Pa Daly
Question:132. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education if she will approve the reinstatement of a school bus service at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32207/21]
View answerSchool Transport
Questions (132)
Written answers
School 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.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest 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 complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services for the 2021/22 school year where such services are in operation. 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.
I can confirm that there has been no instruction from my Department to Bus Éireann to remove the service in question. The closing date for applications for school transport was Friday, 30th April. In line with normal practice, routes for the 2021/2022 school year will be planned and organised over the summer months.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (133)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:133. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the 2021 summer provision programme as in other years previously allows for children in special schools to make up the additional 20 hours with home-based tuition in which the school programme is only two weeks 20 hours. [32174/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021.
This is an incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the opportunity to provide summer programmes for students with complex needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
The total funding available to provide the programme is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.
The programmes for mainstream students in primary and post-primary schools are new programmes for 2021, building upon previous summer programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those in provided in DEIS schools last year.
Where a school offers a school based programme, it is not open to any student of that school to access the home based programme. This is in line with the approach last year.
Children participating in a 2 week school based programme receive in excess of 40 hours tuition which is the maximum that can be availed of in the 4 week home-based programme.
Health and Safety
Questions (134)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:134. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the steps she has taken to address the situation of intimidation of parents pupils and staff at the gates of a school (details supplied) by those dealing drugs there in the morning and as children are going home; and if she will commit the necessary resources to ensure that children can go to school and be in school safely including additional CCTV and other security measures. [32193/21]
View answerWritten answers
The school authority is responsible for the Health & Safety of Children in their care, this would also apply to staff or parents using the school or its grounds.
The safety issues mentioned by the school should be brought to the attention of the local Garda Crime Prevention Officer who should be invited to visit the school and prepare a report. The information in this report should be assessed by the school authority to determine what follow up actions are required. The school authority may email the report to emergency_works@education.gov.ie where it will be examined and advice will issue as to what, if any recommendations comtained in the report fall under the scope of the Emergency Works Scheme.
School Accommodation
Questions (135)
Seán Sherlock
Question:135. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Cork that have made applications to transfer to a new site for the school. [32231/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that there are 20 schools in County Cork included in my Department's school building programme where the building projects for these schools involves the construction of new school buildings on new sites.
Updates on the current status of these projects is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly.
School Accommodation
Questions (136)
Seán Sherlock
Question:136. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if a secondary school is being considered at a location (details supplied). [32238/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 60% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2024, whereas some 90% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2027.
The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision. This Department’s most recent projections indicate continued increasing demand for post primary school places in the Midleton_Carrigtwohill school planning area.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may 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.
Following such an analysis, a new post primary school (Carrigtwohill Community College) was established to serve the Midleton_Carrigtwohill school planning area in 2016. My Department currently has no plans to establish an additional new school in this school planning area, however, the requirement for school places will continue to be kept under review, particularly in light of the significant projected future growth in the population of Midleton. In this regard, my officials will continue to liaise with officials in Cork County Council in respect of the draft Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 (currently at consultation stage), with a view to ensuring appropriate provision for potential future school accommodation needs in all areas of County Cork, including Midleton.
In addition, 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.
School Transport
Questions (137)
Mattie McGrath
Question:137. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the status of the review of the school transport scheme; when the steering group will complete its review; the frequency with which it has met; if the school transport system will be renewed before the start of the new school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32278/21]
View answerWritten answers
School 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. The review is being conducted to ensure that the school transport is fit for purpose and that it serves students and their families adequately.
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.
The Steering Group will report to me initially on preliminary findings regarding eligibility, before moving to consider and report on broader issues such as the objectives of the scheme and the alignment of the scheme with other initiatives and wider Government policy. The Steering Group has recently reported to me with this preliminary interim report which is under consideration.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (138)
John Lahart
Question:138. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the plans she and her Department have for the safe return of schools for teachers and students for the next academic year in respect of indoor ventilation to combat the Covid-19 pandemic taking account of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's recently published Work Safety Protocol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32301/21]
View answerWritten answers
Managing classroom ventilation is one of a number of prevention and control measures in place to ensure schools are safe.
Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in the context of re-opening for September 2020. This guidance was reviewed and updated in November 2020 and in May 2021. This guidance is compatible with that in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's recently published Work Safety Protocol
Schools were reminded of the importance of good ventilation as part of the phased re-opening of schools.
An expert group on ventilation was established to assess the role of ventilation in reducing transmission of Covid-19. The HPSC updated its guidance to reflect the work of this expert group. A Ventilation Working Group involving all relevant Departments (including Department of Education) was established by the Department of the Taoiseach to coordinate this work.
Previous issued guidance advised schools how to identify areas of poor ventilation and the deployment of these measures can be supplemented and enhanced by the use of CO2 monitors and can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on ventilation levels. CO2 monitors have been centrally tendered with delivery direct to schools over the coming months.
School Transport
Questions (139)
Cathal Crowe
Question:139. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education when families can expect to receive school bus fare refunds in lieu of the post-primary school closure from January to April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32313/21]
View answerWritten answers
School 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.
The decision taken by the Government not to re-open schools on the 6th January 2021, followed by the subsequent phased re-opening, was taken in the interest of protecting our pupils, their families, teachers and those members of the wider community and is one of the many measures taken to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Given that school transport services have not been available for part of the current school year, it has been decided that at the end of the current school year a refund for that period of closure will be issued to parents/guardians. The Department is currently engaging with Bus Éireann in considering how best to facilitate these refunds.
School Transport
Questions (140)
Pearse Doherty
Question:140. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a post-primary school transport route (details supplied) will be extended with the capacity increased to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32322/21]
View answerWritten answers
School 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.
Under the terms of the Department's Post-Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that pupils who reside in the areas referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme as they are not attending their nearest school/post primary centre.
Children who apply for transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Capitation Grants
Questions (141)
Catherine Connolly
Question:141. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of increasing the capitation grant at primary and secondary level by 5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32368/21]
View answerWritten answers
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that budget 2020 has been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on the 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019.
The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
The estimated cost of increasing the capitation grant by 5% for primary and post-primary schools is €10.2m.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Questions (142, 143)
Catherine Connolly
Question:142. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by two at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32369/21]
View answerCatherine Connolly
Question:143. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of lowering primary school class sizes by two students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32370/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
At primary level, the annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools. For the current school year, it operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher (26:1). Budget 2021 has implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2021/22 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. In addition, there has been a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which will assist schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
Each one point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule would cost approximately €14.5m annually.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.).
Question No. 143 answered with Question No. 142.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (144)
Paul Kehoe
Question:144. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the current status for a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32375/21]
View answerWritten answers
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in March 2021 and is progressing satisfactorily with a contract duration of approximately 6 months.
School Transport
Questions (145)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:145. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the status of the steering group that was set up to tackle the issues within the school bus transport scheme; if its work was conclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32383/21]
View answerWritten answers
School 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. The review is being conducted to ensure that the school transport is fit for purpose and that it serves students and their families adequately.
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.
The Steering Group will report to me initially on preliminary findings regarding eligibility, before moving to consider and report on broader issues such as the objectives of the scheme and the alignment of the scheme with other initiatives and wider Government policy. The Steering Group has recently reported to me with this preliminary interim report which is under consideration.
School Transport
Questions (146)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:146. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if the issue in relation to concessionary tickets has been addressed by the steering group set up to address the issues in the school bus transport scheme. [32384/21]
View answerWritten answers
School 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. The review is being conducted to ensure that the school transport is fit for purpose and that it serves students and their families adequately.
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.
The Steering Group will report to me initially on preliminary findings regarding eligibility, before moving to consider and report on broader issues such as the objectives of the scheme and the alignment of the scheme with other initiatives and wider Government policy. The Steering Group has recently reported to me with this preliminary interim report which is under consideration.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (147)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:147. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to vaccinating teachers who will be undertaking the July provision in summer 2021. [32440/21]
View answerWritten answers
The new vaccination roll out schedule, which was recommended to government by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and endorsed by the NPHET, is that the remainder of the population after Group 9 will be completed on an age basis from those aged 64 years and younger, and that this decision will replace the previous groupings in the original plan.
The evidence is clear that hospitalisation and death risk increases with age, while a review conducted by NIAC did not see any occupational group emerge as being at higher risk of morbidity or mortality. The risk of someone aged 55-64 with COVID-19 is 70 times higher in terms of death, over 20 times higher in terms of ICU admission and 5 times higher in terms of hospitalisation when compared to the risk facing someone aged 20-34 with COVID-19. I appreciate this change in schedule has been a cause of upset and disappointment for many in the education sector, and also in other sectors.
The move to an age-based model supports the vaccination programme objectives by protecting those at highest risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and death first regardless of occupation. The Department remains committed to regular engagement with the education partners and will continue to engage with unions and management bodies on all issues concerning Covid-19.
School Transport
Questions (148)
Holly Cairns
Question:148. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will resolve the issue of siblings (details supplied) that are unable to access the school transport scheme to a local school most suited to their educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32482/21]
View answerWritten answers
School 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.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport 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.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Skills on the suitability of placements for children with special needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO. Where a child has special educational needs, a parent/guarding should contact the school principal of the school that their child is attending who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with their school.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (149)
Gary Gannon
Question:149. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in today’s terms within a similar timeframe adjusting for inflation and accounting for the €397 million figure over five years outlined in the NCSE's 2006 implementation report on page 20. [32491/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced. The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs.
The following sections of the EPSEN Act were commenced in 2005.
Section 1 – Interpretation
Section 2 - providing for the inclusive education of children with Special Educational Needs
Section 14 – placing certain duties on schools
Sections 19 to 37 - placing the Council on a statutory footing.
Section 39 - placing certain duties on Health Boards
Sections 40 to 53 - amending the Education Act
Schedule 1 – providing for meetings and membership of the Council
Schedule 2 providing for the Chief Executive Officer of the Council.
The remaining sections of the Act have yet to be commenced. The Sections of the EPSEN Act which have not been implemented are those which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to
- an educational assessment for all children with special educational needs.
- consequent development of a statutory individual educational plan (IEP).
- the delivery of detailed educational services on foot of this plan.
- an independent appeals process.
The NCSE estimated, in its Plan for the Implementation of the EPSEN Act Report, which was published in 2006, that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to fully implement the EPSEN Act.
The view of my Department, at the time, was that the level of investment required could be significantly greater than that envisaged in the NCSE report. Legal advice also indicated that the EPSEN Act, as it is currently constituted, may not be implemented on a phased, or age cohort, basis.
Revised estimates of the amount of additional expenditure required to fully implement the remaining sections of the EPSEN Act have not recently been conducted. The estimated level of additional expenditure required, to implement the outstanding sections of the Act, would have to take into account annual demographic growth and service developments in the area of special educational needs, pricing adjustments and salary cost differentials on an ongoing basis. Estimates would also have to be made as to the number of pupils who may now currently qualify for the statutory service provisions envisaged by the EPSEN Act.
The Government is committed to helping every child, particularly those with special educational needs, to fulfil their potential.
In 2021 the Department of Education and Skills will invest approximately €2 Billion in the area of special educational needs support.
The Government has committed to consulting with stakeholders on how best to progress aspects of the EPSEN Act on a non-statutory basis.
A range of consultations with Education Partners and Stakeholders took place in relation to the development of a new model for allocating special education teachers over the course of 2017. The new model was introduced for all schools from September 2017.
Further consultations took place with education partners and stakeholders in the context of the undertaking of a comprehensive review of the SNA scheme and will continue in relation to the implementation of recommendations contained in this report.
Additional powers have also been provided to the National Council for Special Educational to designate a school place for a person with special educational needs, which is now provided for in the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
While awaiting the full implementation of the EPSEN Act, the NCSE has also published a number of policy advice papers which make recommendations aimed at developing a better or more effective alternative to the current resource allocation model, and which aims to move the system towards ultimate implementation of the EPSEN Act.
It should also be noted, however, that since EPSEN was enacted, the Department’s policy on supporting children with special educational needs has changed and evolved on foot of evidence based policy advice from the NCSE which takes account of international perspectives.
Significantly, the focus of special needs education provision has changed from a model that is diagnosis led to one which is driven by the needs of the child. This is a substantially different view to the one underlying the EPSEN Act. The levels of investment by Government in special education has increased to facilitate the underlying reforms required to implement and embed the needs based approach.
This Government will continue to prioritise investment in the area of special education support. Ongoing investment and reform will continue to see improvements made in this area.
I have also indicated that one of my priorities as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion is:
Updating our Laws: Reviewing and updating the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act.
Any review of the Act will take into account the extent of additional investment which has been made in special educational services since 2004, with some €2 Billion per year now being spent of special educational supports.
It will also take into account the range of reforms which have taken place in recent years including the development of new allocation models which are not based primarily on a response to assessment as policy advice has indicated that requirement of diagnosis can create a risk of children being diagnosed as having a special educational need for resource allocation purposes, rather than for health reasons. Also, that as there is a spectrum of ability and disability within every special education disability category, account must be taken of need, as well as diagnosis.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (150)
Johnny Guirke
Question:150. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of electric or hybrid vehicles purchased by her Department in 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32839/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not lease or own any vehicles including both electric or hybrid.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (151)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of special enterprise support grants for self-employed persons issued to date; and the amount of funding provided by county and in tabular form. [32266/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is available to eligible self-employed recipients who close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and re-start their business. A grant of up to €1,000 is available under this measure to assist with the costs associated with reopening a business.
I have recently extended the grant to make it available to those who claimed the grant in 2020 but who found themselves back on the PUP in 2021. The opportunity of a second grant, worth up to €1,000 applies to all eligible self-employed recipients who close their PUP on or after 1 June 2021.
Over 9,200 ESG applications have been approved since the introduction of this grant, with in excess of €8.5m paid to small businesses. This information is not maintained on a county basis.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.