Written Answers Nos. 290-307
290. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the categories of funding available to local authorities through his Department; the amount of funding provided for each scheme in 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/18]
View answerFunding paid directly from my Department to local authorities in 2016 and 2017 (as recorded on the Department's Financial Management System) is set out in the table.
The figures in the table do not include any other payments to local authorities made by third parties in receipt of grants directly from the Department.
|
Direct Payment by DES to Local Authorities |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Public Service Reform - Current & Capital |
|
€100.00 |
|
Student Support (SUSI Pay and Related Activities) |
€1,958,879.10 |
€442,538.38 |
|
International EU |
€10,000.00 |
€4200,000.00 |
|
Primary Capital Major |
€1,281,090.47 |
€946,316.92 |
|
Primary Capital Minor |
|
€1,200,502.60 |
|
Post Primary Capital Major |
€1,458,875.80 |
€483,847.10 |
|
Post Primary Capital Minor |
|
€8,053,723.03 |
|
Public Private Partnership Primary & Post Primary Capital |
€527,139.40 |
|
|
Training |
€980.00 |
|
|
Miscellaneous |
€315.00 |
|
|
Office Premises Expenses |
€156.00 |
|
|
National Educational Psychological Service |
€7,857.69 |
€4,230.66 |
|
Shared Offices costs |
€23,992.85 |
|
|
Grand Total |
€5,269,286.31 |
€11,331,258.69 |
291. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the capacity issues in a school (details supplied) and the fact that it was unable to accept all applications from children in the feeder primary schools in the town in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43745/18]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the patron of the school in question has submitted an application for additional accommodation to my Department.
The application was considered and approval in principle was given to provide additional permanent accommodation to the school. In this regard, my Department will shortly be undertaking a technical site visit to the school in the context of determining the project brief .
As an interim arrangement, my Department has approved temporary accommodation to the school and my officials are continuing to engage with the school's patron relating to the school's immediate and long term accommodation needs.
292. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to carry out a formal assessment of the need for a new secondary school in Skerries; and the timeline for this assessment. [43746/18]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.
While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for the Skerries school planning area, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
293. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps necessary for an organisation to become recognised as a patron body for providing school patronage; if this process would be different if the organisation wished to provide patronage to special schools for children on the autism spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43748/18]
View answerA patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new primary or post-primary school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for patronage and language of instruction, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are made available on my Department's website.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents. Parental preferences were previously collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies. Under the new OPPS system, patron bodies complete an application form at the beginning of the process. Information in relation to applicant patrons is provided to parents on the OPPS website which allows them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education.
In general, my Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream primary school system wherever possible. Many of our new schools have special education units included within them. However, special schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils whose needs cannot be adequately catered for in a mainstream primary school. The need to establish a new special school would be identified by the National Council for Special Education in conjunction with the Department. The necessity would arise where there is a specific and quantified need that could not reasonably be met through existing provision. Any process to establish a new special school would have to take account of the views of parents who are the key stakeholders with regard to their child.
294. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the review that took place in 2017 of the remaining recommendations of the Traveller education strategy 2006 in addition to the education recommendations in the national Traveller and Roman inclusion strategy, NTRIS; the actions proposed following the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43754/18]
View answerBefore the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) was published in 2017 my Department's policy in relation to Traveller Education was informed by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy (2006). The principle of inclusion was at the core of this report and as a result of this strategy provision for Travellers has been mainstreamed with previously segregated provision now funded as part of the mainstream system.
In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system for all children, including Travellers, are allocated on the basis of identified individual educational need. To support the transition to mainstream education of Traveller pupils, my Department continues to provide additional resources to schools. This funding currently involves an allocation of approx €10m.
A commitment was given in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy to review the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy and to publish this review in 2017. This review has not been completed but it is intended to complete and publish this review.
295. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason support for home tuition has been withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied); his plans ensure the restoration of support for home tuition in this case in which specialist assistance is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43775/18]
View answerMy Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post-primary network.
Children in ASD special classes benefit from a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. Class teachers are fully qualified and have access, through the Special Education Support Service, to training in a range of autism-specific interventions. Each class has a minimum of 2 Special Needs Assistants.
As each child with autism is unique they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes which can be supported by Special Needs Assistants and fully qualified professional teachers who may draw from a range of autism-specific interventions, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Treatment and Education of Autistic Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and Picture Exchange Communications System (PECS) as well as the appropriate school curriculum with the option, where possible, of full or partial integration and interaction with other pupils.
The purpose of the Special Education Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement.
Accordingly, Home Tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not available and only until a placement becomes available. Home Tuition should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.
No application has been received for 2018/19 school year under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme in respect of the child referred to by the Deputy.
296. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the school in an institute (details supplied); his plans to appoint an independent chair of the institute; if the terms of section 5(1)(c) of the Institute For Advanced Studies Act 1940 will be adhered to in respect of its obligation to provide funding for fieldwork in order to record spoken Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43785/18]
View answerThe institute referred to by the Deputy was established under the Institute for Advanced Studies Act, 1940. The functions of the Institute referred to are to provide facilities for the furtherance of advanced study and the conduct of research in specialised branches of knowledge and for the publication of the results of advanced study and research.
The institute has three constituent schools and each constituent school is under the control and management of an independent Governing Board. The Chairman and appointed members of the Governing Board of each Constituent School are appointed by the President on the advice of the Government. Appointments are normally made every five years. The Department has been notified of the requirement to appoint a Chair to the Governing Body of one of the constituent schools and is progressing this matter.
One of the statutory functions of the institute referred to by the Deputy is the 'phonetic investigation of existing Irish dialects and the recording of the living Irish speech'. In that context, the institution provides facilities for the furtherance of such advanced study and research and for the publication of the results of such study and research, which is facilitated, in part, by the funding allocated to it by my Department. My Department allocates recurrent funding directly to this institute. However, as an autonomous body, the institute is responsible for the allocation of all of its funding (both public and private) and the internal disbursement of that funding.
297. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for an ancillary grant to replace a school secretary at a school (details supplied) which is spread between two fully separate campuses will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43796/18]
View answerFunding for all primary schools in the free education scheme is dealt with on a per capita basis.
The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.
The school referred to by the Deputy received €110,416 in respect of capitation funding in 2018, €74,770 for Capitation and €35,646 for Ancillary Services. In addition to these grants the salaries in respect of two Secretaries have been paid directly by my Department under the 1978/79 scheme, one of which will continue for 2019.
Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary services grants as a combined grant and Boards of Management have autonomy on how they use and prioritise this funding to meet their day to day running costs, including for the provision of secretarial and caretaker services.
There is no provision for additional payments outside of those outlined above.
298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 9 October 2018, his views on a matter (details supplied). [43808/18]
View answerThe response to the previous Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy outlines the position with regard to membership of a Public Sector Pension Scheme and how it is a matter for each Education and Training Board (ETB) to determine eligibility of applicant members in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations of the scheme.
I am aware that my officials are actively engaged with the ETBs, through the Pension Task Group facilitated by my Department, to provide clarity on the issue of superannuation for certain staff in outdoor education centres to which the ETBs provide some funding.
299. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a permanent school site has been acquired for a school (details supplied); when the school will be built and open; and if arrangements have been made in the interim to provide the necessary prefabs for the school at its location. [43946/18]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that contracts have been signed in respect of the acquisition of the permanent school site.
In relation to the permanent accommodation for the school, the plans are being developed at the moment with a view to lodging an application for planning permission. Prior to lodging the application, officials of my Department will arrange a meeting with the school/Patron representatives to review the plans. When planning permission is secured, the project will then proceed to tender and construction. Suitable interim accommodation will continue to be provided for the school in the meantime.
300. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills when teachers and students will be provided with the materials technology wood coursework design brief for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43952/18]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
301. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the recent written request to the schools capital appraisal section of his Department by the principal and the board of management of a school (details supplied) to have its application for the replacement of the dilapidated prefab at the school with a permanent classroom, toilet block, storeroom and support room will be reviewed and facilitated in view of the dilapidated condition of the existing prefab and temporary classroom. [43958/18]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation.
The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
302. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visa applications for family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens since the second quarter of 2015. [43822/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the table sets out the position in relation to the number of visa applications received for family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, by nationality (top ten countries) and a combined figure for all other nationalities for each of the years in the period in question.
As the Deputy may be aware, there was an exponential increase from the second quarter of 2015 in the number of such applications. That gave rise to a particular caseload of around 10,500 applications which had to be assessed very carefully to ensure that any fraudulent applications or potential abuses of the Directive are detected and considered appropriately. The majority of these have now been processed.
Most of the sponsors in these particular cases were United Kingdom nationals who came here claiming to be exercising EU Treaty Rights. INIS had serious concerns about many of these cases, particularly as they appeared to be using the Common Travel Area to circumvent national UK immigration rules for family reunification. However, under the Directive genuine movement must be taking place by the EU national, such as taking up employment, etc. A series of measures were taken by INIS including defending cases in the Courts, working with the Garda National Immigration Bureau to address abuses, and working in close cooperation with UK counterparts who subsequently made changes to their laws. Since these measures were taken, the numbers of such new applicants dropped off dramatically in 2017 and this year to date.
Legal proceedings in relation to a number of such applications have been before the courts, and a referral was made by the Court of the Appeal to the European Court of Justice.
More generally, the central concern, as with all visa services worldwide, in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.
Applications received from 1 July, 2015 to end of September, 2018
|
Nationality |
July-Dec 2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Jan-Sept 2018 |
Total |
|
Pakistan |
1922 |
3561 |
524 |
983 |
6990 |
|
Afghanistan |
2001 |
790 |
44 |
391 |
3226 |
|
Iraq |
1054 |
373 |
23 |
26 |
1476 |
|
Nigeria |
110 |
305 |
314 |
256 |
985 |
|
India |
146 |
266 |
200 |
226 |
838 |
|
Russian Federation |
88 |
154 |
190 |
142 |
574 |
|
Bangladesh |
170 |
236 |
47 |
119 |
572 |
|
Philippines |
65 |
109 |
114 |
113 |
401 |
|
People's Republic of China |
75 |
103 |
134 |
81 |
393 |
|
Ukraine |
55 |
100 |
105 |
87 |
347 |
|
Rest of the World |
706 |
1130 |
1109 |
1107 |
4052 |
|
Total |
6392 |
7127 |
2804 |
3531 |
19854 |
303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the non-transferability of carer's leave between spouses with the same employer will be examined as part of the process of bringing forward new family leave legislation; and the reason spouses with the same employer are allowed transfer some of their leave to each other under current parental leave legislation but no such transfer is allowed under current arrangements for carer's leave. [43177/18]
View answerAs the Deputy has highlighted, section 6A of the Parental Leave Act 1998 allows parents working for the same employer to transfer up to 14 weeks of their unpaid parental leave entitlement from one parent to another. Similarly, section 6 of the Carers Leave Act 2001 provides that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to take up to 104 weeks of carers leave.
The focus of the new family leave legislation is expected to be on parental leave rather than on carer's leave. Given that an employee can get up to 104 weeks of carer's leave, it is difficult to see why transferability is necessary. Furthermore, such a proposal may be to the detriment of women in the labour market, as traditionally it is women who take the majority of carers' leave. Such a proposal, unless carefully considered, could create labour market disadvantage for women. My preference instead is to encourage men as well as women to share caring responsibilities.
304. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the strength of An Garda Síochána continues to be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43195/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be 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.
This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. The Deputy will be aware An Garda Síochána is currently undertaking a programme of accelerated recruitment, as part of the Government’s commitment to a strengthened service through the Five Year High Level Reform and Workforce Plan to achieve an overall workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, including 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve Members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.
Since the re-opening of Templemore College in September 2014, we have been rebuilding the Garda organisation and I am pleased that, since then, approximately 2,200 new Garda members have attested and assigned to duties in communities throughout the country. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016. With another attestation of approximately 200 Garda recruits due to take place on 30 November, Garda numbers will increase to approximately 14,000 by the end of this year for the first time since 2011.
I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. By year end, a further 800 new Garda Recruits will have entered the Garda College in 2018. To support the Commissioner in this recruitment, I have also secured funding in Budget 2019 which facilitates the recruitment of up to 800 more Gardaí next year. The Budget also provides for the necessary civilian Garda staff to fill critical skills gaps and enable the further redeployment of Gardaí to front line duties.
As I said on Budget day, the Commissioner will need to consider all aspects of the funding requirement in the Garda Vote and how all resources at his disposal can be best deployed including in relation to the composition of the Service. I expect to receive his proposals in this regard shortly.
In addition to the vision of 15,000 Garda members by 2021, plans are also in place for 4,000 civilians and 2,000 Reserves. I am informed by the Commissioner that as of 31 August 2018 there were 2,330 civilians undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána. I am encouraged that the number of civilians working in An Garda Síochána continues to increase, albeit more slowly than anticipated. It is clear, however, that progress is being made with close to 300 new civilian staff posts sanctioned to fill critical skills gaps across the organisation. This will allow more Gardaí to focus on operational policing duties where their training and specialist expertise can be put to best use. Already approximately 150 Gardaí have been redeployed to operational policing duties and I expect these numbers to accelerate in the coming months and throughout 2019. Work is also continuing on a strategic review of the Garda Reserve which I expect to be concluded shortly.
As the Deputy will also be aware the Commission on the Future of Policing published its report on 18 September. This innovative report sets out a number of recommendations across the policing sector and in particular on the work of An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Reserve. I am currently consulting widely on the issues raised including with the Garda Commissioner in advance of returning to Government in December with my substantive response and a High Level Implementation Plan.
305. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who applied for the current competition for An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43196/18]
View answerIn accordance with the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 the Public Appointments Service, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for the selection of Garda trainees. The final stages of the recruitment process in which candidates are vetted, and complete a physical competency test and a medical examination, are managed by the Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct involvement in the matter.
I am informed that the most recent recruitment campaign which closed for applications on the 7 June 2018 again received a strong response with approximately 6,300 applications received. This compares favourably to the 2017 competition which received approximately 5,400 applications and indicates that a career in An Garda Síochána continues to be regarded as an attractive and rewarding profession.
This Government is committed 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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
Since the re-opening of Templemore College in September 2014, the Government has been committed to rebuilding the Garda organisation and I am pleased that, since then, approximately 2,200 new Garda members have attested and been assigned to duties in communities throughout the country. Garda numbers, taking account of retirements, increased to approximately 13,500 at the end of 2017 – a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016. With another attestation of approximately 200 Garda recruits due to take place in November, Garda numbers will increase to approximately 14,000 by the end of this year for the first time since 2011.
By year end, a further 800 new Garda Recruits will have entered the Garda College in 2018 and I am pleased that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment in the Garda workforce to ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. In that regard to support the Commissioner in this recruitment, I have also secured funding in Budget 2019 which will facilitate the recruitment of up to 800 more Gardaí next year.
This is an ambitious programme of recruitment and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. Any candidate for a position as a Garda trainee should contact the Public Appointments Service or the Garda Appointments Office if they have any queries in relation to their application.
306. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address reports that Internet bot programmes are being used to block-book appointments with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that since early September, some customers have experienced difficulties in booking registration appointments. Some of these difficulties have arisen because third party agents had been able to secure multiple appointments through the use of automatic software.
A set of software fixes was introduced in mid-September to prevent this abuse of the system. As far as can be determined, this software update has been successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents.
The period September to November is the busiest time for registrations with many student registrations in addition to the usual workload of the office.
A number of measures have been taken to increase the capacity of the office, including the assignment of additional staff to the Registration Office and opening on most Saturdays and some Sundays. These measures are aimed at increasing supply to meet demand by ensuring that as many appointments as possible are made available each day. INIS plans to continue this regime at least until December and to ensure that demand is met.
The situation with the appointments system is being kept under review to address any abuses with the system.
Over 6,200 people have registered with INIS in Dublin this month up to 18th of October and over 8,500 are expected to register in the month overall. This is an increase of 12% on the number registered in Dublin in September 2018. INIS expects to register over 85,000 people in Dublin this year.
307. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to issues in respect of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's new online appointment system whereby immigrants who apply for re-entry and renewal visas are being blocked from making appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43237/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there are currently two online appointments systems in operation for non-EEA nationals. These systems are for registration of permission to reside in the State, and for applications for an emergency re-entry visa appointment.
With regard to the on-line system used by customers to apply for appointments with INIS to register or renew a permission to reside in the State, I am advised that some customers have experienced difficulty in booking appointments. This arose because third party agents had been securing multiple appointments through the use of automatic software.
A set of software fixes was introduced in mid-September to prevent this abuse of the system. As far as can be determined, this software update has been successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents. The appointments system is being kept under review to identify attempts to abuse the system.
More than 8,500 non-EEA nationals are expected to be registered in Dublin in October. This is an increase of 12% on the number registered in September 2018. INIS expects to register over 85,000 people in Dublin this year - a figure considerably up on last year.
With regard to the on-line appointment system for re-entry visas, this is available for appointments for emergency re-entry visa requests only - the vast majority of customers use the postal system. Customers with urgent travel needs can use the on-line system to make an emergency appointment for a re-entry visa and their application will be dealt with within 24 hours. There have been no problems with this system.
