Written Answers Nos. 1001-1018
1001. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the substandard accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if her Department intends to consolidate the infant school on the same site as the remainder of the school; the progress being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38252/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the school, referred to, is situated on a split campus with the senior school sharing a campus with another primary school.
While the school, in question, was approved funding in 2012 under the Prefab Replacement Scheme, the school authorities submitted an alternative proposal to provide all of the proposed replacement accommodation on the senior school's site, rationalising provision from 3 sites to 1 site. My Department advised the school authorities that it had no objection to their proposal and indicated that it was prepared to also include an ASD/Special Needs provision to meet needs in the area. In that regard, my Department is engaging with the Schools' Patron regarding how best to meet the long term accommodation needs of the schools, in question.
A technical site visit to examine the current accommodation was recently carried out at the school. The findings from the site visit, and the options for the future development of this school, are currently being considered. My Department expects to be in further contact in the near future with the Patron and the school's authorities in this regard.
1002. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Louth; when works are expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38265/15]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is a devolved project being delivered by Louth County Council. The project is at the early stages of architectural planning and the commencement of construction will be dependent on the progress of the project through the various stages of design and the Local Authority planning process.
1003. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the working week hours for a special needs assistant (details supplied) in County Cork will be reinstated. [38307/15]
View answerSpecial Need Assistants resources are allocated to schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). In the case referred to by the Deputy, no sanction has been received in the Payroll Division of my Department as of the 2 November 2015 for an increase in the allocation of Special need assistant hours for the school.
If there is a decision made to alter the hours allocated to the individual referenced, the changes will be made on receipt of the sanction in my Department.
1004. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if resource hours or additional special needs assistant hours will be allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38349/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
All schools were asked to apply for SNA and resource teaching support for the 2015/16 school year by 18 March 2015. The NCSE also continued to accept applications after this date in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed.
The NCSE has now published details of SNA and resource teaching allocations for schools for the 2015/16 school year on its website at www.ncse.ie.
The deployment of SNA support and organisation of resource teaching support within schools is a matter for individual schools to manage, taking into account each child's individual needs. Parents who have concerns regarding the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school should, in the first instance, raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.
Details of the manner in which a school or parent may appeal the level of SNA or resource teaching allocation which has been made to support a child in school, to the NCSE, is set out on the NCSE website.
It should also be noted that all schools receive allocations for learning support/resource teaching support either under the General Allocation model at primary schools, or through allocations for learning support at post primary school level, which they may utilize to provide additional teaching support for pupils who require assistance in their school.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available the NCSE website.
As this question relates to an allocation for an individual child, I will arrange to have the matter referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1005. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding by a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for the purpose of a school building project; and if the application will be expedited. [38357/15]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school to which the Deputy refers.
The application is currently being considered and my Department expects to be in a position to convey a decision on the application to the school authority shortly.
1006. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the grant aid for major capital works for Ballinspittle national school in Kinsale in County Cork; the developments, if any, from the schools appraisal unit; when will a decision be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38365/15]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding for the provision of additional accommodation.
Additional information sought from the school has recently been received and is currently being considered. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities concerned as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.
1007. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the Exchequer in 2016 of extending the MOMENTUM programme to persons in receipt of disability payments and illness payments, who are currently excluded from participating in this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38366/15]
View answerThe Momentum Programme was designed to provide individuals who are long term unemployed with learning opportunities to assist them to gain in demand skills in sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities.
SOLAS will evaluate the outcomes from the Programme and widening of participation in any future iteration will be considered in that context.
I am informed by SOLAS that in the current round of the Momentum programme, the cost is approximately €3,200 per participant.
1008. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a minor works scheme will be introduced to enable schools to undertake improvement works. [38384/15]
View answerI indicated on 13 October 2015 that a Minor Works Grant for 2015/2016 will be paid to primary schools in November 2015.
1009. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision by her Department concerning works to prefabricated facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Galway can be reviewed, due to the larger problems than first anticipated with the facilities, which pose significant health and safety concerns, and are impacting on the school's work. [38386/15]
View answerI wish to advise that my Department has no record of receiving an application for any works relating to prefabricated facilities at the school referred to by the Deputy.
It is open to the school authorities to submit an application to my Department for consideration. Any application received will be considered in the context of competing demands on my Department's capital budget and other competing priority projects.
1010. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will investigate a shortfall in the payment of the remote area grant for the years 2001 to 2011 to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, who was paid the rate of €3.20 rather than the normal rate of €5.10 which applied to similar situations, and who resided a particular distance from the school where a public scheduled service was not suitable; if, in this context, same will now be reviewed; and appropriate arrears paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38414/15]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, an eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.
The family in question are eligible for a grant to a pick up point in the morning and a grant from school to home in the afternoon.
Officials from my Department wrote to the family in question in February 2012 giving a detailed breakdown of the calculation used to determine the amount of grant payment they were due under the Remote Area Grant.
My Department is satisfied that the grant payments made have been calculated at the correct rate.
1011. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of civil servants under her remit who have been reinstated in recent years after taking a career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38724/15]
View answerTwenty three staff have been re-instated following a career break since 2012. A further nine were either redeployed at the end of their career break, resigned or retired in the same period. The breakdown for each location in the Department of Education and Skills is outlined in the table.
|
Grade |
Date returned from career break |
Reason for Career break |
|
Athlone |
||
|
S.O. |
26/11/2012 |
ICB* |
|
E.O. |
20/05/2013 |
ICB* |
|
C.O. |
06/03/2014 |
ICB* |
|
A.O. |
17/03/2014 |
ICB* |
|
C.O. |
06/05/2014 |
Family Reasons |
|
C.O. |
24/08/2015 |
Travel |
|
Dublin |
||
|
C.O. |
13/04/2015 |
Study |
|
AP |
20/02/2015 |
Family Reasons |
|
CO |
24/03/2014 |
Travel |
|
HEO |
18/03/2014 |
Family Reasons |
|
EO |
24/11/2014 |
Family Reasons |
|
CO |
15/07/2013 |
ICB* |
|
AO |
07/10/2013 |
ICB* |
|
EO |
14/11/2012 |
ICB* |
|
CO |
14/05/2012 |
Study |
|
Educational Psychologist |
19/03/2013 |
Domestic Reasons |
|
Senior Psychologist |
04/06/2013 |
Family Reasons |
|
Primary District Inspector |
05/10/2015 |
Travel |
|
Tullamore |
||
|
EO |
31/01/2013 |
Family Reason |
|
EO |
20/05/2013 |
Family Reason |
|
EO |
18/08/2014 |
ICB* + Additional under Cir 18/98 for study |
|
Architect |
18/03/2015 |
Travel |
|
EO |
31/08/2015 |
Other Employment |
* ICB Incentivised career break
Tullamore Note
Four EO's on ICB returned from Career Break but were redeployed
One EO resigned following ICB + 2 years under Cir 18/98 for study
Dublin Note
1 CO redeployed to another office 19/11/2012
1 CO redeployed to another office at end of career break 2/1/2013
1 CO resigned at end of Career break 20/3/2015
1 HEO retired at end of ICB career break 1/3/2012
1012. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not being facilitated with a water conservation grant; if this decision will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37387/15]
View answer1016. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter regarding the water conservation grant in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37579/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1012 and 1016 together.
The legislative basis for the Water Conservation Grant is set out in Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 and statutory regulations under the section, inter alia, provide for the general administrative procedures for the scheme. Persons who register with Irish Water, as required under Section 5(2)(a) of the Water Services Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the grant in 2015 if they were normally resident at the principal private residence on that date. These criteria were widely communicated by my Department on www.watergrant.ie and in the print and radio media. I have no proposals to amend the regulations.
I will be reviewing the operation of the 2015 scheme when all payments have been finalised by the Department of Social Protection. Following this review, I will set down the administration arrangements for the 2016 Grant scheme in regulations under the Water Services Act 2014.
1013. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason an application by a person (details supplied) for the water conservation grant is deemed to be ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37471/15]
View answerThe eligibility criteria for the Water Conservation Grant are set out in the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. Under regulation 5(1) a person who registers with Irish Water, as required under section 5(2)(a) of the Water Services Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the grant in 2015 if they were normally resident at the principal private residence on that date. Therefore to be eligible to receive the grant in 2015, the person must have been normally resident at the principal private residence on 30 June 2015.
1014. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department interprets the words "on that date" as in section 5(1) of the eligibility criteria of SI No. 275 of 2015 under the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015, as 30 June 2015, when it can dually be read as appropriate to the actual date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37441/15]
View answerThe legislative basis for the Water Conservation Grant is set out in Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 and statutory regulations under the section, inter alia, provide for the general administrative procedures for the scheme. The reckonable date of occupancy of 30 June 2015 for the 2015 grant scheme is set down in Regulation 5(1) of the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. Persons who registered with Irish Water, as required under Section 5(2)(a) of the Water Services Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015, and are normally resident at the principal private residence on that date are eligible to receive the grant in 2015.
I will be reviewing the operation of the 2015 scheme when all payments have been finalised by the Department of Social Protection. Following this review, I will set down the administration arrangements for the 2016 Grant scheme in regulations under the Water Services Act 2014.
1015. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a Private Residential Tenancies Board dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37511/15]
View answerThe Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specifics of any individual case. Under the Act, enforcement of PRTB determination orders is a discretionary power and the Board exercises this power taking account of the circumstances pertaining to each case. While there is no legal obligation on the PRTB to enforce, the Board takes the issue of non-compliance with determination orders very seriously. In 2014 alone it referred 402 cases to its legal advisors for enforcement proceedings. It is also open to parties to pursue enforcement independently through the Courts, including the seeking of a garnishee order. It should be noted that going to Court does not of itself ensure successful enforcement and, more particularly, recoupment of an award. In many cases the best option, and one which the PRTB facilitates, is for the parties to agree a schedule of payments.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, inter alia, for the introduction of a new procedure to enforce a tenant’s obligation under section 86 of the 2004 Act to pay rent pending the determination of a dispute. This will allow the PRTB to deal effectively and quickly with tenants who do not comply with their statutory obligation to pay rent during the dispute process. The Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil, together with second stage in the Seanad and will return to the Seanad for Committee Stage shortly.
1017. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding that has been allocated to the west Wicklow region in the past three years to deal with structural inequalities and spatial disadvantage. [37766/15]
View answerI assume the Question refers to funding provided to West Wicklow under my Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) and the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). The LCDP was implemented until March 2015 pending the roll out of SICAP in April 2015.
The objective of SICAP is to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and support equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. SICAP is being overseen and managed by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area. The programme’s target groups are children and families from disadvantaged areas, lone parents, new communities (including refugees and asylum seekers), people living in disadvantaged communities, people with disabilities, Roma, the unemployed (including those not on the Live Register), Travellers, young unemployed people from disadvantaged areas and young people (aged 15-24) who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).
SICAP is one of my Department’s key priorities and is operating for a 9 month period for 2015, with funding of €28 million. This includes an allocation of €2 million under the European Structural Funds (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 and €2 million under the Youth Employment Initiative.
The amount of SICAP funding for the Wicklow area was calculated using the Resource Allocation Model (RAM). The RAM , underpinned by the Pobal/HAASE Deprivation Index, which is used in relation to allocations, allows funds to be allocated in a manner which means that a disadvantaged person in any area of the country will have equality of resources available to their areas to support their needs. In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding funding that has been provided to Wicklow, including West Wicklow over the last three years, LCDP allocations are set out in the following table.
|
Allocation |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 Jan to March |
|
Bray Partnership |
943,239 |
839,483 |
818,496 |
191,323 |
|
County Wicklow Community Partnership |
628,695 |
584,686 |
584,686 |
136,670 |
It should be noted that under SICAP, Wicklow’s Local Community Development Committee has been allocated €972,584 in 2015 to support the community services which the Deputy refers to.
In addition to the funding above, the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme for 2014-2020 will provide €6.3 million for the Wicklow sub-regional area. There is a specific focus on social inclusion under LEADER for the 20 14-20 20 programme period and LEADER local action groups are currently working on local development strategies that will identify, in a community led way, the priorities for the funding over the next number of years.
1018. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process a school needs to undertake to appoint a lollipop person to ensure the safety of the children crossing the road at a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37826/15]
View answerMy Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to maintain staffing levels within the local government sector. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for each Chief Executive to apply to the Department for approval to fill vacancies within their authority, including in relation to school wardens.
My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.
