Written Answers Nos. 270-287
270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which extra teachers have been deployed at primary and second level throughout County Kildare in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42502/18]
View answer271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which extra teachers have been deployed at primary and second level throughout the country in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42503/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are published on the Department website.
Budget 2018 provided for a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to the most favourable ever seen at primary level. This measure came into effect in the current school year.
The 2018/19 school year saw an increase of over 6000 teaching posts in our schools compared to the 2015/16 school year.
Budget 2019 marks the third year of a major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, our plan to make Ireland’s education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.
Budget 2019 will see numbers employed in our schools reach the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools will be funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes.
272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on the provision of a Gaelcholáiste in north County Kildare; the extent to which plans are proceeding as expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42504/18]
View answerMaynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established.
As part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015 and in view of the continued support for an independent Gaelcholáiste, it was confirmed that a Gaelcholáiste to serve the North Kildare area will open in 2019, subject to the continued viability of the Irish-medium Aonad at Maynooth Community College.
KWETB and An Foras Pátrúnachta are working through the practical arrangements to facilitate the establishment of the Gaelcholáiste and my Department will continue to work closely with them in this regard.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to improve the career guidance service throughout second level education; if he anticipates an improvement in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42506/18]
View answerThe National Skills Strategy 2025 and the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 provide for a Career Guidance Review that would include recommendations on changes to improve the existing career guidance tools and career information for post-primary/further education/higher education students and adults, currently in place across the education and training system in Ireland. The independent review which began earlier this year will be completed shortly and I look forward to seeing the findings and recommendations in the final report on the review.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which speech and language therapy continues to be available to pupils with a specific requirement in north County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42507/18]
View answerSpeech and Language Therapy Services are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health, and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Questions in relation to the provision of speech and language therapy services should therefore be referred to the Department of Health and the HSE.
The Deputy will be aware, however, that I recently announced that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services will be introduced for the 2018/19 school year.
The project will be managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education.
The model has been developed by the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive, and is part of the Government’s overall aim to help every child to fulfil their full potential.
The purpose of the project is to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports that allows for early intervention in terms of providing speech and language and occupational therapy within ‘educational settings’. This innovative pilot will complement existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.
The project is taking place in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 Region of South West Dublin, Kildare, and West Wicklow.
This region has been selected to ensure that the pre-school and in-school therapy model can be tested in both urban and rural locations and with a suitable mix of various types of schools and pre-schools.
75 schools, including a representative sample of primary, post primary, and special schools, will take part in the project.
75 Pre-school settings associated with primary schools participating in the project are being included in order to provide for therapy interventions to be made at the earliest possible time and to create linkages between pre-school and primary school provision.
In total therefore 150 settings will participate in the demonstration project.
The list of the participating schools and pre-schools, including those in Kildare, has now been published on my Departments website.
Children who require speech and language therapy services and who are not attending one of the pilot schools will continue to access services from the Health Service Executive.
Children who are attending pilot schools and who receive therapy supports from the HSE will also continue to access such services. The in-school therapy model is desigined to supplement, not to replace existing services.
The model will be that of inter professional collaboration with therapists and school staff working together to identify needs, plan interventions, and monitor progress and supporting school staff and parents to deliver indirect interventions, on a supervised basis.
It will be designed to provide for a clinical Speech and Language Therapy service delivery model of Specialist, Targeted and universal supports in line with best practice for pupils which will see them receiving supports along a continuum of provision depending on the extent or severity of needs of the child/pupil.
Considerations in relation to the extension of the service to other areas or Counties, or to extend the service nationally, will be taken following an evaluation of the existing informed pilot phase.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which third level education requires ongoing assessment and updating in line with best practice internationally in order to ensure the ability of graduates to compete internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42508/18]
View answerThird level education is constantly evolving in accordance with emerging best practices and national priorities to ensure that graduates, and the institutions themselves, are best placed to meet the needs and demands of the global marketplace. The Higher Education System Performance Framework articulates the expectations from the system across all areas of activity and from across Government. The HEA engages with HEIs on their performance against these domains through a process of strategic dialogue and through the use of performance funding. The new Framework covers the period 2018 - 2020. The promotion of ‘excellence in teaching and learning to underpin a high-quality student experience’ is one of the 7 ‘key system objectives’ in the System Performance Framework, and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning supports the implementation of best international practice ensuring that opportunities for better practice are identified, mainstreamed and shared under the guidance of the Higher Education Authority and sectoral representative bodies.
Quality assurance procedures are in place within HEIs in accordance with Guidelines as set out by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). An Annual Institutional Quality Assurance Report is submitted to QQI which outlines the institution's cycle of internal reviews along with links to published review reports. These internal reviews comprise of any or all of regular periodic reviews of study programmes; quality reviews of academic, administrative and service departments; unit-based reviews of schools, faculties and colleges; and thematic reviews of institution-wide issues. QQI has also established a Policy for the Cyclical Review of Higher Education Institutions, which takes place on a periodic scheduled basis.
Ireland is in the top 5 positions in Europe in terms of participation and in the top 10 positions in terms of educational attainment. The participation rate of 18-20 year olds in higher education has grown from 20% in 1980 to a current level of 58%. Ireland has one of the highest rates of 30-34 year olds with higher education attainment in the OECD with over half of 25-34 year olds having completed higher education.
Budget 2019 continues the Government’s process of reinvestment in Higher Education, building on the progress made in Budgets 2017 & 2018. Budgets 2018 & 2019 have made provision for 5,600 additional Higher education student places. The Government has secured a total package which provides for €57.4 million of additional expenditure in Higher Education in 2019. As part of Budget 2019, the Government committed to increasing the National Training Fund levy by a further 0.1% in 2019 to 0.9%, and by a further 0.1% in 2020. Additionally a new Human Capital Initiative has been announced as part of budget 2019. This will involve investment of €300m over the 5 year period 2020-2024, with €60m being made available in each of those years. This investment will be funded by the NTF surplus. There is also a significant ramping up of Government investment on the capital side of the higher education sector and over a 10 year period, investment of some €2.2 billion is envisaged. To complement and underpin the additional investment in Higher Education a number of strategic reforms measures are also being undertaken by my Department.
Technological universities will provide an opportunity to drive regional development and provide more opportunities for students, staff, enterprise and local and regional communities. They will have a significant reach, impact and influence regionally, nationally and internationally. Ireland has a strong track record, too, in research and innovation, and Irish researchers have been very successful under Horizon 2020’s highly competitive international funding stream.
Ireland is 11th in global scientific ranking for overall quality of scientific research. This is an impressive trajectory from a position of 48th just 13 years ago. Our global rankings for individual subject areas further demonstrate that we continue to play an important role in global R&D. Ireland is now 1st in Animal and Dairy, 1st in Immunology, 2nd in Nanotechnology and Agricultural Sciences. Ireland remains 1st in the world for knowledge diffusion and 10th in the Global Innovation Index.
277. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a bus ticket for a child (details supplied) attending a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42531/18]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 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 a ticket will issue this week to the child referred to by the Deputy.
278. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reorganise immigration in Dublin Airport such that domestic travellers and travellers originating within the common travel area do not have to queue to pass through passport control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42208/18]
View answerThere is no requirement for citizens of either jurisdiction to carry passports when travelling within the Common Travel Area (CTA). However, it is the case that airline carriers in many instances require their passengers to have a passport in possession before allowing them to board the aircraft. As such, this is not an immigration requirement.
Unlike the operational practices at some UK airports, there is generally no segregation of arriving passengers at Irish ports of entry to the State. Consequently, Immigration Officers performing immigration control duties at airports in the State do not know where passengers have travelled from when such passengers present at immigration control desks.
It is therefore necessary for Immigration Officers to establish where passengers have arrived from, and in order to do this, an Immigration Officer may ask passengers questions with a view to establishing their nationality and port of embarkation. Once satisfied that a person is a citizen of the CTA and that such person has travelled from the United Kingdom, the Immigration Officer will make no further requirement of that person.
The organisation of the infrastructure for arrival of aircraft at Dublin Airport has developed over many years and any changes to it is a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority. My officials are not aware of any such plans in this regard.
279. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the ongoing delay with a claim for compensation lodged with the State Claims Agency in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42467/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the role of the State Claims Agency includes management of personal injury and property damage claims brought against certain State authorities.
I understand that the State Claims Agency is managing the claim referred to by the Deputy on behalf of An Garda Síochána.
I am assured by the State Claims Agency that it is in regular contact with the persons referred to in connection with their claim submitted earlier this year, and that it will notify them further when its investigations are complete.
280. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a dispute between the IPO and GNIB is preventing registration of a number of persons granted permission to remain under the International Protection Act 2015; the steps he will take to ensure this matter is resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41780/18]
View answerI am assured there is no dispute between the International Protection Office (IPO) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The IPO, GNIB and the Policy Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department liase closely in relation to the granting, notification and registration of permissions to remain in the State.
Recently, the bodies have worked together to develop new processes for the granting of such permissions within a single procedure, under the International Protection Act 2015.
A new registration procedures paper sets out clearly the registration process and will assist Registration Offices throughout the country with registering these permissions. I am further informed that any temporary difficulties which may have arisen with the roll-out of the new process have been resolved. The requirements with regard to registration as set out in section 9(2) of the Immigration Act 2004 remain unchanged.
281. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff in his Department and bodies under his aegis appointed to principal officer arising from internal competitions since 7 July 2015, by year. [41847/18]
View answer282. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons appointed from the panels arising from the 2015 and 2017 open competitions for principal officer run by the Public Appointments Service, by year; if a table (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41860/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together.
The following tables outline the promotions to the grade of Principal Officer as a result of internal competitions held in my Department since July 7th 2015 and open Principal Officer competitions in 2015 and 2017 run by the Public Appointments Service.
Figures are also included in respect of Department of Justice and Equality Prison Service civilian staff.
I have asked the agencies under the aegis of my Department to reply directly.
|
Department or Office Name: Justice and Equality |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
No. of appointments arising from internal competitions since 7/7/15 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
|
No. of appointments arising from 2015 PO Open competition run by PAS (Campaign ID: 1512210) (Effective 7/7/15) |
1 |
6 |
9 |
n/a |
|
No. of appointments arising from 2017 PO Open Competition run by PAS(Campaign ID: 17101202 (Effective 23/11/17) |
n/a |
n/a |
0 |
5 |
|
Department or Office Name: Irish Prison Service (civilian staff) |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
No. of appointments arising from internal competitions since 7/7/15 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
No. of appointments arising from 2015 PO Open competition run by PAS (Campaign ID: 1512210) (Effective 7/7/15) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
No. of appointments arising from 2017 PO Open Competition run by PAS (Campaign ID: 17101202 (Effective 23/11/17) |
n/a |
n/a |
0 |
0 |
Note: these figures do not include staff at PO level recruited via the Interdepartmental PO mobility scheme introduced in 2015 under the Civil Service Renewal Programme.
283. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to bring the SAVI II scoping group report to Cabinet for consideration by the end of November 2018. [41893/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the expert Scoping Group has completed a draft report considering the availability of data and making recommendations on a study to identify the prevalence of sexual abuse and violence in Ireland and emerging trends. A further piece of technical work is now being completed so that proposals can be brought to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
I can assure the Deputy that once the report has been considered by Government I intend to make an announcement to outline the way forward in relation to this issue.
284. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the priority outcomes from the implementation progress review of phase 1 of the nationwide roll-out of An Garda Síochána divisional protective services units. [41894/18]
View answer285. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the locations of the phase 2 divisional protective services units rolled out in 2018; the remaining phases of the nationwide roll-out of such units in all Garda divisions; the location and number of personnel to be attached to each unit; and if the necessary accommodation is in place in each. [41895/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility to manage and control generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff. I, as Minister have no function in such matters.
As the Deputy will be aware under the Modernisation and Renewal Programme for An Garda Síochána, 2016-2021 Divisional units of Garda National Protective Services Bureau are being rolled-out in two phases, supported by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. Phase One has now been completed, with Divisional Protective Services Units established in three Divisions, in the DMR West, Cork City, and Louth Division, where 2 Sergeants and 10 Gardaí were identified for allocation to the Divisional Unit.
Following a review of the Pilot, additional Divisional Protective Services Bureaus are now in the process of being established in DMR South Central; Waterford; Kerry; Kilkenny/Carlow; Limerick and Galway Garda Divisions before the end of Q4, 2018. It is intended that Divisional Protective Services Bureaus will be established in all remaining Garda Divisions before the end of 2019.
I am informed by the Commissioner that this initiative is being managed collaboratively between the Garda National Protective Services Bureau and each Divisional Officer. The pilot will inform the full roll-out to each Garda Division, by assessing and evaluating the Units initially selected including with reference to for example geographical size and population profile.
The Commissioner has further informed me that all Garda personnel receive training in the investigation of incidents considered domestic abuse, in all it’s forms, with additional training provided to Gardaí selected for duties as detectives. Similarly, additional and more specific training has been developed by the Director of Training with the senior management team at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau for the training to be provided to personnel selected for duty with the Divisional Protective Services Units, which have commenced in the three Garda divisions, DMR West, Cork City and Louth. Induction training has been provided for the personnel selected for these Units, with a briefing being provided to all relevant State Agencies and NGOs.
The Policing Authority submitted their Fifth Progress Report to me in June. This report was partly focused on providing an update on the implementation of the recommendations contained within the Garda Inspectorate’s report Changing Policing in Ireland, including the roll out of the pilot Divisional Protective Services Units. It is positive to note that the Policing Authority’s engagement with organisations that work with victims, as well as the recent Garda Inspectorate Report on Child Sexual Abuse, evidence the anticipated improvement in services for victims arising from the roll out of the Protective Services Units. In addition, it is to be welcomed that the Policing Authority has received positive feedback that the pilot PSUs have resulted in improved levels of service to victims and increased operational effectiveness in dealing with crimes of that nature.
The Deputy will also be aware that the recently published Commission on the Future of Policing report sees the establishment of Divisional Protective Services Units as a significant move in the right direction towards ensuring that services to victims’ rights are further embedded in the organisation’s processes.
Budget 2019 provides an unprecedented level of public funding of €1.76 billion for An Garda Síochána in 2019. This includes an increase in the Garda capital allocation from €61 million to €92 million in 2019, a 50% increase. This will facilitate investment of around €65 million in ICT, a further €10 million investment in the Transport Fleet and €17 million in the Building Programme. This clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.
286. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of civilians recruited to An Garda Síochána in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41908/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility to carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members and civilian staff.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 12 October, 282 civilians have been recruited to An Garda Síochána in 2018. This excludes another 6 staff who have been recruited on secondment. Some of these civilian staff were recruited to backfill existing vacancies, some were to facilitate the redeployment of Gardaí to frontline duties and others were to fill newly created civilian posts to fill skill gaps across the organisation.
The Deputy will be aware that as part of the Five Year Reform and High-level Workforce Plan for An Garda Síochána, the Government has agreed an overall vision for a Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 to include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. The projected 4,000 civilians represents a medium-term target of 20% of the Garda full-time workforce comprised of civilians. This target will be achieved through a twin-track approach of firstly, a “civilian by default” policy to be adopted in relation to the filling of all new posts other than operational policing posts and for non-operational policing posts that become vacant and, secondly, the redeployment of Gardaí to policing roles where their skills can be used to best effect with the backfilling of these roles by suitably qualified civilians where necessary. The Garda Inspectorate identified some 1,500 posts held by Gardaí that could be examined for suitability for civilian staff.
Progress is being made in relation to civilianisation. Since the beginning of 2017 approximately 300 new civilian posts have been sanctioned by the Policing Authority with the consent of my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The bulk were to address critical skills gaps and capacity issues with a proportion sanctioned to make a start on the redeployment of Gardaí to policing duties.
The most recent overall figure provided to me by the Commissioner indicates that, as at 31 August 2018 approximately 2,330 civilians were employed in An Garda Síochána. I am encouraged that the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána continues to advance, however, it is clear that the pace of civilianisation needs to increase. I note that the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommends the return of Gardaí to front line policing and the need for visible policing. My Department has consulted with the Garda Commissioner with regard the recommendations within the Report and I await his proposals including how he will increase the pace of civilianisation and the redeployment of Gardaí to mainstream policing duties.
287. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the recent reports on the possibility of an asylum centre closing before Christmas; his plans for same; the way in which the 225 residents of a centre (details supplied) were informed; when his attention was drawn to the fact that the company that owns the property was withdrawing its service; his further plans to relocate these families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41954/18]
View answerMy Department was informed by the contractor for the centre, by letter received on 3rd October 2018, that they will not be seeking to renew the contract which expires in December.
Residents at the centre were all formally informed by personal letter delivered last Friday morning, 12th October 2018, that it had not proved possible to secure an extension of the contract to 30th June 2019 and that unfortunately the centre would close when the contract comes to an end on 3rd December 2018.
Notwithstanding this, we will continue to work with those residents of the Towers who are still in the protection process in order to identify alternative accommodation from within the accommodation portfolio of my Department. The Department has commenced the process of identifying additional capacity both by way of the public procurement competition referenced above and an advertisement placed in the national press seeking expressions of interest in providing accommodation on an emergency basis for persons in the protection process.
My aim is to limit, to the greatest extent possible, the disruption to families and to residents relying on Dublin-based services. The Reception and Integration Agency is working on contingency plans to facilitate schoolgoing children currently living in the centre in question to continue in their current schools for the current school year. However, the Reception and Integration Agency is very constrained by the current demands for its accommodation and by the absence of bed capacity within its system.
Considerable work has been done to support residents with status to move out of accommodation centres and to secure permanent accommodation.
My Department also provides funding to NGOs on accommodation issues affecting those who have been granted permission to remain, including the approximately 60 such persons affected in this instance. In particular, funding was granted to the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Peter McVerry Trust under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Ireland 2017 - 2019 for the PATHS project (Providing Asylum-seekers in Transition with Housing and Support). In addition, funding has been granted to South Dublin County Partnership for a two year housing and integration programme, a key part of which is to assist residents who have received permission to remain, to access housing supports. Officials from my Department have been liaising with South Dublin County Council in relation to the particular situation arising in Clondalkin.
