Written Answers Nos. 261-271
261. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the tender being awarded for the building of the new community school for Maynooth, County Kildare; when the contracts will be signed; when building works will commence; the time from commencement of building works to completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9078/16]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
The project has been tendered by the KWETB and an assessment of the Tender Report is at an advanced stage in the Department. In this regard, the Department recently sought clarifications from KWETB on aspects of the Tender Report and these are awaited. When these have been received and evaluated the Department will be in direct contact with KWETB with regard to the next steps for the project.
262. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills why students enrolling in private college courses cannot be considered for Student Universal Support Ireland third level assistance. [9081/16]
View answerUnder my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme.
The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2016.
There are no plans to amend the definition of an approved institution. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in institutions which are not approved for the purposes of grant support, such as private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
263. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application made several years ago by a school (details supplied) for a recreation room; when the school will receive a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9091/16]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received an application from the school, referred to by the Deputy, for additional accommodation.
I wish to advise the Deputy that due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise available funding towards the provision of essential classroom accommodation, it is not possible at this point to provide an indicative timeframe for the provision of funding for the facility sought.
264. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has a long-term development strategy in place for three schools situated close together in an area (details supplied); if there are applications with her Department for developing any part of these schools; if she will provide the enrolment numbers for each school; if these numbers will increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9096/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that in February 2015, I announced that seven new primary schools were to be established to meet demographic needs in different areas of the country. While my announcement did not include a new school for the Foxrock area, it did include a new school in the adjoining area of Goatstown/Stillorgan which will open this September. My announcement followed a detailed analysis of demographic data at primary level undertaken by my Department.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provided capital funding for additional accommodation at the first named school in 2014 and this accommodation is now in place. In the case of the second named school, my Department provided capital funding for additional accommodation in 2012, 2013 and 2015 to cater for increasing enrolments. The school has commenced the planning process to deliver the building project for the accommodation approved in 2015. At September 2015, there were 564 pupils enrolled in the first named school and 647 pupils in the second named school.
The third named school referred to by the Deputy is a private school and my Department does not hold any information on this school.
265. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will meet with representatives from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the decision not to review an application to establish an Aonad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9097/16]
View answerMy Department has considered a proposal made by Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB) to provide Irish-medium education at second level through establishing an Aonad in an existing school in County Sligo. My Department has advised that the proposal needs to be re-examined by the ETB to address a number of issues that could assist in facilitating delivery of Irish-medium education more successfully and sustainably in the ETB's area of responsibility.
Officials from my Department have recently been in telephone contact with representatives of the school start-up group in County Sligo and have advised them that the appropriate course in this instance is to re-engage with the ETB concerning the re-examination of its proposal on the basis of the advice and clarification already provided by the Department. I understand that a meeting is being arranged with the ETB. My Department will be happy to examine a proposal when submitted.
266. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the period of time a fully qualified primary teacher may expect to remain on the main panel before being offered a permanent teaching position; if a maximum permissible waiting time exists before a candidate may be considered for such posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9099/16]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
The redeployment arrangements are published annually in the staffing circular which is placed on the Department website. The redeployment arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Circular 0007/2016 which is available on the website. Redeployment panels are drawn up on a diocesan basis for Catholic panels, diocesan/united diocesan basis for Church of Ireland panels and on a national basis for other patron bodies.
The detail relating to numbers on individual redeployment panels is placed on the Department website when the panels are published each year. My Department updates the progress of the panels on the website on a regular basis.
267. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has implemented the structures and systems necessary to certify expenditure under the European Union regulations and have them verified by a designated body, to a level acceptable to the European Commission, in order to draw down funding from the youth employment initiative; and if this has not been done, the reason why. [9101/16]
View answer268. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding she has allocated under the youth employment initiative; and the funding drawn down to date. [9102/16]
View answer269. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding drawn down from the allocation of funding under the European Union youth employment initiative, excluding the back to work enterprise allowance scheme, the JobBridge scheme, the JobsPlus incentive scheme, the Tús - work placement initiative, the Youthreach scheme, the social inclusion scheme, the activation programme and the momentum scheme. [9103/16]
View answer270. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funds she will draw down from the European Union youth employment initiative in 2016. [9104/16]
View answer271. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided from the European Union youth employment initiative for the back to work enterprise allowance, JobBridge, the JobsPlus incentive scheme, Tús - work placement initiative, Youthreach, the Social Inclusion and Activation Programme and Momentum, by scheme, in tabular form. [9105/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267 to 271, inclusive, together.
The EU co-financed Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) aims to tackle youth unemployment and implement the Youth Guarantee by providing job, education and training opportunities to young people aged 15-25 who are not in employment, education of training. YEI funding is reserved for use in those regions, including Ireland, where youth unemployment levels exceeded 25% during the reference year of 2012. The specific YEI funding allocation for Ireland of €68m is matched by equal amounts from our European Social Fund (ESF) allocation and from the Exchequer, giving an overall allocation of €204m.
The YEI is integrated into ESF programming and is being delivered in Ireland as a dedicated priority axis within the ESF Programme for Education, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020. Seven specific actions are being funded under the YEI, namely the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance; JobBridge; JobsPlus Incentive Scheme; Tús; Youthreach; Social Inclusion and Activation Programme; and Momentum. The proposed funding allocations for each of these actions, including YEI funding, is set out in the following table. These actions are underway and are being fully funded up-front by the Exchequer.
In accordance with the ESF Regulations, following the adoption of the PEIL in 2015, initial pre-financing of 3.5%, and annual pre-financing of 2% for 2016, of the EU support for the YEI priority axis, amounting to some €7.5m has been received to date. Separately, additional initial pre-financing of €19.8m, to bring the rate to 30% in 2015 of the YEI allocation, has also been received. This additional funding was provided in line with EU Regulation 799 of 2015 which was introduced in response to budgetary constraints faced by Member States and the urgent need to address youth unemployment. However, in an attempt to ensure that the funding was used for the immediate implementation of the YEI, the Regulation provides that if a Member State does not submit an interim payment application by 23 May 2016 for at least 50% of the additional pre-financing amount, that the Member State must reimburse the Commission the total YEI pre-financing contribution.
In accordance with the Regulations governing the European Structural and Investment Funds (including the ESF and the YEI), the relevant managing and certifying authorities for the Operational Programme must be designated, based on the opinion of an independent audit body which must be satisfied across a range of criteria that systems are in place to allow the authorities to perform their required functions, prior to the making of any application for an interim payment under the Regulations. The systems designation requirements include the provision of a computerised accounting and information system for EU funds to meet the 2014-2020 functionality requirements. The Regulations require Member States to ensure that all exchanges of information between beneficiaries and the relevant authorities and intermediate bodies can be carried out by means of electronic data exchange systems (known as E-Cohesion). These systems will facilitate interoperability with national and Union frameworks and allow for the beneficiaries to submit information only once.
Ireland is developing a national IT system to meet the 2014-2020 ESIF requirements. A Project Board, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as the Department with lead responsibility, is overseeing the delivery of this system. A tender for the development of the system was published in March and the deadline for the receipt of applications was Friday, 29 April. It is expected that the system will "go-live" in December.
The intention is that the ESF authorities will be designated later this year and that a claim for an interim payment under the PEIL will be made in 2017. Accordingly, as Ireland will not comply with the relevant Regulatory requirement of making an interim claim in May 2016, the €19.8m additional pre-financing received and currently held in a Suspense Account, may be reimbursed to the Commission.
However, it should be noted that the reimbursement of this pre-financing will not result in any loss of EU monies to the Exchequer, as the full YEI allocation of €68m to Ireland will still be available for drawdown before year-end 2018, and it is expected that this funding will be fully drawn down. Furthermore, as the activities concerned are fully funded up-front by the Exchequer there is no resulting reduction in the funding available to those activities.
|
Youth Employment Initiative |
Funding (€m) |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) Scheme |
4.648 |
|
JobsPlus Incentive Scheme |
7.992 |
|
Tús |
35.347 |
|
JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme |
57.240 |
|
Youthreach |
79.876 |
|
Momentum |
13.333 |
|
Social Inclusion and Activation Programme (SICAP) |
6.000 |
|
TOTAL |
204.436 |
