Tuesday, 17 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 416-429

EU Meetings

Questions (418)

Brendan Smith

Question:

418. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7008/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I participated in the most recent meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels on 9 February where there was a comprehensive discussion on: the situation in Ukraine; the Union's efforts to combat international terrorism; as well as the continuing crises in Libya and Yemen.

Given the developments on the ground in the run up to the Council meeting, the situation in Ukraine was the focus of much discussion. My French and German colleagues provided useful updates on the visit by President Hollande and Chancellor Merkel to the region. As the Deputy will be aware, the emphasis at the Council – as it continues to be – was on the need to find a political solution. My own view is that the Minsk agreement offers hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but a sustainable ceasefire is critical if progress is to be made towards that objective.

Dialogue with Russia and others remains important, as is the need for pressure to reinforce that dialogue. In that regard, the Council unanimously agreed to a set of additional listings (consisting of an asset freeze and travel ban on 19 individuals and 9 entities) against separatists in Eastern Ukraine and their supporters in Russia, involved in action against Ukraine's territorial integrity. However, to allow space for the diplomatic efforts that were advancing in parallel, the Council decided to put the entry into force of these measures on hold until Monday 16 February.

Ministers also had an exchange of views on counter-terrorism issues, the second such discussion since the tragic events in Paris at the beginning of the year, and in advance of further discussions to take place later that week at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government. The Council considered how the EU can most effectively prevent and combat international terrorism, including by strengthening engagement with, and support for, third countries, in particular in the Middle East and North Africa. We also agreed to redouble our efforts to address underlying factors, in particular the on-going conflicts in Europe's southern neighbourhood.

Libya and Yemen were also a focus of discussion at the Council, where the situation on the ground in both countries remains extremely volatile and is a cause of great concern, particularly from a humanitarian perspective.

I joined with my colleagues in welcoming the convening of UN brokered talks on Libya, and in encouraging all relevant actors to participate in a process that aims to bring an end to the current conflict.

On Yemen, the Council also expressed deep concern for the intensifying humanitarian, economic and security crisis and reaffirmed our commitment to continue to support Yemen, its political transition, and to stand by the Yemeni people at this critical juncture.

Military Aircraft Landings

Questions (419)

Clare Daly

Question:

419. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 500 of 3 February 2015, if he will answer the question asked, which dealt with his responsibility with regard to the authorisation of the transit of foreign military personnel through Irish airspace or on civilian aircraft, in view of the fact that the transport of military personnel is not covered by the 1952 air navigation carriage of munitions of war, weapons and dangerous goods order. [7017/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

As I said in my reply to Question number 500, the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of foreign military aircraft in Ireland.

In relation to military personnel travelling on civil aircraft, my reply stated that legislation provides that the Minister for Transport has primary responsibility for the regulation of such aircraft. I also outlined areas where my Department has a role in relation to foreign military personnel travelling on such aircraft. Any further questions in relation to the transit of passengers, including military personnel, on such aircraft are a matter for the Minister for Transport.

Emigrant Support Services

Questions (420)

Seán Crowe

Question:

420. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a project (details supplied) which suggested that his Department create an Irish emigrant register; his views on the proposal; and if his Department will create this proposed register. [7080/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

In the course of a presentation by Crosscare Migrant Project to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade in October 2014 a proposal regarding the creation of an emigrant register was raised. Following this meeting a formal proposal was received from Crosscare for funding from the Emigrant Support Programme towards a Global Networking Hub.

This proposal was assessed and funding of €70,500 from the Emigrant Support Programme was approved towards running costs for the Hub and an associated interactive website relating to the mental health of emigrants.

Passport Application Refusals

Questions (421)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

421. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 had a passport application returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7084/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

All passport applications are subject to the provision of Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). In cases such as this where the application form has not been correctly witnessed, the applicant is informed and requested to submit a new form suitably witnessed.

National Postcode System Expenditure

Questions (422)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

422. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the projected cost to his Department to convert to using Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7607/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department continues to assess the changes required in its systems to support the roll-out of Eircode in 2015. Significant expense is not envisaged. One of the key areas where the Eircode address database will benefit the work of my Department is the Passport Office. The cost of changes to the systems for passport processing is estimated at €60,000.

Education and Training Provision

Questions (423)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

423. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a subsidised travel grant exists for those in receipt of social welfare and taking part in a Foras Áiseanna Saothair, the Irish National Training and Employment Authority vocational training opportunities scheme course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6759/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Participants on full time training courses formerly delivered by FÁS and participants on Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme courses receive travel allowances, based on distance travelled to the course, where appropriate. These courses are now delivered by Education and Training Boards and funded by SOLAS.

Industrial Relations

Questions (424, 450)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

424. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a decision by the principal contractor of a publicly funded college project (details supplied) in County Dublin to ignore a recent recommendation by the Labour Court; the provisions that are contained within public works contracts to ensure that a contractor awarded such contracts adheres to such recommendations; and the penalty contained within public works contracts in the event of a contractor choosing not to act upon a Labour Court recommendation. [6947/15]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

450. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a decision by the principal contractor of a publically funded college (details supplied) in County Dublin to refuse to adhere to a recent recommendation by the Labour Court; if she is satisfied that her Department and agencies under the aegis of her Department, have awarded multiple public contracts to a contractor who chooses to ignore the recommendations of the Labour Court; and the action she will take. [6883/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 450 together.

I am aware that the Labour Court recently issued a recommendation in respect of an industrial dispute at the school site referred to by the Deputy. I understand that both parties are currently engaged in talks and it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this stage.

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Questions (425)

Jack Wall

Question:

425. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a person in County Kildare (details supplied) may apply for a home tuition grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6629/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department administers two separate Home Tuition Schemes. One of the schemes provides for a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides for children with special educational needs awaiting a suitable educational placement and for early intervention for children with autism. The application form and Circular 0048/2014 which details the eligibility criteria for the scheme are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. A separate scheme provides for pupils temporarily without a place in a recognised school, or without the offer of a school place and for whom a place in a recognised school is being actively sought. It also provides for children taking an appeal under section 29 of The Education Act, 1998. Applications for this scheme may be made through the local office of Tusla, Child and Family Agency, contact details are available on their website www.tusla.ie.

Teacher Redeployment

Questions (426)

Joe Carey

Question:

426. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the potential for redeployment of a permanent whole-time teacher from a Dublin post-primary school who for family reasons now finds themselves living in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6634/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent and CID holding teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to my Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers.

At post primary level for the 2015/16 school year teachers in the Munster region are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in that area. This arrangement is operating on a pilot basis for 2015. My Department has no plans to introduce a separate voluntary redeployment scheme. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to post-primary schools for the 2015/16 school year, including the redeployment arrangements, is available on my Department's website.

Bullying in Schools

Questions (427)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

427. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of all girl secondary schools; the number of all boy secondary schools; and the number of co-educational secondary schools at which the ShoutOut anti-homophobic and transphobic bullying workshop was conducted between 2012 and 2015. [6636/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Action Plan on Bullying, which was published in January 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying in schools. These actions focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed. My Department does not collate data on which particular workshops have taken place in schools. The Working Group that produced the Action Plan on Bullying recommended that schools should choose the programme best suited to their needs, rather than the Department endorsing particular anti-bullying programmes.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (428)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

428. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the building will commence of a new school (details supplied) in County Galway; when it will be operational; the cause of the delay from initial announcement by her Department until now in commencing building works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6645/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Tender Process for this school building project is complete and a preferred bidder identified. The acquisition of a site for the school is being advanced. Delays outside the Department's control have been incurred in the site acquisition process. Due to sensitivities relating to the site acquisition I am not in a position to provide any further details at this time, however my officials are making every effort to ensure that the project is progressed as soon as possible.

Questions (429)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

429. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new primary schools and secondary schools established during each of the years, 2008; 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; and the number of new schools projected for development over the next two years. [6669/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The details requested by the Deputy are as follows:

2008 - 3 new primary schools, 3 new post-primary schools; 2009 - 3 new post-primary schools; 2010 - 7 new primary schools; 2011 - 3 new primary schools, 1 new post-primary school; 2012 - 7 new primary schools; 2013 - 6 new primary schools, 4 new post-primary schools; 2014 - 4 new primary schools, 10 new post-primary schools. The number of new schools planned to date for 2015 and 2016 are as follows:2015 - 4 new primary schools, 3 new post-primary schools; 2016 - 3 new primary schools, 8 new post-primary schools.