Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 14 May 2019

Written Answers Nos. 187-200

School Transport Provision

Questions (187)

Catherine Martin

Question:

187. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to expand the provision of school bus services to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20749/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

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

Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2019/20 school year.

Bus Éireann is currently considering applications for the 2019/20 school year. The number and size of buses operating for the 2019/20 school year will be determined by the number of children who apply and are deemed eligible for school transport.

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

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (188)

Catherine Martin

Question:

188. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on the distance a student must live from a school in order to qualify for the provision of a place on a school bus service; and his views on the matter in view of the commitments to tackle climate change and in the context of an overall goal to reduce the use of private cars for transport. [20750/19]

View answer

Written answers

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

There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

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

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from the child’s home to the relevant school. The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

My Department allocates a significant amount of funding each year to provide transport services through the School Transport Scheme. In doing so, this likely displaces a number of road vehicle journeys which would otherwise take place.

There are currently no plans to amend the distance criteria of the School Transport Scheme.

School Playgrounds

Questions (189)

Robert Troy

Question:

189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been refused funding for the purposes of repairing the outdoor play area. [20763/19]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has no record of an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for works to repairing an outdoor play area.

My Department did receive an Emergency Works Scheme application for repairs to the mechanical and heating system in the school. This was refused as it was a request for retrospective funding of unapproved works.

Minor Works Scheme

Questions (190)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

190. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 6 December 2018, the reason category 10 under the summer works scheme was not approved; the further detailed analysis required for category 10; if this analysis can be expedited sooner than the estimated timeframe of 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20803/19]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy is aware the Summer Works Scheme (SWS), which is demand based, is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary and immediate improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities. To date in excess of €117 million has been approved for 1,006 schools in respect of Categories 1 to 9 under the last SWS.

347 applications under Category 10 which covers (External Works e.g. upgrade and resurfacing of yards and car parking etc.) were received under the last SWS. Given the scale of costs involved more detailed analysis of these applications is required to determine the pathway forward. It is intended to undertake this analysis later this year. Funding availability for SWS in 2020 will determine the extent of projects that can be approved from the remaining Category 10 applications from the old scheme and the first cohort of applications under the new scheme which is currently open for applications.

Technological Universities Status

Questions (191)

James Browne

Question:

191. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a technological university for the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20848/19]

View answer

Written answers

It is a matter for the relevant Institutes of Technology in a technological university (TU) development consortium to lead on the progression of their plans to seek designation as a TU under the Technological Universities Act 2018.

In relation to the Technological University for South East Ireland (TUSEI) consortium comprising Waterford Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Carlow, both institutes are committed to achieving TU status.

The Department understands that the TUSEI consortium is working towards the submission of an application for TU designation under the 2018 Act later this year.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (192)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

192. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified for a school (details supplied); his plans to provide permanent accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20849/19]

View answer

Written answers

I can confirm Department officials are working to put a solution for the school's permanent accommodation in place at the earliest possible date. Unfortunately it is not possible to indicate a timeline for the confirmation of a location for the school at this point but I can assure the Deputy that the patron will be informed as soon as it is possible to do so.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (193)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new school building will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; if the site for the new school has been acquired; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20870/19]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.

Negotiations with relevant landowners in respect of the potential acquisition of the zoned post primary school site in the relevant area are currently underway. These discussions are at a very advanced stage.

Once a site is secured, the project to deliver the school's new accommodation can progress into architectural planning.

Prison Accommodation

Questions (194)

Clare Daly

Question:

194. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to address prison overcrowding in view of the fact that the number of prisoners in prisons here has risen to 4,049 in April 2019 from 3,890 in April 2018. [20349/19]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that current penal policy is largely informed by the recommendations of the Penal Policy Review Group (PPRG) report from 2014. The PPRG advocated an approach to crime and the penal system, emphasising rehabilitation and advocating for an improved penal system, the reduction of reliance on imprisonment as a sanction and an increased focus on alternatives.

One of its recommendations is the adoption of a strategy to reduce prisoner numbers to a safe level, subject to the need to ensure proper protection of the public. This strategy is currently being developed and is also being informed by the Oireachtas Justice Committee Report 2018 on Penal Policy.

I can further advise the Deputy that there has been significant progress in several areas relating to alternatives to custody.

The Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011, requires judges, when considering imposing a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months or less, to first consider the appropriateness of community service as an alternative to imprisonment.

In 2017, the Probation Service managed 2215 Community Service Orders.

The Probation Service piloted Integrated Community Service in 2016, the model allows for the use of up to one third of Community Service hours to facilitate participants’ attendance at programmes that address the issues connected with their offending behaviour, i.e. education/training, addiction/drug treatment, counselling, community work and group work.

Community Return is an initiative whereby carefully selected prisoners, serving sentences from one to eight years, can be granted reviewable temporary release coupled with a requirement to do community service work. Since its inception, 2,279 prisoners have been released to take part in this scheme. There were also 2,460 prisoners serving sentences between 3 and 12 months released to take part in the Community Support Scheme.

The Joint Agency Response to Crime (JARC) project which is in operation since 2016 involves an intense and highly collaborative approach by agencies to the supervision and rehabilitation of prolific offenders in particular areas of Dublin and beyond.

The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, was enacted in April 2014 and commenced on 11 January 2016. It will ensure that there are sufficient alternatives available to courts to reduce the need to commit anyone to prison for the non-payment of fines.

I can inform the Deputy that the total number of prisoners in custody on 14 May 2019 was 4,016 compared with a bed capacity of 4,244. This represents an occupancy level of 95%. I can also advise the Deputy that according to the most recent snapshot of the prison population taken on 30 April 2019 the provisional figure for committal to prison is 3,165, which is an increase of 422 or 15.4% from the same time last year when the figure for committals from 1 January 2018 to 30 April was 2,743.

It has to be acknowledged that the Irish Prison Service does not have the option of refusing committals and must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts. The prison system is, of course, subject to peaks and troughs. Numbers are particularly high when the Courts are at their busiest, giving rise to a high number of committals. As a result, almost all of the closed institutions are operating at or near full capacity.

Where the number of prisoners exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, my officials make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.

I am advised that plans are advanced for the re-opening of accommodation not currently being used within the system, including the re-opening of the Training Unit which itself will provide approximately an additional 90 spaces.

In addition, an audit of existing accommodation is underway, in order to identify where additional spaces can be brought on stream with the potential to provide in excess of an additional 100 spaces.

I have also recently signed a construction contract for the female prison in Limerick as well as a new wing to Limerick male prison. Together, they will provide 130 new spaces.

I regret the reversal of the trend towards lower prisoner numbers, however, the Deputy will appreciate that I must be respectful of the independence of the judiciary and their total discretion in deciding whether or not to imprison persons appearing before the Courts.

Court Judgments

Questions (195)

Mick Barry

Question:

195. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 273 of 29 November 2017 and 168 of 25 October 2018, if he will report on developments in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20351/19]

View answer

Written answers

As I indicated in previous responses to Parliamentary Questions from the Deputy on this matter, I am aware of the case referred to.

I would however again point out to that I was not a party to the legal proceedings referred to.

I am informed that the Chief State Solicitor's Office and An Garda Síochána continue to engage in relation to the matter.

Garda Equipment

Questions (196)

Seán Fleming

Question:

196. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a project (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20391/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will appreciate that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of the resources at his disposal. Decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources are a matter for the Commissioner, in accordance with operational need and policing priorities. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.

I have asked the Commissioner for the information requested and when it is received I will write directly to the Deputy.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 196 for answer on 14 May 2019 in which the Deputy asked when the kennelling at the homes of members of An Garda Síochána dog handlers will be completed.
The Deputy will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact him again when the information was available.
As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner in light of identified operational demands. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Dog Unit is based at Kilmainham Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and has a national remit. I am pleased to confirm that dog units have also been established in the Southern Region based at Togher Garda Station, Cork, and Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick. I understand that facilities for a future regional dog unit have also been included in the Western Region Garda Headquarters, Galway.
I am informed that as of May 2019, 27 dogs are attached to the Garda Dog Unit, comprising general purpose (search), drugs and explosive detection dogs. I understand that 20 of these dogs are located in the DMR and 7 are located in the Southern Region.
I am further informed that An Garda Síochána is currently seeking to progress this kennelling project in conjunction with the Office of Public Works. Two structures were erected in 2018 and agreement has been reached with the OPW to provide kennels to the remaining members of the Garda Dog Unit.
I trust that this information is of assistance.

Student Visas Data

Questions (197)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

197. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of decisions made to date in the special student scheme 2005 to 2010; and when he expects decisions to be made in all of the 3,100 applications. [20399/19]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that significant progress has been made in relation to processing applications under the Special Scheme for Students. To date, INIS has made a decision in approximately 1,250 cases.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Special Student Scheme caseload is complex and must be processed in accordance with the scheme criteria and relevant legal requirements. I am assured that INIS continues to optimise available resources, including the provision of overtime, with the overarching objective of delivering sound decisions to all applicants under the scheme as soon as possible.

Garda Resources

Questions (198)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

198. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the staff level at each of the Garda stations in the mid-western area of Dublin (details supplied); and the additional Garda resources these stations are due to receive in 2019 and 2020. [20402/19]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.

Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,600 Garda recruits have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, of whom 233 were assigned to the DMR West Division.

The Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána to €1.76 billion for 2019, which includes provision for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí this year. The Commissioner has informed me that he plans to recruit a total of 600 trainee Gardaí in 2019 and 600 Garda Civilian Staff. This Garda Staff recruitment will allow the Commissioner to redeploy a further 500 fully trained Gardaí from administrative duties to frontline policing in 2019.

I believe that the injection of this large number of experienced officers into the field, along with the new recruits, will be really beneficial in terms of protecting communities. This and on-going recruitment will clearly provide the Commissioner with the resources needed to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí to deliver a visible effective and responsive policing service to communities across all Garda Divisions including the DMR West Division.

The Garda strength of the DMR West Division, from 2009 to 31 March 2019 as provided by the Garda Commissioner is available on my Department’s website through the following link.

http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_March_2019.xlsx/Files/002_Garda_Numbers_by_Division_District_and_Station_2009_to_March_2019.xlsx

For more general information on Garda Facts and Figures please see the following link: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Questions (199)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

199. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average time Garda vetting is taking for applicants to An Garda Síochána; the reason for the delay with this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20416/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including the vetting of applications to become a member of the organisation, and I as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

In respect of recruitment to An Garda Síochána, given the nature of the employment, checks secondary to vetting are also required to be carried out and these can take some time to be completed. However, I am assured by the Garda Authorities that every effort is made to ensure there is no undue delay in this process being carried out.

There are a number of stages to be completed in the Competition for Selection of Garda Trainees, including Vetting. I am informed by the Garda authorities that such vetting may take from 6 weeks to 6 months generally depending on a number of factors. In a number of instances, it is necessary to conduct further enquiries. These enquiries are conducted for a multitude of reasons such as verification of identity; updating of incomplete records; and establishing outcomes of investigations. In such instances processing times are significantly longer than the general average. All components have to be completed before an applicant is deemed to be considered suitable and eligible to be recruited to An Garda Síochána.

Positions in the Garda College are only offered when all stages of the application process are completed and in accordance with one’s place on the Order of Merit. There is no set timeframe for offers to applicants as this is dependent on their files being fully completed and the intake dates into the Garda College.

Garda Equipment

Questions (200)

Michael McGrath

Question:

200. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the age of the computer-aided despatch system used by An Garda Síochána; his plans to upgrade or invest in a new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20427/19]

View answer

Written answers

There has been an unprecedented level of investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, in support of the Government’s commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country. The budgetary allocation to An Garda Síochána for 2019 is €1.76 billion. Significant capital investment is also being made in An Garda Síochána, including a total of €342 million being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 and a total of €46 million being invested in the Garda fleet over the same period.

Decisions in relation to the provision, allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I understand however, that a wide range of programmes are being pursued with the benefit of the ongoing substantial investment in Garda ICT infrastructure.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the computer aided despatch (CAD) system currently in use in An Garda Síochána was originally installed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in 1987 and that the system was substantially upgraded in 2010. I am informed that the CAD system is fully operational and a current support and maintenance agreement is in place with the system supplier.

CAD is a key enabler for the Garda Control Room Strategy, under which An Garda Síochána is streamlining the number of control rooms, managing first contact and incident response nationwide. The system supports regional control rooms serving the Dublin Metropolitan Region and Eastern Region, the Western and Northern Region and the Southern Region, with the South Eastern Region planned for go-live later this year.

In line with the Implementation Plan for the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland - A Policing Service for the Future - it is planned to procure a new CAD system to support the regional control room structure and replace the existing system. It will incorporate the latest control room technology, including mapping, mobile computing, automatic vehicle and person location, and digital radio and telephone integration.

As the Deputy will appreciate, so as not to compromise the procurement process of the new CAD system, I am unable to provide any further details in that regard.

Top
Share