Friday, 7 Sep 2018

Written Answers Nos. 230-244

Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme

Questions (230)

Eugene Murphy

Question:

230. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the minor works flood scheme review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36893/18]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As previously advised the review of the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was completed in June 2017.

All Local Authorities were notified of the revised criteria, which are effective for applications received after 1 June 2017. The revised criteria are available on www.opw.ie.

Question No. 231 answered with Question No. 223.

Questions Nos. 232 and 233 answered with Question No. 208.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (234)

James Lawless

Question:

234. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport for a person (details supplied) will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36244/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remotely from their nearest school.

In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question commenced on school transport on 03 September 2018.

The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (235)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

235. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the situation regarding SNAs as outlined in corrrespondence in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35670/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible 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 Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the 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.  

In considering applications for SNA support for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.

SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.

My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support. 

By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011.

The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.

Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.

Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.  The closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.

As this question relates to a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.

School Management

Questions (236)

Joan Burton

Question:

236. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a selection process has commenced for the appointment of a principal of a school (details supplied); if a principal has been appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35434/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Department approval is given for the appointment of a Principal to all new schools from 1 September of the school year prior to the opening of a new school. 

The recruitment and appointment of a Principal is a matter for the individual school authority. 

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (237)

Joan Burton

Question:

237. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a design team has been appointed for the refurbishment and extension of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35435/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the project brief for the school in question has been finalised and furnished to the Patron who I understand has provided details directly to the school. The project will include the construction of additional classrooms and ancillary accommodation.

My Department will be in further contact with the school authority relating to the commencement of the architectural planning process which will include the appointment of a design team.

Public Private Partnerships

Questions (238)

David Cullinane

Question:

238. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the liquidation of a company (details supplied); the effect this has had on small businesses in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35450/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The company referred to by the Deputy entered examinership in April 2018 and was subsequently liquidated on 5 June 2018.

  The Department of Education and Skills has been made aware of payment difficulties faced by a number of sub-contractors which had been engaged by the company under reference in respect of the Schools Bundle 5 PPP project and other non-PPP school projects.

This situation is very regrettable.  However, it must be emphasised that the Department of Education and Skills is not, and was not, party to any contract with these sub-contractors.  Their contractual relationship was with the company which is now in liquidation.

In the case of the Schools Bundle 5 PPP project, a replacement contractor has now been appointed by the PPP company.  Sub-contractors of the company under reference have been encouraged, where possible, to avail of the opportunity presented to actively engage with the replacement contractor, in order to agree commercial terms for their re-engagement at the relevant school sites.

It is recognised that there have been wider problems in the construction industry with regard to non-payment of sub-contractors by main contractors for work undertaken.  This is clearly unacceptable.  The Construction Contracts Act was enacted in 2013 to address poor payment practices in the industry and applies to construction contracts entered into after 25 July 2016. 

In order for the Construction Contracts Act to be effective, it is essential that sub-contractors fully exercise their rights under the legislation and access the remedies available.  While the Act does not cut across the rules for company insolvency proceedings, the magnitude of the exposure that many sub-contractors currently face upon the insolvency of a contractor would not arise if the provision for payments were insisted upon and the remedies available were exercised when payment was not forthcoming.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (239)

Joan Burton

Question:

239. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a design team will be appointed for the construction of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35483/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).  My Department gave approval to the ETB in June 2018 to proceed to appoint a Design Team for this project. It is a matter for the ETB to progress this appointment. That process is currently underway.

Schools Building Contractors

Questions (240)

Joan Burton

Question:

240. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of contractors that expressed an interest in tendering for the completion of a campus (details supplied) by the closing date of 23 July 2018; if it is still his plan to invite actual tenders for the contract on 4 September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35484/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

KWETB received eight expressions of interest for the completion of the project to which the Deputy refers within the timeframe set for receipt of same. These expressions of interest will now inform the pre-qualification process that is underway.  The project remains on target to issue tender documents to the relevant contractors on 8th November which is the date that had been identified in the agreed programme for completion of these projects.

Schools Building Contractors

Questions (241)

Joan Burton

Question:

241. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the preferred contractor for a school (details supplied) has responded to the letter of intent issued on 29 June 2018; if the letter of acceptance has issued; when construction will commence on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35485/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school building project to which the Deputy refers is currently at construction stage.  The Letter of Acceptance issued on Friday 17th August 2018 which commenced the school building contract.  The contractor appointed is MEIC Limited.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (242)

Joan Burton

Question:

242. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received the pre-qualification report from the design team in relation to a school (details supplied); when the preferred tenderer will be chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35486/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.  

This project was authorised to commence the Pre-Qualification of Contractors in April 2018.  

The Design Team submitted a draft pre-qualification report on 25th July 2018 and the Department reverted with feedback on 13th August.  The Design Team is currently in the process of addressing the Department's comments and will submit a revised draft pre-qualification report as soon as this exercise is complete.    

When pre-qualification is complete and the design team's NZEB submission has been considered, this project will then be progressed to tender stage.  A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.  

In February 2018 my Department issued a letter to the school and its Design Team outlining the projected timeframe for the progression of this project to tender stage and construction and the steps involved.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (243)

Joan Burton

Question:

243. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received the pre-qualification report from the design team in relation to a school (details supplied); when a preferred tenderer will be chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35487/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (ETB).

The pre-qualification report from the Design Team is due to be completed and submitted to the ETB in mid October 2018.  It is not possible to say at this stage when the preferred tenderer will be chosen.

Schools Administration

Questions (244)

Joan Burton

Question:

244. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on an application by a school (details supplied) to become co-educational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35488/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the Patron of the school in question for a change of status.

The application is being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the Patron as part of this process.