Written Answers Nos. 154-161
154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in order to comply with our obligations under Article 4 of UNCAT, when he plans to comply with this article, in respect of complicity in torture; if he will ensure compliance; and when he will initiate an investigation into activity at Shannon Airport under this heading between 2001 and 2006. [4111/15]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to the frameworks and mechanisms that have been established by the international community to eradicate torture. Ireland ratified the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 11 April 2002. The Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention against Torture) Act 2000 makes it an indictable offence in Ireland to commit an act of torture or to attempt or conspire to do so. Under s. 7 (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1997 ‘any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an indictable offence shall be liable to be indicted, tried and punished as a principal offender.’ As with all serious criminal offences, investigation and prosecution is a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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. 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.
If anyone has credible evidence that Shannon Airport, or indeed any other Irish airport, has been used for any illegal purpose this should be shared with An Garda Síochána.
155. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of representations in written or oral form he or his officials or advisers have received from a person (details supplied) seeking persons to be appointed to positions that fall under his remit since March 2011; if he will provide the details of these persons for whom the Member made representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4275/15]
View answerDepartmental records indicate that no representations have been received by my office, directly or through departmental officials or advisors, from a member seeking persons to be appointed to positions that fall under the remit of my Department since March 2011. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no state boards or bodies under its remit.
156. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, as a measure to help tackle Ireland's high level of youth unemployment, she has examined the merits of introducing a scheme which is similar to the corporate apprenticeship scheme which has been operated by the Italian Government since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4216/15]
View answerAs part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs initiative my predecessor appointed an independent group to carry out a review of the Irish Apprenticeship system to determine whether the current model should be retained, adapted or replaced.
The first stage of the review process involved the preparation of a background issues paper. and part of the process involved an examination of the structure of apprenticeship systems in Germany, Finland, Norway and Switzerland.
The independent Review Group then undertook a substantial consultation process with all major stakeholders as well as inviting submissions from members of the public. The subsequent report of the Review Group made a number of recommendations regarding the reform of existing apprenticeships and the extension of the apprenticeship model into new enterprise areas.
I appointed a new Apprenticeship Council in November 2014. The Apprenticeship Council formally invited proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers on the 16th January 2015. The proposals will be assessed by the Apprenticeship Council against a range of sustainability and deliverability criteria before recommendations are submitted to my Department.
157. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on when the funding will be released for a new school (details supplied) in County Roscommon following her announcement that it will be included in the 2015 school building programme; when construction on the school is likely to start; when the first tranche of funding will be drawn down for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4105/15]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is currently completing the advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All relevant statutory approvals have been obtained. The school and its design team have indicated that they expect to submit the Stage 2(b) report for review by my Department in the coming weeks.
As the Deputy may be aware, on 18th December 2014 I announced details of 70 school projects which are scheduled to commence construction in 2015. The building project for the school in question was included in this announcement. Assuming no issues arise in the review of the stage 2(b) report the project will then be authorised to proceed to tender with a view to commencing construction later this year. The first payments for the Contractor will be drawn down shortly after construction commences.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of incidents of school bullying at first and second level brought to her attention by victims or school authorities or parents in County Kildare over the past three years; the extent to which all such incidents have been fully and satisfactorily investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4121/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that my Department published new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year.
These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. The procedures recognise that parents and pupils have a role and responsibility in helping the school to prevent and address school-based bullying behaviour and to deal with any negative impact within school of bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere.
The procedures set out requirements in relation to the consistent investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour amongst pupils. They also require that a programme of support for pupils who have been bullied must be in place in all schools. Details of the school's programme for working with pupils affected by bullying must be set out in the school's anti-bullying policy.
There is and has been no requirement for reporting incidents of bullying centrally to the Department. The procedures contain new oversight arrangements which include a requirement that the school Principal reports regularly to the board of management in relation to the overall numbers of bullying cases and provides confirmation that they are being dealt with in accordance with the anti-bullying procedures. The board of management is also required to undertake an annual review of the school's anti-bullying policy and its implementation by the school. Written confirmation that the review has been completed must be made available to the Parents' Association and published on the school website.
Arising from commitments made in the Action Plan on Bullying, my Department's Inspectorate is placing a stronger focus on the actions schools take to create a positive school culture and to prevent and tackle bullying.
159. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will introduce mechanisms to ensure that children with additional needs have the support they need to engage fully, as equals, in their early child care education setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4123/15]
View answerThe majority of support for pre-school provision is funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. My Department's role is to work in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to improve the quality of pre-school provision. As part of this cross-Departmental work, there is a commitment in 'Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the Children and Young People's Policy Framework' to develop a plan for the inclusion of children with a disability in mainstream pre-school and Early Years settings. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has lead responsibility for this commitment, and is working closely with my Department and the Department of Health. The expected deliverables from this body of work should include an agreed framework for the allocation of resources for the inclusion of pre-school children with additional needs in main-stream early years settings
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills arising from the inability of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to obtain a second level place for their child, previously attending special needs class at a school and currently attempting to access a place in another school, if it will be possible to make provision by way of creation of appropriate facilities at this school in time for the next school year and having regard to the number of pupils from the area seeking a place with similar requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4127/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy focuses on ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs and abilities.
A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for establishing special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. The parent of the child referred to by the Deputy is encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss a placement for their child.
The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas, including those referred to by the Deputy, and has capacity to open such new special classes where necessary.
Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
161. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 2 October 2014 if her officials have reviewed the application of a person (details supplied) regarding transport education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4155/15]
View answerOfficials in my Department have reviewed the application for school transport for the child in question.
They are satisfied that this child is not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, as she is not attending her nearest Gaelcholáiste.
Furthermore, under the terms of my Department's Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme, provision is made for the payment of grants in respect of children whose normal place of residence is outside the range of public transport services to a school providing suitable free second-level education; I understand the family are in receipt of the maximum rate of this grant.
Only those children, who meet the eligibility criteria for school transport, are considered for grant assistance towards the cost of transport.
