Thursday, 5 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 97-101

Passport Services

Questions (97)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

97. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional staff he will allocate to the Passport Office over the busy summer period to deal with passport applications. [9206/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

To address the anticipated increase in passport applications over the summer period the Passport Service has recruited Temporary Clerical Officers who will work a total of 5,122 weeks this year. Additional Temporary Clerical Officers will be recruited shortly for a total of 780 weeks to manage the significant increase in phone calls and customer queries over the remaining peak period.

In view of the sustained increase in applications over last year processing work has been redistributed across passport offices in recent months and staff re-deployed from other areas of the Department as needed to respond to the increased workload.

I strongly recommend that citizens apply for passports at least six weeks in advance of any planned travel and take special care to ensure that application forms are correctly completed. Submission of applications in good time is particularly important during the peak season which runs from now until August.

The Passport Service will continue to closely monitor the situation, including to ensure the effective deployment of staff resources.

Consular Services Staff

Questions (98)

Seán Haughey

Question:

98. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff currently working in the Irish embassies in Brazil, Cyprus, India, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9255/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland’s network of embassies and missions around the world are critical to the achievement of our foreign policy and trade goals.

The information requested by the Deputy is listed in the following table:

MISSION	Staff posted from HQ	Locally recruited staff
Brazil: Brasilia Sao Paulo	2 2	4 2
Cyprus	1	3
India	7 (incl. 4 D/Justice & Law Reform staff)	7
Turkey	5* (incl. 3 D/Justice & Law Reform staff) *Currently one position is vacant and due to be filled on summer rotation	4
Abu Dhabi	6 (incl. 4 D/Justice & Law Reform staff)	4

Summer Works Scheme Data

Questions (99)

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy on the primary and secondary schools in County Donegal that applied for works under the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017), and the category of project in each case, is set out in the following table.

Details of the 197 primary and post primary schools that were included in the first round of successful applicants announced on 28th April last are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. €30 million of the €80 million announced for the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) is now being allocated for vital gas works and electrical upgrades in schools. The Deputy will appreciate that information in relation to the estimated cost of projects, referred to, is not released prior to tender stage as this is considered commercially sensitive information.

Roll No.	School Name	Address 1	Address 2	County	Category No	Category
14502D	SCOIL MHUIRE B&C	DOIRE BEAGA	LEITIR CEANAINN	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
16836T	NAOMH BRIDHID	GLENMAKEE	CARNDONAGH	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
17704H	S N FHIONNAIN	BAILE CHONAILL	AN FALCARRACH	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
19313C	GLENSWILLY N S	NEWMILLS	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
19614Q	NAOMH BODAIN	CULDAFF	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
19685Q	SCOIL CHARTHA NAOFA	CHILL CHARTHA	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
71244F	Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada	An Leadhbgarbh	Árainn Mhór	DONEGAL	2	Electrical
11843O	S N NEILL MOR	KILLYBEGS	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
16054M	ST PATRICKS N S	MURLOG	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
17260U	SCOIL AN LINBH ÍOSA	KILLYMARD	DONEGAL TOWN	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
17598L	SN AN LEINBH IOSA	COXTOWN	CARRIGANS	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
17828C	SCOIL ADHAMHNAIN	RATHBHOTH	LEITHBHEARR	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
18131O	S N MUIRE GAN SMAL	ARD ARATHA	CO DUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
18151U	S N MHUIRE	BAILE AN NGALLOGLACH	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
18737E	SCOIL BHRIDE	CONMHAGH	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
18939Q	S N DONAIGH	CARNDONAGH	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
19518U	S N NAOMH BAOITHIN	ST JOHNSTON	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
19963S	SCOIL AODH RUA&NUALA	DUN NA NGALL	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
71230R	Deele College	Raphoe	Lifford	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
81011L	The Royal and Prior School	Raphoe	Co Donegal	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
91406R	Carndonagh Community School	Carndonagh	Lifford	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
91407T	Rosses Community School	Dungloe	Co. Donegal	DONEGAL	3	Mechanical
14910S	CASTLEFIN 1 B N S	CASTLEFIN	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
15170J	CASHELSHANAGHAN N S	BALLYMALEEL P O	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
16608G	KILLYBEGS COMMON N S	THE COMMONS	KILLYBEGS	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
17503U	S N ADHAMHNAIN	LUINNEACH	DOIRI BEAGA	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
17837D	SCOIL MHUIRE	PETTIGO	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
18517N	SCOIL MHUIRE	DRISTEARNAIN	GLENEELY PO LIFFORD	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
18605K	SCOIL NAOMH PADRAIG BOYS	CARNDONAGH	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
19686S	ST MACARTANS CENTRAL	BUNDORAN	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
20421M	Scoil Chróine	An Clochán Liath	Co. Dhún na nGall	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
71200I	Errigal College	Windyhall	Letterkenny	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
91408V	Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola	An Fálcarrach	Leitir Ceanainn	DONEGAL	5	Toilets
07464H	BROWNEKNOWE N S	BROWNKNOWE	RAMELTON	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
16850N	ST GARVANS N.S.	DRUM HALLA, RATHMAOLAIN	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
17469A	SCOIL CUILM CILLE	BALLINDRAIT	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
18058H	SCOIL NAOMH SEOSAMH	RATHDOMHNAILL	TREANTACH	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
18251B	AYR HILL N S RAMELTON	RAMELTON	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
18446Q	SCOIL NAOMH MHUIRE	CEANN MHALANNA	BALLYGORMAN LIFFORD	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
18703K	S N BAILE AN BHAILSIG	WELCHTOWN	BALLYBOFEY	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
18844F	Scoil Mhuire	BELCRUIT, KINCASSLAGH	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
19592J	ST BERNADETTE SPEC SCH	LETTERKENNY	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
19633U	MOYLE N S	NEWTOWNCUNNINGHAM	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
62861F	St Columbas College	Stranorlar	Co. Donegal	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
71180F	Abbey Vocational School	The Glebe	Donegal Town	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
71220O	Mulroy College	Milford	Letterkenny	DONEGAL	6	Roofs
15770K	S N NAOMH NAILLE	NA CAOLOGA	INVER	DONEGAL	7	Windows
16823K	MIN A GHABHANN N S	LETTERMACAWARD	DONEGAL	DONEGAL	7	Windows
17122I	SN EADAN FHIONNFHAOICH	NA GLEANNTA	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	7	Windows
18007N	S N OLIBHEAR PLUINCEID	RANN NA FEIRSTE	ANAGAIRE	DONEGAL	7	Windows
18172F	GLENEELY N S	GLEANN AN FHAOILIDH	KILLYGORDAN	DONEGAL	7	Windows
19228L	S N NAOMH BRID	NA DUNAIBH	LEITIR CEANAINN	DONEGAL	7	Windows
19260H	S N CHOLMCILLE	BAILE NA FINNE	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	7	Windows
19280N	SCOIL NAOMH BRID	MUFF	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	7	Windows
19756N	ST CONALS	NARIN	PORTNOO	DONEGAL	7	Windows
62840U	Loreto Secondary School	Letterkenny	Co Donegal	DONEGAL	7	Windows
71150T	Coláiste na Carraige	Carrick	Co. Donegal	DONEGAL	7	Windows
01572D	S N NAOMH PADRAIG	DRUMFRIES P O	CLONMANY	DONEGAL	8	Curricular Requirements
62770C	Scoil Mhuire Secondary School	St. Oran's Road	Buncrana	DONEGAL	8	Curricular Requirements
71240U	Finn Valley College	Main Street, Stranorlar	Lifford	DONEGAL	8	Curricular Requirements
71241W	St. Catherine's Vocational School	Donegal Road	Killybegs	DONEGAL	8	Curricular Requirements
05164I	SCOIL NAOMH CHOLMCILLE	OILEAN THORAI	AN BHUN BHIG	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
07143K	MONREAGH N S	MONREAGH	CARRIGANS LIFFORD	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
16357H	S N FHIONNTRA	FINTRA	KILLYBEGS	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
16384K	SN ARAINN MHOR II	ARAINN MHOR	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
16819T	S N GORT AN CHOIRCE	LEITIR CEANAINN	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
16903I	S N FOTHAR	PORT NA BLAITHCHE	LEITIR CEANAINN	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
17057A	Scoil Phádraig	Drumkeen, Ballybofey	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
17268N	SN AN BR M O CLEIRIGH	CREEVY	BALLYSHANNON	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
17328F	SCOIL ROISIN	AN CLOCHAN LIATH	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
17575W	S N GLEANN COIMHEAD	BALLYBOFEY	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
91500J	Loreto Community School	Milford	Co Donegal	DONEGAL	9	Structural Improvements
03294L	S N CAISEAL NA GCORR	GORT A CHOIRCE	LEITIR CEANAINN	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
13755E	GARTAN N S	GARTAN	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
14194S	SCOIL CHOLMCILLE	AN TEARMANN	CO DUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
16349I	S N AN DROIM MOR	AN DROIM MOR	KILLYGORDON	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
16789N	ST ORANS N S	BUNCRANA	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
16869L	S N AN BHREACAIGH	ARD A RATHA	CO DHUN NA NGALL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
16880W	SCOIL NAOMH COLMCHILLE	CRAIGTOWN	CARNDONAGH	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
16995Q	S N NAOMH COLMCHILLE	MANORCUNNINGHAM	LETTERKENNY	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
17130H	SCOIL NAOMH DUBHTHACH	MACHAIRE UI RABHARTAIGH	GORT A CHOIRCE, LEITIR CEANAINN	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
17607J	S N SEISEADH UI NEILL	BALLYBOFEY	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
17721H	SCOIL TREASA NAOFA	MALAINN	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
17945G	SCOIL NAOMH CHAITRIONA	BALLYSHANNON	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
18076J	SCOIL NÁISIÚNTA MUIRE GAN SMÁL	TOWNPARKS	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
18286U	S N NA HACRAI	AILT AN CHORRAIN	LEITIRCEANAINN	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
18421A	SN DUN CEANNFHAOLAIDH	DUN CEANNFHAOLAIDH	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
18508M	NAOMH ADHAMHNAIN	LAGHEY PO	DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
19310T	SCOIL NAOMH EARNAN	BAILE AN TSRATHA	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
19359D	S N NAOMH AONGHUS	BRIDGEND	LIFFORD	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
19411C	S N BAILE RAIGHIN	LETTERKENNY	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
19491D	SCOIL MHUIRE	RATHMEALLTAIN	F92 XHW5	DONEGAL	10	External Environment
19912B	SCOIL MHUIRE	GLENTIES	CO DONEGAL	DONEGAL	10	External Environment

School Funding

Questions (100)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

100. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding approved for each ​of ​two schools (details supplied). [9263/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will appreciate that information in relation to the estimated cost of projects, referred to, is not released prior to tender stage as this is considered commercially sensitive information.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (101)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

101. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding unequal pay in the teaching profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9272/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. The previous Government decided to reduce the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades (including teachers) by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale, which in the case of teachers had the effect of reducing their starting pay by a further 4-5%. Later in 2011, the Government placed a cap on the overall level of qualification allowances that could be earned by teachers.

Subsequently in 2012, following the public service-wide review of allowances, the Government withdrew qualification allowances for new teachers altogether. However, the Government partially compensated for this by deciding that new entrant teachers would henceforth commence on a new salary scale which had a starting point higher than the starting point of the old scale. Overall, the removal of qualification allowances had the effect of further reducing the pay of new entrant teachers by between 5 and 7 percent.

The measures above – which applied to new entrants only and which were in addition to the pay reductions imposed on public servants generally - were implemented at a time of extraordinarily difficult financial and budgetary circumstances for the State. It is estimated that some 6,700 teachers who entered the profession since 2011 have been affected by the measures.

The Haddington Road Agreement re-aligned the pay scale for teachers who entered teaching between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2012 with that of pre-2011 entrants. An improved pay scale for post-1 February 2012 entrants was also agreed and implemented under the terms of that Agreement. The Lansdowne Road Agreement will begin the process of restoring the reductions to public service pay which were implemented over recent years. The flat-rate increases contained in the Agreement are proportionately more favourable to new entrants to teaching (who are lower on the pay scale) than to longer serving teachers.