Written Answers Nos. 473-492
473. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence his plans to address the high rate of turnover in the Defence Forces; his further plans to return the Defence Forces to full operational strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22408/20]
View answer474. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies by rank in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22409/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together.
The table below details the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by rank, as of the 31st July 2020:
|
Establishment |
Strength (WTE) |
Vacancies/Over Establishment |
|
|
LT GEN |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
MAJ GEN |
2 |
2 |
- |
|
BRIG GEN |
8 |
8 |
- |
|
COL |
39 |
39 |
- |
|
LT COL |
139 |
136 |
-3 |
|
COMDT |
336 |
340 |
+4 |
|
CAPT |
452 |
341 |
-111 |
|
LT |
256 |
359 |
+103 |
|
TOTAL OFFICERS |
1,233 |
1,226 |
-7 |
|
SM |
43 |
41 |
-2 |
|
BQMS |
43 |
43 |
- |
|
CS |
246 |
234 |
-12 |
|
CQMS |
198 |
198 |
- |
|
SGTS |
1,330 |
1,060 |
-270 |
|
CPLS |
1,801 |
1,423 |
-378 |
|
TOTAL NCO's |
3,661 |
2,999 |
-662 |
|
PTES |
4,606 |
4,102 |
-504 |
|
CADETS |
- |
85 |
+85 |
|
TOTAL |
9,500 |
8,412 |
-1,088 |
Turnover levels in the Permanent Defence Force are being carefully monitored and the table above indicates where vacancies exist at present. A minus value in a cell indicates that the given rank is below establishment by that figure. A plus value in a cell indicates that the given rank is above establishment by this figure
The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015) and, in that context, recruitment and inductions have resumed taking public health guidelines into account. A campaign to re-enlist former members of the Permanent Defence Force, to fill certain vacancies, is also underway. Additionally, vacancies are also filled on an ongoing basis through promotion competitions.
The report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) of 2019 contains a range of recommendations aimed at improving recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. A High Level Plan to give effect to the recommendations of the PSPC is currently being implemented.
The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments aimed at stabilising and restoring the strength of the Defence Forces. A Commission on the Defence Forces will be established and it is intended that on completion of the Commission's work, a permanent pay review body for the Defence Forces will be established.
475. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to his Department in civil service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22477/20]
View answerAs of the 4th of September 2019, the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to the Department of Defence outside Dublin city is 25. These are individual spaces within the Department's buildings at the locations listed in the below table. As Deputies will appreciate, the number of vacant desks changes on an ongoing basis given staff turnover, retirements and new recruits.
The number of vacant desk spaces reported below is also based on the office configuration of the Department's buildings pre Covid 19. The Department is currently facilitating both Social Distancing and Covid19 Restriction Guidelines which is not factured into these figures.
|
Location |
Number of vacant desk spaces |
|
Newbridge |
21 |
|
Galway |
0 |
|
Roscrea |
4 |
476. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a schedule of advisers, special advisers and seconded civil servants working in his Department appointed and or recruited and or in an acting capacity; the roles and responsibilities attributed to each; and the salary scale for each role in tabular form. [22525/20]
View answerSince being appointed as Minister for Defence I have not appointed any advisers, special advisers or seconded civil servants in that role.
Within the wider Department there are civil servants seconded to individual areas of work including analysis, HR, legal, and procurement roles in the grades of Advisory Counsel, Assistant Principal, and Higher Executive Officer.
477. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of special advisers that will be hired by his Department. [22784/20]
View answerMy Department does not intend to hire special advisers at this point.
478. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if the newly appointed general secretary of Education and Training Board Ireland has accepted the permanent post while maintaining their previous permanent post as chief executive of the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board; and the reason she is standing over the decision taken to facilitate the newly appointed general secretary in holding two permanent posts (details supplied) in view of the fact the holding of two permanent posts in the public service is unheard of. [21298/20]
View answerEducation and Training Board Ireland (ETBI) is the representative body for the ETB sector and not a body under the aegis of my Department.
I understand that the General Secretary post of ETBI was advertised by the Public Appointments Service in June 2020 and the candidate information booklet set out the skills and competencies required by applicants for the post. The booklet also advised that the board of ETBI were open to considering applicants on the basis of secondment from their present posts where such applicants were employed in the public service. It is not unusual for such posts to include secondment options.
In this case, my Department were advised that the successful candidate had been in a senior position in an ETB and would be seconded from their ETB to the ETBI post. This secondment is initially for a period of one year. This person therefore does not hold two permanent jobs.
In line with the requirements of public sector appointments, in early August my Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and approval was given to the ETB where the successful candidate is employed to commence the process of filling the senior post there in an acting capacity. My Department understands the competition to fill that acting post has now concluded with the successful appointee taking up the role on 7 September 2020.
479. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the measures that will be taken to ensure that applicants to the PEMP that had registered for qualifying exams which were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rescheduled for January 2021 thus preventing applicants from taking up their places will be facilitated in taking up their course places. [21743/20]
View answerAs indicated in a previous reply to a question on this matter, I understand that the Deputy is referring to applicants to the Primary Initial Teacher Education PME programme and also that the exam being referred to is undertaken by some applicants who do not have the relevant Leaving Certificate grade to meet the Minimum Entry Requirements in Irish for entry to those Primary PME programmes.
The relevant Leaving Certificate Grade is a H5 in Irish. This Minimum Entry Requirement in Irish, along with requirements in English and Maths, is in place to ensure that primary teachers have the capacity to lead learning in these vital areas.
This exam which was postponed is just one of the list of equivalences to the Minimum Entry Requirement Leaving Certificate grade in Irish. Completed applications to the four State-Primary PME Initial Teacher Education programmes must have been received by the end of March this year, with applicants needing to meet all the entry requirements by 6th July for a September start date.
It is solely a matter for the HEIs to make decisions on whether applicants to their programmes meet the entry requirements.
480. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if home tutors will be entitled to an insurable status and entitled to pensionability for their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22000/20]
View answerMy Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.
In accordance with instructions from the Revenue Commissioners, payments under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source. In order to facilitate parents, my Department acts solely as payroll agents on behalf of the parents/guardian.
Any further queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners.
The Department of Social Protection has determined that Home Tutors are engaged under a contract for service and are therefore self-employed and subject to PRSI Class S. Any further queries in relation to PRSI Class should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.
481. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education when the payment system for school transport will reopen to allow students to purchase school bus tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22564/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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.
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.
The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who applied and paid by the deadline have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
The School Transport Scheme Family Portal was temporarily closed for applications and payments on the 20th August 2020. This temporary closure was necessary to complete the work required to issue tickets to families who at that time remained due to be allocated a ticket for school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
The School Transport Scheme Family Portal has now re-opened. However, parents/guardians making an application/payment at this time for the 2020/2021 school year are reminded that the closing date for payments for the 20/21 school year was Tuesday 4 August 2020. While it is possible to submit a payment, payments made at this time are now late. Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
In addition, payments for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4 August 2020 will be only considered when 50% capacity, required by new Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route. The timeframe for this will vary from route to route and may take a number of weeks to complete.
In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.
482. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if additional school transport will be provided to cover the 50% capacity currently on school transport; if so, when Bus Éireann will communicate same to the school bus operators in view of the fact schools have already resumed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22565/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, my Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021school year to fully operate, but with additionalmeasures and hygiene requirements in place. The Department has been engaging intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year.
Updated health advice was received from NPHET on the 18 August, which impacts on the operation of post-primary school transport services. This advice stated that for secondary school students on school transport, strict distancing should be ensured in line with that on public transport along with the wearing of face coverings.
On foot of this advice it was decided by Government that the operation of post-primary school transport services would commence operation when schools re-open pending the development of additional measures to support physical distancing on the post primary buses. My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann to implement these measures on a rolling basis to support this physical distancing as required.
Given the timing of this most recent advice from NPHET so close to the start of the new term, my Department is not withdrawing post-primary transport services as to do so would cause difficulty for many families in getting their children to school. My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services and services for children of post-primary school going age will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required.
483. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of the construction of the amalgamated community school in Ennistymon, County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21091/20]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.
In the context of this major building project, public procurement legislation required further extensive financial review by the National Treasury Management Agency. This review was completed in Q2 2020.
My Department is currently reviewing the building project in the context of construction sites restarting and projects at tender stage progressing.
My Department expects the review to be completed by mid-September and Department officials will revert to the Board of Management at that stage with regard to the progression of the major building project to tender and construction stages
484. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if changes will be made to the teacher-pupil ratio or resources allocated to allow schools to recruit additional teachers beyond that ratio on contracts of at least six months duration in view of the Covid-19 crisis and in order to reduce reliance on and pressure on substitute teachers. [21105/20]
View answerThe Roadmap for Full Return to School set outs the plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of our schools. It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
My Department is providing capital and current funding of an additional €377 million to support implementation of the roadmap. The supports are comprehensive across a range of areas and involve funding for measures such as PPE, hand sanitisation, enhanced cleaning and hygiene, physical distancing, management supports and substitution provision. It is also recognised that schools may require some reconfiguration works and this is supported by a once off enhanced minor works grant of €75 million to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening including an uplift for schools with SEN pupils.
As part of the package of supports, additional teachers have being provided to support the reopening of primary schools in order to provide enhanced substitution and eliminate the need to mix classes when a teacher is absent. Over 100 teacher supply panels have been established nationwide, providing substitute cover to over 2,000 schools across the country. These will be monitored in terms of the number of teachers and the location of each panel.
Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. My Department will continue to work with schools on the options available to implement the public health advice in respect of physical distancing in schools. In terms of operating in this school year, schools are required to look at maximising all available physical space particularly to accommodate larger classes. Examples of class layouts have been provided to support schools. The minor works grant has been provided to assist schools if they need to reconfigure classroom or undertake other work. Schools are also required to look at how classes are organised in terms of size and this may require some reorganisation of class groupings.
At Post-Primary level, 1080 additional teachers are being allocated to help reduce class sizes and also for additional Guidance Provision. A teacher allocation equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.6 has been allocated to schools in the free scheme to help reduce class sizes. This allocation supports the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary. The equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.1 has been provided in respect of Guidance provision to support student wellbeing. It is recognised that, notwithstanding these measures to post primary schools, challenges may remain to allow some post primary schools to fully and safely reopen. A teacher allocation, through an appeal process, is available to support these schools.
485. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if an issue (details supplied) with regard to home tutor hours for children with special needs will be addressed; and if the directive will be re-examined. [21160/20]
View answerFunding for the provision of Home Tuition was continued during the Covid-19 emergency restrictions where tuition was delivered by distance learning.
Where Home Tuition could not continue via distance learning, Parents were given the option to apply to the Department to bank the hours sanctioned for the period and use them to provide tuition once in-home tuition has resumed.
Approximately 200 Parents took this option. Arrangements are now in place to allow these Parents to arrange use the banked tuition hours at any time until the end of August 2021.
This provides Parents with the flexibility to arrange tuition in the evenings or at weekends and during school holidays, including over the course of next summer.
486. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 3 June 2020, the date of each meeting held during 2019 and to date in 2020 between officials from Louth Meath Education and Training Board and her Department regarding the head office building of LMETB in Drogheda, County Louth; the reason for requesting each meeting; the location of each meeting; the number of officials that attended from LMETB and her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21213/20]
View answerA meeting took place on 22nd January 2019 in the Department’s offices in Tullamore which was attended by two officials from LMETB along with its design team as well as four officials from the Department. This was a further Stage 2B review meeting to discuss the issues set out in previous responses to the Deputy and followed on from previous meetings that had taken place to discuss these issues.
The issue was raised at further meetings in the context of the regular engagement between LMETB and officials from my Department to discuss issues with projects that have been devolved to LMETB for delivery. These meetings generally involved two LMETB and one or two officials from my Department and would have taken place, inter alia, on 1st May, 2019; 15th August, 2019 and 4th December, 2019. The Department and LMETB have also had a number of telephone conversations on the matter. The Department is in the process of arranging a further meeting with LMETB to discuss next steps in the progression of the project.
487. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if approval has been given for the LMETB head office building in Drogheda, County Louth to proceed to construction after five years of delays; if not, the reason for the delay; the actions she has taken to address the issue; if her officials will be instructed to seek regular updates on the way in which the project is expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21214/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).
A number of design issues have arisen with this project. These have included issues relating to the need for additional security features for the proposed building that became apparent at tender stage and which required a change in brief with consequent design alterations. Currently, the capacity of the building, and the number of staff it is required to accommodate is being reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of LMETB into the future.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort to progress the project has been made and will continue to be made. A number of meetings between officials from my Department and LMETB and its design team, with a view to addressing the relevant issues, have taken place. However, it is still too early at this stage to give a commencement date for construction.
488. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if the use by LMETB of former Meath County Council offices in Navan has been approved by her Department; the annual cost of the use by LMETB of the offices; if the expenditure has been approved by her Department; the budget from which LMETB will pay for the use of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21215/20]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) have a licence agreement in place to use the former County Council premises in Navan Co. Meath for Further Education & Training (FET) services. The agreement was approved by LMETB board on 21st June 2018. This was sanctioned by my Department based on a cost of €120,000 per annum and is funded from their SOLAS budget.
This premises is used solely as a FET centre and provides an important service to the people of Navan and the surrounding areas for their education and training needs through a range of programmes such as the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, Back to Education Initiative and adult education programmes.
489. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken and the arrangements put in place for the 900 students that have been schooled entirely at home by a parent for the leaving certificate programme but cannot have their parent award calculated grades on their behalf; and the alternative for such students. [21222/20]
View answerThe system of Calculated Grades was created by my Department to allow as many as possible of the 61,000 students in the Leaving Certificate class of 2020 to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education in a way that is fair and equitable to all students.
The system is underpinned by key principles of objectivity, equity and fairness. For the Calculated Grades system to be operated with integrity, and to ensure fairness to all students, an estimated percentage mark, based on credible, satisfactory evidence, could only be accepted from an appropriate source.
There are two particular groups of students who may not have been able to receive Calculated Grades and they will already have been advised of this during August 2020:
- students who were enrolled in full-time education but were studying an extra subject(s) outside the school
- external students who were not enrolled in full-time education and are regarded as out-of-school learners. These would include home-schooled students.
In cases where a student was attending school, but was studying one or more subjects outside of school, school principals were asked to make every effort to provide an estimated percentage mark for that subject(s) provided there was sufficient, credible evidence available from an appropriate source. The Calculated Grades Executive Office (CGEO) undertook a review of reports received from schools to ensure that the correct procedures were followed.
Out of school learners had to apply directly to the CGEO for Calculated Grades. Of the total of 929 students in the category of out-of-school learner it has been possible to provide calculated grades to some 570 students. Some 190 students either did not engage in the application process or confirmed that they did not want to receive a calculated grade.
Where it was not deemed possible to provide a Calculated Grade in a subject(s), to either an out of school learner or a student studying a subject outside of school, the student will have been contacted by the CGEO to inform them of this decision. Such candidates will have had access to an appeals process which included access to Independent Appeals Scrutineers.
It should be noted that the Irish University Association (IUA) announced on 25 June that, in the extraordinary circumstances of 2020, students who have applied for a Calculated Grade in a subject or subjects in the Leaving Certificate 2020, with a view to satisfying matriculation/basic minimum entry requirements and for whom the CGEO has been unable to award such a grade in the subject(s), will be granted an exemption in the subject(s) solely for matriculation/basic minimum entry purposes. Full details can be found on the IUA website.
Where it is not possible to provide a Calculated Grade, students will have the opportunity to sit the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations in one or more subjects. The 2020 postponed Leaving Certificate examinations will commence on Monday 16 November, subject to public health advice.
490. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education her plans for teachers that are in a shared teacher role when they return to school in August 2020 in the context of Covid-19 and the return to school roadmap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21225/20]
View answerThe Roadmap for Full Return to School set outs the plan for reopening of our schools and what the operation of our schools will look like and how it will be sustainable in a COVID-19 context. It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
My Department is providing capital and current funding of an additional €377 million to support the safe and sustainable reopening of schools under the Roadmap.
The supports are comprehensive across a range of areas, including funding for getting schools ready, for providing for additional supervision and substitution, and providing additional teachers to help with physical distancing and class sizes.
Shared teachers will be able to access schools similar to substitute teachers or visiting teachers. All visitors to a school, whether they be teachers or others, must observe the control measures in place as part of the school’s COVID Response plan.
491. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the protections there will be for SNAs when schools reopen; if there will be specific training provided to same; if SNAs will be required to stay within the pod; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21226/20]
View answerThe Roadmap for the Full Return to School published in July and significant funding was provided to schools along with a range of supports and guidance to enable schools to plan for their reopening.
Extensive guidance on procedures for the reopening of schools is provided on the back to school website which can be assessed at www.gov.ie/backtoschool
The guidance for schools will be updated as required and the Department will continue to work with the health authorities and implement as appropriate any changes necessary to support school reopening in line with any changes to public health advice to manage the spread of COVID-19.
Education staff move routinely between schools in the context of substitute teachers, shared special education teachers and SNAs, and it is not possible to eliminate this movement entirely.
Schools have been provided with additional funding to purchase PPE and SNAs whose work requires them to be in close contact with children should be prioritised for provision of PPE.
It is important that a staff member shared across class bubbles within a school should take particular care to maintain physical distancing and proper hand and respiratory hygiene in moving throughout the school.
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place.
The Department is supporting schools implement these protocols by providing:
- Induction and tailored training programmes for school staff produced by the Department
- Webinars on health and safety, returning to work safely, managing school return and wellbeing.
- An enhanced Minor Works Grant to support full implementation of COVID-19 response plans
- Additional financial supports to provide for additional cleaning, hand hygiene and PPE costs under the COVID-19 response plans.
As part of the Back to School measures, a specific training segment for SNAs has been provided and is available on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dd7fb-induction-training-for-reopening-schools/#sna-induction-training.
492. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education her plans to introduce a panel or central database of substitute SNAs which schools can avail of to replace SNAs that are off work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21227/20]
View answerAs outlined in Circulars 15/05 and 12/05 Appendix 1. Special Needs Assistants are recruited specifically to assist schools in providing the necessary non–teaching services to pupils with assessed educational needs.
All standard SNA vacancies and cover SNA vacancies of 24 weeks or more must be advertised. If the vacancy is less than 24 weeks then there is no requirement for the school to advertises and they can appoint a replacement if warranted and subject to the current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) as set out in Department's circular 36/2020 and 51/2019 and in compliance with the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 in accordance to the relevant Department’s circulars in relation to Garda vetting.
When advertising for vacancies the school can create an internal panel of suitable applicants from which future vacancies including cover SNA vacancies may be filled valid for the duration of the school year. There are no plans to introduce a panel or central database of substitute SNAs to replace SNAs that are off work.
