Tuesday, 20 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 494-510

Departmental Meetings

Questions (494)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

494. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 537 and 538 of 16 December 2014, the number of meetings between the Minister-Minister of State and the MAC for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; if his special advisers attended the MAC meetings for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I have included in the table below the dates of meetings of my Department's Management Advisory Committee (MAC) in 2011, 2012 and 2013. This is an updated and amended list from the table provided in response to Questions Nos. 537 and 538 answered together on Tuesday, 16th December, 2014. A number of informal Management Advisory Committee meetings took place to discuss internal organisational matters, with no Minister present, and these are now included in the revised table.

In principle, each MAC meeting involves the Secretary General of the Department as Chair, the Heads of Division at HQ at Assistant Secretary and above grades. In addition, since 2013, a number of officers at Principal Officer and equivalent grades have been appointed to serve on my Department’s MAC. The Minister and/or Ministers of State do not generally attend Management Advisory Committee meetings, but, as previously advised, are in very regular communication with members of the Management Advisory Committee.

According to Departmental records, prior to my appointment as Minister in 2014, my immediate predecessor, Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore T.D., attended Management Advisory Committee meetings on three occasions in the years 2011 to 2013. The particular dates in question were: (2011) Thursday, 10 March & Friday, 8 April; (2013) Monday, 10 June. Mr. Mark Garrett, Chief advisor to the Tánaiste also attended the meeting of 8 April, 2011. No Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade attended Management Advisory Committee meetings in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

2011	2012	2013
17 January	23 January	21 January
18 January	6 February	21 February
19 January	2 April	5 March
20 January	30 April	25 March
25 January	28 May	30 April
28 January	18 June	20 May
1 February	9 July	4 June
3 February	3 September	10 June
17 February	10 September	3 July
18 February	8 October	9 September
23 February	12 November	7 October
24 February	20 November	4 November
28 February	17 December	2 December
1 March
3 March
4 March
7 March
9 March
10 March
28 March
4 April
8 April
18 April
16 May
27 June
28 June
4 July
25 July
5 September
12 September
28 September
20 October
21 November
22 November
19 December
20 December

Programme for Government Implementation

Questions (495)

Micheál Martin

Question:

495. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government regarding consideration to transfer the passport service to the Department of Justice and Equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46767/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

There are no plans to transfer the Passport Service to the Department of Justice and Equality at this time. The Passport Service continues to work on a number of service enhancements and I would like to see this process completed before further consideration is given to any transfer.

North-South Ministerial Council

Questions (496, 497, 498, 499)

Micheál Martin

Question:

496. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the 19th North-South Ministerial Council meeting held on 5 December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47704/14]

Micheál Martin

Question:

497. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if corporation tax was discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council on 5 December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47705/14]

Micheál Martin

Question:

498. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outstanding issues from the Good Friday Agreement that were discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47707/14]

Micheál Martin

Question:

499. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the recommendations from the Haass talks were discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47708/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 to 499, inclusive, together.

The nineteenth meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was held in Armagh on 5 December 2014.

At the meeting, discussions covered economic and budgetary issues in both jurisdictions. The Council welcomed the broadly encouraging prospects while recognising that challenges remain. The recent announcement by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer on Corporation Tax was also discussed. Both administrations reflected on their respective successes in attracting external investment while acknowledging that there is a key role to be played by indigenous companies in economic development. The opportunities to work together on Joint Trade Missions and on developing new markets were also recognised.

The Council noted that, following Ministerial consideration of a report on the feasibility of submitting a joint bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, it had been agreed to support the IRFU’s bid, and indeed the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, First Minister, deputy First Minister and other Ministers had attended the launch of the bid in Armagh just before the Plenary meeting. The Council discussed the potential benefits hosting such an event would bring to both jurisdictions and agreed that the relevant Ministers should work closely together to ensure the strongest possible bid is submitted.

Ministers noted that the new draft PEACE and INTERREG Programmes are currently with the European Commission for consideration and it is hoped that the final Programmes will be launched in Spring 2015.

The Council welcomed the ongoing discussions between Ministers at NSMC meetings on the potential for collaboration to draw down EU funds and noted that there is active engagement between both jurisdictions on the opportunities available. The Council looked forward to a further progress report at its next meeting.

Ministers also noted the position on Sectoral Priorities and the North West Gateway Initiative and agreed to keep these matters on its agenda. They also discussed the Progress Report prepared by the NSMC Joint Secretaries on the work of the North South Bodies and in the other NSMC areas for co-operation and noted the current position on a North South Consultative Forum.

There was an in-depth discussion on Child Protection issues with a particular focus on e-Safety, and the good collaborative work already taking place, both within the NSMC structures and elsewhere was noted. Ministers recognised that issues such as these are cross-cutting and cross-jurisdictional and will require an ongoing collaborative approach between both administrations. The Council agreed that Ministers who have a remit in Child Protection and E-Safety related activities should engage with their counterparts in the opposite jurisdiction to explore whether there is potential for further collaboration. It was also agreed that this topic should be revisited at a future meeting.

The next plenary meeting of the NSMC is scheduled to take place in early summer 2015, and I am looking forward to continuing to work closely and constructively on all of these issues with our Northern colleagues in the North South Ministerial Council.

Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of the North/South Ministerial Council and the North/South Implementation Bodies. It also provided that consideration be given to a North/South Consultative Forum and a North/South Parliamentary Forum. The St Andrews Agreement provided further that the Northern Ireland Executive would support the establishment of an independent North/South Consultative Forum.

With the establishment in 2012 of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association, which is in effect the North/South Parliamentary Forum envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement, the only Strand Two institution that remains outstanding is the North/South Consultative Forum. The Government continues to support the establishment of the Consultative Forum, and the Taoiseach has raised the Forum at each Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council he has attended including the most recent meeting on 5 December.

The other outstanding issues from the Good Friday Agreement and the recommendations from the Haass talks were not discussed at the NSMC Plenary meeting as they are not Strand Two issues and are therefore not among the matters discussed at NSMC meetings. However, key outstanding matters from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreement were discussed in the recent Stormont House talks.

During the course of the talks, the Government advanced the view that a Bill of Rights could set out precisely and formally the rights upon which a shared society for Northern Ireland could be based. Sufficient consensus between the Northern Ireland Executive Parties did not exist to take this forward within the context of the Stormont House Agreement. However, the final Agreement provided that the parties commit to serving the people of Northern Ireland equally, and to act in accordance with the obligations on government to promote equality and respect and to prevent discrimination; to promote a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and mutual understanding at every level of society, including initiatives to facilitate and encourage shared and integrated education and housing, social inclusion, and in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life; and to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goals of reconciliation and economic renewal.

It is a matter of regret that agreement could not be reached on an Irish Language Act as part of the Stormont House Agreement. While the St. Andrews Agreement did provide a commitment to introduce an Irish Language Act, the British Government made it clear during the recent talks that, as language matters were now devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, it would not legislate at Westminster for such an Act. It was equally clear that the necessary consensus among the parties for such legislation in the Northern Ireland Assembly was not forthcoming. Nevertheless, the Stormont House Agreement does contain an important and formal recognition by the British and Irish Government of the need for respect for, and recognition of, the Irish language in Northern Ireland.

In regard to the commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to establish a Civic Forum in Northern Ireland, I welcome that the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a civic advisory panel to meet regularly on key social, cultural and economic issues and to advise the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Government will continue its efforts to ensure that the full potential of the Agreements is realised towards achieving effective partnership government, genuine reconciliation between divided communities and economic prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.

Human Rights

Questions (500)

Micheál Martin

Question:

500. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the decision to refer the hooded men case to the European Court of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47710/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

On 2 December 2014, the Government announced its decision to request the European Court of Human Rights to revise its 1978 judgment in the case taken by Ireland against the UK. The request was filed with the Court on 4 December 2014. On the basis of new material uncovered, the Government has contended that the ill-treatment suffered by the Hooded Men should be recognised as torture. The Government’s request currently remains under consideration by the Court.

This decision was not taken lightly. The Government is acutely aware of the suffering of the individual men involved and of their families, of the significance of this case, and of the weight of these allegations. The Government is also conscious that, as EU partners and as strong bilateral partners, the UK and Ireland have worked together to promote human rights in many fora. The British and Irish Governments have both worked hard to build stronger, more trusting relations in recent years and I believe that this relationship will now stand to us as we work through the serious matters raised by this new material.

Ministerial Advisers Remuneration

Questions (501)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

501. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount spent by his Department on special advisers for each of the past four years; the way this compares with the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2507/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Payments to special advisors are made in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. The amount spent on special advisors in my Department from 2007-2014 is outlined in the table below:

SPECIAL ADVISORS COSTS 2007-2014

YEAR	Expenditure
2007	€279,438.74
2008	€371,315.60
2009	€439,113.40
2010	€375,292.30
2011	€412,506.54
2012	€523,850.86
2013	€560,315.10
January-July 2014	€610,389.31*
July-December2014	€85,616.05

The increase in cost in 2014 arises primarily due to termination payments made to the former special advisors to former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D.

*The total costs of special advisors to the former Tánaiste in 2014 was €610,389.31. This amount included redundancy payments of €202,644.01.

Ministerial Transport

Questions (502)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

502. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount spent by his Department on ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses for each of the past four years; the way this compares with similar expenditure for the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2523/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The amount spent by my Department on Ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses from 2007 to 2014 is outlined in the tables below.

Ministerial Drivers 2007 to 2010

MoS Treacy	No. of Drivers	2007	2008	2009	2010
Salaries	2	€31,742.59	Nil	Nil	Nil
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	2	31742.59	Nil	Nil	Nil

MoS Roche	No. of Drivers	2007	2008	2009	2010
Salaries	2	€53,254.20	€88,486.27	€87,274.52	€78,695.09
Subsistence		€6,484	€33,091	€28,988	€32,526
Total	2	€59,738.20	€121,573.27	€116,262.52	€111,221.09

MoS Lenihan	No of Drivers	2007	2008	2009	2010
Salaries	1	€17,996.40	Nil	Nil	Nil
Subsistence		€5,107	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	1	€23,103.40	Nil	Nil	Nil

MoS M. Kitt	No of Drivers	2007	2008	2009	2010
Salaries	2	€37,972	€37,782.59	Nil	Nil
Subsistence		€7,649	€10,116	Nil	Nil
Total	2	€45,621	€47,898.59	Nil	Nil

MoS Power	No of Drivers	2007	2008	2009	2010
Salaries	2	Nil	€22,803.41	€52,265.15	€73,881.58
Subsistence		Nil	€6,575	€13,713	€18,728
Total	2	Nil	€29,378.41	€65,978.15	€92609.58

Ministerial Drivers 2011 to 2014

MoS Roche	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	€35028.67	Nil	Nil	Nil
Subsistence		€10,210	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	2	€45,237.67	Nil	Nil	Nil

MoS Creighton	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	€48,680.85	€72,561	€24,187	Nil
Subsistence		€317	€950	€617	Nil
Total	2	€48,997.85	€73,511	€24807	Nil

MoS Donohoe	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	Nil	Nil	€19,272.83	€44,698.22
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	2	Nil	Nil	€19,272.83	€44,698.22

Minister Flanagan	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€31,547.82
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	€6,184
Total	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€37731.82

MoS Deenihan	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€32,627.97
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	€5,444
Total	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€38,071.97

MoS Murphy	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2		Nil	Nil	€31,067.14
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€31,067.14

MoS Murphy	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2		Nil	Nil	€31,067.14
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€31,067.14

MoS O’Sullivan	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	46,785	Nil	Nil	Nil
Subsistence		€4,560	Nil	Nil	Nil
Total	2	€51,345	Nil	Nil	Nil

MoS Sherlock	No. of Drivers	2011	2012	2013	2014
Salaries	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€29,659.42
Subsistence		Nil	Nil	Nil	€2,156
Total	2	Nil	Nil	Nil	€31,815.42

Prior to July 2014 the Minister’s drivers were provided through the Department of Justice and Equality and were not paid from my Department’s Vote.

Payments to Ministerial drivers are made in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.

Military Aircraft Landings

Questions (503)

Seán Crowe

Question:

503. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the use of Irish airspace or airports for the rendition of suspects; if there are new proposals to introduce a more rigorous approach to suspicious aircraft using facilities in this jurisdiction. [1393/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Programme for Government states that the Government will enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law. The Government has repeatedly stated that Ireland would not tolerate the use of our airspace or airports for any illegal purpose, including torture, rendition or the unauthorised detention of any individual. It has been made clear by the current and previous Governments that such activity would be considered completely unacceptable and illegal.

The Government has, over the years, responded to allegations linking rendition flights to Shannon Airport. Ireland sought, and received, categorical assurances from the US Government that no prisoner had been, or would be, transferred through Irish territory without the express permission of the Irish authorities, which it was made clear, would not be forthcoming.

Allegations relating to the practice of extraordinary renditions generally refer to civilian rather than military aircraft. Where a member of An Garda Síochána reasonably suspects that an offence is being committed, statutory powers of entry and arrest are available. A number of complaints concerning alleged unlawful activity at Shannon Airport have been investigated by An Garda Síochána. However, no evidence of rendition was disclosed in any of the investigations.

Primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland is assigned to the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 and the procedures underpinning this regulation are kept under review. In accordance with international practice and the principle of sovereign immunity, foreign military aircraft are not subject to routine searches or inspections.

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Questions (504)

Brendan Smith

Question:

504. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total expenditure on overseas development aid in 2014; the percentage of GNP that this expenditure amounts to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2787/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For 2014 the Government allocated almost €600 million to Official Development Assistance (ODA). €479 million was allocated to Vote 27 – International Cooperation, managed by the Development Cooperation Division of my Department - better known to the public as ‘Irish Aid’. A further estimated €120 million comprised ODA eligible contributions made by other Government Departments to International Organisations - mainly the Departments of Finance and Agriculture - and Ireland’s share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget.

Detailed expenditure data for 2014 is currently being collated and verified for ODA eligibility. However, based on preliminary expenditure data and the current estimates for Gross National Product (GNP), indications are for the 2014 ODA/GNP percentage outturn to be in the region of 0.4%. When finalised, the percentage outturn together with detailed analysis of expenditure data will be published in the statistical annexes to the Irish Aid Annual Report, which will be available at www.irishaid.ie.

Military Aircraft Landings

Questions (505)

Clare Daly

Question:

505. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of requests made by foreign aircraft to carry munitions through Ireland in 2014; the number of these that were granted; the breakdown by country; the number that were for aircraft that landed at Shannon Airport; the total number of military aircraft that landed at Shannon Airport in 2014; the names of the state forces to which these aircraft belong; and the reason these aircraft used the landing facilities at Shannon. [2792/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to overfly or land in the State. In 2014 permission was granted on 741 occasions for the landing of foreign military aircraft belonging to the following countries to land at Shannon Airport: Argentina, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Italy, Libya, Panama, USA.

Most requests for foreign military aircraft to use the landing facilities at Shannon Airport concern aircraft refuelling, crew and passenger rest, with smaller numbers relating to the transport of dignitaries, flight crew training, airport familiarisation and aircraft maintenance.

Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations.

In accordance with the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973, an exemption must be obtained from my colleague, the Minister for Transport, by commercial aircraft carriers for the carriage of munitions on board civilian aircraft.

Passport Application Refusals

Questions (506)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

506. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a situation that arose in the passport office where a person attended to get an Irish passport for their child, who is entitled to it by virtue of section 6A(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, as their father was resident here under stamp 4 conditions for at least three out of the four years prior to their birth, and the staff in the passport office refused to accept the application and stated they would have to consult with GNIB as they were unfamiliar with this provision and believed only a child of an Irish citizen was entitled to an Irish passport; his views that staff in the passport office are not aware of these rules; and the steps he will take to ensure that this will not arise again. [2849/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Unfortunately, the Deputy has provided insufficient information to establish the exact circumstances of this case. However, I can make the following general points. All passport applications received are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008. One of its key provisions is the requirement for applicants to demonstrate their entitlement to Irish citizenship through the submission of documentary evidence with passport application forms. The exact format of the documentary evidence required is detailed in the information notes which accompany all application forms. Staff are trained to process applications of the type referred to by the Deputy and deal with such cases, without difficulty, on a daily basis.

However, in the absence of specific details of this case, it is not possible to comment further on the matter. I would suggest that the Deputy and/or the parents, contact Mr. Kevin Walzer at the Passport Officer in Balbriggan. He can arrange a full examination of the child’s application to see if passport entitlement exists under the Act. His email address and telephone number are [e-mail] and 01.673.3215.

Question No. 507 answered with Question No. 492.

Schools Building Projects Data

Questions (508)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

508. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the annual number of direct jobs and indirect jobs that the school building capital programme has created between 2012 and 2014; and the projected numbers for both in 2015. [2239/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The elements of the Schools Building Programme that contribute principally to job creation are the Large Scale Projects, the Additional Accommodation Scheme and the Prefab Replacement Scheme.

In 2012 expenditure on these programmes supported 2,960 direct jobs and 590 indirect jobs.

In 2013 expenditure on these programmes supported 3,010 direct jobs and 600 indirect jobs.

In 2014 expenditure on these programmes supported 3,050 direct jobs and 610 indirect jobs.

In 2015 these programmes are projected to support 3,500 direct jobs and 700 indirect jobs based on the full expenditure of the allocation available.

School Services Staff

Questions (509)

Denis Naughten

Question:

509. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to recognise grant-paid school secretaries as public servants; if the differences in conditions of employment between such secretaries and her Department's employed secretaries under the 1978 scheme will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2240/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. While a small number of these staff remain in schools, the schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial services. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how secretarial services are to be obtained. Where a school uses the grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department therefore 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.

Notwithstanding the above, a forum was established under the Towards 2016 Agreement involving my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, IMPACT and SIPTU to examine the factual position in schools regarding the terms and conditions of employment of secretaries (and caretakers) employed using grant funding. However, it was not possible to progress the forum's agenda beyond the initial fact-finding survey, due to the State's budgetary and financial position. It was agreed that the forum would consider appropriate measures in relation to the rates of pay of school secretaries and caretakers in the event that a review of the Public Service Agreements recommended changes to the benefit of those public servants earning €35,000 or less per annum. This is currently the priority for the Forum and discussions are ongoing.

Secretaries employed by schools using grant funding are not regarded as public servants except for the purposes of the pay reduction under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009, due to the definition of "public servant" used in that Act. The fact that such staff come within the definition of "public servant" solely for the purposes of the Act does not alter their employment status in any other respect.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (510)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

510. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a new national (details supplied) school in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2255/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. The Design Team are currently working on Stage 2(a) - Developed Sketch Design.

Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.

School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have been initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in the future.