Tuesday, 11 Jul 2017

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Questions (191)

David Cullinane

Question:

191. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff full-time equivalents employed by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General that were engaged in audit in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [32412/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I have been advised by the Comptroller and Auditor General that the detailed information requested is being collated and will be sent directly to the Deputy by his Office.

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Questions (192)

David Cullinane

Question:

192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff full-time equivalents employed by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General that were engaged in reporting in each of the years 2008 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32413/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I have been advised by the Comptroller and Auditor General that the detailed information requested is being collated and will be sent directly to the Deputy by his Office.

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Questions (193)

David Cullinane

Question:

193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full-year cost in total pay of increasing the number of staff full-time equivalents employed by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and reporting duties and functions by percentages (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32414/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I have been advised by the Comptroller and Auditor General that the detailed information requested is being collated and will be sent directly to the Deputy by his Office.

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Questions (194)

David Cullinane

Question:

194. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost in pay of increasing the number of staff full-time equivalents employed by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for the purposes of reporting in order that it matches the number of staff full-time equivalents employed by the office for the purposes of audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32415/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I have been advised by the Comptroller and Auditor General that the detailed information requested is being collated and will be sent directly to the Deputy from his Office.

Garda Stations

Questions (195)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

195. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 27 June 2017, if the building will be retained for use by the local community; if the building will be maintained in order that it could be used as a Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32424/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)

As part of the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Policing Authority was asked to carry out a review of closed Garda stations with a view to the possible reopening of a number of stations. It is expected that a final report on this issue will be delivered in due course. Pending the delivery of this report, final decisions cannot be made on the future use of those closed Garda stations.

For your information, the policy of the Office of Public Works (OPW) with regard to non-operational (vacant) Garda stations is to:

1. Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by both Government departments and the wider public sector.

2. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer,

3. If no State requirement is identified, or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property, the OPW may consider community involvement (subject to detailed written submission which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the future use of the former Garda station at Knocknagree, Co. Cork will be determined in line with stated policy once the review has concluded.

Living Wage

Questions (196)

Niall Collins

Question:

196. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.70 for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32567/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In response to the Deputy’s question, the table below outlines the annual cost of implementing a living wage of €11.70 for all employees directly employed by my Department or in bodies under its aegis.

Organisation	Annual Cost €
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform	44,207
National Shared Services Office	717,672
Office of Government Procurement	52,370
Public Appointments Service	182,470
Office of the Ombudsman	42,737
State Laboratory	3,067
Office of Public Works	507,000
Institute of Public Administration (IPA)	No additional cost
Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)	No additional cost

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (197)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

197. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of expenditure by his Department or organisations under the aegis of his Department for each of the past five years on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, media interview training and preparation; the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related; the company or person to which such payments were made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32656/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In response to the Deputy’s question, the tables below outline the relevant expenditure by my Department, and the bodies under its aegis, since it was established in 2011.

There has been no expenditure on media interview training and development during that period.

Information is provided in relation to the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), the Office of the Ombudsman, the Public Appointments Service (PAS), the State Laboratory and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The reply in relation to the Office of Public Works will follow within the next ten days in accordance with Standing Order 42A.

The SEUPB does not record expenditure under the headings of communications advice or interview training and preparation; therefore, these have not been included within their response. Please note that all expenditure outlined within their response relates to both the INTERREG and PEACE Programmes and is presented in sterling. The SEUPB is a North/South Body. The attached figures represent 100% of the costs, which includes contributions from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the EU Programmes/ERDF. SEUPB advise that it would be very difficult to calculate an estimate of the percentage of the costs that are directly attributable to Ireland.

Photography

Date	Details of the event	Supplier	Expenditure
2011	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Lensmen	€1,648
		Total	€1,648
2012	Irish Presidency EUPAN HRWG/IPSG meeting	Fennell Photography	€105
	Irish Presidency EUPAN Directors General meeting	Fennell Photography	€105
	Public Service Excellence Awards 2012	Maxwell Photography	€812
	Advertorial to publicise restructured Civil Service Employee Assistance Service	Bradán Publishing	€418
	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Lensmen	€470
		Total	€1,910
2013	IPA Events for 2013 including book launches, conferences, seminars, graduations, training events	Ark Photography & Lensman Photography	€3,436
	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Lensmen	€2,855
		Total	€6,291
2014	IPA Events for 2014 including book launches, conferences, seminars, graduations, training events	Ark Photography & Lensman Photography	€3,104
	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Maxwell Photography	€449
	Promotional photographs for marketing unit	City Headshots	€400
		Total	€3,953
2015	ONE HR Learning and Development Strategy 2015-2017	Marc O’Sullivan Photography	€369
	Implementation of Action 13 – Civil Service Renewal Plan	Steven Langan t/a City Headshots	€1,500
	2015 Implementation of Action 13 – Civil Service Renewal Plan	Maxwell Photography Limited	€529
	NSSO photography head shots	Maxwell Photography Limited	€126
	IPA Events for 2015 including book launches, conferences, seminars, graduations, training events	Ark Photography & Lensman Photography	€5,299
	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Maxwell Photography	€996
	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Clive Wasson	€111
	Images for Annual Report of the Office of the Ombudsman	Pam O’Brien	€400
	Promotional photographs for marketing unit in the Public Appointments Service	City Headshots	€1,050
		Total	€10,380
2016	2016 Implementation of Action 13 – Civil Service Renewal Plan	Fennell Photography	€849
	2016 Implementation of Action 13 – Civil Service Renewal Plan	Lafayette Photography	€476
	Official opening event for the Office of Government Procurement Offices at Spencer Dock	Noel Hillis Photography	€220
	IPA Events for 2016 including book launches, conferences, seminars, graduations, training events	Ark Photography & Lensman Photography	€2,688
	Conferences and Seminars for Ombudsman’s Office	Valerie O’Sullivan	€170
	Promotional photographs for marketing unit in the Public Appointments Service	City Headshots	€1,275
		Total	€5,678
2017	IPA Events for 2017 including book launches, conferences, seminars, graduations, training events	Ark Photography & Lensman Photography	€1,679
	Images for Annual Report of the Office of the Ombudsman	Fennell Photography	€234
	NSSO photography head shots	Maxwell Photography	€126
	Civil Service Customer Engagement Survey event	Lensmen	€431
		Total	€2,470

Advertising*

Date	Description	Supplier	Expenditure
2011	Public Consultation on the Regulation of Lobbying	Brindley Advertising	€3,720
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Brindley Advertising	€15,042
	Advertising Services for Office of the Ombudsman	FCR Media Ltd	€17,493
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising to Education Market	The Graduate	€6,000
	Office of the Ombudsman - Cork Adult Education & Training Exhibition	Cork Adult Education & Training	€200
		Total	€42,455
2012	Employee Assistance Service	Journal Advertising	€418
	Advertisement for the Chief Procurement Officer	Newspaper Advertising	€2,075
	State Laboratory – Advertising in Golden Pages	FCR Media	€4,236
	State Laboratory – IPA Yearbook 2013	IPA	€197
	Advertising Services for Office of the Ombudsman	FCR Media Ltd	€22,206
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Brindley Advertising	€16,611
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Exhibition to Over 50s	S&L Promotions	€307
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising to Education Market	The Graduate	€5,000
	Office of the Ombudsman - Cork Adult Education & Training Exhibition	Cork Adult Education & Training	€200
		Total	€51,250
2013	Institute of Public Administration - Promote Education Courses, country wide. Promote Training courses. Promote new books, promote Administration Yearbook & Diary, promote conferences, seminars.	Irish Times Bradan Publishing Independent Free papers Regional Papers Dart & Bus Advertising Magazine Advertising Online Advertising Radio Advertising both national and regional	€63,129
	State Laboratory – Advertising in Golden Pages	FCR Media	€4,236
	State Laboratory – IPA Yearbook 2014	IPA	€197
	Advertising Services for Office of the Ombudsman	FCR Media Ltd	€14,063
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Brindley Advertising	€18,458
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Mediavest	€651
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Exhibition to Over 50s	S&L Promotions	€1,470
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising to Education Market	The Graduate	€5,000
	Office of the Ombudsman - Cork Adult Education & Training Exhibition	Cork Adult Education & Training	€230
		Total	€107,434
2014	Procurement Advertisement in Emergency Services Ireland	Emergency Services Ltd	€2,399
	Procurement Advertisement and Editorial in the Irish Packaging and Print Directory 2014	Tara Publishing	€2,454
	Procurement Advertisement in Council Review Magazine	Council Review	€2,399
	Procurement Advertisement in Local Authority / Council Review	Local Authority Journal	€2,399
	Etenders Procurement Advertisement in Public Sector Times Magazine	J.P. Devlin Media LTD	€1,046
	Consultation Process Advertisement in Irish Examiner regarding new Procurement Directives	Media Vest	€835
	Consultation Process Advertisement in the Irish Times regarding new Procurement Directives	Media Vest	€1,280
	Consultation Process Advertisement in the Irish Independent regarding new Procurement Directives	Media Vest	€1,484
	Statutory requirement for Advertisement in ‘Seachtain’ seeking comments from the public on proposed Department’s Irish Language Scheme	Media Vest	€344
	Public Consultation on Civil Service Accountability	Media Vest	€6,715
	Consultation on Data Sharing	Media Vest	€2,786
	Institute of Public Administration - Promote Education Courses, country wide. Promote Training courses. Promote new books, promote Administration Yearbook & Diary, promote conferences, seminars.	Irish Times Bradan Publishing Independent Free papers Regional Papers Dart & Bus Advertising Magazine Advertising Online Advertising Radio Advertising both national and regional	€63,370
	State Laboratory – Advertising in Golden Pages	FCR Media	€4,236
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Mediavest	€17,337
	Advertising Services for Office of the Ombudsman	FCR Media Ltd	€14,063
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Exhibition to Over 50s	S&L Promotions	€2,952
	Office of the Ombudsman - Cork Adult Education & Training Exhibition	Cork Adult Education & Training	€230
		Total	€126,329
2015	Notice regarding ClareGalway Flood Relief Scheme	Iris Oifigiuil	€42
	Notice regarding ClareGalway Flood Relief Scheme	Galway Advertiser	€354
	Notice regarding ClareGalway Flood Relief Scheme	Tuam Herald	€167
	Advertisements for expressions of interest for appointments to a panel of appeal officers to review certain decisions made by the Standards in Public Office Commission in relation to the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. Appeals to be conducted through Irish.	Media Vest	€4,663
	Public Consultation process for Corporate Governance Code	Media Vest	€5,037
	Public Consultation on Commissioning in Human, Social and Community Services	Newspaper advertising	€6,855
	Open competition for an Actuary post in the Department	Newspaper advertising & advertising with the Society of Actuaries in Ireland	€2,460
	Flyer design	Fiona Kearns	€580
	Flyer design	Fiona Kearns	€480
	Recruitment Advertising for four individual posts	Mediavest	€12,509
	Recruitment Advertising	Mazars	€177
	Golden Pages entry on Government section	FCR Media	€1,765
	Institute of Public Administration - Promote Education Courses, country wide. Promote Training courses. Promote new books, promote Administration Yearbook & Diary, promote conferences, seminars.	Irish Times Bradan Publishing Independent Free papers Regional Papers Dart & Bus Advertising Magazine Advertising Online Advertising Radio Advertising both national and regional	€50,064
	State Laboratory – Advertising in Golden Pages	FCR Media	€4,236
	State Laboratory – IPA Yearbook 2015 and 2016	IPA	€394
	State Laboratory – Advertising for Laboratory Assistant	Leinster Leader	€246
	State Laboratory – Classified Advertising for Laboratory Assistant	Liffey Champion	€111
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Mediavest	€18,514
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising of Regional Visits, etc.	Highland Radio	€701
	Advertising Services for Office of the Ombudsman	FCR Media Ltd	€14,063
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Marketing Services	Chemistry	€2,460
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Exhibition to Over 50s	S&L Promotions	€2,952
	Office of the Ombudsman - Cork Adult Education & Training Exhibition	Cork Adult Education & Training	€230
		Total	€129,060
2016	Notice regarding Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme	Galway Advertiser	€480
	Notice regarding Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme	Southern Star	€177
	Notice regarding Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme	Iris Oifigiuil	€31
	Notice regarding Bandon Flood Relief Scheme	Irish Examiner	€482
	Notice regarding Bandon Flood Relief Scheme	Southern Star	€133
	Notice regarding Bandon Flood Relief Scheme	Iris Oifigiuil	€31
	Consultation on the first review of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015	Media Vest	€3,548
	State Laboratory - Golden Pages entry on Government section	FCR Media	€2,015
	Institute of Public Administration - Promote Education Courses, country wide. Promote Training courses. Promote new books, promote Administration Yearbook & Diary, promote conferences, seminars.	Irish Times Bradan Publishing Independent Free papers Regional Papers Dart & Bus Advertising Magazine Advertising Online Advertising Radio Advertising both national and regional	€40,516
	State Laboratory – IPA Yearbook 2017	IPA	€197
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Mediavest	€19,653
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Exhibition to Over 50s	S&L Promotions	€2,460
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Marketing Services	Chemistry	€53,922
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising and Marketing Services	Carat Ltd	€49,899
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising Services	FCR Media Ltd	€11,174
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising of Regional Visits, etc.	Radio Kerry	€562
	Office of the Ombudsman - Cork Adult Education & Training Exhibition	Cork Adult Education & Training	€230
	Open Government Partnership – National Action Plan 2	Mediavest	€5,512
		Total	€191,022
2017	State Laboratory - Golden Pages entry on Government section	FCR Media	€2,015
	Institute of Public Administration - Promote Education Courses, country wide. Promote Training courses. Promote new books, promote Administration Yearbook & Diary, promote conferences, seminars.	Irish Times Bradan Publishing Independent Free papers Regional Papers Dart & Bus Advertising Magazine Advertising Online Advertising Radio Advertising both national and regional	€12,941
	Office of the Ombudsman – Advertising CIC and Regional Visits, etc.	Mediavest	€3,506
		Total	€18,462

*A significant proportion of advertising by the Public Appointments Service relates to specific roles and is claimed back from client organisations, so is not included in the above table.

Communications Advice

Date	Website details	Supplier	Expenditure
2012	Public Appointments Service - Publicity advice around senior level and other recruitment campaigns	Wilson Hartnell	€3,690
		Total	€3,690
2013	Public Appointments Service - Publicity advice around senior level and other recruitment campaigns	Wilson Hartnell	€19,022
		Total	€19,022
2014	Public Appointments Service - Publicity advice around senior level and other recruitment campaigns	Wilson Hartnell	€887
		Total	€887
2015	National Lottery Regulator - Communications consulting for launch of Regulator	PMS Consulting	€4,800
	National Lottery Regulator - Communications consulting for four individual positions	The Communications Clinic	€14,760
	OMB – Media and Marketing work on Regulation of Lobbying	Murray Consultants	€23,559
		Total	€61,581
2016	National Lottery Regulator - Communications consulting for four individual positions	The Communications Clinic	€29,520
	Office of the Ombudsman – Media and Marketing work on Regulation of Lobbying	Murray Consultants	€2,000
	Office of the Ombudsman – Regulation of Lobbying educational videos	Aurion Ltd	€9,087
	Open Government Partnership – National Action Plan 2	CiviQ	€1,000
		Total	€41,607
2017	National Lottery Regulator - Communications consulting for four individual positions	The Communications Clinic	€12,300
		Total	€12,300

Public Relations

Date	Website details	Supplier	Expenditure
2013	Institute of Public Administration - Promotion of National Conference, conferences, seminars, Administration Yearbook & Diary	Q4 Public Relations	€2,620
		Total	€2,620
2014	Institute of Public Administration - Promotion of National Conference, conferences, seminars, Administration Yearbook & Diary	Q4 Public Relations	€5,984
		Total	€5,984
2015	Institute of Public Administration - Promotion of National Conference, conferences, seminars, Administration Yearbook, Diary & Directory 2015	Q4 Public Relations	€4,194
	Public Appointments Service – Promotion campaigns for stateboards.ie	Q4 Public Relations	€29,530
		Total	€33,724
2016	Institute of Public Administration - Promotion of National Conference, conferences, seminars, Administration Yearbook, Diary & Directory 2016	Q4 Public Relations	€4,502
		Total	€4,502
2017	Public Appointments Service - Promotion campaigns for stateboards.ie	Q4 Public Relations	€7,380
		Total	€7,380

Website Development

Date	Website details	Supplier	Expenditure
2012	Office of the Ombudsman - Website design and support services	Parallel Internet Ltd	€54,796
		Total	€54,796
2013	Budget.gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€5,685
	Circulars.gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€5,164
	CMO.gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€7,749
	Databank.gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€2,585
	Gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€12,912
	OGCIO.ie	Harvey Nash	€9,813
	PER.gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€16,012
	Office of the Ombudsman - Website design and support services	Parallel Internet Ltd	€28,965
		Total	€88,885
2014	SPS.gov.ie	Harvey Nash	€4,981
	Design of website for Freedom of Information	Egg Design	€5,781
	RFT provision for initial development cost which forms a part of expert support for Ireland's Open Data Initative, other expert support	NUI Galway	€19,188
	eTenders.gov.ie	EUS Holdings	€41,189
	Website development procurement.ie	Iterate	€3,776
	National Open Data Portal development	NUI Galway	€9,365
	Office of the Ombudsman - Website design and support services	Parallel Internet Ltd	€3,876
	Office of the Ombudsman - Regulation of Lobbying website development	Dovetail Technologies	€21,955
		Total	€110,111
2015	HTML Development	Jet Design	€677
	Website development eTenders.gov.ie	EUS Holdings	€57,396
	Website development procurement.ie	Iterate	€4,428
	National Lottery Regulator - Website Development	Word Press	€112
	National Open Data Portal development	Consortium to include Deirilinx, Fujitsu & Insight Centre for Data Analytics, NUI Galway	€16,948
	Office of the Ombudsman - Website design and support services	Parallel Internet Ltd	€13,649
	Office of the Ombudsman - Regulation of Lobbying website development	Dovetail Technologies	€128,231
		Total	€221,441
2016	Redevelopment of the Senior Public Service website (sps.gov.ie)	Arekibo Communications Ltd.	€2,706
	Whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie	Arekibo Communications Ltd.	€5,006
	Website development eTenders.gov.ie	EUS Holdings	€474,322
	Website development procurement.ie	Iterate	€18,539
	Design for national information website for the European Structural and Investment Funds	Arekibo Communications Ltd.	€4,400
	National Lottery Regulator - Website Development	Word Press	€112

Garda Station Refurbishment

Questions (198)

Tom Neville

Question:

198. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 31 May 2017, the timeframe in relation to refurbishment works; when the design team will be appointed; and when the works will be carried out and construction works begin. [32799/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran)

The refurbishment of Newcastlewest Garda Station is included in the Garda Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 and is currently being progressed by this Office. OPW has received a brief of requirements from An Garda Síochána and a feasibility study has been carried out. OPW architectural and quantity surveying services have been assigned to advance the procurement and appointment of other design team members and to progress the full design of this project. Following the necessary planning and tender procurement processes, it is envisaged that the construction works will take approximately 18 months.

Fiscal Data

Questions (199)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

199. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount accounted for by demographic pressures in precommitted spending and in carryover by Department and budget line for 2018 in terms of the fiscal space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33100/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Expenditure Report 2017 set out costs of €0.3 billion for 2018 in relation to demographics net of estimated savings of €0.15 billion in Live Register related expenditure arising from continued improvement in employment. The costs relating to demographic developments arise in the Departments of Health, Social Protection and Education. The Deputy may wish to note that the savings currently projected arising from expected improvements in the Live Register will be re-estimated during the Budget Estimates process taking account of the employment situation and projections in relation to unemployment at that time. There is also an expenditure increase of €40 million included for the Department of Agriculture and Food in relation to the Rural Development Programme. A cost of €0.3bn arising from the Lansdowne Road Agreement was also outlined in Expenditure Report 2017 and will be allocated to individual Departments as part of the Budget 2018 Estimates process. In Table A.7 in the Budget 2017 book, published by the Department of Finance, these expenditure amounts were included in the total of pre-committed expenditure deducted from the gross fiscal space when arriving at the estimated net fiscal space. In addition, the fiscal space impact of the increase of €0.3 billion in voted capital expenditure built into the Public Capital Plan is also reflected in the pre-committed expenditure.

The carryover impact of Budget 2017 current expenditure measures was also estimated and outlined in Expenditure Report 2017. This totals almost €0.5bn across Social Protection, Education, Health, Housing and Children and Youth Affairs. As these estimates relate to measures being implemented in 2017, they will be impacted by the actual cost and timing of implementation and consequently the estimated costs will be reassessed as part of the 2018 Budget Estimates process. As outlined in Expenditure Report 2017, these costs would need to be met from the available fiscal space in the absence of any reprioritisation of expenditure identified during the Spending Review process.

The Deputy will be aware that, as noted in the Expenditure Report 2017, under the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government has committed to a 2018 capital ceiling of €1,113 million for the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government, an increase of €325 million on the capital ceiling for 2018 published in the Expenditure Report.

€ million	Carryover Impact of Budget 2017 Current Measures	Demographics and Other Current Expenditure Measures	Capital Expenditure
Agriculture, Food & the Marine		40
Children & Youth Affairs	64
Education & Skills	98	57
Health	97	118
Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government *	44		325
Social Protection	170	83
Lansdowne Road Agreement		317
Total	473	615	325

* This amount is net of an assumed transfer from the Department of Social Protection that will be reflected in the Social Protection Vote.

Last month, the Government approved the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 to 2020. The agreement is now subject to ratification by the membership of the Public Service Unions and Staff Associations. If the agreement is ratified there is a cost of €0.9 billion to be met over the next three years, with €0.18 billion to be met in 2018.

Special Educational Needs Data

Questions (200)

Sean Fleming

Question:

200. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of units at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33059/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.

Approx. 18,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. My Department invests over €300m annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:

- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools

- 26% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and

- 11% to attend special schools.

Enrolment in an ASD special class should only be considered where it has been demonstrated that a student requires the support of a special class because he/she is unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports.

Students enrolling in ASD Special Classes must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals (for example, psychologist, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) stating that:

- S/he has ASD

- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.

The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.

While it is not always possible to ensure that a special class placement will be available in the child’s local school, the NCSE has informed my Department that, in general, they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand.

Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 100% from 548 in 2011 to 1,152 across the country now, of which 887 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.

The NCSE intends to establish an additional 145 ASD Special Classes for the 2017/18 school year increasing the number of ASD Special Classes to 1,032.

With regard to Co. Laois, the NCSE will establish 2 additional ASD Special Classes for the 2017/18 school year bringing the number of classes available in Co. Laois to 19, of which, 16 are Primary ASD Special classes and 3 are Post Primary ASD Special classes. Of these, 5 Primary ASD Special classes and 1 Post Primary ASD Special class are in schools in the Portlaoise area.

The NCSE has informed my Department that they are satisfied that there will be sufficient special class placements available to meet demand in the Portlaoise area for the forthcoming school year.

My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

During the passage of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill in the Select Committee last week I indicated that I intend, at Report Stage, to include in this Bill a provision that will provide, based on reports and advice from the NCSE, the Minister will have the power to require a school to open a special class or increase the number of special classes in schools identified by the NCSE. Because this power will require a school to provide land or alter existing property I am of the view that the power should be with the Minister who can engage the patron or trustees and that there should be adequate safeguards to ensure people’s rights are protected.

Parents/guardians of children with special needs who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) as soon as possible for information on available places. The local SENO contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (201)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

201. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite the new facility for a school (details supplied) as a priority; the starting date for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32063/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Stage 2(b) Detailed Design Report was recently submitted to my Department by the Board of Management and its Design Team. Following receipt of that submission, my Department authorised the Board of Management to instruct its Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process for the assessment of suitably qualified contractors to which the project can be tendered. This authorisation was granted by my Department in order to expedite the tender process for this project by running the pre-qualification in tandem with the finalisation of Stage 2(b). The Design Team has commenced this process and the closing date for the e-tenders advertisement was the 19th June 2017. The Design Team has informed my Department that it expects to complete its assessment of the pre-qualification submissions in the coming weeks and will then submit its report on the shortlist of contractors to my Department.

Upon completion of the review of the Stage 2(b) submission my Department will immediately revert to the school with a timeframe to proceed to tender and construction stage.

Schools Grievance Procedures

Questions (202)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

202. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's role in disputes between parents and the boards of management in schools; his plans to provide mediation supports in view of the fact that the only recourse available to parents when there is no solution to a dispute is via the courts or the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32085/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that, under the Education Act 1998, legally, all schools are managed by the school Board of Management, on behalf of the schools patrons or trustees or Education and Training Board (known as the management authority). It is the management authority that employs the school principal, teachers and other staff members. In ETB schools, the ETB is the employer.

Accordingly, whereas I provide funding and policy direction for schools, neither I nor the Department have legal powers to instruct schools to follow a particular course of direction with regards to individual complaint cases, or to investigate individual complaints except where the complaint involves a refused enrolment, expulsion or suspension, in accordance with Section 29 of the 1998 Education Act.

In dealing with parental complaints, my Department’s role is to clarify for parents how their grievances and complaints against the school can be progressed. Where a parent feels that the school’s board of management has failed to investigate or adequately investigate their complaint, they should contact the Ombudsman for Children.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Children may independently investigate complaints about schools recognised with the Department of Education and Skills, provided the parent has firstly and fully followed the school’s complaints procedures.

As the Deputy may be aware, on 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and operate a Parent and Student Charter. When enacted, every school will be required to consult with parents and students, and publish a Parent and Student Charter.

The General Scheme provides that a Parent and Student Charter will set out the service the school will provide, the standards that will be adhered to and the relationship the school will maintain with the students of the school and their parents. The General Scheme also sets out a number of broad principles on which each Charter shall be based on.

These principles include:

- 1. Consulting students and parents and encouraging their engagement and full participation in relation to school policies and plans;

- 2. Providing students and parents with information, including accountability for provision and information on school performance;

- 3. Inviting feedback, comment and observations from students and parents and developing a listening culture in the school;

- 4. Ensuring courtesy, confidentiality and equality of esteem;

- 5. Acknowledging gaps, deficiencies or room for improvement;

- 6. Positively seeking to address parent and student concerns and electively providing redress as appropriate in order to obviate as far as possible the need for a parent or student to rely on grievance and complaint processes;

- 7. Providing processes for grievance and complaint resolution, including mediation and remediation where appropriate, and

- 8. Having procedures that include accounting for the outcome of a complaint, the reasons for the outcome, and the basis on which the outcome was determined by the school.

Under the draft legislation, I will have the power, as Minister, to publish statutory guidelines that a school will be required to follow in developing its parent and student charter. These guidelines would be published after consultation with the main education partners, including bodies representing parents and students.

The Guidelines will set a national standard and will assist schools by effectively providing a template to be used by each school when preparing its charter for publication. It is expected that the charter guidelines when developed will cover in detail the following general elements of a Charter:

1. How schools will engage with students and parents, collectively and individually

2. How students and parents will be consulted and invited to participate meaningfully in matters relating to the student’s experiences in the school

3. How students and parents can be empowered by the provision of information

4. How the school will be accountable to students and parents

5. How specific Information on school performance in teaching and learning will be provided.

6. How feedback will be invited and how student and parent concerns will be identified

7. How the school will seek to be responsive and

8. How grievances and complaints will be handled.

The General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill has gone to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills for pre-legislative scrutiny. Pre-legislative scrutiny began on 7 March with officials, NGOs and certain of the education partners, followed by a session on 21 March with some more of the education partners. The Committee recently held a further session with the remaining education partners on 30 May. It is expected that the Oireachtas Committee will publish a report after the completion of the pre-legislative scrutiny process.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (203)

Joe Carey

Question:

203. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application by a school (details supplied) regarding the allocation of special needs rooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32089/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has been advised by the school referred to that it is withdrawing its application for the provision of additional accommodation for the establishment of a National Council for Special Education (NCSE) approved Early Intervention Unit (EIU).

My Department understands, however, that the school concerned are proposing to apply for accommodation to facilitate the establishment of a NSCE approved special needs class. My Department will be in further contact with the school concerned once this application is received.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (204)

Michael McGrath

Question:

204. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location a school (details supplied) in temporary accommodation in Cork city will be located to for the 2017-2018 school year; the position regarding the provision of a permanent site for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32115/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school to which the Deputy refers was established in 2016. It is currently operating from part of Nagle Community College, Mahon, Blackrock, Co. Cork. An extension of this arrangement was recently agreed with the school authority pending the delivery of alternative temporary accommodation which is currently being arranged by the school’s patron body.

The acquisition of a site to accommodate a permanent school building for the school to which the Deputy refers is at a very advanced stage. The school patron has been informed of the proposed location and my Department is engaging with the relevant Local Authority regarding the potential development of the site.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (205)

Michael McGrath

Question:

205. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the exceptional demand for places at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; his plans to expand the availability of primary and second level school places in Cork city and environs for children with a diagnosis of autism and complex needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32116/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools

- 26% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and

- 11% to attend special schools.

Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream. Enrolment in an ASD special class can be considered for these students where it has been demonstrated that he/she is unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports.

Others students with ASD may have such complex needs that they are best placed in a special school.

The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

The NCSE has informed my Department that there is an identified need for additional special school placements in the Cork area for the forthcoming school year.

My Department is working with the NCSE and the relevant education partners in Cork to ensure that the required additional special school placements will be available for the forthcoming school year.