Thursday, 18 Dec 2014

Written Answers Nos. 496-519

School Staffing

Questions (496)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

496. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the negative impact which increases to the minimum pupil numbers needed for maintaining staffing levels in primary schools since budget 2012 has had on schools; if her attention has been further drawn to the threat this has posed to rural schools where enrolment figures often fluctuate and face the loss of teaching staff in instances where pupil numbers dip below a certain figure in any one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48939/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for the challenging times the country has faced in recent years. The staffing schedule at primary level disproportionally benefits small primary schools. For that reason, as part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools was gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. Even when all of these phased increases are implemented, the threshold for small schools will still be significantly lower than the minimum of 28 pupils that was required for the appointment of the second teacher in schools prior to the mid-1990s. An appeals process is available to small schools affected by this budget change. A school with four classroom teachers or less which is losing a teacher or failed to gain an additional teacher as a result of the Budget 2012 measures can submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Details on the appeals process are made available in the published staffing schedule.

Departmental Policy Reviews

Questions (497)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

497. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the priorities in her Department for the remainder of the term of this Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49021/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that my priority for my term in office is the implementation of the relevant commitments in the Programme for Government, published in 2011, and in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016, issued by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in July 2014.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (498)

Finian McGrath

Question:

498. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding a reduction in resource hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49073/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18th June 2014.

The NCSE, consulted widely with education partners, representatives of the disability sector, stakeholders and parent representative groups, during the course of the development of this policy advice. The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed, based on a schools educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion. My Department is currently collecting and considering information which will be required to develop the proposed new model. Following consideration of this data, my Department will also consider whether, and from what date a new model might be implemented. I also wish to advise the Deputy that following publication of the working group report, my Department invited education partners, stakeholders, and parent representative groups to make written submissions in relation to the NCSE report. 27 written submissions have been received to date, from interested parties.

My Department also held a number of consultation meetings on 1st and 3rd October last with stakeholders, education partners, and parent representative groups.

Consultation has been a key feature of the development of this policy advice to date and I can confirm that consultation will continue to take place at each stage of the development of proposals for any new model.

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Questions (499)

Barry Cowen

Question:

499. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in her Department currently on a sabbatical-career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one to two years, two to three years, four to five years and more than five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49124/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the deputy is set out in the table.

Number of Staff on Career Break
0-6 months	6-12 months	1-2 years	2-3 years	3-4 years	4-5 years	More than 5 years
3	0	6	3	2	1	4

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (500)

Barry Cowen

Question:

500. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the total photography costs for her Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49139/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Since my appointment, no photographers have been booked or costs incurred for Ministerial events by the Department or through the Ministerial Allowance. For the Deputy's information, a sum of approximately €7,400 was paid in July 2014 by my Department for the restoration, framing and installation of photographs in order to establish a photo gallery of Ministers and Secretaries General who have served in the Department. 2014 marks the 90th anniversary of the Department in its modern form since the establishment of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. The project has been in train for some time. My Department adheres to appropriate procurement guidelines when procuring the use of photography services.

Public Relations Contracts Data

Questions (501, 512)

Barry Cowen

Question:

501. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49154/14]

Barry Cowen

Question:

512. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total external public relations costs incurred by her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49379/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 512 together. My Department has not incurred any expenditure in respect of the provision of public relations services from 2011 to date in 2014. When engaging external support services, my Department does so in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Finance "Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants and other External Support by the Civil Service".

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (502, 503)

Barry Cowen

Question:

502. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent on external IT consultants by her Department in 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49169/14]

Barry Cowen

Question:

503. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49184/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together. In addition to expenditure on IT consultancy services, the IT unit of my Department engages contract staff and external service providers to provide specialist technical support and deliver specific projects where needed. The total spend on external staff (consultancy, contractors and external service providers) was as follows:

Year	Amount
2010	€1,353,466
2011	€1,486,158
2012	€1,507,434
2013	€1,403,874
2014	€1,145,553 (to 17 December 2014)

Where IT consultancy, external service providers or contract staff are required for specific projects then the Department conducts procurement exercises in accordance with current ICT procurement policy. In late 2013, my Department commenced an open procurement exercise for admission to a multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of temporary contract ICT personnel, replacing the previous Framework Agreement which expired earlier this year. The new Framework Agreement came into effect in February 2014 and is in place for an initial two-year period, with the option to extend for a further two years, subject to satisfactory performance. As and when a specific requirement for resources arises during the life of the Framework Agreement, the Department issues mini-tenders to participants on the Framework, inviting them to submit competitive bids. This reduces the time taken for the Department to respond to business demands while ensuring value for money on an ongoing basis.

Details of ICT procurement policy may be accessed on http://ictprocurement.gov.ie/ or http://ict.gov.ie/ictexpenditure/ictcontrol.aspx.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (504)

Barry Cowen

Question:

504. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the number of appointments to State boards under her Department's remit made since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under her Department's remit since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under her Department's remit publicly advertised since March 2011 to date; and the number of appointments to State boards under her remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [49199/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested in relation to appointments to State boards under the aegis of the Department, which have been made from March 2011 to date, is outlined in the table. The Deputy should note that board appointments are not in all cases made at my sole discretion as individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned.

Name of Board	Number of appointments made to state boards since 2011	Number of positions advertised over which the Minister can directly appoint [Note 1]	Appointments made from members of the public who applied through the PAS process	Year appointments made	Year appointments made	Year appointments made	Year appointments made
				2011	2012	2013	2014
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG)	2	0	0		2
An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS)	3 [Note 2]	0	0	1		2
Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA)	17	7	3		15		2
Higher Education Authority (HEA)	15	11	2	1	10	1	3
Irish Research Council	14	0	0		14
Léargas	12	9	0		10	2
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE)	12	1	0		12
National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA)	26 [Note 3]	3	2		25	1
National Council for Special Education (NCSE)	15	13	2	2 [Note 4]		14	1
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)	11	8	3		10		1
Skillnets Ltd	4	0	0	3	1
State Examinations Commission (SEC)	5	5	2		5
Teaching Council	39	3	0		37	2
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS)	13	9	8			13
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF)	12 [Note 5]	9	5[Note 6]			10	2
Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB)			See [Note 6]
Residential Institution Review Committee (RIRC			See [Note 6]
Education Finance Board (EFB)			See[Note 6]

Note 1: Appointments, while made by the Minister, are not in all cases made at his/her sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned.

Note 2: Two interim appointments were made to the Board of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) in January 2013 pending the dissolution of the body in October 2013.  Accordingly, these vacancies were not published on PAS. Appointments to the Board of FÁS were made following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Note 3: The 25 member NCCA was appointed in 2012 with one resignee being replaced in November 2013.

Note 4: Reappointed in January 2013.

Note 5: In addition to the appointment of persons who applied to PAS, a further three appointees applied directly to the Department. Following the resignation of two appointees in 2013, the consequential vacancies were filled by persons who had submitted expressions of interest to PAS (one vacancy was filled in 2013, the other in 2014).  An appointee who had not submitted an expression of Interest to PAS resigned in 2014 and was replaced by a person who had not submitted an expression of interest to PAS.

Note 6: The existing members* of the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) and the Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) have held office from at least 2008 and were most recently re-appointed earlier this year until 31st December 2014 or until such time as the bodies have completed their work, whichever is the sooner. The final membership of the Education Finance Board (EFB) were appointed in February 2012 for a one year term or until the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) was established whichever was the earlier.  The RISF was established and the EFB dissolved in March 2013. The 9 member Board consisted of a Chairperson, four former residents of institutions and four ordinary members.  The views of survivor groups and other interested parties were sought on appointments of former resident members of the Board.  

*apart from the Chair of the RIRB who was appointed in 2008 until such time as the Board completes its functions.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (505)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

505. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the budget letters for the educational training boards if the final 2014 budget letter for each educational training board was issued; the dates for the final budget letters for the VECs in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49213/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The annual letter of determination sets out the grants provided by my Department to a VEC (ETB from 1 July 2013) for a given year under the various programme headings. The final letter is issued early in the year after the year of issue of the grants. For 2011, 2012 and 2013 the letters were sent on 5th March 2012, 4th March 2013 and 28th February 2014 respectively. It is intended that the 2014 final letter of determination will issue early in 2015.

SOLAS Administration

Questions (506)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

506. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if when FÁS centres were transferred to educational training boards there was a formal statement of all assets and liabilities transferred; if so, if this statement was agreed by her Department and the education training boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49214/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The transfer of assets and liabilities from SOLAS to the Education and Training Boards is covered by legislation. The fixed asset buildings of SOLAS including their contents were transferred to the Education and Training Boards by Ministerial Order as provided for in the Further Education and Training Act 2013. A full list of assets and liabilities was provided to each Education and Training Board and agreed and formally signed off by the relevant Education & Training Board and SOLAS.

Vocational Education Committees Amalgamation

Questions (507)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

507. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the County Dublin VEC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49215/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Co. Dublin VEC was dissolved on the establishment day of the Education and Training Boards (ETBs), 1st July 2013. Officials of my Department have contacted the Chief Executive of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB regarding the matter raised by the Deputy. I will arrange for a reply to the Deputy as soon as his response is received.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (508)

Barry Cowen

Question:

508. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, per annum from 2009 to date in 2014 the total number of freedom of information requests received by her Department; the total refused; total granted; total part-granted; total appealed; total successful appeals; total part-successful appeals; total refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49242/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The following table gives details of FOI requests from 2009 to date received by my Department. The total number of FOI requests for each of the years includes requests that were withdrawn, handled outside FOI or transferred to another public body.

Department of Education and Skills Freedom of Information Requests - 1st January 2009 - 15 December 2014

Year	Total Received*	Requests	Requests	Requests	Appeal - Internal Review	Appeal - Internal Review	Appeal - Internal Review	Appeal - Internal Review	Appeal - Internal Review	Appeal - Internal Review	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner	Appeal - Office of the Inform- ation Comm- issioner
		Granted	Part- granted	Refused	Total	Annul	Vary	Affirm	Withdrawn	Pending	Total	Annul	Vary	Affirm	Settled	Withdrawn	Pending
2009	569	113	206	149	8		4	4			1					1
2010	796	127	254	167	13		3	8	2		6	1	2		1	2
2011	1170	83	237	318	15		5	10			3		1	1		1
2012	417	85	240	191	20		3	16	1		4	1	1	2
2013	328	30	110	114	25		6	19			9	1	1	4		2	1
2014	300	32	92	77	14		1	12	1

* Total figure also includes requests withdrawn, handled outside FOI or transferred

Departmental Reports

Questions (509)

Barry Cowen

Question:

509. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form per annum, all external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date. [49348/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Details in relation to consultants engaged by my department are compiled annually in respect of the previous year and in this regard I include details in respect of the years 2011 to 2013 inclusive. Details in respect of consultants engaged in 2014 will not be compiled until January 2015.

Year 2011
Consultants, Experts, Advisors	Start date	Completion date	Status of Report	reports/reviews/studies	Total Cost 2011
Centre for Cross Border Studies	October-11	December-11	*	2011 annual review paper on Northern Ireland Postgraduate Courses	€2,420.00
Jim Duffy & Pat McLoughlin members of an independent panel	February-11	April-11	No Report	Recommendations to the Minister on the preferred proposal for designation of a single awarding authority together with recommendations considered necessary in relation to modification or development of the preferred  proposal for implementation purposes	€1,927.86
Gartner	October-11	October-14	No Report	Subscription for provision of ICT research, advice, guidance & related services 1/10/2011 - 30/09/2012	€35,150.49
Sr. Eileen Randles	May-10	November-10	*	Review in an appeal against an inspection under section 13 (9) of the Education Act 1998	€920.00
Dr Simon Marginson	January-11	March-11	Published by the HEA June 2011	Criteria for the proposed re-designation of amalgamated institutes of Technology Universities arising from the recommendations of the National Strategy  for Higher Education to 2030	€9,075.00
Farrell Grant Sparks	October-10	June-11	Completed	Advice on necessary redactions and initial advice on possible updated accounting arrangements	€8,410.71
Forum on Patronage & Pluralism in the Primary Sector-Professor John Coolahan, Dr Caroline Hussey, Fionnuala Kilfeather	April-11	January-12	Published April 2012	Report to the Minister on the Forum on Patronage & Pluralism in the Primary Sector.	€20,000.00
Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP (PWC) Belfast	December-10	March-12	Published March 2012	Evaluation of the Special Education Support Service.	€97,866.01
Goodbody Economic Consultants	April-11	December-11	Published February 2012	Evaluation of the Initial Implementation of Síolta, the National Quality framework for Early Childhood Education	€31,280.92
The PA Consulting Group	July-11	November-11	Published November 2011	Evaluation of the training and education programmes for the unemployed delivered under LMAF 2010	€52,003.38
Fitzpatrick & Associates	February-11	August-11	Published ESF website August 2011	Mid term Evaluation of the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013	€61,589.00
Deloitte	March-11	April-11	*	Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance from International Section to the European Commission	€13,212.99
Public Authority Pension Services Ltd	June-10	June-11	*	Pensions advisory work relating to the establishment of a pension scheme for staff of the NCTE	€4,791.60
Analysys Mason	July-11	April-12	*	Commercial Financial & Technical Procurement advice for Schools Broadband Tender	€63,632.51
Grant Thornton	September-11	October-11	*	External audit of Dell and Waterford Crystal EGF programmes	€5,445.00
			* Internal reports -not for publication	2011 Total:	€407,725.47

Year 2012
Consultants, Experts, Advisors	Start date	Completion date	Status of Report	Reports/Reviews/Studies	Total Cost 2012
Analysys Mason	July-11	March-13	*	Commercial, financial and technical advice on the procurement of broadband services for schools	€52,040.42
Goodbody Economic Consultants	April-11	December-11	Published	Evaluation of the Initial Implementation of Síolta, the National Quality framework for Early Childhood Education	€16,747.68
Mazars	2012	2012	*	IT Security Audit of the EUSF IT Database	€5,063.91
Mazars	July-11	June-12	*	Audit of Labour Market Activation Fund (LMAF)	€9,839.14
Version 1	April-12	December-12	No Report	Provision of Oracle Financials training support along with training documentation in the implementation of Performance Budgeting	€2,070.00
Mokum Change Management Ltd	April-12	December-12	No Report	Provision of Oracle Financials training support along with training documentation in the implementation of Performance Budgeting	€17,302.88
Seamus O'Dwyer-Consulting and Training	July-12	January-13	No Report	Training and expert advice relating to the Public Service Pensions Bill and training and advice in relation to the Legal Framework and Family Law	€2,700.00
Sydney Blain	October-11	February-12	*	Review of an appeal against an inspection under section 13(9) of the Education Act	€718.75
Mokum Change Management Ltd	April-12	December-12	No Report	Provision of Oracle Financials functional & accounting advice in moving from a four vote operating unit to a single operating unit	€11,606.90
Sir Jim Rose	December-12	2020	No Report	Provision of international expertise on Literacy & Numeracy to the Literacy and Numeracy Implementation Advisory Committee	€3,870.13
Gartner	October-11	October-14	No Report	Subscription for provision of ICT research, advice, guidance & related services	€36,788.67
Sion Quality Healthcare Solutions	October-12	October-12	*	Completion of a workplace assessment for staff member with a disability and resulting report	€370.00
Pat McLoughlin	February-11	April-11	No Report	Costs relating to Recommendations to the Minister on the preferred proposal for designation of a single awarding authority together with recommendations considered necessary in relation to modification or development of the preferred  proposal for implementation purposes which were paid in 2012	€83.66
The Centre for Cross Border Studies	October-12	December-12	*	2012 annual review paper on Northern Ireland Postgraduate Courses	€1,845.00
Deloitte	March-12	April-12	*	Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance from International Section to the European Commission	€16,568.10
			* Internal reports -not for publication	2012 Total:	€177,615.24

Year 2013
Consultants, Experts, Advisors	Start date	Completion date	Status of Report	Reports/Reviews/Studies	Total Cost 2013
Dr Tony Crooks	February-13	June-13	**	Review of an inspection report under Section 13(9) of the Education Act 1998.	€460.00
The Centre for Cross Border Studies	October-13	December-13	No Report	2013 annual review paper Northern Ireland Postgraduate Courses	€1,845.00
Accenture	September-13	October-13	No Report	Consulting services in relation to the Management Framework Agreement between City of Dublin Education & Training Board and the Department of Education & Skills for the centralised Administration of Student Grants.	€5,904.00
University of Birmingham on behalf of Dr Mike Linden	November-13	March-14	Date of  publication to be decided	Review of Visiting Teachers for children with hearing & Visual Impairment (VTHVI) Service, Ireland	€10,947.00
University of Manchester on behalf of Dr Wendy MC Cracken	November-13	March-14	Date of  publication to be decided	Review of Visiting Teachers for children with hearing & Visual Impairment (VTHVI) Service, Ireland	€0.00***
Mokum Change Management Ltd (IT consultancy)	April-12	February-13	No Report	Post Performance Budgeting Support- Consultancy	€2,169.14
Gartner (IT consultancy)	October-11	October-14	No Report	IT Leaders Advisor Subscription 07/2013 to 06/2014 including credit in respect of 07-08/2013. Provision of ICT Research, advice, guidance and related services.	€41,061.50
Padraig McNamara	October-13	November-13	**	External Review of historic funding and financial arrangements for Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) centres funded by the Department.	€0.00***
Deloitte	November-13	Q2-2014	No Report	To assist in development of a new organisational design for Education & Training Boards (ETBs) and SOLAS	€0.00***
Deloitte	October-13	Q2-2014	Report due May 2014	Provision of external expert assistance for the development of a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and implementation roadmap for an integrated payroll shared service for the ETB/SOLAS sector in accordance with the shared services commitments set out in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan.	€0.00***
Educational Research Centre	December-12	February-14	**	Consultancy Services to provide input to ICT Census of Primary, Post Primary and special schools and analysis of census data	€0.00***
Public Authority Pensions Services Ltd	December-12	March-13	No Report	Pensions Advisory work relating to the establishment of a pension scheme for the staff of the NCTE	€2,152.50
Fitzpatricks Associates/AECON	December-13	April-14	1st report April 14 final report June/July 14	Ex-Ante Evaluation of the ESF Operational Programme in preparation for the period 2014-2020	€0.00***
Mazars	November 13	January-14	**	External Audit of EGF TalkTalk Programme	€0.00***
Deloitte	March-13	April-14	**	Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance from International Section to the European Commission.	€14,475.34
Seamus O'Dwyer Consulting & Training	July-12	January-13	No Report	Provision of training & advice relating to the Public Service Pensions Bill	€200.00
Stratigos Ltd	October-13	.December-14	No Report	Provision of customised Business Process Improvement training to include coaching (with provision of advice) of relevant staff	€4,428.00
Version 1	December-13	.March-14	No Report	Shared Financial Services Project - provision of Oracle Financials support to set up purchasing module	€7,595.25
Deloitte	December-13	December-13		Audits of the national agencies for the new Erasmus+ Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of the ex-ante compliance assessment from International Section to the European Commission.	0.00***
			** Internal reports not for publication	2013 Total:	€91,237.73

*** Consultancies engaged  in 2013 but where no payment had been made by year end

Departmental Staff Expenses

Questions (510)

Barry Cowen

Question:

510. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and taxi payments; if her Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of Revenue Commissioners' concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49323/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The expenditure details sought by the Deputy are set out in the table.

Travel and subsistence payments made to Department staff are subject to regular internal and external audit. Issues arising regarding payments of this type, including matters such as those highlighted by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, are taken into account by my Department when reviewing its travel and subsistence guidelines for staff and management. The making of travel and subsistence payments is also included as part of an ongoing audit of the Department by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Year	Total Domestic and Foreign Subsistence & Hotel Costs	Total Taxis - (inclusive of Domestic & Foreign related taxi expenditure)	Overall Total
	€	€	€
2014 (to date)	671,014.82	18,542.52	689,557.34
2013	704,828.75	21,168.44	725,997.19
2012	734,780.92	26,179.14	760,960.06
2011	709,993.01	39,640.94	749,633.95

Note: Expenditure figures shown above are in respect of all staff in the Department of Education & Skills, including field officers in the Department's Inspectorate and the National Educational Psychologist Service (NEPS). In addition, the expenditure figures are in respect of payments made in each of the years shown, which may include payments relating to a previous year.

Departmental Legal Costs

Questions (511)

Barry Cowen

Question:

511. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total legal costs incurred by her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49338/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The total legal costs incurred by my Department for legal services procured by it during the years in question are as follows:

Year	Amount
2011	€21,039.83
2012	€1,414.50
2013	€25,009.14

It is not yet possible to provide a figure for legal costs for 2014.

Question No. 512 answered with Question No. 501.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (513)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

513. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the roll out of high speed broadband for all primary and post-primary schools in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49396/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I appreciate that quality internet connectivity is essential for good teaching and learning using ICT. While great progress has been made at post primary where every school will shortly have a high speed connection, I am aware that improvement at primary is slower and is dependent upon market and technological developments.

Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme, my Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. A new framework involving more providers was put in place in 2012 which will ensure improved solutions are available to schools.

In the context of the forthcoming Digital Strategy for Schools, improved connectivity for primary schools will be a priority. In this regard, my Department will collaborate with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to provide enhanced broadband services.

There are currently 157 schools in receipt of broadband speeds in excess of 30Mbit/s, 39 of which are in Dublin (see following table). There are further 54 schools awaiting an install of connections in excess of 30Mbit/s and there are another 59 schools who have not responded to the Department's offer of an improved connection. The Department is continually working with providers to ensure that where possible improved services are made available to schools.

Roll No.	School	Area
19662E	ST MICHAELS NS	Dublin
19658N	BISHOP SHANAHAN NS	Dublin
19565G	SCOIL TREASA FIRHOUSE	Dublin
19494J	BISHOP GALVIN NS	Dublin
19462T	NAOMH MAOLRUAIN	Dublin
19281P	MATER SCHOOL	Dublin
19178W	ST PIUS X G N S	Dublin
19177U	ST PIUS X N S BOYS	Dublin
19158Q	ST PETERS B N S	Dublin
19066L	LORETO NATIONAL SCHOOL	Dublin
19039I	ST VINCENTS HOME NS	Dublin
18904U	ST PETERS SPECIAL SCH	Dublin
17978V	NAISCOIL IDE	Dublin
17977T	SCOIL AINE C	Dublin
17976R	SCOIL ASSAIM B	Dublin
17899C	SCOIL CARMEL	Dublin
16759E	S N MHUIRE NA MBRATHAR	Dublin
16754R	ST VINCENTS CONVENT INF N S	Dublin
15895H	DRUMCONDRA N S	Dublin
15132B	HAROLD BOYS N S	Dublin
14939T	RATHFARNHAM PARISH N S	Dublin
11578V	CITY QUAY BOYS N S	Dublin
09932B	STANHOPE ST CONVENT	Dublin
07546J	GOLDENBRIDGE CONVENT	Dublin
00752A	CENTRAL SENIOR MXD N S	Dublin

Minor Works Scheme Expenditure

Questions (514)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

514. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budget available for schools on the northside of Dublin under the minor works grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49399/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Minor Works Grant 2014/2015 was lodged in the bank account of all primary schools with permanent recognition last week. While data in respect of specific areas is not available, all schools received a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school.

Gaelscoileanna Issues

Questions (515)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

515. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she has examined submissions from the support group for a gaelcholáiste in Leixlip, County Kildare; if she accepts the need for the coláiste in view of the continued high numbers of pupils attending the various Gaelscoileanna throughout north Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49432/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is currently examining the extent and location of additional post-primary places that will be needed on a nationwide basis from 2017 onwards. This will include an examination of the north Kildare area. A submission recently received from An Foras Patrúntáchta in relation to all-Irish provision in north Kildare will be taken into consideration as part of this examination. In the meantime, my Department has clearly indicated that it is open to the idea of the establishment of an independent Gaelchólásite for the north Kildare area. My Department has already committed to consider this if sufficient and viable demand for education through the medium of Irish in the Aonad in Maynooth is demonstrated over a four-year cycle.

Construction Industry Register Ireland

Questions (516)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

516. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the creation of a register of construction employees' qualifications. [48846/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Owners and builders have a duty of care to engage competent persons to undertake building works on their behalf and are now required, in line with amended building control regulations introduced earlier this year, to sign a statutory undertaking confirming their intentions in this regard prior to commencing works. In order to facilitate consumers in appointing competent persons, a register of builders, contractors and specialist subcontractors and tradespersons known as the Construction Industry Register Ireland or CIRI was established on a voluntary basis earlier this year. Participation on the register is open to construction entities generally, including small and medium sized firms (who represent the majority of construction firms in Ireland) and sole traders. The register can be accessed online at www.ciri.ie.

The Government’s Construction 2020 strategy includes a commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing in 2015. My Department is currently preparing legislative proposals in keeping with this commitment and it is intended that the General Scheme of a Bill will be brought to Government for consideration early in 2015.

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

Questions (517)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

517. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reports that have been produced for his Department regarding the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields on persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48959/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, which considered issues such as digital signals, microwaves and mobile phone masts, is available for download on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/EnvironmentalRadiation/.

Earlier this year my Department commissioned a study to review and report on international developments on the potential health effects of electro-magnetic fields emanating from transmission grid infrastructures. The study is examining international developments in non-ionising radiation (NIR) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) research, since publication of the 2007 Report. The study, which I expect will be completed shortly, will also examine how the issue of NIR/EMF is dealt with in other jurisdictions.

The analysis and findings of this study will be used by a Steering Committee, convened and chaired by my Department, to make specific proposals relating to the future management of these matters including, inter alia, any consequent legislative amendments and provision of appropriate technical expertise and associated resources.

Departmental Reports

Questions (518)

Seán Fleming

Question:

518. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has published its annual report for 2013. [48770/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department’s Annual Report for 2013 has been published and is available on the Department’s website at www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/AnnualReports-Departmental/.

Irish Water Administration

Questions (519)

Brian Stanley

Question:

519. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water has reported any apparent failures in procurement governance procedures to his Department. [48795/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I can confirm that I have not been made aware by Irish Water of any such instances.