Written Answers Nos. 1356-1373
1356. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32272/15]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process and my Department is currently awaiting receipt of the Supplementary Tender Report from the Board of Management and its Design Team. Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged the project will proceed to site very shortly thereafter.
1357. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary that has applied for an extension; the timeframe for completion of works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32273/15]
View answerThe major school building project referred to by the Deputy recently completed the Design Team Appointment process and entered Architectural Planning at Stage 2A which is the developed design stage. My Department has already secured planning permission for the project using in-house Architectural resources. The Design Team will work on the basis established under that planning permission to bring this project through the remaining stages of the architectural planning process. 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 this 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.
1358. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours per week that are spent teaching Irish in primary schools. [32323/15]
View answerThe 1999 Primary School Curriculum provided that, where Irish is the first language being taught in a school (as in the case of Gaelscoileanna or in schools located in the Gaeltacht), there should be four hours instruction per week, and 3 hours per week where there is a shorter day for the infant classes. Where Irish is the second language being taught, the suggested minimum timeframe is 3.5 hours per week for senior classes, and 2.5 hours per week for infant classes with a shorter day. However, in accordance with the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020, Departmental Circular 0056/2011 provides that, with effect from January 2012, all primary schools are required to increase the time spent on the development of literacy skills, particularly in the first language of the school (which in the case of Gaelscoileanna and most Gaeltacht schools is Irish), by one hour overall for language (Irish and English) per week.
1359. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours per week that are spent teaching Irish in secondary schools. [32324/15]
View answerDepartmental Circular 0025/2012 provides that students in Irish-medium schools should have access to an Irish lesson every day. Under the new Junior Cycle, Irish will be designed for a minimum of 240 hours of timetabled student engagement each over the three years. This is not a maximum or target time, and is intended to give schools flexibility to plan a Junior Cycle programme that will meet the educational needs of their students.
1360. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number taking Irish at junior certificate level; and the number receiving each, A,B,C and so on, grade for the past three years. [32325/15]
View answerThe key points to note in relation to Junior Certificate are that 29,100 candidates sat the Higher level examination in 2015 – an increase of 1,740 on the candidature for 2013. 21,678 candidates sat the Ordinary level Paper in 2015 – a decrease of 1,567 candidates from 2013. 1,217 candidates sat Foundation level in 2015 - a decrease of 171 candidates from 2013, showing a continuation of the trend in recent years of decreasing numbers at this level. The results are broadly in line with previous years for all levels although marginally weaker in relation to A and B grades at Gnáthleibhéal. This may be attributable to the loss of some of the better achieving candidates through the continuing gradual migration from Ordinary to Higher level. Information on the numbers obtaining the different grades at the three different levels - higher, ordinary and foundation - is all freely available on the website of the State Examinations Commission at https://www.examinations.ie/?l=en&mc=st&sc=r15
1361. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number taking Irish as a subject at leaving certificate level; the number receiving each grade for the past three years. [32326/15]
View answerThere was a significant policy change implemented from 2012 which significantly increased the proportion of marks assigned to the Irish oral component of the Leaving Certiifcate. The oral examination is now worth 40% of the total marks, compared to 25% formerly. 46,565 candidates presented for the Leaving Certificate Irish examination in 2015 compared to 43,647 candidates in 2013. The numbers taking Higher Level Irish have increased from 16,665 in 2013 to 19,460 in 2015. Information on the numbers obtaining the different grades at the three different levels - higher, ordinary and foundation - is all freely available on the website of the State Examinations Commission at https://www.examinations.ie/?l=en&mc=st&sc=r15
1362. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students at junior certificate level who have received exemptions from Irish; and the reason they received exemptions. [32327/15]
View answer1363. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students at leaving certificate level who have received exemptions from Irish; and the reason they received exemptions. [32328/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1362 and 1363 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is below.
|
Academic Year* |
Exemption Description |
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE |
TRANSITION YEAR |
LEAVING CERTIFICATE |
TOTALS |
|
2014 |
IRISH : PUPIL FROM ABROAD |
3,480 |
1,169 |
4,772 |
9,421 |
|
2014 |
IRISH : PUPIL WHOSE PRIMARY EDUCATION UP TO 11 YEARS OF AGE WAS RECEIVED IN N.IRELAND OR ABROAD |
1,087 |
276 |
1,390 |
2,753 |
|
2014 |
IRISH : PUPIL WITH ATTESTED LEARNING DISABILITY |
9,978 |
1,956 |
7,539 |
19,473 |
|
2014 |
IRISH : RECOGNISED PUPIL AGED 11 OR OVER WHO IS BEING RE-ENROLLED AFTER AT LEAST 3 YEARS ABROAD |
142 |
35 |
158 |
335 |
|
14,687 |
3,436 |
13,859 |
31,982 |
* For 2014/15 schools used the Post-Primary Online Database (P-POD) for the first time to generate student returns to the department.
A small number of schools omitted exemptions granted for the first time in 2014/15. The department estimates that the number omitted is in the region of 400. However please note that these exemptions will be included in student returns for 2015/16.
1364. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of internal audit across her Department; internal audit's relationship with external auditors and audit committees, as well as internal audit's adherence to professional standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32549/15]
View answerThe Internal Audit Unit (IAU) of my Department is an independent unit which reports directly to the Accounting Officer (Secretary General). The IAU carries out its work in accordance with its Charter and has a staffing level of four. The Unit operates on the basis of risk-based auditing in accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) The International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing which the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform determined, in November 2012, should apply in all Government Departments. The Appropriation Accounts of my Department are audited annually by the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General and a representative of that Office meets independently with both the Audit Committee and the Head of Internal Audit annually or more frequently if considered appropriate. The Department's Audit Committee is appointed by the Accounting Officer and provides independent advice on internal controls, the risk management environment and audit matters. In fulfilling this role, it reports directly to the Accounting Officer and has no executive powers. The Committee is also governed by Charter and has a membership of five including three external members, one of whom is Chairperson. The Committee meets quarterly. The current members come from diverse backgrounds and occupations, bringing a breadth of skills, experience and knowledge to the Committee in areas of importance to the Department.
1365. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual cost to her Department of fees paid to private for-profit companies to provide services, such as consultancy work, recruitment services and other outsourced services, for example cleaning, catering and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32713/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, there is an existing requirement for all Government Departments to publish quarterly details of payments totalling in excess of €20,000 to private companies for services each Department procures. mAccordingly, details in respect of my Department's expenditure in excess of € 20,000 on an annualised basis is readily available on my Department's website: http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Payments-Over-20k-/
In relation to the specific areas referred to by the Deputy, below are details of my Department's expenditure from its administrative budget in the three main office locations Dublin, Athlone and Tullamore in 2014. Also below is a list of companies employed for specific consultancy purposes by my Department in 2014.
- Recruitment nil
- Cleaning €121,427.65
- Catering €89,557.05.
In addition, please find below details of expenditure by my Department in 2014 in relation to high-value services common to my Department's main offices:
- Recycling €11,897.84
- Waste Management €23,625.10
- Security €344,739.90.
Details regarding the companies involved are set out below. Details in relation to all consultants engaged by my Department are compiled annually in respect of the previous year and are also set out below.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS - COMPANIES ENGAGED IN CONSULTANCY IN 2014
|
Consultancy |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Total amount paid 2014 incl vat € |
|
Gartner |
Provision of ICT research, advice, guidance and related services to the IT Unit |
42,435.00 |
|
National Council for the Blind (NCBI) Centre for Inclusive Technology (CFIT) |
Accessibility audit of the Department's website |
4,850.00 |
|
MKA (Mitchell Kane Associates) |
Creation of brand guidelines and logo re Springboard, ICT Skills Conversion, Momentum, the Skillnets Jobseekers Programmes, Job Bridge and Jobs Plus |
5,412.00 |
|
Company for Effective Services (CES) |
SUSI Review - Phase 1. Review of the learning gained from the establishment of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). |
7,000.00 |
|
Centre for Cross Border Studies, Armagh |
Review Paper on Southern Irish Postgraduates in Northern Ireland, to comply with Section 8(5) of the Student Support Act 2011. |
1,845.00 |
|
SIA Management Group |
Consultancy Service provided to MAC in relation to Planning Activities. |
2,892.50 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Specialist expert advice on the application by STS Ltd to adduce new evidence to the Court of Appeal in its appeal of the HC judgement of 23rd October, 2012 |
35,842.20 |
|
Version 1 |
Provision of Oracle Financials consultancy services to support the proof of concept phase of the preparation of the move to the Financial Shared Services Project |
34,557.50 |
|
Deloitte |
New organisational design for ETBs and Solas |
11,623.50 |
|
Deloitte |
Provision of support for the development of the Business Case for ETB Shared Services Payroll Project |
81,549.00 |
|
Deloitte |
Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance to the European commission |
14,975.25 |
|
Deloitte |
Audits of the national agencies for the Erasmus + Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of the ex ante compliance assessment to the European commission |
10,455.00 |
|
Fitzpatrick & Associates |
Ex Ante Evaluation of the ESF Operational Programme |
53,218.00 |
|
Mazars |
External Auditing Services |
3,195.39 |
|
H2 |
Advice and guidance on the development and implementation of the Digital Strategy for schools. |
33,517.50 |
|
ICS Skills |
As part of the development of the Digital Strategy for schools, the running of focus groups, conducting analysis and summarise the data, and reporting findings |
19,000.00 |
|
Education Research Centre |
The provision of input to ICT census of primary, post-primary, and special schools and analysis of census data |
24,624.00 |
|
Stratigos Ltd |
Business Process Improvement Training (BPI) |
23,899.65 |
|
Institute of Public Administration (IPA) |
Provision of Guidelines relating to best practice approach by managent regarding delegation, meeting and coaching skills. |
2,447.70 |
1366. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding unscrupulous landlords who try to keep tenants' deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30433/15]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. Section 12 of the Act states that a landlord shall return or repay promptly any deposit paid by the tenant to the landlord on entering into the agreement for the tenancy or lease, subject to compliance by the tenant with provisions regarding default in the payment of rent or damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear.
The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 . The Act regulates the tenant / landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector and the PRTB is charged with the administration of the Act including, inter alia, the resolution of disputes. Where a landlord withholds a deposit unjustly, the tenant may bring a dispute to the PRTB for resolution.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 has passed all stages in the Dáil, together with second stage in the Seanad Amendments will be introduced at Committee stage to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, inter alia, for the introduction of a deposit protection scheme.
In a deposit protection scheme, tenancy deposits are transferred to the independent operator for the duration of the tenancy. They are then repaid by the scheme operator following agreement between the landlord and tenant or following the outcome of a dispute resolution process in cases where there is no agreement. The establishment of the scheme will ensure that deposits cannot be unjustly withheld from tenants.
1367. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive their redundancy payment from Pobal. [30598/15]
View answer1419. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position in relation to a redundancy payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; his plans to investigate the cause of this delay in view of the funding provided by his Department to the company concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31089/15]
View answer1420. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or any officials in his Department have discussed the non-payment of redundancy payments in respect of a Labour Court recommendation (details supplied); if this non-payment in line with the recommendation has been or will be factored into the funding received by the company concerned from his Department. [31102/15]
View answer1421. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that redundancy payments in respect of a company (details supplied) are in line with a Labour Court recommendation made. [31103/15]
View answer1424. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a Labour Court recommendation in respect of redundancy payments at a company (details supplied); his views on the provision of State funding to companies not in compliance with Labour Court judgments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31108/15]
View answer1449. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31353/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1367, 1419 to 1421, inclusive, 1424 and 1449 together.
My Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. For the avoidance of doubt, my Department is not the employer of the individual referred to in the details supplied.
However, the Government recognises that like all other sectors of our economy, the community and voluntary sector has had to deal with reduced funding in recent years. The Government is considering the scope for a scheme to address this issue insofar as certain redundancy matters are concerned and discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Ref orm in that regard are on-going, taking account also of on-going engagement with the Attorney General's Office in relation to legal issues. The matter will be considered further in light of the outcome of these consultation.
1368. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding recruitment for the Dublin fire brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30623/15]
View answerMy Department works closely with Dublin City Council in relation to the staffing needs of Dublin Fire Brigade. My Department recently approved requests from Dublin City Council, to hold both an open and a confined competition to fill firefighter vacancies that arise in Dublin Fire Brigade.
It is my understanding that details of the open competition, which will be organised through the Public Appointments Service, will be announced shortly.
1369. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to bridge the differential in commercial vehicle road tax between this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30630/15]
View answer1373. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the fact that commercial vehicle road tax here can cost €4,000 per annum per truck for a six-axle articulated vehicle whereas hauliers in Northern Ireland pay €640 and this difference is compounded by the fact that local Irish hauliers have to contribute €10 per day for a vehicle to access Northern Ireland; if he will review this matter to ensure that there is some level of consistency in relation to these matters on the island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30989/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1369 and 1373 together.
My colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group, which includes representation from my Department, to consider issues relating to the Irish haulage industry. The industry is seeking a reduction in motor tax for the sector, a change in the basis of taxation from unladen to gross design vehicle weight and the introduction of road user charging. In relation to the latter two proposals, these are currently being considered and implementation, if recommended, would be for the medium to long-term. In relation to the first proposal, any changes to rates of motor tax are for consideration in a budget ary context.
1370. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a system whereby a car owner can pay their motor tax on either a weekly or monthly basis via direct debit (details supplied). [30639/15]
View answerI have no plans currently to introduce a system of direct debit payments for motor tax.
Any such proposal would require to be underpinned by robust legislation to ensure that there is a system in place to recoup income lost to the taxpayer where there are insufficient funds in personal accounts to meet the payment or where a direct debit or standing order option is cancelled by the account holder once a disc is issued. It would also be necessary to introduce provisions to enable recovery of the disc where required. The resultant additional enforcement requirements would also be likely to increase the cost of operating the system.
1371. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Kilkenny central access scheme follow-up aquatic ecological report of October 2014, which indicated that dumping of unwashed limestone had resulted in 700 metres of ecosystem, including plant and macronvertbrate life, being eradicated; the authorisation that was given for the dumping of said limestone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30691/15]
View answerUnder 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 case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. My Department has made enquiries of Kilkenny County Council in relation to this matter and the Council have indicated that the Kilkenny Central Access Scheme – which provides for a new bridge crossing over the River Nore in Kilkenny City along approximately 600 metres of associated roadway - was approved by An Bord Pleanála in December 2011.
The placement of stone in the River Nore to facilitate the construction works is provided for in An Bord Pleanála’s approval and in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) underpinning the Scheme. In this connection, the Council has advised that no unwashed limestone was placed in the River Nore as part of the works. All limestone used was washed twice before delivery to the works site.
The Council has further advised that all pre-works ecological reports made comment on the poor habitats and lack of aquatic life in the stretch of the River Nore where the Central Access Scheme works are being undertaken. These reports suggest that the relevant stretch of the River has been in a poor aquatic state for a number of years prior to the commencement of the works on the Central Access Scheme.
It is also understood that following a legal challenge, a High Court Order of 14 April 2015 determined that all works associated with the Kilkenny Central Access Scheme are compliant with the approval for the scheme. The October 2014 Aquatic Ecological Report referred to by the Deputy was taken into account in the determination of the High Court Order.
Furthermore, the Council has advised that all in-river works have been undertaken in consultation with and under the direction of Inland Fisheries Ireland - as provided for in the approved EIS – who have monitored the work regularly. These works are now almost complete and, in accordance with the approval for the scheme, an ecological assessment will be conducted post completion of the works, which will be made available in due course.
1372. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are provisions in place to assist persons facing large waste disposal bills because of the amount of medical waste they must dispose of as a result of their medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30791/15]
View answerDuring the period in which local authorities were directly involved in the collection of household waste, a minority of individual councils offered different levels of discount to selected households, based on different qualification criteria.
As local authorities exited the waste collection market, some required the private operators which took on the Councils’ customers to provide a level of discount for existing waiver customers only, and even then for a limited time. The vast majority of contractual commitments for private operators to provide a waiver have now expired. In that context, the number of households in receipt of waiver discounts is likely to decline over time, especially as some householders were able to take advantage of special reduced offers elsewhere which actually undercut the waiver price. However, selected private operators still offer some level of discount to former waiver customers on a voluntary basis. However, this information is commercially sensitive to each operator and is not available to my Department.
In addition, a very limited number of local authorities make financial contributions towards the cost of, or pay for, the collection of waste from certain households. Again, the qualification criteria and level of support differ from area to area. Such expenditure means that these local authorities divert funding from other areas to support these waiver provisions.
Among the measures included in the Government’s waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland , which was published in July 2012, was the establishment of an interdepartmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low- income households.
The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its second report to Government in July 2013. Government considered the report and, given the complexity of the issues involved, including the fact that the vast majority of households have moved away from local authority collection and have engaged private waste collectors on whom it would be difficult to impose any obligation to provide a waiver system, mandated the working group to continue to examine the issue, with a view to submitting a third report to Government in due course.
Given that the vast majority of local authorities no longer collect waste and that the market is now serviced by a diverse range of private operators, where the fees charged and services offered vary across the country, it is becoming increasingly apparent that introducing a national waiver scheme in the context of an open market for waste collection is highly complex.
