Written Answers Nos. 43-63
43. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline her policy to secure the repatriation of items of cultural heritage obtained through plunder and colonialism from the UK authorities to museums here and to repatriate items of cultural institutions from museums here to nations items that were unjustly taken. [22448/21]
View answerThe National Cultural Institutions have policies in relation to historic artefacts, where such items may be considered national treasures, and constantly consider ethics and changing sensitivities around such matters. While it would be difficult to identify precisely the circumstances of acquisition in the distant past for many of the historic artefacts currently held abroad, specific proposals from interested parties for repatriation of such items can be examined at present on a case by case basis.
It is recognised that the ancient heritage of Ireland is also part of the patrimony of Europe. The transfer of artefacts from Ireland was not solely the consequence of plunder nor expropriation. The interaction of people across the centuries also included the movement of cultural treasures, most notably in the Monastic age. The primary considerations are that historic artefacts from Ireland now held abroad are in safe keeping and that they can be seen by students and visitors which is increasingly possible through digitisation initiatives.
44. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the contact there has been between her Department and the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the issue of bilingual labelling of veterinary medicine. [22543/21]
View answerWhile I have no statutory responsibility in regard to bilingual labelling of veterinary medicines , my Department has an interest in the Irish language becoming increasingly visible in the economic life of the State. Officials in my Department have, therefore, been in contact with officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, regarding the bilingual labelling of veterinary medicines and in particular the Court of Justice of the European Union’s recent ruling on their labelling in Irish.
Regarding bilingual labelling in general, the Government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, as a mechanism to develop the range of areas available in which people can choose Irish as a language of exchange.
In addition, paragraph 2.8.1.2 of the Governments 2018-2022 Irish Language Action Plan states that Foras na Gaeilge, through its ‘Gnó Means Business’ programme, will deliver a wide range of initiatives to support the use of the Irish language in business and economic life.
45. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending a strategic development zone (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22433/21]
View answerOn 30 May 2017, the then Government designated 284 hectares of land at Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) under Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) for the establishment of a strategic development zone for developments which may include—
(a) commercial activities including the development of infrastructure to support aviation including air cargo logistics facilities, aircraft hangars, maintenance and repair facilities, and airline and flight services,
(b) the provision of hotel and conference facilities,
(c) the development of any commercial or employment activity that, in the opinion of the first local authority having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of its local authority area, requires to be located within the strategic development zone and cannot be reasonably accommodated at any other location in either the local authority area of the first local authority situated outside of the strategic development zone or the local authority area of any of the other local authorities in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly Area, and
(d) the provision of supporting transport infrastructure.
The preparation of a planning scheme for an SDZ is a function of the relevant development agency, under Section 168 of the Act. In this case Mayo County Council is the designated development agency.
On 9 September 2019, the planning authority made the IWAK SDZ Planning Scheme. Further details are available on Mayo County Council's website at the following link: www.mayococo.ie. Further to the making of the planning scheme, the planning authority must grant permission for any development which is consistent with the planning scheme, with no further appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the decision of the planning authority.
As the designated development agency, delivery of this project is a matter in the first instance for Mayo County Council.
Where a revision to the boundary of the SDZ area and/or new types of development that may be established in the area are sought, it would be necessary to seek Government approval for a new designation for the area as an SDZ in line with Section 166 of the Act, followed by the preparation and adoption of a new planning scheme before any submissions for planning permission could be considered in line with the new planning scheme.
Alternatively, an application for planning permission for development located outside the SDZ area could, at any time, be submitted to Mayo County Council for consideration under the provisions of Section 34 of the Act.
46. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review correspondence sent by persons (details supplied) in relation to financial matters and address the issues raised therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22396/21]
View answerThe "Shared Ownership Scheme" was a national scheme introduced by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in 1992. Local authorities administered the Scheme in each of their administrative areas. The Shared Ownership Scheme was discontinued in June 2011 by the then Government.
The Shared Ownership Scheme was a housing scheme which facilitates access to full home ownership in stages to persons who could not afford full ownership immediately. The applicant initially acquired a share of between 40% and 75% in a dwelling and rented the remainder from the local authority/ with an undertaking to acquire the remaining equity within a 25/30 year period.
There are two types of shared ownership loans, "pre-2002 Index Linked shared ownership loans" and ‘post-2002 shared ownership loans’. Loans are made-up of a loan portion and a rental (leased) portion – most being a 50/50 split. Monthly payments are made on the loan borrowing and also a rental amount was paid. The two schemes differ in how the rental payments are calculated and the effect they have on the underlying rental equity portion outstanding.
I note from your correspondence that Limerick City and County Council has offered a number of payment options available to the borrowers. It is important that the borrowers now seek independent financial advice on this matter. In terms of ongoing scheme arrangements it would be important that a participant engages with their local authority on matters as outlined and also seeks independent financial advice and support.
Under relevant legislation, I am precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases such as this.
47. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered the introduction of regulations to promote more sustainable building practices and in particular of regulation governing the use of renewable components, the speciation to allow dismantling on buildings to facilitate reuse and on demolition planning for maximum recovery of materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22420/21]
View answerMy Department has issued design guidelines for sustainable housing which includes recommendations to have due regard for the environmental impact of construction materials. These guidelines “Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities” are available on my Department’s website at the following link. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/24d9e-quality-housing-for-sustainable-communities-design-guidelines/
Under the Climate Action Plan the Office of Public Works is putting in place a roadmap to promote greater use of lower-carbon building material alternatives in construction and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is carrying out a research and development project to examine life cycle analysis and embedded energy in buildings to compare the use of sustainable materials.
The review of Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (known as the Constructions Products Regulations or “the CPR”) was confirmed by the European green deal in December 2019 and the European Commission’s 2nd Circular Economy Action Plan published in March 2020. In parallel, the European Commission initiated discussion on an implementation plan for a future environmental life cycle assessment framework for construction products, looking at the impacts on the wider environment that occur during the whole life cycle of a construction product. The objective is to identify the strategic issues that need to be addressed with a view to the implementation of Basic Works Requirement 7 ‘Sustainable Use of Natural Resources’ (BWR7) in the context of the current and the future revision to the Construction Products Regulation.
Ireland will be obliged to follow this harmonised procedure via harmonised technical specifications for construction products, when a consensus of approach emerges. In that regard, it would be counter to harmonisation to develop national rules for matters covered by the Internal Market regulation.
The value of sustainable building practices is also recognised in the new EU policy framework known as the Renovation Wave – which focuses on the multiple benefits arising from the energy efficient upgrade of homes and buildings more generally. Ireland welcomes and supports the Renovation Wave initiative and both my Department and the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Communications have provided inputs to help strengthen its impact.
The potential impact that construction has on the environment has been recognised in the National Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, 2020 published by my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate Action and Communications. Actions include a commitment to update guidance on resource management in construction. To this end, the Environmental Protection Agency has opened a public consultation on updated guidelines which can be accessed at the following link https://www.epa.ie/pubs/consultation/constructionanddemolitionwastemanagementplanguidelines.html.
Furthermore, the Government has published a draft Circular Economy Strategy which sets out what a circular economy is, why Ireland needs to achieve it, and how national policy will develop to support that goal. The draft Strategy is also open for public consultation currently and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/37078-public-consultation-on-the-proposed-publication-of-the-circular-economy-strategy/.
48. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the terms of reference of the bathing waters expert group established within his Department; the number of times the group met in 2020 and to date in 2021; if approved minutes of all group meetings are publicly available; if so, the location from which they can be accessed; if the group has made a recommendation in relation to changing the bathing water season definition to 12 months from the current definition of 1 June to 15 September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22432/21]
View answer49. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to provide a decision on a recommendation by An Bord Pleanála (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22481/21]
View answerOn 26 March 2021, my Department received a statement of case for imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI), a copy of the planning application and a Natura Impact Statement from An Bord Pleanála, pursuant to section 177AA(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (“the 2000 Act”), in respect of an application for permission for a strategic infrastructure development lodged with An Bord Pleanála by Galway Harbour Company. The planning application relates to the proposed extension to Galway Harbour and will result in direct and permanent loss of habitats in the Galway Bay Complex Special Area of Conservation.
Pursuant to Section 177AB(1)(a) of the 2000 Act, I am required to request the views of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (formerly the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) as to whether the compensatory measures proposed in the planning application are sufficient to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected. On this basis, I issued a letter dated 27 April 2021, to Ms Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, requesting her views as to whether the compensatory measures proposed in the application are sufficient to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected.
It should be noted that there is no statutory time period set for completion of any of the steps in Section 177AB of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. In this regard, while a response to my letter is pending, I am not in a position to give a timeline for completion of the present stage of the IROPI process in section 177AB(1) in this instance.
50. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of renewal passports processed and issued through Irish embassies and consulates in 2020 and to date in 2021. [22441/21]
View answerThe approximate number of paper renewal applications received through our Embassies and Consulates General in 2020 and to date in 2021 is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Total |
|
2020 |
3,100 |
|
2021 |
70 |
The figures for 2021 are accurate to 26 April.
All passport applications are processed by the Passport Service in Ireland. The Passport Service introduced online renewal of adult passports in 2017 and expanded this service in 2018 to include the renewal of child passports. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
I encourage all applicants to apply via the Passport Online service which has won awards for its user-friendly process, including a NALA award for the use of plain English. If an applicant is not familiar with using a computer, a friend or relative with basic computer skills can help them to apply online – the process only takes ten minutes to complete. Passport Online can also facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult is a paperless process and does not require the signature of a witness.
51. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the dire need of PPE including oxygen from Europe with immediate effect to the health service in India; and if emergency oxygen will be sent to India as soon as possible. [22469/21]
View answerIndia is undergoing a vast surge in Covid-19 cases, with about three million recorded new cases in the past two weeks alone. The Indian health system is under severe pressure, with hospitals having to turn patients away as they run out of both beds and oxygen.
Ireland was among the first States to confirm concrete support to India as part of a wider EU response. At a time of great difficulty for India, we wanted to show solidarity with a country and people with whom we have strong historical and modern day relations. The emergency donation of 700 oxygen concentrators to India is en route, coordinated by the EU Civil Protection mechanism. Ireland made a further offer of 365 ventilators and 1 oxygen generator, which was accepted by the Indian authorities and transport arrangements are in hand.
We are glad to provide this support at a time of such need and to be doing so as part of a wider EU response. EU leaders, including the Taoiseach, will have a virtual Summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi on 8 May and the issue of the pandemic will be a central theme of the discussions. We hope that Ireland’s contribution of life-saving equipment, in tandem with the coordinated EU response, will provide rapid and tangible support and solidarity with India at this distressing time. My thoughts especially are with the Indian community in Ireland which is deeply concerned for families and friends in India. We are deeply grateful to the medical professionals from India who are making a major contribution to our own health services during the pandemic.
52. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on and response to recent and ongoing events in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22473/21]
View answerIreland, along with our EU partners, is concerned about the adoption by the National People’s Congress of a national security law in Hong Kong, which risks undermining the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong under the One Country, Two Systems principle.
The decision by the Chinese National People's Congress in March of this year to change the electoral system in Hong Kong is the most recent move by the authorities to put pressure on the fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and the political pluralism that are central to Hong Kong’s identity and prosperity. In response, the EU issued a statement on 11 March to call on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in Hong Kong's democratic process and to end the persecution of those who promote democratic values. Ireland fully supports this statement.
In addition to this, in response to the adoption of this law, the EU adopted Council Conclusions on 28 July 2020 expressing grave concern over the national security legislation for Hong Kong. These conclusions restated the EU’s support for Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, expressed its solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, and set out a coordinated response package of measures in various fields, including asylum, migration, visa, and residence policy; controls on exports of specific sensitive equipment and technologies for end use in Hong Kong; and the operation of Member States’ extradition arrangements and other relevant agreements with Hong Kong.
In line with these Conclusions, the Government on 13 October agreed to suspend Ireland’s Extradition Agreement with Hong Kong, which clearly signals Ireland’s concerns in relation to the rule of law in Hong Kong and the erosion of judicial independence promised under the One Country Two Systems principle.
The matter has been discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on a number of occasions this year. Ireland, along with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation and raise our concerns with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities as appropriate.
53. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated timeframe for clearing the existing passport application backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22545/21]
View answer55. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications for passports currently outstanding as of 26 April 2021 or the latest date available for new passports and for renewals, respectively; the number of applicants who are residents overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22547/21]
View answer56. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that are currently outstanding as of 26 April 2021 or the latest date available for residents by county; and the number of applications for new passports or for renewals of a passport by county in tabular form . [22550/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55 and 56 together.
In line with the National Framework on Living with COVID-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19.
This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or meet the criteria for travel as defined in the recent amendment to the Health Act 1947, which came into effect on 1 February 2021. Supporting documentation is required in such cases.
Applicants who require an urgent or emergency passport can contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website.
Irish citizens who are resident overseas should continue to contact the Passport Service through the local Irish Embassy or Consulate General who continue to provide assistance to all our citizens abroad.
Staff of the Passport Service continue to produce emergency and urgent applications, to offer customer service through WebChat, to assist with consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas and temporary reassignment of staff to the Department of Health. As well as issuing more than 3,500 urgent and emergency passports, the Passport Service has also issued approximately 45,000 passports since the beginning of the year. Our Webchat team have also responded to approximately 45,000 queries.
At present, there are approximately 90,000 Passport Online applications in the system. The number of applications in the system that are for applicants resident overseas is approximately 36,000. The return to full operations will commence with all applications received via Passport Online. The Passport Service is confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
The approximate number of online applications per county under process currently in the system is set out in the table below.
|
County |
Applications in System |
|
Antrim |
4,900 |
|
Armagh |
1,000 |
|
Carlow |
400 |
|
Cavan |
500 |
|
Clare |
1,000 |
|
Cork |
4,700 |
|
Derry |
1,600 |
|
Donegal |
1,300 |
|
Down |
3,200 |
|
Dublin |
17,100 |
|
Fermanagh |
400 |
|
Galway |
2,300 |
|
Kerry |
1,100 |
|
Kildare |
2,400 |
|
Kilkenny |
700 |
|
Laois |
600 |
|
Leitrim |
300 |
|
Limerick |
1,800 |
|
Longford |
300 |
|
Louth |
1,200 |
|
Mayo |
1,000 |
|
Meath |
2,100 |
|
Monaghan |
400 |
|
Offaly |
500 |
|
Roscommon |
500 |
|
Sligo |
500 |
|
Tipperary |
1,100 |
|
Tyrone |
1,200 |
|
Waterford |
900 |
|
Westmeath |
800 |
|
Wexford |
1,100 |
|
Wicklow |
1,600 |
The approximate number of online applications per county under process currently in the system, broken down by renewal applications and first time applications, is set out in the table below.
|
County |
Renewal |
FTA |
|
Antrim |
1,900 |
3,000 |
|
Armagh |
500 |
500 |
|
Carlow |
300 |
100 |
|
Cavan |
400 |
100 |
|
Clare |
900 |
100 |
|
Cork |
3,900 |
800 |
|
Derry |
900 |
700 |
|
Donegal |
1,000 |
300 |
|
Down |
1,300 |
1,900 |
|
Dublin |
13,800 |
3,300 |
|
Fermanagh |
200 |
200 |
|
Galway |
1,900 |
400 |
|
Kerry |
900 |
200 |
|
Kildare |
2,000 |
400 |
|
Kilkenny |
600 |
100 |
|
Laois |
500 |
100 |
|
Leitrim |
200 |
100 |
|
Limerick |
1,500 |
300 |
|
Longford |
200 |
100 |
|
Louth |
1,000 |
200 |
|
Mayo |
800 |
200 |
|
Meath |
1,700 |
400 |
|
Monaghan |
300 |
100 |
|
Offaly |
400 |
100 |
|
Roscommon |
400 |
100 |
|
Sligo |
400 |
100 |
|
Tipperary |
900 |
200 |
|
Tyrone |
600 |
600 |
|
Waterford |
700 |
200 |
|
Westmeath |
600 |
200 |
|
Wexford |
900 |
200 |
|
Wicklow |
1,300 |
300 |
These figures are correct to 26 April 2021.
There are currently approximately 1,800 paper based applications in the system. It is not possible to break these down by county. The Passport Service plans to resume processing of routine paper based applications such as Passport Express and Northern Ireland Passport Express as a priority once online applications have been processed.
54. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of public servants who were redeployed from the passport office for other duties elsewhere since March 2020; the number who continue to be redeployed elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22546/21]
View answerStaff of the Passport Service continue to produce emergency and urgent applications, to offer customer service through WebChat, to assist with consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas and temporary reassignment. The Passport Office has issued more than 3,500 urgent and emergency passports since the beginning of the year. Our Webchat team have also responded to more than 45,000 queries. The Passport Office has processed 430,000 passport renewals since the start of the pandemic.
Applicants who require an urgent or emergency passport can contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website.
Irish citizens who are resident overseas should continue to contact the Passport Service through the local Irish Embassy or Consulate General who continue to provide assistance to all our citizens abroad.
To assist with the wider State response to COVID-19, 166 Passport Service personnel have been redeployed, at the request of different Departments, into other, essential public service roles, such as contact tracing for the HSE, assisting the Department of Social Protection to facilitate the processing of COVID-19 related benefits, providing consular assistance to Irish citizens overseas and assisting the Public Appointments Service.
57. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 22 April 2021, the reason for the refusal to extend the scheme beyond 2021; the reason the scheme is not being extended to the vital air crew and technicians that underpin all aviation operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22556/21]
View answerAs I have previously outlined in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 22 April 2021, the development of the Air Corps Flying Officers Commitment Scheme arose from a recommendation made in the Public Service Pay Commission report on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces.
Following engagement by my officials with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), and in line with the recommendations of the Public Service Pay Commission, sanction was obtained for the re-introduction of a service commitment scheme in 2019 with a view to assisting in the retention in service of experienced pilots in key appointments in the Air Corps. This was seen as a critical need for continued operational capability and in line with the PSPC recommendation, the scheme was introduced, solely for this cohort.
The sanction also provided that the scheme would be additionally offered to newly eligible Flying Officers for 2 subsequent years, 2020 and 2021.
As set out under the terms therefore, there will be a further iteration of the Scheme for newly eligible Flying Officers in 2021. The Service Committment Scheme does not extend to other cohorts in the Air Corps as the sanction covering the scheme does not provide for this.
I wish to reiterate that a recuitment campaign for Aircraft Apprentice Technicians has been recently launched and further recruitment intiatives within the Air Corps are also under consideration.
58. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking with regard to a change of school patronage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22364/21]
View answerThe Schools Recon?guration for Diversity process is aimed at supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local families. This process involves the transfer of existing live schools as opposed to the amalgamation and/or closure model of the patronage divesting process.
The “Early Movers” provision of the Schools Reconfiguration Process enables patronage transfers to take place for school communities which have decided to make this change. Where there is such local agreement, a school patron may seek to transfer patronage to a new patron under section 8 of the Education Act 1998. My Department facilitates such transfers of patronage where requested by the relevant school patron. A number of patronage changes have taken place in recent years in this way, resulting in the provision of an additional 11 multi-denominational Community National Schools. In addition, an Irish-medium gaelscoil has recently changed patronage from its Catholic patron to An Foras Pátrúnachta.
Accordingly, any school community which wishes to pursue a transfer of patronage should engage with their school patron in the first instance.
59. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) can construct an additional classroom to be attached to the school in lieu of a standalone classroom approved in which planning permission is in place and the costs are defined and the play space is confined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22386/21]
View answerIn January my Department gave grant approval to the school in question for an 80m² Mainstream Classroom under the additional schools' accommodation scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure that essential classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
A condition of this grant approval was that the classroom be a permanent standalone structure, as otherwise a fire safety certificate and disability access certificate would need to be obtained for the whole school building; potentially increasing costs and delays in the project's delivery.
However, it is open for the schools to make submissions to attach the approved structure as part of the design process, and my department's officials will consider these submissions once they are made. The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at the preliminary stages, and when the school have appointed a design consultant they can make this submission to my Department as part of their preliminary design.
60. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education if primary schools will be allowing external teachers to come into schools to undertake the July provision in Summer 2021. [22387/21]
View answerMy Department is progressing work on proposals to run an expanded summer programme again this year with more schools involved.
These proposals are being developed based on engagement and consultation with the education partners. The issue raised by the Deputy is being considered as part of this work.
A further announcement on this will be made in due course.
61. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made in respect of an appeal against a decision to refuse sanction for an extension lodged by a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in making a decision on this appeal; if her attention has been drawn to the urgent need for an extension to the school in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22391/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas.
Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
Officials in my Department are communicating with the Patron, of the school in question, in relation to demographics in this school planning area. My Department is currently working to examine the capacity of the schools in the area to meet projected demand. On completion of this analysis a decision will be relayed directly to the school authority referred.
62. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the position regarding providing a permanent and fully resourced school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will provide a timeline to completion of the project to permanently locate the school. [22395/21]
View answerMy Department has given approval to the Patron of the school referred to by the Deputy to appoint a Consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property in question. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property.
63. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the status of the review of the school transport scheme as announced on 11 February 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22397/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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 October 2019, my predecessor announced a review of the school transport scheme with a view to taking a fresh look at the service and its broader effectiveness and sustainability. Given the evolving situation with Covid-19 the work of the Steering Group had been delayed. However, an initial meeting of the Steering Group was recently held in order to recommence the process, which will continue over the coming period. The review is being conducted to ensure that the school transport is fit for purpose and that it serves students and their families adequately.
This review will also 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.
It is planned that the Steering Group will report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report later this year with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
