Written Answers Nos. 226-245
226. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend July provision eligibility to include children with Down's syndrome; if his attention has been drawn to the evidence which exists that shows that such intervention has a number of educational and developmental benefits for those living with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48291/18]
View answerI wish to assure the Deputy that ensuring that all children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential is a key priority for this government.
Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to almost 19% of Department’s overall Budget.
The July provision scheme provides funding for an extended school year for students with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
The scheme was developed to reduce potential regression in learning associated with these specific categories of special education needs over the summer holidays. The scheme does not make provision for children with other categories of Special Education Needs.
The National Council for Special Education’s Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders was published in July 2016.
In the course of preparing the advice, the NCSE consulted widely with a range of stakeholders including parents, teachers, academics, experts, psychologists, HSE officials and others.
The NCSE also reviewed relevant national and international research.
The Policy advice, which is available on the NCSE’s website, includes a review of the July Provision scheme.
The NCSE review found that in general parents value July provision because it provides day-time respite for families and a structured day for students. However, the NCSE review found a number of problems with the scheme as currently organised.
This include concerns that the scheme may be inequitable because it is not provided to all students with complex special educational needs.
The NCSE advised that in general, the scheme is not meeting its original objective which was to reduce possible regression in academic learning.
The Council recommended that the relevant Government Departments consider how an equitable national day activity scheme could be developed for all students with complex special educational needs.
The proposed scheme would provide a structured, safe, social environment for all students with complex special educational needs, which might include some children with Down syndrome.
My Department has convened an Implementation Group with representatives of the NCSE, NEPS, the Inspectorate and representatives from other Departments and agencies to ensure that the Report’s recommendations are fully and appropriately considered.
There are no plans to change the July provision scheme coverage until this work is complete.
227. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by his Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and other consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48302/18]
View answerFor the Deputy's information, the following table lists expenditure for the years 2014 to date in 2018, on advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by my Department.
PQ No: 48302/18
|
Year |
Department Policy/Programme |
Cost |
|
2014 |
European Schools recruitment advertisements |
€4,159.89 |
|
2015 |
European Schools recruitment advertisements |
€8,000.18 |
|
2017 |
Advertising the Student Assistance Fund in Student Union handbooks. The Student Assistance Fund is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€2,509.00 |
|
2017 |
Language Connect Awareness Raising Campaign (promotion of foreign languages as part of Ireland's Foreign Language Strategy). Implemented by Post-Primary Language Initiative (PPLI). |
€35,000.00 |
|
2018 |
Invitation for submission from interested persons and parties on the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision |
€4,219.32 |
|
2018 |
Funding for a public awareness video about Youthreach which is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 |
€4,500.00 |
228. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to tackle an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48324/18]
View answerThe Department of Health leads on the implementation and oversight of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan which was published in 2016. My Department works very closely with the Department of Health in promoting the 'Healthy Ireland' agenda in schools and is represented on the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group and the National Physical Activity Plan Implementation Group.
Schools and the wider education sector have a vital role to play in contributing to the Government's 'Healthy Ireland' agenda.
All schools are required to deliver physical education as part of the curriculum. Healthy lifestyles guidance was issued to all schools and was developed in consultation with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. It aims to support and strengthen schools efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health.
Through their primary and post primary education students are equipped with the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make healthier life choices. Schools' efforts should be complemented by students' families and their community.
229. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48330/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the school to which she refers operates under the patronage of the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The ETB has informed my Department that the long term accommodation needs of the school are being reviewed and that it will revert to my Department when this process has been completed.
230. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the company contracted to deliver each school, the school name and the completion year of all schools completed in each of the years 2004 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48331/18]
View answerPlease see in the following link, as requested by the Deputy, a list of all schools completed between 2004 and to date in 2018 including the name of the company contracted to deliver each school.
231. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if fire safety audits have been completed on schools completed by a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2004 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48332/18]
View answerMy Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017. This involved 30 schools constructed by a contractor under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 year, two of which were constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy.
Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports have been received in my Department with the remaining 4 reports due in the coming weeks. Fire Safety Assessment reports in respect of the two schools which were constructed by the company referred to by the Deputy have been received in my Department and have been shared with the school, Patron and Fire Officer.
The Fire Safety Consultants have engaged directly with the fire officers in their respective local authorities to advise of remedial works planned and underway.
The reports identify various housekeeping, maintenance and remedial works to be addressed and my Department has engaged the services of KSN Project Managers with a full technical team including Architects, Engineers and Fire Safety Consultants, to organise and oversee any necessary remedial works.
232. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the completion of fire safety audits for schools since September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48333/18]
View answerMy Department initiated a programme of fire safety assessments in 55 schools in Q4 2017. This involved 30 schools constructed by a contractor under Design and Build contracts and a representative sample of 25 other schools constructed over the last 20 years. Fire Safety Consultants have visited all 55 schools and to date 51 initial Fire Safety Assessment reports have been received in my Department with the remaining 4 reports due in the coming weeks. The Fire Safety Consultants have engaged directly with the fire officers in their respective local authorities to advise of remedial works planned and underway.
The reports identify various housekeeping, maintenance and remedial works to be addressed and the Department has engaged the services of KSN Project Managers with a full technical team including Architects, Engineers and Fire Safety Consultants, to organise and oversee any necessary remedial works.
233. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the completion of remedial works at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48334/18]
View answerThe school in question should forward details of the issues and a request for an inspection of the building outlining the basis of their request, to officials in the School Building Unit who will review the submission and follow up as appropriate.
234. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a fairer system of designating DEIS status on schools; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current system does not allow for direct inputs from the school authorities or broader school community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48336/18]
View answerDEIS Plan 2017 was the culmination of more than 18 months of consultation and discourse with education partners and other stakeholders to ensure that identification of schools and future delivery of interventions is fully informed by the practical experience of teachers, parents, students and non-governmental organisations working on behalf of children at risk of educational disadvantage and their families
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has introduced an objective, statistics based model for assessing which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage.
A detailed document explaining the methodology used in the Identification process under DEIS plan 2017 is available on the Department’s website at https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Identification-Process.pdf
DEIS Plan 2017 states that the improved data on the socio-demographic of schools resulting from the new identification model will have an impact not only on the assessment of schools for inclusion in the programme but also on the scaling of resources to allow for more graduated levels of support. This in turn allows for the ultimate objective of allocating resources to best meet the identified need of individual schools.
In order to achieve this, the current identification model needs to be as accurate as possible and this will be facilitated by the use of Eircode to ensure correct inputting of addresses. This work is ongoing at present. Further analysis is also required to examine other variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage in the context of resource allocation. Therefore, in order to ensure the quality of the address data and conduct further analysis, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools until this work is complete.
235. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the further analysis in relation to the criteria for inclusion of primary and post-primary schools in the DEIS programme has been finalised; when it is planned to confer schools with this status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48340/18]
View answerDEIS Plan 2017 was the culmination of more than 18 months of consultation and discourse with education partners and other stakeholders to ensure that identification of schools and future delivery of interventions is fully informed by the practical experience of teachers, parents, students and non-governmental organisations working on behalf of children at risk of educational disadvantage and their families
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has introduced an objective, statistics based model for assessing which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage.
A detailed document explaining the methodology used in the Identification process under DEIS plan 2017 is available on the Department’s website at https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Identification-Process.pdf
DEIS Plan 2017 states that the improved data on the socio-demographic of schools resulting from the new identification model will have an impact not only on the assessment of schools for inclusion in the programme but also on the scaling of resources to allow for more graduated levels of support. This in turn allows for the ultimate objective of allocating resources to best meet the identified need of individual schools.
In order to achieve this, the current identification model needs to be as accurate as possible and this will be facilitated by the use of Eircode to ensure correct inputting of addresses. This work is ongoing at present. Further analysis is also required to examine other variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage in the context of resource allocation. Therefore, in order to ensure the quality of the address data and conduct further analysis, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools until this work is complete.
236. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SUSI applications that have been submitted in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number awarded the full grant; the number awarded a part grant; the number declined respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48341/18]
View answerThe data provided in the following table is in respect of students who were awarded a grant from SUSI the centralised grant awarding authority, which was established in 2012. It does not encompass data relating to the 66 awarding authorities who have continued to process renewal applications on a transistionary basis, as their data is not collated in the format requested by the Deputy.
The following table provides a breakdown of the awards for each of the academic years 2013/14 – 2018/19 (provisional) in the categories requested by the Deputy. Please note that not all students who are awarded a grant take up the grant for a variety of reasons e.g. deferral of course or repeating a year.
The data in the tables has been supplied to my Department by SUSI.
|
RATE |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 to date |
|
Awarded Full Rate |
42,103 |
53,441 |
59,847 |
60,891 |
59,290 |
56,926 |
|
Awarded Part Rate |
17,752 |
21,813 |
24,167 |
23,219 |
22,784 |
21,402 |
|
Refused |
23,713 |
19,199 |
18,593 |
17,640 |
17,132 |
13,483 |
|
Cancelled |
8,721 |
9,294 |
5,598 |
3,558 |
4,167 |
2,949 |
|
Work in progress |
3,748 |
|||||
|
Total |
92,289 |
103,747 |
108,205 |
105,308 |
103,373 |
98,508 |
237. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SUSI applications that were declined between 2013 and 2018; the number of these that were appealed; the number of successful appeals; the number of applications forwarded to the Students Grant Appeal Board and that were successful in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48342/18]
View answerThe data provided in the following table is in respect of students who were awarded a grant from SUSI the centralised grant awarding authority, which was established in 2012. It does not encompass data relating to the 66 awarding authorities who have continued to process renewal applications on a transistionary basis, as their data is not collated in the format requested by the Deputy.
The first table - SUSI Grants appeals provides a breakdown of applications for each of the academic years 2013/14 – 2018/19 (provisional) in the categories requested by the Deputy. The data in the tables has been supplied to my Department by SUSI.
The second table - Stats for PQ relating to the number of applications forwarded to the Students Grant Appeal Board and the number of successful appeals to the Board has been prepared by the Board's administrative support team.
2.1 The number of applications declined (i.e. refused grants)
|
Applications to SUSI |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
|
23,713 |
19,199 |
18,593 |
17,640 |
17,132 |
13,483 |
2.2 The number of appeals - *Note - data on appeals was not disaggregated between appeals on declined applications and appeals on applications awarded grants (i.e. appeals for higher rate of grants)
|
Appeals to SUSI* |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
|
(@ 11.11.18) |
||||||
|
6,525 |
4,148 |
5,805 |
5,483 |
5,042 |
4,105 |
2.3 The number of successful appeals
|
Appeal Outcomes |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 (@ 11.11.18) |
|
Appeals Upheld |
3,906 |
1,938 |
2,691 |
2,598 |
2,281 |
1,287 |
|
Appeals Refused |
2,619 |
2,210 |
3,114 |
2,885 |
2,761 |
1,805 |
|
Total Appeals to SUSI |
6,525 |
4,148 |
5,805 |
5,483 |
5,042 |
3,092 |
(balance of 1,013 to be finalised @11.11.18)
Appeals received by Student Grants Appeals Board from 1st Sept 2012 - 19th November 2018
|
Academic Year |
Total Appeals Received SGAB |
Successful Appeals |
|
1st Sept 2012 - 31st August 2013 |
783 |
201 |
|
1st Sept 2013 - 31st August 2014 |
923 |
239 |
|
1st Sept 2014 - 31st August 2015 |
664 |
177 |
|
1st Sept 2015 - 31st August 2016 |
774 |
284 |
|
1st Sept 2016 - 31st August 2017 |
724 |
252 |
|
1st Sept 2017 - 31st August 2018 |
942 |
243 |
|
1st Sept 2018 - 13th November 2018 |
530 |
66 |
238. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SUSI applicants between 2013 and 2018, having been declined application and appeal that have brought a case to the High Court on a point of law which is the suggested next step by SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48343/18]
View answerIf an individual applicant considers that s/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, s/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.
Following the full appeals process, a person who is aggrieved by a determination of the Appeals Board, can appeal to the High Court on a specified point of law under Section 21(6) of the Student Support Act 2011.
Between 2013 and 2018 a total of 9 applications have appealed to the High Court under Section 21(6) of the Student Support Act 2011.
239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to approve projects under the summer works scheme; if so, when such approvals will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48404/18]
View answer240. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if applications under the summer works scheme in the categories 7 to 10 will be considered in the next round of approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48405/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016 -2017 was applied on a multi-annual basis. The Deputy will be aware that nearly 50% of schools applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand.
Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the SWS, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website www.education.ie.
As the Deputy will be aware, Project Ireland 2040 included an announcement of a major package of investment in education for the next decade with the school building budget increasing by 70%. This investment will provide for the continued increase in demographics while also allowing for a greater focus on refurbishment and upgrading of existing school stock. In that context my Department is processing the remaining categories of project under SWS 2016-2017.
241. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a new school for an area (details supplied); the status of the latest planning application for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48417/18]
View answerThe school building project is to provide a new 16 no. classroom school with a 2 no. classroom Special Needs Unit together with all ancillary accommodation on the St. Tiernan's Community School site located at Parkvale, Balally, Dublin 16. An application for planning permission was lodged with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in September 2018. The decision from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council was to refuse planning permission. My Department's officials are currently reviewing this decision in consultation with planning advisors and technical team and assessing all options including the consideration of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
242. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of road traffic accidents reported since January 2013 to date in areas (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47780/18]
View answerAn Garda Síochána have informed me that, due to the manner in which such data is recorded on PULSE, it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy as identifying the exact area and circumstances would necessitate a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.
I understand that local authorities hold collision data for regional and local roads, while collision data for national roads is mapped and collated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the consideration of information submitted to his Department and subsequently acknowledged on 21 March 2018 in the case of a person (details supplied); the steps now required to be taken in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47671/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47676/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the new proposed courthouse in Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47688/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that, as part of its provincial capital building programme, one of the objectives is to provide improved court accommodation in Tralee which is one of a number of provincial city/county town venues nationwide still requiring new or upgraded courthouse accommodation and collectively these venues will be the next priority for investment in courthouse facilities outside the capital.
The Courts Service has advised that it envisages a courthouse comprising four courtrooms and related facilities (consultation rooms, custody facilities, facilities for juries and vulnerable witnesses, and legal practitioner’s suites) as being required to meet current and future needs in Tralee and that this will require a building significantly larger than the existing courthouse on Ashe Street. In terms of providing upgraded court accommodation the refurbishment, extension and development of existing courthouses has always been the Courts Service's preference. However, while this is an option for Tralee, the scope for refurbishing and developing the existing courthouse on Ashe Street to provide the envisaged accommodation is extremely limited due to the nature of the building and the constrained nature of the site.
The Courts Service has also advised that it is currently considering a number of options for Tralee Courthouse, including the level of extension and refurbishment achievable within the confines of the existing courthouse site; whether it would be feasible to acquire an adjacent town centre site and the degree of extension and refurbishment this would allow. Previous efforts to acquire adjacent sites on Ashe Street have not been successful as the sites could not be acquired at a price that represented value for money. A further option is to build a new modern courthouse on a greenfield/brownfield site and a number of potential sites are being considered in this regard. The Courts Service has informed me that a decision has not yet been made and that all options are under review.
The Courts Service has further advised that the Chief Executive of the Courts Service has recently met with the Chief Executive of Kerry County Council in Tralee to discuss the future provision of court facilities there.
A number of developments in relation to Courts Service accommodation requirements are outlined in the Government's recent National Development Plan 2018 -2027. They include:
- Further new or refurbished courthouses in regional cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard (including Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee and Roscommon) and further provincial locations such as An Clochan Liath (Dungloe) to serve as the Gaeltacht court for the region, and Tuam;
- Regional Family Law Centres;
- A nationwide condition survey of all court buildings in the estate will be undertaken to determine their condition and identify works required in relation to any issues identified and meet ongoing maintenance requirements.
The precise allocation and timing of additional funding over the entire ten year period remains to be fully determined. It will be dependent on the outcome of further detailed planning and analysis of costs which will determine prioritisation of projects from a timing and budgetary perspective.
