Tuesday, 10 Nov 2015

Written Answers Nos. 510-519

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (510)

Seán Kyne

Question:

510. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a contractor has been appointed for the construction of a replacement building for a school (details supplied) in County Galway. [39603/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the tender report for the school building project to which he refers has been received in my Department and is currently being assessed. Subject to no issues arising from the assessment it is envisaged that a Contractor will be appointed shortly thereafter.

School Curriculum

Questions (511)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

511. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a reply will issue to this Deputy, further to her interim reply (details supplied), regarding physical education in the junior cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39611/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Ministerial Representation 1504673/SR was received on 22nd September.

The interim response issued on 23rd September.

The response itself issued on 30th September, the text of which was as follows:

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently discussing the new Wellbeing area of learning in Junior Cycle. Students will undertake learning in a new area entitled Wellbeing throughout the three years of Junior Cycle. It will be introduced for first year students commencing from September 2017, and Physical Education will be a key part of this very important area.

The Junior Cycle years are a critical time in young peoples' lives. Students are exposed to a range of influences and require support to make positive responsible decisions relating to their health and wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Wellbeing in Junior Cycle is about young people feeling confident, healthy, happy and connected.

Irish Language

Questions (512)

Seán Kyne

Question:

512. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of reviewing and renewing the Irish language curriculum, both at primary level and, within the context of junior certificate reform, at secondary level, to place a greater emphasis on linguistic skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39627/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level is being undertaken. The priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the teaching of Irish.

The priority at primary level is to provide high-quality language learning in our two languages, Irish and English. A new Integrated Primary Languages Curriculum, incorporating Irish and English, is being developed by the NCCA. The first phase will be introduced for Junior Infants to 2nd classes from September 2016. It will be accompanied by dedicated CPD for principals and teachers. Work on the language curriculum for 3rd to 6th classes has commenced and will be introduced later. The curriculum aims to ensure that students acquire transferable language skills which will assist them in learning not only Irish and English during their primary education but through gaining transferable language skills, additional languages at second level.

The NCCA is currently conducting an in-depth analysis of the outcomes of a wide consultation with stakeholders on a draft specification for the new Junior Cycle Irish curriculum. The consultation process has been very informative but there is a need to further explore how the curriculum can best meet the needs of students in both English medium and Irish medium schools. I look forward to the outcomes of this comprehensive consultation and to the implementation of the revised Junior Cycle Irish curriculum, commencing in September 2017.

A revised Leaving Certificate curriculum in Irish began in all schools in September 2010, and was examined for the first time in 2012. The revised programme provides for an increase in the proportion of marks available for oral assessment to 40%, and is aimed at promoting a significant shift in emphasis towards Irish as a spoken language, where students can communicate and interact in a spontaneous way, and where Irish is spoken every day in schools. A review is currently underway of the oral component of Irish in the Leaving Certificate, and it is expected that a report will be published on this in the next number of months.

Finally, I would like to note that an in-depth review of Education Provision in the Gaeltacht is nearing completion. I look forward to a report in the coming months.

Local Authority Funding

Questions (513)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

513. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 30 April 2015, the reason his Department has not advised on funding to establish a community centre in the Garryowen area of Limerick, despite the reply to the parliamentary question; when the Department intends to respond to the community in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39078/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department has been in dialogue with Limerick City & County Council regarding a capital appraisal the authority submitted in connection with the development of Brannigan’s site on Mulgrave Street. The matter is now with the local authority and it is for them to decide the next steps and to engage with the local community in this regard.

Motor Tax Collection

Questions (514)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

514. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a rebate or compensation will be given to haulage companies which have to tax their vehicles in either November or December 2015, thereby missing out on the tax relief for the first two months of 2016 under the recently announced tax reduction for heavy goods vehicles, which is set to begin in January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39134/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The rates of motor tax announced in Budget 2016 apply to vehicle licences with a commencement of 1 January 2016 or after i.e. from whenever motor tax is due for renewal after that date. I have no plans to introduce compensation for owners who have taken out a vehicle licence at the old rates between the announcement in the Budget and the effective date of the new rates. In respect of articulated heavy goods vehicles, following a Court of Appeal judgment of 21 October 2015, the rate of tax currently applicable to articulated heavy goods vehicles, pending fuller consideration of the implications of the judgement and the appropriate response to it, is now set at €94 for a quarterly disc (based on an annual rate of €333). This is less than the equivalent quarterly rates for the annual rates announced in the Budget which will be €141 for quarterly discs for goods vehicles up to 12,000 kgs and €254 quarterly for goods vehicles in excess of that weight.

Animal Breeding Regulations

Questions (515, 516, 518)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

515. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of dog breeding establishments; the licensing and inspection regimes in place under legislation for these dog breeders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39218/15]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

516. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of dogs bred in the years 2012 to 2015 to date; the existing rules for licensing and microchipping pups bred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39219/15]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

518. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to improve resources and to introduce further legislation to invigilate and regulate the dog-breeding business, given the suffering of abandoned animals, and the cost to local authorities and dog rescue agencies in protecting and rehoming these animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39222/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 515, 516 and 518 together.

The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

Section 9 of the Act requires each local authority to establish and maintain a register of dog breeding establishments situated in their respective functional areas and persons intending to operate such establishments must apply to their relevant local authority for inclusion in the register. If successful, the applicant will be awarded a “registration certificate” confirming registration.

Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, all persons in possession of a dog are required to have a dog licence. Regulations concerning the micro-chipping of dogs were introduced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 1 June 2015 and provide for the roll-out of a micro-chipping programme on a phased basis, beginning with pups in September 2015, and all dogs from March 2016. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 also requires that all dogs kept at such establishments that are over 8 weeks old, or on leaving the establishment, must be micro-chipped.

Guidelines on welfare standards for dog breeding establishments are available on my Department's website, at the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/DogControl/FileDownLoad,29096,en.doc.

Local authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance with these standards and are empowered to issue improvement notices where appropriate. A local authority may also issue a closure notice if a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare.

A joint inspection regime of dog breeding establishments, involving officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Local Authority Veterinary Service was inaugurated earlier this year. Inspections are ongoing and necessary follow up action is taken as appropriate. The discovery of individual problematic dog breeding establishments, and the taking of action by the Gardaí, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and local authorities in an integrated manner in the most serious cases, would suggest the legislation is effective and I have no plans to introduce further legislation in relation to this matter.

Certain statistics concerning local authority dog control functions, including the number of dog breeding establishments registered since 2012, are available on my Department’s website at the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/DogControl/.

Information on the number of dogs bred in the years 2012 to date is not held by my Department. More detailed information in respect of local authority dog control functions may be obtained directly from the relevant local authorities.

Animal Welfare

Questions (517)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

517. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of dogs abandoned, abandoned and euthanised, and rescued in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39221/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities are solely responsible for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas and my Department has no direct role in this regard. Certain statistics concerning local authority dog control functions are published on my Department’s website. These statistics include the number of dogs surrendered to, and collected or seized by, local authorities, as well as the number put to sleep each year. This information is currently available up to 2014 at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/DogControl/.

More detailed information in relation to local authority dog control functions may be sought directly from the relevant local authorities.

Question No. 518 answered with Question No. 515.

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data

Questions (519)

Michael McGrath

Question:

519. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mortgage-to-rent transactions that have been fully completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39347/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme a total of 3,120 cases were considered to the end of October 2015. Of these, 2,298 were ineligible or terminated during the process, including 282 cases not progressed because the household in question was deemed to be over or under accommodated, 869 cases withdrawn by the lender involved during the process, 206 applications found to have been submitted in duplicate by the lender, and 941 cases that did not qualify for a range of reasons including the householder’s circumstances improving during the process, no social housing demand in the area, the householder’s income over the set limits and poor condition of the property. Of the remaining 822 cases, agreement on the sale could not be reached on 49 cases, 20 are currently with the lenders who are seeking the consent of borrowers to share information and for the carrying out of an independent valuation, 634 are actively being progressed and 119 cases have been approved.