Written Answers Nos. 248-265
248. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding his Department provided and the proportion this was of total income by third level institution over each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14999/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available in the required format. Officials of my Department have requested the Higher Education Authority to collate this information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
249. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the review of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme; his plans to make changes to the scheme for the upcoming school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15000/16]
View answerA process to review DEIS, the Action Plan for Social Inclusion, is ongoing. The majority of the review work programme is scheduled for completion by the end of the current school year. The overall scope of the review is to assess the existing DEIS Programme in the context of evaluations to date and any relevant policy and other developments in order to inform future policy on educational disadvantage. The review project involves a number of strands:- Stakeholder consultation is a key component of the process and, at the outset, the education partners were invited for their views on both the current and future operation of the programme. Comprehensive submissions were received and are being considered as part of the review. Further stakeholder engagement with the Education Partners took place on 23 May 2016. Further engagement with other stakeholders will take place over the coming weeks.- An internal DEIS Advisory Group within my Department is considering the make-up of the current DEIS School Support Programme in the context of the learning from the implementation of the programme to date and the input of education stakeholders.- An Interdepartmental Group is considering current and potential future supports to tackle educational disadvantage provided by other Government Departments and agencies (Departments of Children and Youth Affairs/Tusla, Health and Environment, Community & Local Government) in order to ensure greater cohesion and cross-sectoral co-operation for future service delivery.- A Technical Advisory Group is examining available data sources in order to develop an improved identification process for the inclusion of schools in any future resource allocation framework to tackle educational disadvantage. The programme for a Partnership Government has committed to publish a new updated Action Plan for Educational Inclusion within 12 months. Subject to Government approval, it is intended to start to implement actions arising from an updated plan in the 2017/18 school year.
250. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of carrying out the capital projects identified in the Higher Education Authority space utilisation of third level conducted in 2010 in respect of projects that were identified as being in need of repair or replacement, taking deterioration that may have occurred since the report into account; if he will include any of these projects in the capital investment plan over a five, ten and 20-year period; the details of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15001/16]
View answer253. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing additional teaching accommodation at third level to address increasing demographics over the next five, ten, 15 and 20 years; the amount of this he will provide under the capital investment plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15004/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 253 together. It is estimated that continuing growth in the Higher Education Sector will generate a demand for new accommodation of at least €1 billion over the next fifteen years. The cost of rendering facilities in the Higher Education Sector suitable for modern educational delivery, including but not limited to those identified in the HEA space survey referred to by the Deputy, is €1.27bn. The 2016-2021 Capital Plan provides funding of €350m over the next 5 years for the Third Level Sector. This consists of a direct Exchequer investment of €150m, including €40m already allocated to the Grangegorman project, and €200m worth of funding for PPP projects. I am conscious that there are many competing demands on the Department's Third Level Capital budget, including those referred to by the Deputy. In that context, the distribution of the funding provided in the Capital Plan is being considered carefully and in consultation with the HEA. A final decision has not yet been made in that respect.
251. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will conclude the selection process for the projects at third level that are to receive investment under public private partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15002/16]
View answerThe selection process for potential third level PPP projects referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of formulation. The Department, in consultation with the Higher Education Authority, is carrying out a thorough examination of the most appropriate and suitable method for selecting the projects for inclusion in this programme. The views of the National Development Finance Agency are also being sought in this respect. It is hoped to have a timeline for progression of the projects available in the coming weeks.
252. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing additional classroom accommodation at primary and secondary schools to address increased demographics over the next five, ten, 15 and 20 years; the amount of this he will provide under the capital investment plan 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15003/16]
View answerThe upward trend of previous years in numbers of learners at all levels of the education system will continue for the period 2015 to 2017 and beyond. Pupil numbers in primary schools are projected to increase by 25,000 between 2014/15 and 2017/18 to 569,000, eventually peaking in 2018/2019 at 574,000, while projections for second level are for an increase of 12,000 pupils over the same three year period to 350,000, with second level projections peaking in 2025/2026 at 405,000. My Department reviews on an ongoing basis the latest nationwide demographic data available to assess where further additional provision may be required at primary and post-primary levels. As the Deputy may be aware, earlier indicative figures of the cost of providing for demographics were set out in an analytical paper compiled by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service and published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of Budget 2013. The link to this paper is at the following address:-
http://igees.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Final-Budget-Expenditure-Report-Educational-Expenditure.pdf. This paper calculated the impact of demographics on school accommodation and consequent pressure for capital investment. Much, however, will depend in this regard on the location and distribution of the additional pupil numbers. The announcement on 29 September 2015 of Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital investment 2016-2021 specifies an investment of €4 billion to the Education sector through direct Exchequer provision and the PPP programme. In excess of €3 billion of the investment is in respect of the schools sector. Last November, a new programme of over 300 major school building projects for the period 2016 to 2021 was announced. Details are available on my Department's website. These projects, together with approvals under the devolved Additional Accommodation Scheme, are designed to meet the increases in pupil numbers that will arise in both the primary and post-primary school sectors.
254. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has followed up on correspondence from the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland at the start of May 2016; if he has engaged with the association on reform of the junior certificate; his progress on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15005/16]
View answerI have responded to the letter received from the General Secretary of the ASTI on 9 May. This letter indicated that the ASTI looked forward to engaging with me to resolve the many issues that are of concern to their members, including junior cycle reform. My officials have been in touch with the ASTI and arrangements are being made for me to meet with ASTI officials very shortly, specifically on the issue of junior cycle reform. I look forward to having a constructive meeting with the ASTI officials.
255. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of representations he has received from Members of the Oireachtas and the number of these to which he had not issued a substantive reply by 31 May 2016, by month of initial receipt, from 1 January 2015 to 30 April 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15035/16]
View answerMy Department received approximately 8,000 representations in the period 1 January 2015 – 30 April 2016. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Department receives representations from many different groups and individuals including Oireachtas members, members of the public, educational representative groups, associations and other interested parties. In 2015 the Department received approximately 7,100 representations. For 2015 approximately 1,200 representations have not been classified as completed. As the Correspondence Database does not record the information in the format as requested by the Deputy I am not in a position to confirm the number that refer to Oireachtas members only. In order to provide the information in the format sought it would be necessary to view each outstanding piece of correspondence which would take an inordinate amount of time and would not be a prudent use of limited staffing resources. For the information of the Deputy, since my own appointment as Minister for Education and Skills on 5 May 2016 463 representations have been received from Oireachtas members, the general public and other groups. Replies have issued to 323 and 140 are currently being dealt with within the Department.
256. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has analysed the number of jobs that could be created if Ireland’s waste disposal and recovery requirements were handled here instead of being exported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14346/16]
View answerExporting is a loss of waste resources that could otherwise be used to generate employment, open up new markets for Irish products, and boost domestic economic activity. Government waste policy supports managing waste as a national resource, and the benefits of this approach, as part of the transition to a circular economy, are increasingly being recognised across Europe. If Ireland can continue to progress up the value chain of the waste hierarchy, i.e. prepare for reuse, recycle and recover waste within the State, more opportunities in green waste technologies and previously untapped subsectors of waste recovery are likely to emerge. It is estimated that 2,100 jobs could be created directly through the complete domestic processing of recyclables and bio-waste alone.
257. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter regarding alarms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14400/16]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.
My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.
Pobal completed an open tender for the supply of the alarm equipment and a panel of preferred suppliers was identified. This national tender was broken down into 10 regional lots to ensure that smaller alarm suppliers were not disadvantaged due to excessively large lot sizes. A panel of regional suppliers was contracted to provide the equipment within specified regional areas while maintaining the benefits of local service provision. The management and administration of the Scheme transferred from my Department to Pobal on 7 September 2015.
This new approach has reduced the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme, who provide an excellent service for the elderly, and enables the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely, to support and interact with the elderly in the local community.
The new arrangements will allow my Department to concentrate on developing and improving the Scheme. This will enhance the outcome for both beneficiaries and community groups alike.
258. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government which Department will have responsibility for water services under the new structures. [14433/16]
View answerResponsibility for water services policy and legislation remains with my Department.
259. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if she will consider reform of the rateable valuation system, with a view to modernising same, so as to ensure that any referred system provides for appropriate valuations rates reductions and abatements, particularly where new businesses are starting up, and where same are located in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14534/16]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
It is important to acknowledge that commercial rates, as a local tax, and the rating system generally are deeply embedded in the local government system. A large body of case law is well established and local authorities and ratepayers are, in the main, very familiar with, and generally accepting of, the operation and practice of the rating system. Rates are also a stable source of financing for local government which is not affected unduly by short-term changes in economic circumstances.
Under the provisions of the Local Government (Rates) Act 1970, a rating authority may make and carry out a scheme, providing for the waiver by the authority of all or a portion of commercial rates due by ratepayers in respect of a specified class or classes of property. The making of such a scheme is subject to my consent as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. No rate waiver schemes have been consented to in respect of commercial property.
I am aware of the continued need to restrain costs on businesses. My Department has in recent years requested local authorities to exercise restraint in setting, and where possible to reduce, ARVs and they have responded positively in this regard. The national average ARV decreased each year from 2010 to 2014; 2015 and 2016 are not directly comparable with previous years due to local authority mergers and the necessity to harmonise rates across new local authority areas.
260. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the resources his Department has assigned for each of the past five years to assisting with developing a strategy to ensure the country has an adequate supply of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14707/16]
View answerIn the period 2011 to 2014 inclusive, in excess of 26,000 social housing units were delivered under a range of programmes, by local authorities and approved housing bodies, with associated total funding of some €2.6bn being provided in that period, as set out in the following table.
|
Year |
2011 €m |
2012 €m |
2013 €m |
2014 €m |
|
Total funding |
755 |
672 |
580 |
585 |
Since then, through the actions set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which was published in November 2014, a number of important measures have been taken to increase supply of social housing. The Strategy is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/social_strategy_document_20141126.pdf.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 provides for clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list with flexibility to meet future demand. In total, 110,000 new social housing units are targeted for delivery with 35,000 new units to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, and 75,000 households to be supported mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme.
Overall funding of €761.4 million was expended on the delivery of social housing services in 2015. This comprised €636.3 million Exchequer funding and €125.1 million which local authorities self-funded from Local Property Tax receipts. This funding facilitated the delivery of over 13,000 social housing units in 2015, the first full year of implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. This represents an 86% increase in unit delivery above 2014.
A full report on actions delivered under the Strategy in 2015 can be found in the Social Housing Output in 2015 report. The report, which was published on 26 January 2016, in collaboration with the Housing Agency, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/social_housing_output_in_2015_0.pdf.
With regard to funding provision for social housing services for 2016, the combined capital and current allocation will result in an Exchequer investment of almost €821 million across a range of housing programmes, being implemented by both local authorities and approved housing bodies. In addition, local authorities will self-fund a range of housing services from Local Property Tax receipts to the value of over €112 million, bringing the total social housing provision in 2016 to €933 million.
Importantly, with capital project announcements in May and July 2015, and in January 2016, local authorities and approved housing bodies now have a strong pipeline of construction, turnkey and acquisition projects, which will deliver some 3,900 homes, with approved budget costs of some €680 million.
My Department works closely with all local authorities in relation to their overall resource requirements, including staffing, to ensure their capacity and preparedness for delivery of the ambitious targets set under the Strategy. To this end, my Department has sanctioned 440 local authority posts in order to meet the goals of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
Housing is an absolute priority for this Government, as evidenced by the Programme for a Partnership Government, which is available at the following link:-http://www.merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/Programme_for_Partnership_Government.pdf, which includes a commitment to the preparation and publication of an ‘Action Plan for Housing’. The Action Plan will be drafted with input from a number of key Departments, drawing also on the work of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which is due to submit a final report to the Dáil on 17 June 2016.
The Action Plan will come under the overall governance of a Cabinet Committee on Housing chaired by An Taoiseach and including all the key Ministers. The Action Plan will be delivery focused, and will include specific measures to increase and expedite the delivery of social housing units, building on the considerable work already carried out or underway in my Department. It will also include actions to boost supply of all types of housing in the immediate, medium and longer terms.
261. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to introduce a new rural development scheme for local groups who are producing a local book on the history of the area. [14727/16]
View answerAn initiative such as the one referred to in the Question may be eligible for funding under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Any local group looking for support for such an initiative should liaise directly with the Local Action Group for their area.
My Department is in the final stages of finalising the selection of LEADER Local Action Groups and Strategies and I anticipate a phased commencement of the new LEADER programme across all areas from July.
262. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if responsibility for rural and marine recreation has transferred to his Department, or if it is proposed to transfer these responsibilities in the proposed transfer of responsibilities to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15021/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach outlined his intention to establish a new Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht in his statement to Dáil Éireann on 6 May 2016. To facilitate the establishment of the new Department, a number of rural development functions, which are currently the responsibility of my Department, will transfer to the new Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.
In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, responsibility for rural recreation programmes and issues will transfer to the new Department. Regarding marine recreation, I have no function in relation to this matter.
263. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total annual allocation for housing assistance payment tenancies for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in tabular form; and the total number of tenancies funded or expected to be funded for each year. [14258/16]
View answerFunding for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme has increased year on year, since it commenced in September 2014, in order to meet the continuing costs of existing HAP households, and the costs of additional households being supported.
The majority of this funding is to support ongoing rent payments to landlords in respect of existing HAP households and the cost of additional HAP tenancies as households find accommodation through the scheme during the year. In addition, funding also includes the operational costs of the HAP shared service centre and the costs of the HAP administrative payment made to local authorities operating the scheme.
Table 1 provides details of all voted Exchequer funding allocated and spent on HAP since the scheme commenced in September 2014 and the number of additional households supported by the scheme in each of those years, as indicated.
The resourcing of the HAP scheme in 2017 will form part of the normal Estimates process and will be based on the costs of continuing to support those existing HAP households at end 2016 and the cost of additional HAP households to be supported in 2017. Similar to the 2016 target, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets a target of supporting an additional 10,000 households through the HAP scheme in 2017.
TABLE 1
|
Year |
Exchequer allocation (€M) |
Outturn (€M) |
Additional Households supported by HAP |
|
2014 |
0.5 |
0.394 |
485 |
|
2015 |
23.2 |
15.64 |
5, 680 |
|
2016 |
47.7 |
2.2 (end March provisional) |
2,531 (to end March) |
Further information in relation to the number of households supported by HAP in each relevant local authority area is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
264. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total annual allocation for rental accommodation scheme tenancies for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in tabular form; and the total number of tenancies funded or expected to be funded for each year. [14259/16]
View answerDetails of the Exchequer funding allocated by my Department under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) for 2014 , 2015 and 2016 are set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Exchequer allocation (€M) |
Outturn (€M) |
|
2014 |
140 |
133.5 |
|
2015 |
135 |
121.78 * |
|
2016 |
135 |
19.58 (Q1 to end of March) |
*This is in addition to local authority self-funding of €14.85 million.
The RAS allocation for 2017 will be determined as part of the upcoming Estimates cycle.
In addition to the Exchequer funding allocated in 2015, local authorities self-funded RAS costs of €14.85 million from built up local authority RAS reserves. In 2016, it is expected that €12 million will be self-funded from the same source. Local authorities are required to utilise these built-up reserves before Exchequer monies can be drawndown.
The funding provides for the continuing cost of contractual agreements made by local authorities with landlords under the RAS and the additional cost of new RAS tenancies that are secured each year.
The number of tenancies funded are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets a target of 2,000 additional transfers to the Rental Accommodation Scheme over the period 2016-2017.
265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to issues raised by a person (details supplied) regarding the reconfiguration of his Department and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14263/16]
View answerRestructuring of Government Departments is a matter for the Taoiseach and following on from the Taoiseach’s stated intention to restructure Departments of State to align with the priority objectives of the Government, responsibility for the environment, including climate change, will transfer from my Department to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. That Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the transfer of functions is completed.
The statutory transfer of functions process to give effect to these changes in respect of the environment portfolio is underway. On completion, responsibility for functions, including climate policy; waste policy and resource efficiency; and air quality and environmental radiation policy, will transfer to the new Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Responsibility for water quality remains with my Department in recognition of the intrinsic links between water quality and wider water services policy and legislation. There are, however, established and effective working arrangements in place to manage the relationship between water quality and the wider environmental remit and I will work closely with Minister Naughten to ensure that this relationship is maintained.
