Written Answers Nos. 141-158
141. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to relocate civil servants who commute long distances to work using the bus or train that run the risk of infecting vulnerable members of their household on their return; if remote working can be put in place in all Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5713/20]
View answerGuidance issued by my Department states that, during this period of COVID-19, public service employers should facilitate flexible working including working from home, where possible, in circumstances where employees are living with at risk individuals. Where it is not possible to perform one’s role at home and the employee is required to attend a workplace as an essential worker, they should follow the HSE guidelines on social distancing to minimise risk of transmission. There are other flexible working options that employers can offer to employees in addition to home working arrangements e.g. staggered hours, wider opening hours. These measures can help facilitate segregation of the workforce and social distancing as well as support employees in managing caring responsibilities at home.
As per the Government announcements throughout March and April, everyone was required to stay at home in all circumstances until 18 May 2020, unless they met certain criteria, one of which is for the purposes of work for an essential service that cannot be done from home. Only essential workers who could not work from home were present in the physical workplace, and this remains the case until the easing of restrictions is implemented via the five phases of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. One of the principles in all five stages of the roadmap is that remote working is to continue for those who can do so and the civil and public service will be following this principle.
142. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of each of the Covid-19 measures per week since they were introduced in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6088/20]
View answerSince the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis, Government has put in place a number of expenditure measures to protect incomes, support businesses and ensure that our Health Service is in a position to provide a robust public health response. In particular, as outlined in the Stability Programme Update (SPU) the significant portion of the additional voted expenditure arising from the Covid-19 measures is across the Health and Employment Affairs and Social Protection Vote Groups. Further detail on the expenditure trends for these Departments is set out below.
In the area of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, there are a number of key measures. These include the Covid-19 Illness Benefit, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS). As outlined in the SPU, the estimated cost of these measures over a 12 week period is in the range of €4 billion to €4½ billion, with the introduction of the PUP and the TWSS reducing the level of expenditure on the Sick Pay and Illness Benefit Scheme over this period. In addition, as outlined in the SPU there will also be higher expenditure on income supports over the rest of 2020, reflecting the unemployment forecasts at that time.
The expenditure figures published with the March Exchequer Returns reflected expenditure in respect of the PUP and TWSS of over €0.1 billion, with the cumulative amount included in the April expenditure figures being over €1½ billion.
It is expected that 585,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment during the week commencing 18th May 2020, at a cost of just over €0.2 billion. The number of persons availing of the scheme and the weekly expenditure since its introduction up to 11 May are outlined in the following table:
|
Payment on |
Recipients |
Expenditure €m |
|
24th March 2020 |
58,739 |
11.9 |
|
31st March 2020 |
283,038 |
99.1 |
|
7th April 2020 |
497,626 |
174.2 |
|
14th April 2020 |
528,343 |
184.9 |
|
21st April 2020 |
583,317 |
204.2 |
|
28th April 2020 |
590,976 |
206.8 |
|
5th May 2020 |
602,106 |
210.7 |
|
11 May 2020 |
589,638 |
206.5 |
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection publishes detailed information on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on their website (most recent update available here:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a49552-update-on-payments-awarded-for-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-paymen/
on a regular basis. This includes details relating to the cost of the scheme, number of recipients as well as county and sector breakdown of payments. Details of payments on the Covid-19 Illness Benefit are also published.
In relation to the TWSS, since 9 April 2020 Revenue has published statistics on the operation of the TWSS on a regular basis. As outlined in the report published on 9 April, the cumulative value of payments made under the scheme at that point in time was €155 million. The Report published on 30 April outlined cumulative payments of €712 million. On 14 May, Revenue published updated and expanded statistical information in relation to the scheme. At that time the cumulative value of the payments under the scheme was €936 million. The statistics are available on the Revenue website.
www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/number-of-taxpayers-and-returns/covid-19-wage-subsidy-scheme-statistics.aspx
The data published include the cost of the scheme to date, numbers of employers and employees in receipt of payments under the scheme and breakdowns of the employee and employer numbers by size of business, sector of activity, location and number of employees. I am advised that Revenue is continuing to undertake further analysis of TWSS and will publish updated and expanded statistics on a regular basis. These updates will be published at the link noted above.
At end-April, gross voted current expenditure on the Health Vote was €6,160 million, which is €569 million or 10.2% ahead of profile, reflecting the response to Covid-19 in this sector. At the end of March, Health current expenditure was €205 million ahead of profile, reflecting an additional draw down by the Department of Health for the HSE in relation to Covid-19.
143. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 11 July 2019, if the latest information to date will be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6261/20]
View answerAs advised in previous replies to Questions No. 53934/18 of 18/12/2018, No. 17264/19 of 16/04/2019 and No. 251 of 11/07/2019, an applicant may express a preference for mobility for up to 3 out of 46 Zones with an option to apply for any, or all organisations in Zone 1 to Zone 45, and up to 5 organisations in Zone 46 (Dublin). Staff members can apply for mobility within their current zone as well as other zones. A number of mobility zones also have an option to include or exclude a choice of satellite towns.
There are currently 1,044 staff members (541 COs and 503 EOs), based in Zone 46 (Dublin), with applications for Mobility to organisations located outside of Dublin (see breakdown in table below).
There are 93 staff members (61COs and 32 EOs), based in locations outside of Dublin, with applications for mobility to organisations located in Zone 46.
Phase 2 of the scheme which will facilitate the general Civil Service grades of AO, HEO and AP for mobility will launch at a later date.
Further information on the Mobility scheme is available to view at
http://hr.per.gov.ie/civil-service-mobility/ .
|
Organisations |
CO |
EO |
Grand Total |
|
Agriculture, Food & Marine |
16 |
25 |
41 |
|
ATTORNEY GENERAL |
11 |
2 |
13 |
|
Business, Enterprise & Innov |
20 |
11 |
31 |
|
CENTRAL STATISTICS OFFICE |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
CHIEF STATE SOLICITOR |
8 |
3 |
11 |
|
Comms, Climate Action & Envir |
4 |
9 |
13 |
|
Comptroller & Auditor General |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
COURTS SERVICE |
15 |
23 |
38 |
|
Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
DEFENCE |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Department of Health |
15 |
8 |
23 |
|
Dept Children & Youth Affairs |
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
DIRECTOR PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS |
5 |
4 |
9 |
|
EDUCATION & SKILLS |
8 |
18 |
26 |
|
Emp Affairs-Social Protection |
70 |
74 |
144 |
|
FINANCE |
6 |
6 |
12 |
|
FOREIGN AFFAIRS & TRADE |
29 |
21 |
50 |
|
Garda Ombudsman |
3 |
5 |
8 |
|
Housing, Planning & Local Govt |
4 |
11 |
15 |
|
Human Rights Commission |
4 |
4 |
|
|
JUSTICE, EQUALITY & LAW REFORM |
69 |
63 |
132 |
|
LAND REGISTRY |
9 |
20 |
29 |
|
LEGAL AID BOARD |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Office of Gov Procurement |
7 |
3 |
10 |
|
OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
OMBUDSMAN |
3 |
3 |
6 |
|
Policing Authority |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Presidents Establishment |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Public Appointments Service |
7 |
7 |
14 |
|
Public Expenditure & Reform |
2 |
4 |
6 |
|
REVENUE COMMISSIONERS |
126 |
114 |
240 |
|
Rural & Community Development |
3 |
4 |
7 |
|
Shared Services Centre |
65 |
17 |
82 |
|
Taoiseach |
4 |
4 |
8 |
|
TRANSPORT |
11 |
14 |
25 |
|
VALUATION OFFICE |
3 |
3 |
6 |
|
Grand Total |
541 |
503 |
1044 |
144. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of progress of a flood relief scheme for Crossmolina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6318/20]
View answerThe Government and I are committed to delivering the Crossmolina flood relief scheme and good progress is being made by the Office of Public Works and Mayo County Council to achieve this. There have been some recent delays to the programme as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions mainly in relation to additional site investigative and environmental surveys but all involved have worked hard to keep the delays to a minimum. Survey works have now resumed.
The project team is currently finalising the documentation required for formal Confirmation of the Scheme by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. When the remaining survey work has been completed, the results will be incorporated into the final scheme documentation for submission to the Minister. It is anticipated currently that the scheme will be submitted for Confirmation in Q3 2020.
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter regarding a river that is blocked and eroding land in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6351/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and catchment drainage schemes designated under the Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995. The channel referred to does not form part of an Arterial Drainage Scheme. Therefore, the OPW has no responsibilities for the maintenance of the channel, nor the authority to carry out any works there.
146. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Garda stations within the Donegal Garda division that were refurbished by the OPW in 2019 and to date in 2020, in which the value of works was in excess of €5,000; the works carried out by station; if the works project is still ongoing or completed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6524/20]
View answerI can confirm that the Office of Public Works has carried out refurbishment works to a number of Garda Stations within the Donegal Division in 2019 and to date in 2020. Details of all works where the value was in excess of €5,000 are outlined in the table below and include works funded by both the Office of Public Works and An Garda Síochána.
|
Garda Station |
Works |
Year |
Ongoing /Complete |
|
Burnfoot GS |
Upgrade Oil Burner |
2019 |
Complete |
|
Carrick GS |
Attic Insulation & Associated works |
2020 |
Ongoing. Works on hold due to Covid 19 Restrictions |
|
Castlefin GS |
Site Works |
2020 |
Ongoing. Contract due to be placed after Covid 19 restrictions are lifted. |
|
Convoy GS |
Windows and Doors |
2020 |
Ongoing. Contract due to be placed after Covid 19 restrictions are lifted. |
|
Donegal Town GS |
Extension and Refurbishment of Station |
2019/2020 |
Ongoing, Works on hold due to Covid 19 Restrictions |
|
Killybegs GS |
Upgrade of Electrical Works |
2019 |
Complete |
|
Lifford GS |
Stone Façade Repair |
2019/2020 |
Ongoing, Works on hold due to Covid 19 restrictions. |
|
Letterkenny GS |
Re-surfacing of yard and planned fabric maintenance |
2019 |
Complete |
|
Letterkenny GS |
Lighting Upgrade Works – Energy Conservation |
2020 |
Ongoing, Works on hold due to Covid 19 restrictions |
|
Milford GS |
Cell and Prisoner Processing Upgrade works |
2019 |
Complete |
|
Milford GS |
Upgrade works to Sergeants office |
2019 |
Complete |
|
Milford GS |
Upgrade works to Public Office |
2019 |
Complete |
|
Raphoe GS |
Electrical Upgrade Works |
2019 |
Complete |
147. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6544/20]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera Flood Relief scheme is currently at the latter stages of outline design and the preferred option for the scheme is close to being finalised. The OPW and Cork County Council are continuing to engage proactively and a further meeting is expected for June 2020 to discuss details to bring this scheme forward to Public Exhibition.
My Office has engaged engineering consultants to finalise scheme drawings for the preferred option, and extensive face-to-face consultation has taken place between OPW engineers, member of the public and local stakeholders, with draft exhibition drawings and schedules currently being prepared.
Environmental surveys have been completed, with a view to completing the Environmental Impact Assessment shortly. The OPW is aware of the ‘high’ water quality status of the respective water body in the area around Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera. The Project Team is currently assessing the potential impact of any proposed flood relief measures in that respect, and engaging with the Project’s Environmental Consultants in order to ensure that suitable mitigation requirements are implemented, and appropriate processes to comply with statutory provisions are followed. This is obviously an important consideration, and resolving some outstanding issues is taking longer than had previously been envisaged. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the scheme can progress to Public Exhibition within the coming months.
When these stages are successfully completed and, provided the proposals are broadly accepted at Public Exhibition by the public and the stakeholders, the scheme will proceed to detailed design stage and formal Confirmation by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, following which construction can commence.
My Office continues to liaise with Cork County Council and local representatives and are very committed to progressing this Scheme.
In the interim, Cork County Council has been approved funding under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme; this includes approval of €10,000 in February 2012 for the removal of overhanging growth and other obstacles to the Sullane River 3.4 miles from Ballvourney bridge and an additional €187,248 approved in October 2018 for the provision of temporary flood defence measures.
148. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6977/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that details of the consultancy spend by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is regularly updated and published on gov.ie. In this context, details of this spend since the Department’s establishment in 2011 up to the end of April 2020 can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/8b97d6-consultancy-costs/
It is not possible to provide an average hourly rate, as some of the consultancy involves a fixed price for a project. Where the consultancy is based on an hourly rate, this varies considerably according to the type of consultancy procured and other factors.
While no specific expenditure caps are in place in respect of consultancy expenditure, my Department only uses consultancy services when the work in question cannot be done in-house. In addition, the Department's internal procurement policy provides that a procurement process for services over €5,000 may not be commenced without establishing a clear business need, obtaining a realistic estimate of the value of all phases of the service to be procured and confirming that the required budget has been approved and is in place. In this latter context, as part of the Department’s annual estimates process, business units within the Department are allocated an agreed budget within which they must deliver their public goods.
My Department has robust internal procedures to manage conflicts of interest in respect of procurement, including the procurement of consultancy services. Individual staff involved in procurement, among other things, must adhere to the Office of Government Procurement’s advice set out in its guidance note on Ethics in Public Procurement in relation to probity, transparency and accountability, the disclosure of conflicts of interest, and the acceptance of gifts of hospitality. Members of any Tender Evaluation Team set up in respect of a procurement are required to evaluate all tenders in a fair and unbiased fashion and in strict compliance with the evaluation methodology and the qualification and award criteria set out in the relevant tender documents and must sign the Department’s Declaration Regarding Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Undertaking before tender evaluation commences. In relation to the ongoing management of consultancy contracts, the obligations to disclose interests and the prohibitions on performing official functions imposed under the Ethics in Public Office Acts apply to all staff within the Department at Administrative Officer / Higher Executive Officer level and above.
I understand that the position in respect of other Departments will be provided by the relevant Ministers in separate replies.
149. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional mental health supports in place to support exam year students during the Covid-19 health emergency in each of the CHO areas [5801/20]
View answer163. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the proposed NEPS supports for exam year students since the outbreak of Covid-19; and the assessment mechanisms in place. [5626/20]
View answer292. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of specific counselling and mental health supports for leaving certificate students. [6409/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 163 and 292 together.
My Department has worked closely with the Department of Health and the HSE on the In This Together campaign which aims to help everyone in Ireland to Stay Connected, Stay Active, and look after their Mental Wellbeing throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The In This Together campaign draws together the huge range of advice and support that is available for people of all ages. To support the wellbeing and mental health of our Leaving Certificate students at this time, a dedicated page on the In This Together site contains online advice for Leaving Certificate students. This webpage includes a series of supports on managing wellbeing, stress and anxiety, developed by NEPS. The webpage also includes links to more individualised support for students to access, should these be needed. It is recognised that some vulnerable groups of students may require a more focused, stepped-up level of intervention and the Department has worked with the Department of Health and HSE to ensure the most appropriate services and resources are clearly signposted for those students. A planning group has been established by my colleague, the Minister for Health and includes representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, and the NGO sector, in recognition of the fact that prior to, during and following national emergencies there is a need to support certain members of the population with their emotional, cognitive, social and physical needs.
The stepped care approach recognises that at present, there already exists services that offer online text and telephone supports to people seeking mental health information and advice. These include the Samaritans; Pieta House; MyMind; Turn2Me; Aware; Crisis Text Ireland; Shine; BeLongTo; LGBT Ireland; Jigsaw; Bodywhys and Childline. The YourMentalHealth.ie website provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ portal for people seeking information, supports and services, including information on accessing urgent help and a mental health text messaging support service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days each week to connect people with trained volunteers. These services augment the work of NEPS and assist students who may be feeling anxious at this time. In addition, additional support services have been identified for the general population that can assist students and their families at this time.
During this challenging time the school building may be closed but schools have structures in place to support students. It has often been the case, that the first port of call for Leaving Certificate students who are experiencing distress has been their school. Schools have developed excellent and flexible systems of support. Many schools have a designated Student Support Team, while other schools have equivalent systems and structures, but may use different terminology to describe their arrangements, such as ‘Care Team’ or ‘Pastoral Care Team’. Either way, the structures schools have in place will continue to have a key role identifying issues and students for discussion by the Student Support Team with appropriate action/ follow-up. In these uncertain times, the familiarity of these school structures and personnel will offer continuity and reassurance to students. A guidance document for Post-Primary Schools on supporting the wellbeing of students and the role of Student Support Teams has been published by my Department.
NEPS psychologists continue to be available to provide advice and support to school principals, teachers and school communities. NEPS provides consultation for school staff who may have concerns about individual students. NEPS supports schools in putting interventions in place for students with identified difficulties and in signposting to more specialist support, when needed, including onward referral to the HSE and other local mental health services.
NEPS is proactively exploring a number of innovative ways to continue to provide educational psychological services to school communities at this time.
150. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that private bus operators that undertake school runs will be provided the same 50% payment as those operating under Bus Éireann contracts. [6023/20]
View answer151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if taxi drivers subcontracted by Bus Éireann to drive a taxi on a school run are to be recompensated by 70% of their earnings and not the 50% they are currently receiving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6370/20]
View answer160. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has engaged with school transport scheme operators to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on services; and the supports now in place for operators to sustain service provision when schools reopen. [5623/20]
View answer221. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that private bus operators that undertake school runs will be provided the same 50% payment as those operating under Bus Éireann contracts. [6039/20]
View answer320. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered an approach made in writing to the Minister of State with special responsibility for training, skills, innovation, research and development by an organisation (details supplied) for financial support for transport operators privately hired to undertake school transport work; the position of his Department on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6557/20]
View answer365. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place for private contractors working on the school transport scheme; if it will be ensured it is equal to that of public providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6771/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 151, 160, 221, 320 and 365 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
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.
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
Following the initial announcement that schools would be closed from the 13th to the 29th March to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, and in light of the exceptional circumstances, it was agreed that school transport contractors operating on the School Transport Scheme would be paid at the normal rate for the period up to 29th March 2020. It was further decided that a payment of 50% would be afforded for the week commencing Monday 30th March until Friday 3rd April 2020. Thereafter, the normal arrangements applied for the period of scheduled school closures associated with the Easter Holidays (6th April – 17th April inclusive). It was subsequently agreed that contractors should be paid for a further 5 days at 50% to cover the period Monday 20th April to Friday 24th.
In light of the most recent announcement that schools will remain closed until the end of current school year it has been decided that contractors will continue to be paid at 50% while schools are closed in the current school year.
My Department is not in a position to provide funding for private bus contractors not contracted to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
152. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports being given to educational-based tourism groups and companies which are suffering a financial loss as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6595/20]
View answerMy Department is conscious of the issues in the English language education sector arising from the Covid-19 outbreak and has established a Covid-19 Working Group for this sector. This group is comprised of representatives of relevant Government Departments and representatives of both students and English language education providers.
As part of the wider Covid-19 response, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support businesses at this time. These measures include a temporary wages subsidy scheme to facilitate employers to keep employees on the payroll throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in order to retain this link for when business increases after the crisis. This scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and is available to providers in the English language education sector. Additionally for those staff in this sector who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, they are eligible to apply for the Government’s Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
The Department has also published guidance for all students in this sector in multiple languages and has distributed it through the English language education providers to their students using relevant channels. This material provides guidance for these students in relation to health advice about Covid-19, measures taken in relation to their immigration status and information on available social protection supports.
The Department continues to engage with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to provide further support to students and providers in this sector.
153. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish a return to work safely protocol for builders, plumbers and electricians who work in domestic homes; and if he will confirm within which phase of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business these specific employers and employees can return to return to work in domestic homes. [6850/20]
View answerThe Return to Work Safely Protocol was published on 9 May 2020 by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and queries in regard to its application to any particular sector are appropriate to her Department.
In regard to the education sector, there were circa 200 projects on site in early 2020 and in accordance with public health advice, work on projects ceased in March 2020. In line with Government roadmap published on the 1st May 2020, the construction sector has been re-mobilising from May 18th.
In general construction sites are opening up on a phased basis, the following sequence of events being typical:
- Staff briefings in relation to Covid 19 duties
- Thorough walk of the site by site management and safety representatives
- Analysis of works operations, element by element, to ensure that works can be carried out in accordance with public health requirements
- Installation of enhanced welfare facilities (toilets, canteen facilities, drying facilities, sanitising stations, etc.) and arrangement of enhanced cleaning regime
- Installation of Covid related signage, ground markings, etc.
- Setting up induction process for all returning staff
- Engagement with sub-contractors
- Engagement with suppliers of materials
- Gradual return of staff building up over a period of weeks to full staff main contractor and sub-contractor cohorts.
154. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has engaged the use of external consultants from 1 January 2020 to date; the details and costs of such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5528/20]
View answerInformation in relation to consultancy expenditure in my Department is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. The data in respect of 2020 will be available in early 2021.
155. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process by which his Department is monitoring the implementation of education plans for children with special educational needs in view of ongoing school closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5544/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that all schools are encouraged to use Individual Education Plans to assist in providing educational supports for children with special educational needs. The Department of Education and Skills Inspectorate's advice is that the majority of schools are now using some form of individual education planning for children with special needs. The Guidelines for schools on implementing the special education teacher allocation model advises schools as to the importance of ensuring that student support plans or educational plans are in place.
My Department has issued a range of guidance for schools on how to provide for continuing education for pupils over the current school closure period. Additional guidance has also been provided specifically on how schools should provide for the continuity of education for children with special educational needs.
This guidance is available at:
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/guidance-continuity-of-schooling-supporting-pupils-with-sen-primary.pdf
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/guidance-continuity-of-schooling-supporting-students-with-sen-post-primary.pdf
The guidance notes that there is a particular need for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) to have regular, ongoing schooling. While all pupils need to be supported to maintain their engagement in learning, those with SEN are among those who need most support at this time. Examples of strategies and measures to ensure that the needs of pupils with SEN are catered for, are provided in the guidance documents and a range of resources are also identified for parents.
The guidance sets out the role of the special education teacher to support children with special educational needs at this time. It notes that the special education teachers knowledge of their pupils’ priority learning needs and agreed targets, as outlined in the pupil support file, will enable them to work with parents and guardians to choose appropriate supports in a remote learning environment.
Special Education Teachers (SETs) are asked to carefully examine how progress on the existing learning targets in student support plans can be reasonably extended by home learning. They are asked to use this knowledge to communicate with the pupils and their parents and guardians and to establish what methods will work best to achieve continuity of learning for the pupils.
Schools should review the pupil’s support plans to identify aspects of the programme that can be worked on in the home environment and are advised that planning should be pupil focused and aligned with the learning targets as set out in the support file for the pupil.
The school leadership team will have a key role in monitoring and affirming the whole-school effort to ensure consistency and promote sharing of practice. This team, comprising the principal and those with assigned management or coordination duties are advised to encourage and supporting teachers as they develop their practices towards distance learning for pupils with SEN.
156. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of ICT equipment to students following the announcement of a €10 million fund; the funds released to schools to date; if procurement of equipment through his Department has commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5545/20]
View answerAs part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a further €40m has recently been issued.
The additional €10m ICT funding issuing over the coming days is also part of the broader Digital Strategy investment. The funding is to assist schools to support students at risk of educational disadvantage due to school closures. Schools have been asked to use this funding to address situations where students are disadvantaged in their engagement with the schools remote teaching and learning due to lack of access to digital devices.
This ICT Grant funding issues to schools, as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements. Decisions as to what equipment is to be acquired and procurement of same is the responsibility of schools. While students, pupils and teachers can engage with remote learning using devices including Desktop PCs, Tablets and Chromebooks for example, for those schools who have determined that laptops are required and in order to ameliorate current laptop supply situation for schools, the Department has advised schools of two mechanisms to aggregate purchase orders from schools for laptops under centralised bulk provisioning processes. The generation of a bulk order will enable prioritisation of laptops orders with manufacturers, and so expedite delivery over and above timelines that are generally available at present. These mechanisms are Single Provider Frameworks for the provision of Dell and HP laptops respectively, established based on OGP Frameworks, and meet technical and procurement requirements for schools. Information regarding OGP Frameworks for the provision of other relevant equipment for schools has also been provided via the circulars governing the ICT Grant scheme.
Full details regarding the funding are set out in Circulars 0031/2020 (€40m funding) and 0032/2020 (€10m funding) which are available on the Department’s website at
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Circulars-and-Forms/ .
157. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he sought or received advice on the integrity of a delayed leaving certificate exam; if so, if the advice will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5546/20]
View answerI established the Advisory Group for Contingency Planning for State Examinations 2020 to identify and advise myself, the Department and the State Examinations Commission on arrangements for the running of the 2020 state examinations, the certification of students’ learning in 2020 and any consequential actions arising. The Group contains representatives of students, parents, teachers, school management bodies as well as the Department and its agencies.
Every effort was made to run the 2020 Leaving Certificate as close as possible to the way the examinations were originally intended to be held. However, based on public health advice and other assessments, I concluded that the Leaving Certificate examinations could not be held in a reliable and valid manner, nor in a way that would be equitable for students, In July and August.
Many different scenarios were considered by the Group, such as online exams, shortened papers, and fewer examinations. None of these options would have been as fair an assessment as the Calculated Grades model. They would also have been markedly different from previous Leaving Certificate examinations and from what students and their teachers are familiar with and have been preparing for in terms of structure, format and content, over the past two years. Changes like those would have called into question the validity of the state examinations this year.
The notes of the meetings of the advisory group are available on my Department’s website and are published once approved by the group at subsequent meetings.
158. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to consider an arrangement for children with extra needs, such as autism, to return to school between now and September 2020 as it would greatly benefit such children that rely on structure and normality. [5583/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that decisions in relation to schools re-opening and operating will be underpinned by the ongoing advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health.
Engagement is underway with stakeholders in the education sector to develop contingency plans for the re-opening and operation of schools, including schools for children with Autism, in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements.
This work will be informed by the National Return to Work Safely Protocol as well as guidance and experience from other jurisdictions. A core objective of the contingency plans will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can re-open and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.
The issues are also being considered by the Primary Education Forum which includes all stakeholders in the sector and it will also be addressed by the Advisory Group which involves representatives of stakeholders from the post-primary sector.
In the interim, my Department has provided a range of support and guidance for schools on how to provide for the continuing education for pupils over the current school closure period.
Supports are provided to schools and teachers engaged in distance learning and these are available at https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/#14
In addition to the general guidance that has been provided for schools, additional support material has also been provided specifically on how schools should provide for the continuity of education for children with special educational needs. This guidance is available at:
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/guidance-continuity-of-schooling-supporting-pupils-with-sen-primary.pdf
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/guidance-continuity-of-schooling-supporting-students-with-sen-post-primary.pdf
The guidance notes that there is a particular need for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) to have regular, ongoing schooling. While all pupils need to be supported to maintain their engagement in learning, those with SEN are among those who need most support at this time. Examples of strategies and measures to ensure that the needs of pupils with SEN are catered for, are provided in the guidance documents and a range of resources are also identified for parents.
It sets out the role of schools and teachers in engaging with pupils with SEN and the role of teachers and school leaders to support such pupils. It advises schools as to how best to keep in touch with parents and guardians and how to keep pupils with SEN safe and engaged in the distance learning environment.
The guidance sets out the role of the special education teacher to support children with special educational needs at this time. It notes that the special education teacher’s knowledge of their pupils’ priority learning needs and agreed targets, as outlined in the pupil support file, will enable them to work with parents and guardians to choose appropriate supports in a remote learning environment.
Special Education Teachers (SETs) are asked to carefully examine how progress on the existing learning targets in student support plans can be reasonably extended by home learning. They are asked to use this knowledge to communicate with the pupils and their parents and guardians and to establish what methods will work best to achieve continuity of learning for the pupils.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is also providing a range of online resources for parents and teachers to support home learning for children with special educational needs during the Covid 19 restrictions.
In addition to the normal supports, the NCSE is providing online resources for children with Special Educational Needs who are at home as a result of the schools’ closure.
Supports provided include those relating to general learning and difficulties for pupils with SEN, Curriculum support, speech language and communication, occupational therapy support, guidance around behaviour, and learning and resources on ‘Visiting Teachers Support’ for a teacher who
teaches children with sensory impairment
Details of the full range of supports that the NCSE provides for teachers and parents is available at:
https://ncse.ie/online-resources
The Department of Education and Skills’ NEPS psychologists have also developed advice and resources for young people to manage and stay well when schools are closed. The NEPS advice & resources for keeping children and young people well during Covid-19 are available at https://www.education.ie/covid19/wellbeing/
Guidelines for continued provision of Guidance Counselling and resources available to support practice is available at
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Post-Primary-School-Policies/Policies/Guidance-Plan.html
Guidance for parents of primary school pupils, which sets out what they should expect in relation to engagement in distance learning from schools, and how they can support their child in a home schooling environment is also available at:
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/continuity-of-schooling/continuity-of-schooling.html
I also recently announced that a special €10 million fund is being made available to support the purchase of technology and devices for disadvantaged students, including students with special educational needs.
This is additional to the latest round of funding for ICT under the Digital Strategy for Schools whereby €40m grant funding will be distributed in the coming weeks to eligible. €10m additional funding is also now issuing to schools to support children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage during the period of school closures.
While recognising the difficulty that school closure has had for parents and pupils, particularly in relation to pupils with special educational needs, my Department will continue to support and encourage schools to provide as much continuity of education as possible for such pupils, while continuing to engage with public health officials and stakeholders in relation to when schools may re-open and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.
