Written Answers Nos. 99-118
99. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reducing the effective pupil-teacher ratio in non-DEIS schools to 18:1, with a comparable reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio in DEIS schools and no change to the staffing of fee charging schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40880/17]
View answerBudget 2017 represents the start of a major reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade. The budget provided for over 2,400 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools in the 2017/18 school year.
It is my intention to make further improvements to class sizes over the life of the Government. However, I recognise that there are needs across the system which have to be balanced in the decisions made in each Budget.
The pupil teacher ratio in all Free Scheme post primary schools is 19:1 in the 2017/2018 school year. Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio in these schools is estimated to cost in the region of €60m per annum.
100. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of increasing primary and post-primary school capitation rates by €10 per child; the overall cost of a 5% increase to capitation rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40881/17]
View answerThe estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation by €10 per pupil in primary schools is circa €5.9m.
The estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation by €10 per pupil in post-primary schools is circa €3.7m.
The estimated overall cost of a 5% increase to capitation rates in primary and post-primary schools is circa €10m.
The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation funding as resources permit.
The process is underway for restoring grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016 and €5 in 2017 in order to enable primary schools implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.
101. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of increasing, with effect from September 2018, the substitution provided to primary schools with teaching principals sufficient to ensure that all teaching principals can avail of one full day of administrative duties each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40882/17]
View answerCircular 12/2016, which is available on the Department website, outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal. Under the current arrangements the number of days that principal teachers may take as release time in each school year ranges between 15 and 25 days depending on the size of the school.
The additional cost of substitution for one day per week for all teaching principals would be in the region of €12m per year.
Any further enhancements to the Principal Release Time Scheme, will have to be considered in the context of the budgetary process.
102. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reinstating postgraduate student grants in September 2018; the projected full year cost on the basis of the previous system that was in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40883/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to increase financial supports for postgraduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households.
In response to this commitment, I secured additional funding of €4 million in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for the most disadvantaged post graduate students.
This will benefit approximately 1,100 of the most disadvantaged postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant, from September 2017, and it reverses the budgetary cut that was imposed on this cohort of students in 2012.
However, if the maintenance grants and eligibility for full fees were reintroduced for postgraduate students, the total estimated cost would be approximately €44m. This excludes the above 2017 budget measure.
This costing assumes that the actual number of post graduate grant holders (2,141 in 2016/17) will increase to the level prior to the introduction of 2012 Budget measure (6,027 students).
103. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reducing the student contribution rate by €250, €500 or €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40884/17]
View answerBased on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2015/16, and taking into account overall expected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my Department of reducing the Student Contribution by €250 would be €18.4m; by €500 would cost €36.8m and by €1,000 would cost €73.6m.
These figures take into account the resulting reduction to my Department's Student Grant Scheme budget.
While the student contribution now stands at €3,000, it is important to recognise that the state pays this contribution (or part of it) on behalf of almost 50% of undergraduate students. Tax relief provisions are also available so that second and subsequent siblings do not have to bear the full cost. In addition, higher education institutions have provisions in place to allow students to pay the contribution in two moieties.
It should be noted that the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in 2016, outlined the need for an increase in investment in higher education across current, capital and student support budgets including a recommendation for an increase of €1 billion in core funding for higher education institutions by 2030.
The Report is currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas committee for Education and Skills and I look forward to receiving their recommendations which will assist in facilitating informed decision-making and the building, where possible, of a consensus approach for the future direction of funding for higher education. Accordingly, no policy decisions are being taken in this area pending the outcome of examination of the Cassells report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills.
The Government is committed to providing a more sustainable funding model for higher education, as evidenced by the fact that Budget 2017 provided the first increase in investment in higher education since 2009, involving €36.5 million extra funding in 2017 and €160 million extra over 3 years. In addition the Government is exploring the possibility of an employer-Exchequer funding mechanism which could realise up to €200 million in additional annual funding by 2020.
104. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of decreasing the non-adjacent rate of third level grants from 45 to 24 kilometres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40885/17]
View answerThe cost of reversing the change to the adjacent rate of the Student Grant, reducing it from 45 kilometres to 24 kilometres; is estimated to be in the region of €25m. This calculation is based on student grant holders for the academic year 2016/17.
Prior to the introduction of the 45 km rule, circa three-quarters of all maintenance grant holders qualified for the higher non-adjacent grant support. The above costing assumes that a change to the 24 km rule will result in a similar number of students qualifying for the higher non-adjacent grant support.
105. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concept of streamlining; if there is such a concept in the provision and allocation of special needs assistants; and the meaning of same in terms of the provision of special needs assistants. [40894/17]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the concept of streamlining in relation to the provision of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support has not been drawn to my attention heretofore.
My Department’s policy is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided, unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or in the interests of the children with whom they are to be educated, as is provided for under Section 2 of the Education of Persons with Special Needs Act 2004. Some children may be supported in a special class attached to a mainstream school. These students have the option, where appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils. Other children may have such complex needs that they are best placed in a special school.
My Department, therefore, provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
My Department's SNA scheme is designed to provide recognised schools with additional adult support staff to cater for the care needs of pupils with disabilities in an educational context, where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require adult assistance in order to be able to attend school and to participate in education and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE which is an independent statutory body) of which, its functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required, including Special Need Assistance support as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support as set out in accordance with Circular 30 of 2014.
Responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports and resources to be allocated to schools to support individual pupils rests with the NCSE. In making allocations to schools, the NCSE takes into account the assessed individual needs of all children with identified needs in the school. It should be noted that SNA allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs in the school.
An additional 975 SNA posts have been made available for allocation to schools from September 2017 which is a 7.5% increase to meet the demands for the new school year. A total of 13,990 SNA posts are now available at a gross annual cost of €458 million. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify for SNA support can continue to receive access to such support. In total, the number of SNAs available has increased by over 32% since 2011, when 10,575 posts were available.
Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools have been published by the NCSE on their website at www.ncse.ie.
The organisation of supports within schools is a matter for each individual school to manage, taking into account each child's individual needs. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the supports, including SNA support, is utilised.
Parents who have concerns regarding the manner in which the supports which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school should, in the first instance, raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.
106. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he proposes to implement to honour the commitments in the programme for a partnership Government regarding a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio in junior and senior infants, the annual increases in capitation rates and the reduction in primary school class sizes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40989/17]
View answerBudget 2017 set out the resources available for schools in the 2017/18 school year. The budget provides for over 2,400 additional teaching posts for our primary and post-primary schools in the current school year.
Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by 1 point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal crisis. The staffing schedule for post primary will be 19:1 for the 2017/18 school year.
The Action Plan for Education outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation funding as resources permit.
The process is underway for restoring grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6m in 2016 and €5m in 2017 in order to enable primary schools implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.
The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level and it is my intention to make further improvements to class sizes over the life of the Government.
However, I recognise that there are needs across the system which have to be balanced in the decisions made in each Budget.
107. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give consideration to issues identified as a priority for budget 2018 by a trade union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40990/17]
View answerDecisions in relation to Budget 2018 will be taken as part of the estimates process and will be announced on Budget day.
The 2017/18 school year brings a significant increase of over 5,000 in teacher numbers in our schools compared to the 2015/16 school year.
While I am aware of the issues outlined, there are needs across the system which have to be balanced in the decisions made in each Budget.
108. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to develop positive economic relations with Taiwan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40876/17]
View answer111. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has given consideration to reopening a trade office in Taiwan. [40873/17]
View answer112. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to develop positive trading relations with Taiwan. [40874/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 111 and 112 together.
Ireland, like all EU Member States and the EU itself, adheres to the One China policy and does not recognise Taiwan as a State. As a result, Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but does engage with Taiwan on an economic and cultural basis.
Ireland enjoys a strong trading relationship with Taiwan. According to the Central Statistics Office, total bilateral trade between Ireland and Taiwan stood at €1,133 million in 2015, the latest year for which full trading statistics are available.
The scale and configuration of the State’s mission network in promoting Ireland’s interests and values in a fast-changing world is under continual review by my Department and by the Government. The ambition set by the Taoiseach to double our global footprint by 2025 responds to the scale and complexity of challenges that we face as a country in the years ahead. Following the Taoiseach’s announcement, my Department has begun to examine options to expand our footprint and influence internationally in consultation with other Departments and agencies.
Enterprise Ireland services Taiwan from its office in Hong Kong while IDA’s ASEAN office in Singapore currently covers Taiwan with regard to the potential for inward Foreign Direct Investment. Market intelligence in relation to Taiwan indicates that the current footprint is appropriate.
109. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Ministers of State attached to his Department; the responsibilities of each; if designated powers have been signed by him and assigned to the relevant Ministers of State; the date on which each designation was signed; the reason in circumstances in which no such designation has been made, this has not occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40800/17]
View answerThere are two Ministers of State at my Department, Ciarán Cannon T.D. and Helen McEntee, T.D. Minister Cannon was appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for the Diaspora and International Development at my Department on 15 June 2017. Minister McEntee was appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs at my Department on 20 June 2017.
The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977 provides for the delegation of statutory Ministerial powers and duties to Ministers of State. This may be done at the request of the Minister concerned, by Government Order. My statutory powers as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade relate to consular, passport and other technical matters and it is not the practice, nor is it considered necessary, to delegate these functions.
110. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a decision has been reached on the legal status of a person (details supplied) in view of the conclusions of the legal proceedings surrounding subsidiary protection residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40846/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the legal status of any non-national in the State is a matter for the Irish immigration authorities which comes under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. Clarification is being sought from the Department of Justice and Equality on whether residence under Subsidiary Protection could be reckoned for the purposes of Section 6A of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act (as amended) and how such residence should be calculated.
The Passport Service remains in close contact with the Department of Justice and Equality and the Office of the Attorney General for a final position on the matter.
113. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the deportation from Israel on 9 September 2017 of four persons (details supplied). [40877/17]
View answerI am aware of the deportation of these four persons. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was notified immediately by one of the persons, and we have since received letters from each of them about this incident.
The leader of the group has led study groups to the West Bank for over ten years, a total of 17 tour groups involving over 400 people. These groups met a range of Israeli and Palestinian NGOs and other interlocutors, and studied issues on the ground relating to the occupation of the West Bank. She had as usual advised the Department in advance of the dates and itinerary of the tour, so that our missions would be aware of a large group of citizens touring the area.
No detailed reason for refusing admission to Israel was given to them, other than a generic explanation that it was for immigration reasons, and in the case of the leader also because of unspecified ‘public security, public safety or public order’ considerations. Thirty-three of the group entered Israel, but four were deported.
No report or allegation has ever been made to the Department of Foreign Affairs of any concerns about the activities of these study groups. The group leader has also stated that she has never taken part in any demonstration in Palestine, nor have any of her groups’ programmes included attendance at a demonstration.
The Ambassador in Tel Aviv has already called to the Israeli Foreign Ministry and requested an explanation for this action. We are awaiting a response. I will ensure that the Deputy, and the persons concerned, are notified when we hear more.
114. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association last met. [40676/17]
View answerThe operation of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association is a matter, in this jurisdiction, for the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The establishment of a North South parliamentary forum was envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement. Following an agreement by working groups of both the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 4 July 2012, the inaugural plenary session of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association was held in the Seanad Chamber on 12 October 2012. The most recent plenary session of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association took place on 2 December 2016 in Belfast.
At present, the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association is unable to meet and this will remain the case until the Northern Ireland Assembly is fully reconvened.
I am continuing to work with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and each of the political parties to support an agreement as soon as possible, on the formation of a new power-sharing Executive within the mandate of the current Assembly.
The Government is determined, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to do everything in our power to ensure that all of its institutions can operate fully and effectively.
115. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Ministers of State attached to his department; the responsibilities of each; if designated powers have been signed by him and assigned to the relevant Ministers of State; the date on which each designation was signed; the reason in circumstances in which no such designation has been made, this has not occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40803/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Ministers of State are appointed by the Government, on nomination of the Taoiseach.
In accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, the Government may delegate, by way of an Order, to a Minister of State any of the powers and duties of the relevant Minister of the Government under any particular Act or any particular statutory power or duty. Such orders can be made in cases where a Minister of State would be expected to carry out statutory functions on behalf of or in addition to a Minister. However, the role and functions of Ministers of State of course often encompass broad areas of responsibility rather than being limited to those powers formally delegated under statute.
As you will appreciate the Department of Justice and Equality has a broad remit and I welcome the support provided by various colleagues who have been assigned to my Department as Ministers of State.
Earlier this year, Mr. David Stanton TD was reappointed Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration, and Integration. In July 2017, I received Government approval to delegate powers and duties to Minister of State Stanton TD. These powers and duties are set out in Statutory Instrument 351 of 2017. Minister Stanton's responsibilities include human rights and equality, matters relating to the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, reception and integration matters, various EU funding matters, and matters relating to youth justice, gambling and firearms that fall under the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality.
Mr. Finian McGrath TD also remains Minister of State attending Government and Minister of State at the Departments of Social Protection, Justice and Equality and Health with special responsibility for Disabilities. The Office of Minister of State McGrath is located in the Department of Health. I understand that certain statutory functions have been delegated to Minister McGrath by both the Minister for Health and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Mr. Pat Breen TD was appointed Minister of State at the then named Department of Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Employment and Social Protection, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection in June 2017, having served as Minister of State for Employment and Small Business from May 2016. His Office is located in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Minister Breen's responsibility within my Department is in respect of Data Protection matters. However, I will continue to lead on the legislative passage of the Data Protection Bill.
116. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that applied for asylum in each of the years 2000 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of persons that were rejected; the number of persons that left voluntarily; the number of persons awaiting a decision, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40808/17]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the figures requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Applications Received |
Refused/Rejected |
Voluntarily Returned |
|
2000 |
10,938 |
N/A[1] |
83 |
|
2001 |
10,325 |
3,891 |
109 |
|
2002 |
11,634 |
5,992 |
158 |
|
2003 |
7,900 |
5,313 |
260 |
|
2004 |
4,766 |
7,560 |
182 |
|
2005 |
4,323 |
5,224 |
138 |
|
2006 |
4,314 |
2,448 |
87 |
|
2007 |
3,985 |
3,425 |
77 |
|
2008 |
3,866 |
2,769 |
93 |
|
2009 |
2,689 |
4,237 |
136 |
|
2010 |
1,939 |
3,572 |
140 |
|
2011 |
1,290 |
1,686 |
145 |
|
2012 |
956 |
931 |
120 |
|
2013 |
946 |
771 |
89 |
|
2014 |
1,448 |
511 |
59 |
|
2015 |
3,276 |
885 |
30 |
|
2016 |
2,244 |
1,352 |
57 |
|
2017* |
1,675 |
30 |
33 |
*End August 2017
The figure for 2017 for Refusals/Rejected applications is expected to increase substantially for the remainder of the year as the single procedure under the International Protection Act takes effect. On 31 August 2017, there were 4,694 applications on hand with the International Protection Office. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal had 300 Appeals pending on this date.
[1] Please note that a dedicated Unit was established in INIS on 20 November 2000 following the commencement of the Refugee Act 1996 but did not issue any decisions until the following year.
Section 2 of the International Protection Act 2015 defines a refugee as “a person…who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside his or her country of nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country, or a stateless person, who, being outside of the country of former habitual residence for the same reasons as mentioned above, is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to return to it”
The Irish system for assessing applications for international protection is independent and complies fully with international standards, characterised by a high level of transparency and oversight with each application being dealt with in full compliance with due process. Persons that seek International Protection in Ireland lodge their application with the International Protection Office in the first instance. If they are not satisfied with the decision issued by that office they may appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal which is also an independent body. Refusals to grant asylum are accompanied by written reports that set out the reasons why the application has been refused. Applicants also have access to free legal aid and to the Irish Courts where they may challenge the decision made in their case by way of Judicial Review in the High Court, Supreme Court and ultimately the Court of Justice of the European Union.
117. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a Garda vetting application by a person (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40998/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will understand, the processing of vetting applications by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is an operational matter for the Garda Authorities and is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-1016 and other relevant law. My Department has no role in the processing of individual vetting applications.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a vetting application was received by the National Vetting Bureau from a registered organisation in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy on 20 September 2017. The application was processed and returned to the liaison person in the relevant organisation on 22 September 2017.
It will be necessary for the applicant to contact the registered organisation concerned to ascertain the current position.
118. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will discuss with the management of the National Museum in Collins Barracks the erection of an exhibition commemorating An Gorta Mór with a selection of relevant artefacts presently in storage, detailing the famine and consequences of it and the National Famine Commemoration Day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40530/17]
View answerAs Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. In carrying out these functions, my main focus is to ensure that the victims of the Irish Famine are respectfully and appropriately remembered and also to raise awareness of current food security issues worldwide. This year’s National Famine Commemoration will take place on Saturday 30 September next at the Ballingarry Warhouse 1848 in County Tipperary.
Decisions in relation to the curation and presentation of exhibitions at its various locations permanent, are a matter for the National Museum. I would also remind the Deputy that there are many local museums and other entities around the country that display material relating to this period in our nation's history, such as the very significant Irish National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park, County Roscommon.
