Written Answers Nos. 186-205
186. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a number of proposed flood risk management schemes in locations (details supplied); when the OPW will provide further details to the local authority with regard to the design and construction of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48094/18]
View answerThe Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State and covered 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk. The CFRAM programme culminated with the launch on 3rd May, 2018 of 29 flood risk management plans which proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW). In that regard funding of €257 million for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country was also announced which would be progressed to detailed design and construction, including the five largest schemes identified in the Plans and 31 small projects under €1 million which will be progressed directly by local authorities.
The proposed flood relief schemes at Downings, with an estimated cost of €870,000 and Carrowkeel (Kerrykeel), with an estimated cost of €30,000 are included in the 31 small projects under €1 million, and will be progressed directly by Donegal County Council with full funding from the OPW.
The proposed projects for Ramelton, Letterkenny and Rathmullan are not part of the first phase of projects to be advanced, but the OPW and Donegal County Council will work closely to ensure that they will be commenced in the coming years and within the 10-year timeframe for the programme of investment.
Further details on the design of the proposed schemes will emerge as the projects are developed through detailed design.
The OPW has set up frameworks of consultants which the local authorities may use to progress the design of each project and which will help to speed up the process to construction. Once consultants are appointed to progress these schemes, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies as well as the general public will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure good public participation in their development.
187. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the revised public spending code recommends that the shadow price of carbon is set at the December 2017 level at €7.29 per tonne in project appraisals up to 2019, in view of the fact that the cost of carbon credits in the EU Emissions Trading System has risen significantly in the past few months to nearly €20; if the recommended shadow price will be revised upwards; and if he will amend the public spending code guidance document E5. [48145/18]
View answerFacing challenging and legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, it is imperative that the assessment of public investment projects include an appropriate valuation of the cost that society will bear in dealing with the increased greenhouse gas emissions a project might give rise to.
Under the National Mitigation Plan, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform committed to “undertake a review of guidance on public expenditure appraisal and evaluation to ensure their suitability to capturing key costs and benefits of climate measures”. This review has now been published for public consultation (6 November).
The review concluded that the model currently in use for pricing carbon in the Public Spending Code is outdated. A new model has been proposed that values future greenhouse gas emissions according to a shadow price of carbon that is based on the estimated marginal cost that will be faced by society in achieving Ireland’s legally binding 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target.
In practical terms, this means a new shadow price of carbon for non-ETS emissions of €32 per tonne in 2020, rising by €6.80 a year to reach €100 per tonne by 2030. Beyond 2030, it is proposed that the shadow price of carbon will simply rise linearly by 5% a year. This means that the shadow price of carbon rises to €128 for 2035, €163 for 2040, €208 for 2045 and €265 for 2050.
In 2019, the price that will be applied to non-ETS emissions is the current value of the carbon tax - €20 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.
For any elements of projects that will effect emissions in sectors of the economy covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the shadow price of carbon will continue to be based on the estimated future value of allowances in the ETS. These values will be calculated according to the average of observed market values from public exchanges. At the time of the consultation papers publication, the projected value of an ETS allowance for delivery in March 2019 was €17.37.
The closing date for this consultation paper is 14th December 2018. Subject to the views received in this process, it is intended that the revised Public Spending Code will apply to all cost benefit analyses conducted from early 2019 onwards.
188. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will require all projects under the NDP to be appraised using a shadow price of carbon in view of the fact that the current EU Emissions Trading System price of nearly €20 may serve as a guide to assessing the long-term climate impacts of NDP investments. [48146/18]
View answerThe appraisal requirements for public expenditure projects and programmes are set out in the Public Spending Code. The Public Spending Code is the set of rules, procedures, and guidance to ensure Value for Money in public expenditure across the Irish Public Service. All relevant guidance material and requirements are presented together, through a unified web-portal at https://publicspendingcode.per.gov.ie/ Exchequer funded capital projects under the National Development Plan must be appraised in line with the requirements set out in the Public Spending Code.
The Public Spending Code stipulates that every spending proposal should be appraised carefully but the resources spent on appraisal should be commensurate with the cost of the projects or expenditure proposals. Projects over €5 million should be subjected to an economic appraisal. For projects from €5 million to €20 million, this should take the form of a Multi-Criteria Analysis and projects over €20 million should be subjected to a Cost Benefit Analysis or Cost Effectiveness Analysis. Section E of the Public Spending Code sets out the key technical and parameter values for conducting economic appraisals including the shadow price of carbon.
Shadow prices are used in appraisal where the use of market prices to value the cost of project inputs and outcomes does not reflect opportunity costs due to market failures. The current guidance on how to apply the shadow price of carbon in economic appraisal of projects can be found in Section E5 of the Public Spending Code.
The Public Spending Code is updated from time to time to ensure that it continues to reflect current best practice. It is currently being reviewed. As part of this review, a research paper on the central appraisal technical parameters, i.e. the discount rate, time horizon, shadow price of public funds and shadow price of labour was published in October 2018.
A public consultation on the shadow price of carbon was also published on 6th November 2018 as part of the current review. The consultation presents the results of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s review of the guidance on public expenditure appraisal to ensure its suitability to capture key costs and benefits of climate measures as committed to under the National Mitigation Plan.
The Department’s review concluded that the model currently in use for pricing carbon in the Public Spending Code is outdated. A new model has been proposed that values future greenhouse gas emissions according to a shadow price of carbon that is based on the estimated marginal cost that will be faced by society in achieving Ireland’s legally binding 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target.
The closing date for this consultation paper is 14th December 2018. Subject to the views received in this process, it is intended that the revised Public Spending Code will apply to all economic appraisals conducted from early 2019 onwards.
189. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will devise and use a carbon budget methodology to ensure that Government spending and tax policies are in line with the required reductions in greenhouse gasses in order to meet the national transition objective and EU climate and energy targets for 2030. [48148/18]
View answerMy Department’s role is to deliver well-managed and well-targeted public spending. When it comes to climate change that means ensuring that Ireland’s climate transition is achieved at the lowest possible cost and that it is done so in a manner which is equitable.
A Carbon Budget places a legal restriction on the amount of greenhouse gas a country or sector can produce in a given time period. The development of specific climate action policies, such as the potential introduction of carbon budget methodologies, is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment in the first instance. However, a sustained whole of Government approach will be required to enable Ireland’s transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. In this context, the National Mitigation Plan and Minister Bruton’s forthcoming multi-annual, all-of-government plan for climate action represent important steps towards mainstreaming the climate change agenda into the policy formulation and decision making processes across all of Government.
I am, together with my Department, committed to assisting in this transition. My Department is currently undertaking a number of actions in order to help mainstream the climate change agenda into policy formulation and decision making processes across all of Government. For example, my Department is currently reviewing the Public Spending Code to ensure that all Government investment decisions will incorporate an appropriate assessment of the climate consequences of those decisions. I recently accepted an invitation from the OECD to join the Paris Collaborative on Green Budgeting. Participation in the Collaborative will help us to integrate environmental and climate outcome based reporting into our annual budgetary processes. This will be an iterative process but, as a first step, this year’s Revised Estimates Volume (REV) will include a table on climate related expenditure in a separate section of that report.
Finally, taxation policy also has an important role in supporting climate change policy. In this regard, there are already several established tax measures which support the reduction in national carbon emissions, in particular the carbon tax, the CO2 based Vehicle Registration Tax, the CO2 based motor tax, tax incentives which incentivise the uptake of electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and an Accelerated Capital Allowances Scheme which incentivises the uptake of cleaner energy technologies.
It is my intention that the current suite of environmental taxes continue to play an important role in supporting climate change policy.
190. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018; when the Bill will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48175/18]
View answer191. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018 will be enacted before the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48227/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.
The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018 was published on Monday 9 July. It passed all stages in the Seanad on Tuesday 17 July and completed Second Stage in the Dáil on 7 November. The Bill is provisionally scheduled for Committee Stage in the Dail on 11 December. Ultimately scheduling of time for the enactment of legislation is a matter for the Oireachtas itself through the Business Committee, but my intention is to ensure enactment as soon as possible.
192. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for the decision to change the 1978 scheme to the grant-based scheme in 1992, under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, which negatively impacted upon some school secretaries who have no pension entitlements and are treated differently than those, for example, employed by the education and training boards. [47935/18]
View answerA scheme for clerical staff in schools was initiated in April 1978 as part of the then Government’s job-creation programme, with a similar scheme for caretakers introduced in 1979 whereby staff employed on these schemes were paid directly by the Department. However, on foot of a Government decision of the 22 October 1982 to phase out these schemes, no new appointments were permitted and this decision was conveyed to schools at the time. While certain vacancies on the schemes were filled in subsequent years, the schemes were withdrawn completely in 2008.
The original 1978/79 schemes covered a relatively small number of primary and secondary schools and the decision to phase them out was part of a policy decision to spread the support more widely and ultimately cover all primary and secondary schools with funding for such services. Negotiations took place in the context of the introduction of new arrangements for the provision of clerical and caretaking assistance for schools under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. A final agreement was reached between the Department and the unions to allow for implementation of the new arrangements.
As the 1978 and 1979 schemes were being phased out, they were superseded by these more extensive capitation grant schemes. Under these schemes, the majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Within the schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary or caretaker, such staff are employees of individual schools.
My Department has recently made significant efforts to improve the pay of School Secretaries and Caretakers who are employed using capitation grant assistance. In 2015 my Department engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries on negotiations and agreed to enter an independent arbitration process on the issue. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for school secretaries and caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019. Following the arbitration process, grant funding used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff is being improved on a phased basis between 2016 and 2019 in order to enable schools to implement the arbitration outcome.
I am personally very much aware of this as an issue and the important role that School Secretaries and Caretakers play in the running of schools.
193. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of an autism unit for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47667/18]
View answerThe delivery of a two classroom ASD unit for the school to which the Deputy refers was devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB) in December 2016. Subsequent to this approval, the ETB submitted a request to my Department to double the size of the Unit to four classrooms. My Department approved this request on 15 November 2018. The project did not proceed as originally envisaged as a result of the request from the ETB to double the size of the unit and the difficulties in finding a suitable location on site for the larger building due to the restrictive nature of the site.
The ETB has confirmed that it is a position to enrol pupils for September 2019 using existing accommodation and temporary accommodation pending the delivery of the permanent accommodation.
194. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funding for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47684/18]
View answerI am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding in line with the request submitted by it for a Summer Works Scheme project.
195. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on an application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47685/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that approval in principle has been given to deliver substantial additional accommodation at the school to which he refers.
It is acknowledged that this project will involve complex and careful master-planning of the site and in this regard, a project brief for the school is currently being finalised.
In that regard, my Department will continue to liaise with the school's patron, Kerry Education and Training Board, in respect of progressing the project into the Architectural Planning process.
196. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a full financial audit will be carried out on a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47690/18]
View answer197. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter regarding concerns that were raised with his Department in November 2017 in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47691/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
The Department received correspondence regarding this school in November 2017. This outlined a number of alleged concerns regarding various issues within the school.
The inspector has conducted a number of inspections in this school during 2018. The Department has considered the report on these inspections.
It is intended to undertake further action in the near future, which may include a review of the financial accounts pertaining to the school.
198. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 7 November 2018, the timeline for the new accommodation to be provided for a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that the lease on its temporary premises expires in April 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47693/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a major capital project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is being addressed through my Department's Capital Programme.
It is envisaged that this accommodation will be provided through a campus arrangement with a local Institute of Further Education on its current site. This project will also include the redevelopment and provision of enhanced accommodation for the Institute. In the context of initiating architectural planning for the project, my Department is liaising with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. My Department will also continue to liaise with the school's Patron in this regard.
199. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the decision to provide the first of three new primary schools in Donabate on a site (details supplied) which is in contravention of the Donabate local area plan; the cost benefit analysis on the site which is privately owned compared to another site which is publicly owned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47757/18]
View answerAs you are aware, the Minister recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. A new primary school to serve Donabate was part of that announcement.
A site identification and acquisition process is currently underway in respect of this new school, with the assistance of Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. No decision has yet been made regarding its location.
The designated school site at Corballis is one of those under consideration as this Department's engagement with Fingal County Council has identified this development as likely to materialise significantly in advance of the proposed development at Ballymastone, within which the Spires East site is located. As you may be aware, significant infrastructural works at Corballis are being funded under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund which are intended to facilitate the development of approximately 1200 residential units by 2021. The requirement for school places that is anticipated to emerge from this development at Corballis contributed significantly to the decision to open the new school in Donabate.
With regard to the Ballymastone development, the Department is in engagement with Fingal County Council regarding school site provision within those lands in order to meet the expected school place requirements that will be generated by that future development.
In the interim, work on the acquisition of a site to accommodate the new school will continue and its location will be announced as soon as it is possible to do so.
200. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school secretaries employed under the 1978 scheme as of 30 September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47783/18]
View answerA scheme was initiated in 1978/79 for the employment of Clerical Officers in primary and post primary schools.
Currently there are 156 primary and 111 post primary whole time equivalent Clerical Officers (School Secretaries) employed in schools under the 1978 scheme and paid through my Department’s payroll.
The 1978/79 scheme has been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme towards the funding of ancillary services in schools which is also operated within my Department.
201. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions taken to date to identify and address issues in funding school secretaries and caretakers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47784/18]
View answerThough schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools, where staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by the Department, these schemes have been largely phased out and have been superseded by the more extensive capitation grant schemes.
Under these schemes, the majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Within the schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary or caretaker, such staff are employees of individual schools.
My Department has recently made significant efforts to improve the pay of School Secretaries and Caretakers who are employed using capitation grant assistance. In 2015 my Department engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries on negotiations and agreed to enter an independent arbitration process on the issue. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for school secretaries and caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019. Following the arbitration process, grant funding used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff is being improved on a phased basis between 2016 and 2019 in order to enable schools to implement the arbitration outcome.
I am personally very much aware of this as an issue and the important role that School Secretaries and Caretakers play in the running of schools.
202. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific thematic areas within the sciences and humanities that will be funded further to the announcement of women-only professorships; and the funding agency that will be tasked with the cost of this policy. [47787/18]
View answerUnder the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative for the Higher Education sector, a total of 45 new and additional female-specific senior academic positions will be created. This initiative responds to the significant under representation of women at this level in the sector. These posts would be provided in disciplines where there is clear evidence of significant female gender under-representation, and will be funded through the Higher Education Authority.
A key requirements from the Higher Education Institutions in securing support under the Initiative will be a demonstration that gender equality objectives and targets are being successfully prioritised to achieve real organisational and cultural change.
203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the moneys allocated to all schools as part of the minor works grant scheme in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47789/18]
View answerUnder the Grant Scheme for Minor Works the following amounts were issued to primary schools in the years 2011 to 2017:
2011 - €28.2m
2012 - Nil
2013 - €28m
2014 - €28.5m
2015 - €28.7m
2016 - €28.7m
2017 - €28.9m
On 14 September 2018, the announcement of the major package of investment in education under Project Ireland 2040 confirmed that, starting this year, all primary schools will receive the €29 million minor works grant in either December or early January of each school year.
The number of schools per county in receipt of the Minor Works Grant was published in December 2017 when the grant for the 2017/18 school year was announced. The same will be done for the 2018/19 school year. The detail of the 2017 announcement is available at: https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2017-Press-Releases/PR2017-05-12.html
204. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the vacant position of regional skills co-ordinator for counties Longford and Westmeath will be advertised. [47816/18]
View answerThe vacant position for Regional Skills Forum Manager in the the Midlands Region which covers counties Longford Westmeath Laois and Offaly , was advertised on Sunday 9th September 2018 in the Sunday Independent. The vacancy was also advertised shortly afterwards on PublicJobs.ie. The deadline for receipt of completed applications was Friday 28th September 2018. Interviews have taken place and it is planned that the new Manager will commence in the role in early January 2019.
205. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the rules governing SUSI by which it will fund a diploma course in an approved college of further education but not the subsequent degree course should a student choose to continue in their studies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47851/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the college to which she refers, is an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin ETB. Post Leaving Certificate Centres provide further education courses up to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). However, my Department has facilitated the provision of a visual media course accredited by the University of Dundee, as the equivalent of a Level 8 on the NFQ for a number of years and continues to do so as an exceptional measure.
Section 7 of the Student Support Act, 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of student grants.
This particular PLC college is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an education institution in the State in receipt of grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas for the provision of post-leaving certificate courses. I have no plans to designate further education centres as approved third level institutions for the purposes of the student grant scheme.
I understand that prospective students are informed of the absence of grant support for the degree courses before they apply for places and through the college website.
