Terence Flanagan
Question:186. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the location of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7620/15]
View answerSchool Accommodation Provision
Questions (186)
Written answers
As the school to which the Deputy refers is not due to commence operation until September 2016, start-up accommodation for it has not yet been secured. Subject to the availability of appropriate start-up accommodation, it is intended to locate the school within the feeder area it is being set up to serve.
The details supplied by the Deputy suggest that patronage for the school has already been awarded to a particular patron body. This is not the case. As a first step to establish the school, an open patronage determination process will be run later this year to decide which patron body will operate the school.
Schools Building Projects Status
Questions (187)
Terence Flanagan
Question:187. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding capital works in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7621/15]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for Howth Road National School is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b.
Stage 2b includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. Stage 2b was received in the department and reviewed by the Departments Technical Division. A letter was issued to the Board of Management requesting additional information, my Department is awaiting a response.
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 for Howth Road National School 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.
Student Universal Support Ireland Administration
Questions (188)
Jerry Buttimer
Question:188. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the further details required for an appeal, in respect of an application for a student grant, to be considered (details supplied); if all supporting documentation supplied to Student Universal Support Ireland, with the initial application, has been forwarded to the Student Grants Appeals Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7638/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Student Grants Appeals Board (Appeals Board) is independent in the performance of its functions.
The appeal of the student referred to by the Deputy was considered by the Appeals Board on 3rd February 2015 and the Appeals Board wrote to the student requesting further information to assist it in making a decision on the student's appeal. The file has been received from Student Universal Support Ireland. The student should reply as comprehensively as possible to the questions put by the Appeals Board so that it may make its final determination.
School Accommodation Provision
Questions (189)
Derek Keating
Question:189. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No.174 of 24 September 2014, regarding the shortfall of 200 school places in the Lucan area of County Dublin, for second level education for September 2015, if she will provide the results of the analysis of the latest demographic data, specifically in relation to the examination of the Lucan area; and the arrangements that will be made to make accommodation available where it is needed. [7640/15]
View answerWritten answers
The nationwide demographic review at post-primary level is an extensive exercise which is on-going in my Department. It will be completed as quickly as possible.
School Transport Provision
Questions (190)
Brendan Griffin
Question:190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide copies of written commitments made by her Department to schools (details supplied), which amalgamated in previous decades, that their bus service would be safeguarded in the future, which was broken under the last Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7642/15]
View answerWritten answers
School transport arrangements under the Central/Closed School Rule originated from the last major amalgamation of schools in the late 1960's. Given the time lapse it is not feasible to provide copies of agreements, where they exist, reached between the Department and the School Authorities at the time of amalgamation.
In any event, changes to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme which were finalised for the beginning of the 2012 school year mean that children are now eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
The terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis and I am satisfied with the current policy and criteria for determining eligibility.
My Department must always seek to ensure that every service that is funded by the public is operated in a manner that delivers for children, parents and taxpayers alike.
Foreshore Issues
Questions (191)
Brendan Griffin
Question:191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an on-site consultation regarding a matter (details supplied) in County Kerry will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7496/15]
View answerWritten answers
The removal of gravel from the foreshore requires a licence under Section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933. Details of how to make such an application can be found on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/ApplyingforaForeshoreConsent/.
A prospective applicant can request a pre-application consultation with the Marine Planning and Foreshore Section of my Department. Contact details can be found at http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/.
Planning Issues
Questions (192)
Martin Ferris
Question:192. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on allegations, in connection with the actions of Limerick County Council, regarding certain planning matters at Ardagh, County Limerick. [7407/15]
View answerWritten answers
While it is not entirely clear, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the matter raised in Question No. 430 of 9 December 2014.
As I stated in the reply to that Question, from enquiries made of Limerick County Council, it is understood that a number of pre-planning meetings took place with the person concerned before he lodged his first planning application for proposed development works (planning ref 06/3641). The Council has indicated that there were a number of planning issues with this application and after a number of further meetings with the person concerned at which these issues were discussed, he withdrew the application.
The person concerned subsequently submitted a further application for planning permission on 20 June 2008 for revised development works (ref 08/1288). This application was refused by Limerick County Council and the person concerned did not appeal that decision to An Bord Pleanála even though the availability of this option was brought to his attention.
The person concerned subsequently made a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman alleging that he had suffered losses due to maladministration by Limerick County Council arising from the handling of his planning applications. However, after conducting an in-depth investigation into the matter, the Ombudsman found that there was no basis for this allegation.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Accordingly, I have no function in relation to this matter.
Planning Issues
Questions (193)
Catherine Murphy
Question:193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 28 January 2015, when the findings and outcomes of the investigations, under the planning review of the performance of planning functions, will be released; if he has received a copy of the finished report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7410/15]
View answerWritten answers
MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. I expect to receive the final report from the consultants shortly and I subsequently intend to publish it having considered its contents.