Written Answers Nos. 274-298
274. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a copy of the issued unit cost ceilings for the direct procurement of social housing units by local authorities by unit type, construction and all in costs for each local authority will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42770/20]
View answerMy Department provides Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) to each local authority as a key benchmark for the development and costing of new build social housing. They are based on returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period and are updated based on published tender index information as required. The current UCCs were issued to local authorities in April 2019, under Circular 13/2019 and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
275. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Part V arrangements that have been made for a development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42771/20]
View answerI understand that Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council are in discussions with the developer of the site referenced in relation the Part V obligation for social housing in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and are evaluating options and calculating and agreeing the land value. As yet no submission has been made to my Department for funding of the Part V social housing units for this development.
276. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the repayment method for any equity stake in a property purchased under the proposed shared equity scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42772/20]
View answerFunding of €75 million in Budget 2021 has been be allocated to a new National Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme, which will be introduced in 2021. I intend to target this scheme at first time buyers including single persons, who are seeking to buy a new home but who cannot quite secure the full mortgage amount to do so at the present time. Subject to the final qualifying criteria, a limited equity stake would be taken in a property, in order to help more people meet the cost of buying their new home with their available mortgage.
To this end, significant preparatory work has already been carried out by my Department working primarily with the Housing Agency and the Department of Finance. Intensive engagement is progressing with key stakeholders informing the final detailed parameters of the scheme, as well as with home builders to seek to increase the output of new homes in response to the new scheme.
Furthermore, I will also progress and accelerate the local authority led scheme to deliver more affordable homes for purchase and rent on public land. The statutory basis for the delivery of affordable new housing for purchase on local authority lands is Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which was commenced in June 2018. The broad parameters of the local authority led Affordable Purchase Scheme will be as follows:
- aimed at first-time buyers;
- homes purchased under the scheme will be subject to a maximum statutory discount of 40% (relative to the market price), with the final price of the affordable homes to be linked to the cost of provision, on a site by site basis, and,
- the local authority maintains a fully repayable equity share in the properties equivalent to the percentage discount given.
It is envisaged that the homes delivered under both of the above schemes will be made available to applicants who meet defined eligibility criteria. The precise eligibility conditions are currently being developed in light of the on-going policy analysis outlined. I intend to bring forward any necessary provisions to underpin these schemes in a forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill which I intend to bring to Government in the coming weeks.
277. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with the HSE to create a conservation plan and historic landscape assessment for the Cork Street, Fever Hospital, Dublin 8 known as Brú Chaoimhín; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42773/20]
View answerMy Department is aware of the significance of the built heritage of Brú Chaoimhín and has recorded several buildings there on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). With regard to the safeguarding of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect architectural heritage by including particular structures on their respective Records of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with any development proposals affecting them. I understand that Dublin City Council has included these buildings on its Record of Protected Structures (RPS).
The National Monuments Service in my Department has been engaged for some time with the HSE, as owner of the site, in relation to the proposals to undertake certain conservation works at the nearby burial ground. On foot of those discussions, also involving Dublin City Council, the HSE commissioned a condition assessment and conservation report of the graveyard last year. This accords with best practice as a first step in managing such a heritage site.
The making of a landscape assessment and conservation plan for the buildings is also a matter for the HSE itself. However, the Heritage Council published ‘Historic Landscape Characterisation in Ireland: Best Practice Guidance’, in 2013, which may be of assistance. The Heritage Council may also be able to assist through its Community Grants Scheme, which it will be running in 2021. Details will be announced by the Heritage Council in due course.
278. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time that new social housing units are vacant prior to being occupied for the first time by local authority area and approved housing body over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42774/20]
View answerSection 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, requires all local authorities to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households. Under section 22, an allocation scheme shall apply to dwellings owned or under the control of a local authority, as well as dwellings provided by approved housing bodies (AHBs) with Exchequer funding.
The timing and allocation of tenants to a home is a matter for each local authority and my Department does not hold the details requested by the Deputy. Information on the average length of time that local authority social housing units are vacant is included in the National Oversight and Audit Committee Local Authority Performance Indicator Report. The most recent report is available at the following link
http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NOAC-Performance-Indicator-Report-2018-1.pdf
279. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on the housing element of Housing First initiatives in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42777/20]
View answerHousing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help the individuals concerned maintain their tenancies.
The National Implementation Plan for Housing First was published in September 2018. The Plan includes an overall target of 663 tenancies in the period 2018-2021, with annual targets for each local authority. The Plan is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and the local authorities.
Over the three years between 2018 and 2020, my Department has provided some €9m in funding to local authorities to accelerate the roll out of the Plan nationally.
280. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of HAP rates promised under the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42779/20]
View answerIncreased rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016. These limits were agreed in conjunction with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DEASP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. The HAP rent limits were increased significantly, by up to 60% in some cases.
Maximum rent limits for the HAP scheme are set out for each housing authority area in the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2017. The current maximum HAP rent limits are available on the Irish Statute Book website at the following link:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/si/56/made/en/print?q=housing&years=2017.
Local authorities also have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent limit by up to 20%, or up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of homelessness. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
In considering this issue, I am conscious that increasing the current HAP rent limits could have negative inflationary impacts, leading to a detrimental impact on the wider rental market, including for those households who are not receiving HAP support.
I am committed to the Programme for Government commitment to ensure that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. My Department closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis. It is considered that the current maximum rent limits, together with the additional flexibility available to local authorities, are adequate to support the effective operation of the HAP scheme.
281. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the system in place to ensure that HAP tenants, including those already in receipt of the full discretionary allowance, who receive notice of a rent increase will have that increase covered as part of their HAP payment and will not be forced to carry this additional cost on top of their differential rent payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42780/20]
View answerUnder the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted.
While there is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent required by the landlord, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and that households in HAP are in a position to meet the rental costs involved.
All households in receipt of HAP pay a differential rent based on the rent scheme set by the relevant local authority. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles laid down by my Department including that; the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households; and that provision should be included for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved function of administering rent schemes. Decisions regarding the increase or decrease in the rent charged to tenants of local authorities are matters for individual local authorities in accordance with it's differential rent scheme.
282. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has issued instructions to local authorities directing that local connection rules are not applied to homeless persons seeking emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42782/20]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless and section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household. It is particularly important that local authorities address homelessness at the point which it occurs during this pandemic at a time when we are seeking, as a nation, to keep movement between counties to a minimum. It is through actions such as these that we have so far been able to keep Covid-19 infection rates relatively low in homeless services.
On 9 December 2020, I wrote to the Chief Executives of all local authorities in relation to the emergency response to rough sleeping during Covid-19 and the cold weather period. I acknowledged that they and their teams have worked diligently to ensure that people who need shelter can receive it and I asked that they continue these efforts and exercise discretion to ensure that the most vulnerable on our streets do not end up sleeping without shelter during these extraordinary times due to a local connection in not being from the area. I will keep this matter under close review to ensure its effectiveness and to avoid any unforeseen negative unintended consequences.
Over the past year our public services have displayed an admirable capacity for swift responsiveness to the global pandemic, meeting challenges where and when they arose. The work of our homeless services has been exemplary in this regard.
283. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons on housing waiting lists who have a disability recorded on their application in each local authority between 1 January 2015 and 1 December 2020, inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42795/20]
View answerThe Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out once every three years. The last Summary under the triennial approach took place in 2013, and, as there was no assessment carried out in 2014 or 2015, my Department has no data available for those years.
The link to the information requested for the years 2016 to 2019 was provided by my Department in a response to your Question No. 483 of 30 July 2020.
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-07-30/483/#pq_483
While the SSHA is normally conducted in or around June of each year, given the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on local authorities and nature of the work involved in conducting the SSHA, the SSHA for 2020 was deferred to allow local authorities to continue to focus their resources on immediate priorities. Accordingly, it has only recently been conducted and will be published in due course.
284. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding and status of a person (details supplied) who is still being detained in China; if he has made further contact directly or through Irish diplomatic missions with the Chinese authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42543/20]
View answerAs I have stated previously in this House, most recently on 8 December, I have engaged with my counterpart in China on this matter on a number of occasions, including recently via a phone call to discuss the case. I can further advise that the case has been raised regularly at senior political and diplomatic level with the relevant authorities in China, and with the Embassy of China in Dublin. These engagements have highlighted the humanitarian aspects of the case, and the importance of the citizen being allowed to leave China and return home as soon as possible.
My Department has been providing ongoing consular assistance to this citizen through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai.
Our Consul General has been meeting and engaging regularly with the citizen since we were first informed of this complex case last year, and continues to provide all possible consular support and advice.
Our focus has been on supporting the citizen’s well-being, while he and his legal team seek to resolve the outstanding legal matters with the Chinese authorities.
The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to discuss the details of any individual consular case. However I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to provide all possible assistance to the citizen until he is permitted to return to Ireland.
285. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has existing bilateral agreements or memorandums of understanding with the State of Israel; if such agreements are in preparation; if his Department has been consulted or made aware of such agreements by other Departments; if the illegal settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the Israeli Occupied Territories have been or will be excluded from such agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42569/20]
View answerThere are a number of bilateral agreements between Ireland and Israel, including in the fields of visas, taxation and scientific research.
Ireland's position on settlement expansion and related infrastructure development is very clear. Settlements are illegal under international law. Ireland’s position on the illegality of Israeli settlements informs our engagement with the State of Israel across a range of bilateral issues and will continue to do so.
UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December 2016, states that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory have no legal validity and are a major obstacle for peace. The Resolution calls for an immediate end to settlement activities and also calls on all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. In all these aspects, the Resolution reflected the position already held by Ireland and the UN for many years, and the EU position, to which Ireland has made a significant contribution.
The legal basis for relations between the EU and the State of Israel is the EU-Israel Association Agreement that entered force in 2000. On 10 December 2012, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process, supported by Ireland, which state that ‘all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967. In 2013, guidelines were produced which differentiate between Israeli activities in the occupied territory, including illegal settlements, and in the State of Israel for the purpose of EU funding from 2014 onwards.
The participation of Israel in the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme is governed by a 2014 agreement between the EU and Israel that makes Israel subject to the relevant EU legislation establishing Horizon 2020 and its implementing rules. Article 6 of the agreement states that the agreement does not apply to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
286. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent outbreak of war between Eritrea and Tigray; the position of the Government on the events taking place in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray; his views on reports of mistreatment of refugees and civilians by the Eritrean Government; the steps Ireland is taking in the EU and at the UN to ensure that humanitarian and food supplies are not cut off from the civilian populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42610/20]
View answerI remain deeply concerned by the ongoing armed conflict between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the regional authorities in Tigray, including reports of atrocities and targeting of ethnic groups. There are credible allegations of mass casualties and of human rights abuses, although the ongoing communications blackout has made it very difficult to verify information.
Although Prime Minister Abuy has declared the end of the offensive in Tigray, there are reports that the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has gone into hiding. The risk of insurgency, combined with ethnic profiling, high levels of displacement and humanitarian need, all suggest this crisis is far from over. Reports of the forcible return of Eritrean refugees in Tigray to Eritrea are extremely worrying.
Ireland actively supports the EU, UN and wider efforts to de-escalate the situation, including through engagement with the African Union. I welcome the recent visit of EU Commissioner Lenarcic to Ethiopia and Sudan. While the UN achieved agreement on humanitarian access to Tigray, it only allows access to areas controlled by Government. Humanitarian access to all affected areas is essential.
Minister Coveney has called on all parties to cease hostilities, respect international humanitarian law, and begin dialogue. In contacts, including with key African leaders, he has also stressed the need for unconditional, unrestricted access for humanitarian actors to affected areas and discussed ways to support regional efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
My Department is preparing a €2.4 million package of funding to support the humanitarian response in Tigray including €1.4 million to Irish and other NGOs within Tigray, €500,000 to UNHCR to support the refugee response in neighbouring Sudan and €500,000 worth of humanitarian stocks.
The UN Security Council held informal talks on the crisis on 23 November. In the context of our upcoming tenure on the UN Security Council, Ireland will continue to monitor the situation in Ethiopia closely and advocate for a peaceful resolution to the current conflict, including through the Embassy of Ireland in Addis Ababa.
287. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if professional fees are paid by his Department on behalf of employees; if so, the total number involved; and the amount of each fee. [42701/20]
View answerIn 2020, the Department of Foreign Affairs paid professional fees on behalf of 13 employees, at a total cost of €4,192 (see table below). It is the practice of the Department of Foreign Affairs to pay or reimburse officers of the Department for professional annual subscriptions where they are deemed to be relevant to the officer’s current role. These professional fees cover various areas across the Department including: legal, human resources, finance, property management & training.
|
Professional Fees paid in 2020 |
Amount € |
|
Law Society Ireland Membership Fee 2019 |
85.00 |
|
Law Society Ireland Membership Fee 2020 |
85.00 |
|
International Law Association Membership Renewal 2020 |
450.00 |
|
Irish Society of European Law Membership Fee 2020 |
500.00 |
|
Irish Center for European Law Corporate Membership Fee 2020 |
395.00 |
|
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Membership Fee Year Ending 30 June 2021 |
178.64 |
|
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Membership Fee For Year Ending 30 June 2021 |
183.52 |
|
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Membership Fee For Year Ending 30 June 2021 |
187.07 |
|
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Membership Fee Year Ending 30 June 2021 |
245.34 |
|
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Membership fee 2020 |
306.50 |
|
Society of Chartered Surveyors Membership Fee 2020 |
410.00 |
|
Royal Institute Of the Architects of Ireland Membership fee 2020 |
540.00 |
|
Irish Institute of Training & Development Annual membership 2020 |
625.00 |
|
Total: |
4,191.07 |
288. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the situation in Bahrain in which the Government is using revocation of citizenship as a tool of oppression; if he has raised the matter with the Bahraini Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42736/20]
View answerThe human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of serious concern. Although Bahrain has repeatedly stated its commitment to improving its human rights record and safeguarding human rights as enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution, we are concerned by ongoing instances of violations of fundamental freedoms, including the revocation of citizenship.
Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is particularly important in that regard. Ireland has raised human rights in Bahrain at that forum, in the form of national statements and its support to EU Statements.
Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain through the EU. At the most recent informal EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue in 2019 the revoking of nationality was discussed, with the EU raising concerns about this practice.
Our principled stance on human rights also feeds into our bilateral dialogue and we raise our human rights concerns directly with the Bahraini authorities at every suitable opportunity.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments on this issue, and to call on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.
289. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Defence if professional fees are paid by his Department on behalf of employees; if so, the total number involved; and the amount of each fee. [42696/20]
View answerThe table below sets out the number of professional fees paid by my Department on behalf of civil service staff, and the amount of each fee. The information refers to fees paid from 1 January 2020 to 30 November 2020.
|
Professional Body |
No. of Staff |
Total Cost |
|
Certified Public Accountants in Ireland |
1 |
€615.00 |
|
Chartered Accountants Ireland |
1 |
€582.00 |
|
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
3 |
€546.24 |
|
Society for Chartered IT Professionals in Ireland |
1 |
€115.00 |
|
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development |
4 |
€508.17 |
|
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors |
1 |
€220.97 |
|
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants |
1 |
€227.11 |
|
Total |
12 |
€2,814.49 |
Where civilian employees employed by my Department are required to retain membership of a professional body in discharging their role, the cost is refunded to the individual staff member.
290. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel medically discharged in each of the years 2000 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by service branch. [42733/20]
View answerThe following table details the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel medically discharged in each of the years 2000 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by service branch, as advised by the Military Authorities:
|
|
Army |
Air Corps |
Naval Service |
|
2000 |
18 |
2 |
2 |
|
2001 |
24 |
0 |
2 |
|
2002 |
13 |
0 |
4 |
|
2003 |
21 |
2 |
1 |
|
2004 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
|
2005 |
13 |
0 |
2 |
|
2006 |
18 |
3 |
1 |
|
2007 |
22 |
1 |
0 |
|
2008 |
16 |
2 |
1 |
|
2009 |
41 |
2 |
0 |
|
2010 |
30 |
2 |
1 |
|
2011 |
22 |
5 |
4 |
|
2012 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
|
2014 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
|
2015 |
23 |
1 |
0 |
|
2016 |
25 |
2 |
1 |
|
2017 |
25 |
2 |
0 |
|
2018 |
28 |
0 |
1 |
|
2019 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
|
2020* |
21 |
0 |
3 |
* as at 30 November 2020
291. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if financial assistance will be provided to the family of a child with special needs that have to pay for a seat on a private bus to take their child to school as there are no buses serving them for a school which is 6 km away. [42565/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the 2019/2020 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 the SEN Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the scheme children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
All eligible children are exempt from school transport charges and a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided at the discretion of the Department in certain situations where for example the child’s care or medical needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable.
Full information on the operation of the School Transport Scheme is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
292. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education if a value for money review has been carried out to consider the net economic benefit that the school transport funding brings to rural communities; if consideration has been given to investing additional funding into the school transport sector to alleviate the environmental pressures borne through the heavy use of family cars bringing children to school on a daily basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42570/20]
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. 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 2020/2021 school year.
In October 2019, my predecessor announced a review of the school transport scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme. Terms of reference and the scope of the review have been drafted and a Steering Group has been established.
Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 and the continued restrictions the work of the Steering Group has been delayed. It is intended to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government.
The Review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport, including examining the options to reduce car journeys and assessing how the School Transport Scheme can work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; examining the options for providing a better value and a better service for students, including and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.
293. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the reason transport is not being provided for a pupil (details supplied) in view of the fact that the school they are enrolled in has been deemed the most suitable school for them in view of their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42540/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2019/2020 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 the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
In this case, it has been reported that the school of attendance is not the nearest school to the pupil’s home that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs and therefore the child is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.
294. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the status of a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42560/20]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2015. This project will provide for two mainstream classrooms with en-suite, and one WC for assisted users.
The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the school under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. I wish to clarify for the Deputy that my Department recently approved this project to go to tender stage. The school has been informed of this positive development in the status of the project.
295. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she will take steps to resolve the dispute that has arisen in schools in relation to SNAs being asked to use a catheter with certain students that need help with toileting; and when staff with nursing experience will be employed in schools to help certain students' needs as promised. [42561/20]
View answerSpecial Needs Assistants (SNAs) are employed by the managerial authorities of individual schools or by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The Board of Management/ETB is the SNA's employer and the recruitment and deployment of SNAs within schools are matters for the individual Principal/Board of Management, subject to Departmental guidelines.
Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support is provided specifically to assist recognised primary, post primary and special schools to cater for the care needs of students with disabilities with significant care needs.
My Department’s Circular 0030/2014 sets out details of the primary care needs for which SNA support will usually be provided and details the types of secondary care associated tasks which SNAs may often perform. The functions of SNAs are outlined in circulars which are published and updated on a regular basis in consultation with staff interests.
These functions include assistance with clothing, feeding, toileting and general hygiene and being mindful of health and safety needs of the pupil. Catheterisation comes within the toileting function. This position was confirmed in a Labour Court recommendation in September 2018.
Schools are required to have a care plan for each student for whom SNA support is provided and the SNA role in supporting the student should be agreed with parents as part of the care plan.
Where specific training is required, the School Board of Management should liaise with the parent or Health Service Executive (HSE) as necessary.
Where an SNA is not carrying out their care duties as requested by the school, then it is a matter for the school management authority to address. There are agreed disciplinary procedures in place should they be required.
296. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 3 December 2020, if she will provide funding for a school bus service to transport 18 students from Knockmoylan, County Kilkenny to and from a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that they cannot be catered for by Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42563/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2019/2020 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 Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms from and are attending their nearest Primary School 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 are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme.
A 53 seater service serves the route to the school referred to by the Deputy; 34 mainstream eligible pupils and 19 mainstream concessionary pupils were successful in obtaining seats on board. 18 mainstream concessionary pupils were not successful in obtaining a seat during the selection process for school year 20/21.
297. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if a grant is available for a sensory room for primary schools that do not have an ASD class. [42640/20]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that funding for sensory rooms is only available to schools who already have an approved ASD class.
298. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the required data and documentation and the process and contacts required for the establishment of a new Gaelscoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42642/20]
View answerMy Department establishes and supports new schools where a demographic need for a new school has been identified.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and the Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.
Major new residential developments in an area also have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools
- Provision of a new school or schools.
In some instances where a new primary school is required, the new schools are designated as Irish-medium gaelscoileanna in advance of the patronage process, in accordance with a framework in place since September 2019.
For other primary schools, parental preferences for applicant patrons, along with their preference for the language of instruction (Irish or English) of the new school, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, form part of the patronage process, and are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process. It is through this process that a new primary school can be an Irish-medium Gaelscoil or an English-medium school.
Separately, the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process is being developed and is intended to also provide an opportunity to increase the number of Gaelscoileanna nationwide. This process is aimed at accelerating the delivery of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools towards the Government target of 400 such schools by 2030. The process, which involves the live transfer of existing schools, is designed to provide additional multi-/non-denominational schools in Irish or English and an opportunity is available to English-medium schools seeking to make a transition to Irish-medium provision in that context, in line with the expressed wishes of parents and the local school community. Separately to the main Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process, school communities can directly engage with their school patron regarding transfer of patronage to become a multi-denominational school, including a multi-denominational Irish-medium school. Any school which is seeking a transfer of patronage should contact their school patron directly.
There is no separate mechanism by which new independent primary schools established by private parties are recognised and/or supported by the Department.
