Written Answers Nos. 810-827
810. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to regularising the employment, terms and conditions and pension rights of school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33488/20]
View answerI am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.
In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker in the event that staff who are at very high risk of contracting serious illness from COVID-19 cannot work on the school premises. I have also extended the Employee Assistance Service to all school staff including secretaries.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019 and has been fully implemented.
The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019 been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.
Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging with with Fórsa on the claim, most recently on 27th of October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
At that meeting it was agreed that further discussions would be held under the auspices of the WRC with a view to assessing the individual elements comprising the totality of the union’s claims. It is noted that these WRC discussions are taking place within the context of recent Dáil comments concerning the regularisation of pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of School Secretaries and Caretakers.
I acknowledge the complex work that will now be involved in trying to develop all issues in order to reach an agreed outcome. In that regard an understanding has been agreed on a pathway to progress the issues, comprising of several key strands.
I welcome and support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching an agreed outcome.
811. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the status of the emergency works scheme application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33497/20]
View answerI wish to inform the deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for funding for a universal access project under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. The school was recently contacted and asked to revise its application as the initial proposal is not in line with technical guidance for such works. A decision on funding will be made on receipt of the revised application.
812. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if, in view of funding changes in Budget 2021, combined with the fact that a school (details supplied) student figures have recovered during the current academic year, the teacher number that was removed in 2019 can be reinstated during the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33570/20]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
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. Budget 2021 builds on this progress by implementing a further 1 point reduction for the 2021/22 school year. The staffing schedule for the 2021/22 school year, which stands at an average of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils, will be published early next year. It is at this stage that all primary schools will be able to ascertain their teacher allocation for the 2021/22 school year.
815. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to improve pay and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers; when such improvements will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33620/20]
View answerI am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.
In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker in the event that staff who are at very high risk of contracting serious illness from COVID-19 cannot work on the school premises. I have also extended the Employee Assistance Service to all school staff including secretaries.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019 and has been fully implemented.
The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019 been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.
Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging with with Fórsa on the claim, most recently on 27th of October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
At that meeting it was agreed that further discussions would be held under the auspices of the WRC with a view to assessing the individual elements comprising the totality of the union’s claims. It is noted that these WRC discussions are taking place within the context of recent Dáil comments concerning the regularisation of pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of School Secretaries and Caretakers.
I acknowledge the complex work that will now be involved in trying to develop all issues in order to reach an agreed outcome. In that regard an understanding has been agreed on a pathway to progress the issues, comprising of several key strands.
I welcome and support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching an agreed outcome.
816. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education when construction will commence on a school (details supplied). [33690/20]
View answerThe building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build programme.
Planning permission was lodged on the 31st March 2020. As with all school building projects, the exact timeframe for delivery of the school will be dependent on the grant of planning permission. My Department officials will keep the Board of Management fully informed of developments as they occur.
817. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the number of applications her Department received from applicants in county Galway for the July provision transportation grant in which an agreed mileage rate would be reimbursed; the number of these applicants that have been reimbursed to date; the number that are still waiting to be reimbursed; the value of payments still outstanding with regard to this cohort; the reasons for the delay in reimbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33720/20]
View answerSchool 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 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.
With regard to transport arrangements for the Summer Programme, my Department committed to providing grant funding to support families with the cost of transport arrangements for those children who were eligible for school transport and who were approved to participate in the school based Summer Programme.
Schools were required to identify children who availed of a School Trnsport service or who were in receipt of a grant. School Transport Section issued correspondance to schools outlining what was required in order to process such payments.
School Transport Section has commenced processing payment of these grants and it is envisaged that payments will continue to be processed in the coming weeks. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available at this time and will be provided directly to the Deputy when it is available.
818. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if schools can engage in outdoor learning outside of the school grounds under Covid-19 level 5 guidelines (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33744/20]
View answerMy Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection and includes key measures such as physical distancing.
As part of the school curriculum, schools can continue with outdoor learning once appropriate control measures are in place in line with school’s COVID-19 Response Plan . The guidance provides that In order to facilitate physical distancing in primary schools, pupils and their teachers may be sorted into ‘Class Bubbles’ and ‘Pods’. A ‘Class Bubble’ is a class grouping which stays apart from other classes as much as possible.
The objective is to limit contact and sharing of common facilities between people in different Class Bubbles (and Pods within those Class Bubbles) as much as possible, rather than to avoid all contact between Pods, as this will not always be possible.
819. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school build (details supplied); the stage plans are at for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33781/20]
View answerA potential site option has been identified and discussions with the landowner are at a very advanced stage with a view to acquiring this site.
Once a suitable site has been acquired my Department will be in a position to progress the project concerned into the architectural planning process
Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.
820. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she will provide clarity regarding a new school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33778/20]
View answerThe building referred to by Deputy has not yet been handed over. My Department is taking appropriate steps to ensure that it is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it. There is currently an engagement underway between my Department and the Contractor in this regard under the contract. Communications are ongoing and the issue is being actively addressed.
Until this process is complete, it will not be possible to provide definitive timelines for occupation of the building. However, as this process develops my Department officials will keep the ETB and the school managements informed of developments
821. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will address the two tier pay and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33825/20]
View answerI am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.
In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker in the event that staff who are at very high risk of contracting serious illness from COVID-19 cannot work on the school premises. I have also extended the Employee Assistance Service to all school staff including secretaries.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019 and has been fully implemented.
The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019 been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.
Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies have been engaging with with Fórsa on the claim, most recently on 27th of October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
At that meeting it was agreed that further discussions would be held under the auspices of the WRC with a view to assessing the individual elements comprising the totality of the union’s claims. It is noted that these WRC discussions are taking place within the context of recent Dáil comments concerning the regularisation of pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of School Secretaries and Caretakers.
I acknowledge the complex work that will now be involved in trying to develop all issues in order to reach an agreed outcome. In that regard an understanding has been agreed on a pathway to progress the issues, comprising of several key strands.
I welcome and support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching an agreed outcome.
822. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the number of data protection breaches identified within her Department in 2019. [33841/20]
View answerIn 2019 24 Data Breaches occurred in my Department, 15 of which were reported to the DPC who closed each case without further action following informal investigation. The remainder were deemed to be of no risk due to their nature and not required to be reported.
823. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if consideration is being given to an additional first year class in a school (details supplied) for the academic year beginning in September 2021 given there were three times as many applicants as there were places available in 2020. [33881/20]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is currently in interim accommodation on the Grange Community College site pending delivery of its intended interim accommodation on its permanent site on Belmayne Avenue, Belmayne. Work has commenced on site and it is currently anticipated that the accommodation will be ready for occupation by the school in early December.
In addition to the interim accommodation for the post-primary school that site which currently facilitates interim accommodation for a primary school will also accommodate the future construction of the permanent building for the post-primary school. In that regard, there are restrictions on the amount of temporary accommodation that can be placed on the permanent site. Therefore, the Department has informed the school and it’s Patron Body, Educate Together, that it will not be possible for the school to increase its enrolment intake beyond the current intake level (which is up to 48 pupils at 1st year intake) for the 2021/2022 academic year.
824. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the reason two children (details supplied) did not receive a place on a school bus; if she will take measures to facilitate these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33905/20]
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. Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Children who apply for transport and who are not eligible under the terms of the scheme are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets and refunds payments made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
Bus Eireann has confirmed, that the children to whom the Deputy refers, are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest post primary school and are therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann has also confirmed that payment for school transport for the 2020/2021 school year was received by the family in question on 11th September 2020 and as such is late and that the service was full when payment was received.
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 or submission of medical card details for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4th August 2020 will be only considered when 50% capacity, required by new Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route.
In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.
825. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide all disbursements of capital spending above €20 million on completed projects for each year since 2016 by name of project, department or body responsible for delivering project, county, NUTS3 region, type of investment, construction commencement, completion year and actual cost in tabular form. [34183/20]
View answerSince 2016 there are no School Building Projects that are completed at final account stage whose construction cost exceeds €20 million.
As such this is a nil return.
826. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when further details will be announced regarding the way in which self-employed persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment can earn up to €480 a month without having their payment impacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32576/20]
View answer830. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when the earnings threshold of €480 per month will be introduced for self-employed persons that are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment to allow same to take up occasional work opportunities and keep their payment. [33196/20]
View answer844. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind the need to be on the PUP for 16 weeks before a person can qualify for the part-time job incentive scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32459/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 826, 830 and 844 together.
Budget 2021 introduced an earnings threshold of up to €480 over a rolling 4 week period for self- employed people who are in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The threshold amount is based on gross income minus trading expenses and before tax and PRSI are deducted. The measure was implemented with immediate effect and allows a self-employed individual to take up occasional work opportunities and still retain their payment.
The Part Time Job Incentive is an administrative scheme which allows people who are in receipt of long term Jobseekers Allowance to engage in part time insurable employment for less than 24 hours per week and receive a special weekly income supplement. Under the scheme a jobseeker can apply for this support for at least 390 days. Budget 2021 has extended the Part Time Job Incentive scheme to the self-employed who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment payment. Under this scheme, a self-employed person receiving the Pandemic Unemployment, can engage in self-employment for up to 24 hours per week and retain a personal weekly rate of payment of €128.60. A qualifying period on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for eligibility for self employed recipients has been removed and this will facilitate immediate access to the scheme for the self-employed.
A self -employed person also has the option of applying for jobseekers allowance where they are trading at a reduced level and satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputies.
827. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to assessing self-employed person’s incomes for the PUP as income minus expenses rather than their gross wage as it is for their annual tax self-assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32814/20]
View answerThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as an emergency measure to provide an income support to those who had lost their employment as a result of Covid. In order to ensure that the scheme was simple and accessible for the unprecedented number of applicants, a flat payment rate was introduced. This rate was the equivalent of the rate for a two-person household.
From 26 June 2020, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment moved to 2 rates of payment; a 3 rate structure is in place since 17 September; and a 4 rate structure is in place since 16 October. These changes more closely link the rate of payment to the amount that individuals previously earned and make the scheme more targeted and fair. In determining the rate payable, the objective was to ensure that recent earnings were taken into account.
The rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a self-employed person is calculated by reference to their reckonable income in either 2018 or 2019, whichever is the greater. Details of reckonable income are supplied to the Department by the Revenue Commissioners, and are supplied net of business related costs, including capital allowances. When submitting returns to the Revenue Commissioners, self-employed persons can offset business related costs against gross trading income, with the resulting assessment to tax and PRSI based on net profits.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
