to remain on in the position for a maximum of five more years if desired.
School bus drivers who opt to remain on after sixty-five years of age may do so up to the age of seventy, if they are satisfied to do so, subject to annual medical review and once they continue to hold the requisite driving licence. Bus Éireann has further advised that the opinion of the Bus Éireann Chief Medical Officer is that, given the demanding and safety critical nature of School Bus driving, 70 years of age is deemed a reasonable age at which to retire from such employment.
A Contractor may continue to hold the Contract to provide a school bus service on behalf of Bus Éireann when over the age of seventy years, using a nominated driver to provide their service.
Provided a bus over twenty years old is subject to regular maintenance of a high standard and continues to satisfy the requirements of the RSA/Department of Transport and statutory obligations, that bus may be used to provide public bus services. Many buses over twenty years old do so privately throughout the State.
Under the School Transport Scheme and in relation to the operation of services on its behalf, Bus Eireann has set a goal to withdraw buses from daily service at twenty years to provide a better quality service in line with public demands, which is why buses over twenty years are generally not engaged under contract or utilised in daily service.
165. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the non-compliance with circular 0025/2008 relating to the pensions of part-time employees in the institutes of technology and education and training boards and the issuing of circular 0062/2014; the organisations that did not comply with circular 0025/2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46554/14]
View answerThe content of the circular is self-explanatory. The purpose is to outline steps which must be taken promptly by Education Training Boards and Institutes of Technology in order to finalise the Revised Arrangements for part time public servants.
The Deputy will be aware that Education Training Boards and Institutes of Technology are bodies corporate which are responsible for the management and administration of their own organisation.
166. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the decision of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology not to participate in the proposed new technological university with other institutes of technology in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46555/14]
View answerIt is a matter for the governing body and leadership of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology to decide the future strategic direction of the institute. While I believe that high quality multi-campus technological universities will contribute to the social and economic fabric of their regions, stand-alone institutes of technology also have a clear mission and a very valuable role to play as part of regional clusters in a reformed higher education landscape.
167. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who is employed through the ancillary school grant; if there are any similar funding options or grants for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46563/14]
View answerMy Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools by means of the Ancillary Services Grant.
Within the grant programme, the level and extent of services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded by the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for secretarial and caretaking services as resources permit. As the secretaries and caretakers are employees of individual schools, my Department does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities. In addition, my Department does not stipulate any rules concerning how secretarial or caretaking services are to be obtained by the school.
The Ancillary Services grant and the Capitation grant provided for general running costs of the school may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
168. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the planned Educate Together school in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; when construction will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46619/14]
View answerMy Department plans to provide two new school buildings for Educate Together schools to serve the area referred to by the Deputy.
In the case of the primary school, an outline planning application for permanent accommodation for the school at its current temporary location was recently refused by An Bord Pleanála. Officials from my Department are working with officials from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in relation to the provision of permanent accommodation for the school.
In addition, my officials are working closely with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council officials in relation to acquiring a suitable site for a post-primary school to serve the feeder area referred to by the Deputy. In that regard a site is under consideration but due to commercial sensitivities attached to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further detail on the matter at this time.
169. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that funding is provided for an extension to the staff room and principal's office in respect of a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that the facilities currently available there are in breach of workplace regulation. [46620/14]
View answerI can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for additional accommodation comprising a mainstream classroom and staff accommodation. The application was assessed and I am pleased to advise you that the school were allocated funding for a mainstream classroom.However in view of the need to prioritise available funding towards the provision of essential mainstream classrooms and special education rooms, my Department has advised the school concerned that it is not in a position to provide funding in respect of the staff accommodation at this time.
