Written Answers Nos. 239-257
239. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the value and number of school building projects and school extensions as administered by his Department in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 in the locations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30096/17]
View answerThe following table details the expenditure incurred on the school building projects in the counties referred to by the Deputy for the years 2011 to 2017.
I further advise the Deputy that St Joseph’s Tulla and Ard Scoil na Mara were delivered as PPP projects. Such projects do not incur construction costs upfront for the Department but on completion monthly unitary charges apply for a 25 year period.
With regard to the Waterford Educate Together primary school, construction costs on this project are included with Gaelscoil na nDeise – delivered as a joint project.
|
Roll No. |
School |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
15042A |
ENNIS NS |
€0 |
€1,426,210 |
€4,725,470 |
€44,626 |
€12,805 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
16677C |
CBS PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEW ROAD, ENNIS |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€7,626 |
€41,969 |
€42,620 |
|
16908S |
ST FINNACHTA'S NATIONAL SCHOOL, SIXMILEBRIDGE |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€84,767 |
€43,786 |
|
81007U |
SHANNON COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL, SHANNON |
€0 |
€4,000 |
€45,000 |
€4 |
€8 |
€1,548,179 |
€1,828,643 |
|
70901K |
ST ANNES, KILLALOE |
€0 |
€4,000 |
€15,000 |
€4 |
€6 |
€182,629 |
€0 |
|
18681D |
CHRIST CHURCH NS, LOWER NEWTOWN, WATERFORD |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€6,020 |
€686,486 |
€667,090 |
€0 |
|
20076V |
BUNSCOIL BHOTHAR NA NAOMH, LISMORE |
€450,817 |
€109,922 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
19885B |
GAEL SCOIL PHILIP BARUN, AN TRA MHOR |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€5,310 |
€363,612 |
€1,813,202 |
€156,874 |
|
20050D |
GAELSCOIL NA NDEISE, CARRICKPHIERISH ROAD, WATERFORD |
€7,290 |
€11,660 |
€21,396 |
€7,079,449 |
€5,545,835 |
€162,537 |
€0 |
|
20160K |
WATERFORD EDUCATE TOGETHER, CARRICKPHIERISH ROAD |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
19629G |
HOLY CROSS NS, BALLYCARNANE, TRAMORE |
€2,188,103 |
€96,972 |
€46,606 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
19108B |
ST MARTINS SCHOOL, BALLYTRUCKLE, WATERFORD |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€5,350 |
€2,243,018 |
€3,349,146 |
|
64970U |
PRESENTATION SECONDARY SCHOOL, CANNON STREET, WATERFORD |
€3,055,916 |
€1,324,533 |
€87,545 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
681418 |
ARD SCOIL NA MARA, TRAMORE |
Public Private Partnership |
||||||
|
62020f |
ST JOSEPHS, TULLA |
Public Private Partnership |
240. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a national school (details supplied) in County Clare will receive confirmation of its SNA allocations for the coming academic year 2017 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30098/17]
View answerSpecial Needs Assistants (SNAs) are provided to assist recognised schools to cater for pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context and where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in medical and other professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require additional adult assistance in order to be able to attend school and to participate in education.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed. My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.
The level of SNA support allocated to schools can change from year to year, as students with care needs leave the school, as new students with care needs enrol, or as students develop more independent living skills as they get older and their care needs diminish over time.
All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2017/18 school year by 6th April 2017. The NCSE continues to process applications for access to SNA support which are received after the April deadline. Such applications will be processed in the order in which the applications are received. Schools will be advised shortly of their SNA allocations for the 2017/18 school year.
Where a school wishes to appeal the SNA support allocation which has been made to them, they may do so through the NCSE appeal process, details of which are set out at www.ncse.ie.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
241. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, further to previous representations made to his Department and parliamentary questions on a number of occasions on the urgent need to approve grant aid in respect of necessary upgrading works, particularly window replacements, at a school (details supplied), he will expedite the necessary funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30116/17]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 7 application, window replacement, under the Summer Works Scheme (2016 / 2017) from the school to which he refers.
The Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the SWS (2016-2017) for categories 3 – 6, last May, details of which are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie.
Funding of €47 million is being made available and 438 schools nationwide will benefit from this announcement.
In total, funding of almost €80 million has now been approved in respect of 635 schools for Categories 1 to 6 under the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017). Nearly 50% of all schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Applications under further categories will be considered in the event of further funding becoming available.
In the interim, the school may use its minor works grant, which all primary schools received last November, to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis, as that grant permits, if the school considers the works to be a priority.
242. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which have had their DEIS status changed as a result of a review after the main announcement recently; and if he will provide the names of those schools. [30123/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, DEIS Plan 2017 provided for a verification process, aimed at ensuring the model was run correctly and the data supplied by the schools through the POD/PPOD systems was used appropriately. This is currently ongoing. This process is expected to be concluded shortly and schools will be informed of the outcome.
243. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 509 of 20 June 2017, the details and value of all contracts received for ministerial approval from Caranua; the date on which each application was received by his Department; the effective date of each contract, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30137/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to her when available.
244. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfagfár an liúntas Gaeltachta ag na múinteoirí sna scoileanna a roghnaíonn gan a bheith páirteach mar scoil Ghaeltachta faoin mbeartas nua Oideachais Gaeltachta atá á chur i bhfeidhm; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [30182/17]
View answerNíl aon mholadh sa Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta le hathrú a dhéanamh ar na tuarastail nó liúntais atá ag na múinteoirí faoi láthair sna scoileanna atá lonnaithe sna limistéir pleanála teanga Ghaeltachta. Is féidir liom a dheimhniú, freisin, nach bhfuil aon chinneadh déanta na liúntais Ghaeltachta a bhaint de na múinteoirí atá ag feidhmiú faoi láthair.
245. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna céard é an chéad uair eile a bheidh deis ag scoileanna Gaeltachta nár roghnaigh a bheith páirteach mar scoil Ghaeltachta faoin mbeartas nua Oideachais Gaeltachta an babhta seo cur isteach ar an stádas seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [30183/17]
View answerTá an chéad chéim de chur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta tar éis an deis a thabhairt do gach bunscoil agus iar-bhunscoil i limistéar pleanala teanga Gaeltachta Foirm um Léiriú Spéise chun a bheith rannpháirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta don scoilbhliain 2017/2018 a chur faoi bhráid mo Roinn. Tá tromlach de na scoileanna Gaeltachta tar éis léirithe spéise a chur isteach le bheith rannpháirteach sa Scéim. Ach, toisc go mbaineann tréimhse cúig bliana le cur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí, tabharfar deiseanna breise do scoileanna sna limistéir pleanála teanga Ghaeltachta spéis a léiriú a bheith rannpháirteach sa Scéim. Tá sé i gceist ag mo Roinn Imlitir eile a eisiú in Earrach 2018 agus leis seo, tabharfar an deis do scoileanna nach bhfuil rannpháirteach sa Scéim in 2017 spéis a léiriú chun a bheith rannpháirteach ansin. Cuirfear deiseanna breise ar fáil le bheith rannpháirteach sa Scéim sna scoilbhlianta ina dhiaidh sin chomh maith.
Question:
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the next opportunity will arise for Gaeltacht schools that opted not to apply for Gaeltacht school status under the new Policy on Gaeltacht Education on this occasion to apply for same, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Answer:
The first stage of the implementation of the Gaeltacht Policy provided every primary and post-primary school in a Gaeltacht language-planning area with the opportunity to submit an expression of interest form to participate in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme to my Department. The majority of Gaeltacht schools have expressed an interest in participating in the Scheme. As a period of 5 years applies to Policy implementation, further opportunities will be provided to schools in Gaeltacht language planning areas to express an interest in participating in the Scheme. My Department intends to issue a further circular in Spring 2018 which will provide an opportunity to schools that are not participating in the Scheme to express an interest in participating. Further opportunities will also be provided for participation in the Scheme in the future.
246. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the timeframe for approval of the required additional accommodation; the timeframe for delivery of the extension. [30208/17]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
247. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the staffing complement of his Department in whole-time equivalents as at the end of 2016. [29605/17]
View answerThere were 1,483 full time equivalent staff employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the end of 2016. 836 full time equivalents were based in Ireland, 314 were assigned to one of Ireland’s missions overseas and the remainder, 333, were recruited locally to staff missions overseas.
248. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his senior officials have discussed the possibility of increasing the number of diplomats employed across the EU to assist with planning for Brexit. [27832/17]
View answerI have had the opportunity to discuss Brexit and to discuss resourcing with my officials. I have indicated my desire to maintain an intensive programme of engagement with EU partners.
As you know additional capabilities and resources have been assigned across the Department to address issues arising from the complex process of the UK exit from the EU. Our approach has not been merely to recruit or assign additional staff, but rather also to prioritise Brexit in the work of our EU and our entire network.
The measures my Department put in place to manage the initial phase of our response to the UK decision to leave the EU remain under review as the negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU intensify. I will ensure that the Department maintains the ability and agility to respond to new opportunities for Irish citizens and businesses.
I expect the exit negotiations to be complex and intensive and the Department may require additional staff resources if we are to increase our level of support across Government and across our network.
249. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the DUP supporting the Conservative Government in the UK will have implications for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. [28816/17]
View answerThe content of the confidence and supply agreement between the Conservative Party and the DUP is primarily a matter for those two parties. I note that the agreement provides for DUP support for British government legislation on Brexit. An enhanced voice articulating an agreed position on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive could see more effective and inclusive representation of the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland at Westminster.
I welcome both parties’ recommitment to the Good Friday Agreement and its successors, and the particular commitment by the British Government to govern in the interests of all parts of the community in Northern Ireland.
The requirement in the Agreement that 'the power of the sovereign government with jurisdiction .... shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions ' is of particular relevance in the current circumstances.
This is what the Government expects and I have conveyed this message to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach has also raised the matter in his discussions with the Prime Minister.
As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will do its utmost to support the parties in reaching an agreement to establish the Northern Ireland Executive which ensures that the integrity of the Agreement is fully protected, that all of its institutions function effectively and fairly, and that outstanding commitments are implemented.
250. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details and county location of capital projects announced by his Department in March, April, May and to date in June 2017. [29783/17]
View answerMy Department did not make any announcement of capital projects in March, April, May and to date in June 2017.
251. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Civil Service clerical officers in full-time employment in his Department as of 31 May 2017 by county in tabular form. [29850/17]
View answerThe number of Clerical Officers in full time employment in my Department as of 31 May 2017 is 436.1. The breakdown per county is as follows; the balance are currently posted abroad.
|
Dublin |
Cork |
Limerick |
|
322.8 |
61.5 |
16.8 |
252. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officers in his Department who have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county in tabular form. [29866/17]
View answerFull time Clerical Officers in my Department that have retired, resigned or been promoted between 01 January 2015 and 31 May 2017 are detailed by county in the following table.
|
01 January 2015 – 31 May 2017 |
Cork |
Dublin |
Limerick |
|
Retired |
1 |
20.5 |
0.6 |
|
Resigned |
6 |
1 |
|
|
Promoted |
4 |
19 |
3 |
253. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county in tabular form. [29890/17]
View answerThe number of full time Clerical Officers appointed to my Department since 01 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 are detailed by county in the following table.
|
Year |
Cork |
Dublin |
Limerick |
|
2015 |
7 |
24 |
1 |
|
2016 |
7 |
53 |
0 |
|
01 Jan to 31 May 2017 |
0 |
33 |
1 |
254. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of temporary Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county in tabular form. [29908/17]
View answerThe number of Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county is provided in the following table.
|
Year |
Cork |
Dublin |
Total |
|
2015 |
36 |
147 |
183 |
|
2016 |
45 |
192 |
237 |
|
to end May 2017 |
52 |
204 |
256 |
|
Total |
133 |
543 |
676 |
255. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of all financial contributions Ireland has made to the instrument for pre-accession assistance fund; if he will address concerns that Turkey has received almost €1 billion from the EU to support rule of law, civil society, fundamental rights, democracy and governance despite reports of over 50,000 arrests, 100,000 detentions, 138,000 job sackings and close to 2,100 schools being shut down since July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29916/17]
View answerFunding for the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is allocated by the European Union from its overall budget to which each Member State contributes according to Gross National Income. Ireland’s contribution to IPA therefore comes from our overall contribution to the EU, rather than a specific monetary allocation.
The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) supports countries that are candidates or potential candidates for EU membership. The support goes towards measures aiming at adopting and implementing the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms required to comply with the Union’s values and to align progressively with the Union’s rules, standards, policies and practices.
Ireland, along other EU Member States, agrees that Turkey’s accession process should not be suspended. This does not diminish in any way our concerns regarding the negative developments on human rights, rule of law, freedom of expression including media freedom, and democracy in Turkey, particularly since the attempted coup last July, or our concerns regarding the implementation of the referendum passed on 16 April. Quite the contrary. We have consistently raised these concerns, including about the scale of dismissals and detentions of public servants, academics and journalists at every appropriate opportunity, and will continue to do so. I am particularly concerned about the arrest of Mr. Taner Kiliç, Chair of Amnesty International, Turkey on 6 June, and call on the Turkish authorities to ensure that full due process, including the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial is respected.
Ireland believes that the lines of communication with Turkey must be kept open, bearing in mind the long-term future of all of the citizens of Turkey. In that context, the EU will continue to work with Turkey to encourage a return to European values.
256. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he plans to introduce to resolve the significant backlog of passport applications that has built up at the Passport Office; if he will allocate the necessary resources to help reduce this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30203/17]
View answerBetween 1 January and 23 June the Passport Service received over 499,000 passport applications, which represents a 12% increase over the same period last year.
The Passport Service is working very hard, and largely successfully, to manage the high volume of applications being received in recent months to meet the target delivery dates and avoid backlogs.
There are currently 61,000 applications in progress, which is a reduction on previous weeks. These are applications that are going through the normal entitlement checking process rather than backlogs. While the volume of applications in progress remains high, the target turnaround time for Passport Express renewal applications of 15 working days is being met, as it has been over the past six weeks. The target turnaround time for first-time applications and applications for renewal of lost, stolen or damaged passports through Passport Express is 20 working days. These categories of application take longer due to the extra security checks involved. This target turnaround time is also currently being met (down from 24 working days as of 19 June).
In addition to the 300 full-time permanent staff already assigned within my Department to the Passport Service, almost 230 Temporary Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Passport Offices in Balbriggan, Mount Street and Cork to assist in managing high seasonal demand. Targeted overtime for the Passport Service has also been sanctioned to increase processing capacity. The allocation of resources and assignment of work across offices is reviewed continually to maximise efficiency.
The fact that target turnaround times for Passport Express renewal and first-time applications are being met despite the very significant increases in volumes of applications in recent months reflects the hard work and the professionalism of Passport Service staff.
Service improvements have also made a major contribution to the effective management of the exceptionally high volumes. As the Deputy will be aware, the new Online Passport Application Service was launched at the end of March this year. As take-up of the service increases, it will considerably enhance overall passport processing capacity and contribute to reducing turnaround times for all channels. Since the launch over 38,000 passport applications were received through this channel which is well ahead of target. The target turnaround for the service is ten working days plus postage and in the majority of cases this is exceeded comfortably. I therefore urge all Deputies to encourage adults who are renewing their passports to do so online.
It is very important that applicants choose the most appropriate application channel for their individual circumstances. Passport Express should only be used by those who are travelling in three weeks or more. Anyone renewing a passport who needs to travel in under three weeks should either apply online or by appointment at the Passport Office in either Dublin or Cork.
Further, I urge all Deputies to encourage citizens to register for the free passport renewal reminder email service provided by my Department at the following web address: https://www.eforms.gov.ie/en/reminder/passport/
257. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a project (details supplied); his plans for the fully serviced site; the cost of maintaining the site in each of the past three years and to date in 2017; the cost of security of the site for the past three years to date; if he has requested a market valuation of the site; if the working group in his Department has produced a report on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29455/17]
View answerFor extensive background information on the Thornton Hall project - how it arose, the related prison accommodation issues and other relevant factors - I would refer the Deputy to the Comptroller & Auditor General Annual Report 2005 which addressed this issue.
The issue was subsequently examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in October 2006. The Comptroller & Auditor General also addressed this issue as part of the Report on the Accounts of the Public Services in 2014 (No. 9 Development of Prison Accommodation in Dublin) and, again, the PAC subsequently examined this issue in November 2015.
The Thornton Hall site comprises 156 acres and was purchased for a proposed prison development to replace Mountjoy Prison campus. Selection of the site began with advertisements in the national newspapers and over 30 potential sites were evaluated by a selection committee. Thornton was selected as the least costly of the sites which met the relevant criteria. Full details of the assessment process have been made public and are detailed in the above mentioned C&AG's Annual Report 2005.
For reasons which are outlined in detail in the reports cited above, the Thornton project did not proceed. The initial purchase price of the land at Thornton was €29,900,000 in 2005 which was offset by the sale of surplus prison lands at Shanganagh Castle for €29.6 million. For accounting purposes, the value of the 150 acre site at Thornton continues to be recorded at the cost of €29.9 million, plus investment in infrastructure and services, pending a review of its potential value and benefit to the State.
In January 2015, a Working Group was established by the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality to examine options for the future use of the Thornton Hall site. This group, comprising of officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Office of Public Works and the Irish Prison Service, was asked to review potential options for the lands and house at Thornton and make recommendations on how best to maximise the value to the State. The Working Group has been in contact with other state bodies to explore potential uses for the site, and that work is ongoing.
Regarding the market valuation of the site, it was felt that the most prudent and transparent way of reflecting the value of Thornton was to continue to incorporate the historic cost in the Statement of Capital Assets. It is clear that the site has a potential medium or long term strategic value and it is not proposed to speculate on the current resale value of the site pending the outcome of the review. The findings of the Working Group will be taken into account in determining the value of the asset in the Appropriation Account.
There were no security costs for the past three years, or to date in 2017. The following table outlines the costs in respect of ongoing maintenance, repairs & utilities for the past three years and up to 15 June this year.
Ongoing Maintenance, Repairs & Utilities
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2014 |
€ 248,190 |
|
2015 |
€ 117,930 |
|
2016 |
€ 62,001 |
|
2017 (to 15 June) |
€ 51,514 |
