Written Answers Nos. 268-292
268. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence when training and courses for the Defence Forces will resume given Ireland's current level status under the Living with Covid Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29705/21]
View answerThe Defence Forces continues to safeguard the health and welfare of its personnel while maintaining its contribution to the security of the State, framework operations and responding to requests for Aid to the Civil Authority from Government Departments and Agencies, including to help control the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The policy approach implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is designed to address the needs of Defence Forces institutions and units also, in order to safely and successfully conduct approved training activities within current Government guidelines.
Defence Forces training and education activities for the maintenance of operational capability have been prioritised and are ongoing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period. Routine training activities are conducted in accordance with Defence Forces COVID-19 training policy guidelines subject to the Public Health advice prevalent at that time.
269. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Defence the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35929/21]
View answerMy Department operates a small number of bank accounts and, in accordance with public financial procedures, the amounts maintained in these accounts are kept to a minimum. The cost of negative interest rates incurred in respect of these accounts from 2017 to 2021 is outlined in the table below. Negative interest charges for my Department have fallen since 2019 following the move to a centralised government banking service.
Department of Defence Negative Interest Payments 2017-2021
|
Year |
Total |
|
2017 |
€5,219.52 |
|
2018 |
€8,504.14 |
|
2019 |
€176.52 |
|
2020 |
€148.73 |
|
2021 |
Nil |
270. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if a worldwide recruitment campaign for a civilian consultant psychiatrist for the Defence Forces will occur. [35973/21]
View answerA civilian consultant psychiatrist was appointed to the Defence Forces with effect from July 2020.
271. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of civilian plumbers and electricians working in Finner Camp. [35974/21]
View answerMy Department employs civilian staff at various military installations to support the operational capability of the Defence Forces. There are currently three civilian craft workers employed in Finner Camp including one plumber. A recruitment campaign is currently under way to fill an electrician vacancy.
The recruitment of Civilian Employees for military installations is an ongoing process, informed by prioritisation of posts by military management.
272. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons currently in training to become Air Corps pilots. [36100/21]
View answerThe military authorities have advised that there are 18 Officers currently undertaking their Pilot Wings Course and a further 9 Cadets are scheduled to commence their Pilot Wings Course following their graduation as Officers in Q1 of 2022.
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36120/21]
View answerI am satisfied that my Department is in compliance with the publication scheme as set out in the Freedom on Information Act, 2014. Once all freedom of information requests for a particular quarter have been processed and issued, the Disclosure Log for that period is updated and published on the Department's website.
274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36138/21]
View answerThe amount collected by my Department in respect of fees since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced are as follows;
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021* |
|
€648.21 |
€30.00 |
€170.00 |
€559.60 |
€430.00 |
€90.00 |
€60.00 |
€30.00 |
* Up to 30/06/2021
275. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36156/21]
View answerA total of six freedom of information requests were refused by my Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced on the basis that the estimated search and retrieval costs exceeded the overall ceiling limit. On each occasion, the requester was contacted to offer assistance in refining the request so it no longer fell within this category. As my Department did not receive any further correspondence from the requester, the requests were formally refused in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, 2014.
276. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of leases that exist for groups and entities operating from Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [36306/21]
View answerThe majority of current occupiers of Columb Barracks are there without the express legal permission of the Department of Defence. I am advised that my Department's records indicate that three legal indentures were sought or entered into for occupiers of Columb Barracks. In October 2018, the Department wrote to all occupiers of Columb Barracks, informing them of the need to vacate the premises having regard to the eventual transfer of the property to the Land Development Agency (LDA).
The Department of Defence has had proactive engagements with the Land Development Agency (LDA), following confirmation of its interest in acquiring the former Columb Barracks in Mullingar for the development of housing provision. To this end, officials continue to liaise with the LDA in order to facilitate the transfer of these lands and property. On completion of the transfer all issues associated with the future development of the site will be a matter for the LDA.
277. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if matters in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed. [35780/21]
View answerMy Department is corresponding with the person concerned and other relevant parties on the matter raised by the Deputy.
278. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if school transport support will be secured for a child (details supplied) and other students who attend the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35785/21]
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. 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 may 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 advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not attending their closest post primary centre, and is therefore not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme. In addition, Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupil had not completed the application and payment process on time for 2020/21 school year.
The application for the pupil in question was rolled over to the upcoming 2021/22 school year.
The pupil can apply for concessionary transport under the terms of the scheme.
279. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for additional school accommodation in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35786/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, from the school in question.
On completion of the assessment process a decision will be relayed, directly, to the school authority.
280. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the result of the exceptional review carried out on 22 April 2021 in the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35787/21]
View answerThe NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools is to be deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year:
- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 will be maintained and will automatically rollover into the 2021/22 school year.
- No school will therefore receive an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.
- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the next school year in the normal way.
- Priority consideration will now be given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year, in particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools will be prioritised. Determinations will be made before 30 June. Other applications will be processed in order of date received.
- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie/for-schools.
The NCSE have published the SNA allocations on their website www.ncse.ie.
SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.
Circular 0029/2021 has been published and advises schools of the arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for the 2021/22 school year. Provisions set out in Circular 0030/2020 has been extended for the 2021/22 school year.
Circulars 29/2021 and 30/2020 are available on the Departments website.
My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly your correspondence has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.
281. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department has put in place a Covid-19 response plan of the 2021-2022 academic year; the estimated cost of implementing such a Covid-19 response plan and any additional Covid-19 protection measures which may be required across all primary and secondary schools for the 2021-2022 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35788/21]
View answerSchools have been advised that it is expected that they will continue to operate with the current infection prevention and control measures outlined in school covid response plans to support their safe operation during Covid-19 when they reopen in for the 2021/2022 school year. Schools will continue to be supported in terms of the additional resources necessary to provide for these measures.
Schools Covid-19 response plans are based on the Government’s Work Safely Protocol which reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace. It sets out the range of measures required to prevent the spread of Covid-19. These plans will be updated by the Department during the summer and will be available for schools in advance of reopening. It is not envisaged that there will be any updates that require schools to take action in advance of normal reopening.
The Department will undertake a communications campaign with parents and students/pupils in advance of school reopening to inform and remind them of the arrangements in place in schools operating during Covid-19. This will include specifically targeted information at new pupils entering primary and post-primary schools to ensure they are familiar with the new arrangements.
The Department will continue to work closely with all of the education partners and public health specialists so that schools will continue to be supported when they reopen for the 2021/2022 school year.
282. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 405 of 1 June 2021, regarding the position of a building project at a school (details supplied), if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the design and location of this building project which was submitted by the school has not yet been approved by her Department; the reason for the delays in approving the design and location submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35808/21]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019 to enable the school in question to build one mainstream classroom with ensuite toilets. Approval to combine a summer works project for a roof upgrade along with enabling works to provide toilets for this September has also been granted as part of this project.
The project has been devolved for delivery to the School Authority and a consultant has been procured. A stage 1/2A report for this project was submitted but, following a review of same, officials in my Department wrote to the school requiring the provision of an amended report. This is currently awaited.
283. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education if funding has been allocated to the relocation of a school (details supplied) to the Johnstown, Navan education campus; if so, when it is envisaged that construction may commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35828/21]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at tender stage with a closing date for receipt of tenders of early July.
Subject to no issues arising during the balance of the tender process it is envisaged that the project will commence on site in Quarter 4 of 2021.
284. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of a school (details supplied) moving to its permanent site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35833/21]
View answer285. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of a school (details supplied) moving to its permanent site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35834/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
The acquisition of the permanent site for the schools in question, (known locally as the “Glass Bottle” site) on the Goatstown Road, was completed by my Department in June 2019. The site will provide for a campus development of a 1,000 pupil post-primary school with 4 class Special Education Needs Unit (SENU) and a 16 classroom primary school with a 2 class SENU.
The permanent school building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to the Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
A pre-planning meeting with the Planning Department of the local authority was held on 23rd June 2021 to discuss the design proposals for the permanent school building project. These discussions will inform the plans for developing the planning application documentation.
The next key milestone for the project will be the submission of the planning application. It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the schools and will continue to keep the patron body and the school community updated as the project progresses.
286. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of a school development (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35842/21]
View answerAn application for capital funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), has been received from the school authority. The application will be assessed as quickly as possible and once the assessment has been completed, a decision will be conveyed to the school authority.
287. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the problems being faced by the board of management of a school (details supplied) which has outgrown its temporary accommodation and which is designated by her Department as a regional solution to serve students of both Galway city and Oranmore school planning areas and beyond; if she can provide clarity for school management, staff and parents as to the area or location the school will be located in the medium and long-term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35854/21]
View answerThe school has sufficient accommodation in their current location for September 2021. My Department will shortly be exploring options with regard to the school’s further interim accommodation requirements for September 2022 and will continue to liaise with the school and patron in relation to same.
A number of sites in the Galway City East/Oranmore area have been identified and the Department is working closely with Galway City and Galway County councils to progress the site acquisition process.
288. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to ensuring that home tutors governed by the home tuition scheme will be afforded the right to pensionability for their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35859/21]
View answer324. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the number of persons who receive income under the home tuition grant scheme by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36394/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 324 together.
My Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.
In accordance with instructions from the Revenue Commissioners, payments under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source. In order to facilitate parents, my Department acts solely as payroll agents on behalf of the parents/guardian.
Any further queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners.
The Department of Social Protection has determined that Home Tutors are engaged under a contract for service and are therefore self-employed and subject to PRSI Class S. Any further queries in relation to PRSI Class should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.
My Department acts solely as payroll agent on behalf of parents. Payment of the home tuition grant issues directly to the approved tutor via my Department's Non-Teaching Staff payroll.
This Department does not keep lists of tutors available to carry out Home Tuition.
Please see tutor numbers paid for the calendar years, by County, for 2018, 2019 and 2020 below:
|
County |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Carlow |
40 |
28 |
17 |
|
Cavan |
17 |
24 |
19 |
|
Clare |
90 |
81 |
46 |
|
Cork |
286 |
272 |
226 |
|
Donegal |
41 |
57 |
45 |
|
Dublin |
366 |
397 |
286 |
|
Galway |
121 |
119 |
52 |
|
Kerry |
75 |
50 |
40 |
|
Kildare |
100 |
111 |
63 |
|
Kilkenny |
48 |
33 |
27 |
|
Laoighis |
47 |
58 |
28 |
|
Leitrim |
17 |
16 |
13 |
|
Limerick |
147 |
127 |
93 |
|
Longford |
30 |
28 |
28 |
|
Louth |
58 |
43 |
23 |
|
Mayo |
50 |
46 |
30 |
|
Meath |
111 |
112 |
79 |
|
Monaghan |
19 |
14 |
14 |
|
Offaly |
54 |
53 |
38 |
|
Roscommon |
45 |
43 |
42 |
|
Sligo |
17 |
21 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
84 |
72 |
53 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
23 |
37 |
|
Westmeath |
58 |
43 |
41 |
|
Wexford |
51 |
63 |
37 |
|
Wicklow |
88 |
72 |
39 |
289. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to applying a different PRSI class to the emoluments paid to home tutors governed by the home tuition grant scheme due to the fact that these tutors are essentially employees of her Department and their current PRSI status puts them at a serious disadvantage as a result of their lack of eligibility for pensionable PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35860/21]
View answerMy Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.
In accordance with instructions from the Revenue Commissioners, payments under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source. In order to facilitate parents, my Department acts solely as payroll agents on behalf of the parents/guardian.
Any further queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners.
The Department of Social Protection has determined that Home Tutors are engaged under a contract for service and are therefore self-employed and subject to PRSI Class S. Any further queries in relation to PRSI Class should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.
290. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the funding that is available for a group to set up a summer camp for children with autism (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35903/21]
View answerThe 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 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.
The following categories of students are considered as students with complex needs for the 2021
Summer programme
- All students in special schools and special classes in primary and post primary schools, including early intervention classes.
- Students in mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support (Student Support Plus/for a few). This includes students with Autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and other disabilities who were identified for the supplementary programme earlier this year.
Children in the above categories entering primary school in September 2021 are also eligible for the programme.
Through expanding school-based summer programmes for 2021 the Department is seeking to have more schools involved in providing the programme and reducing the need for parents to rely on the home-based programme. However, the Department recognises that not all schools will be in a position to provide a school-based programme.
A home-based summer programme is available for children with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school-based programme.
Under the home-based programme grant funding is made available so that parents/legal guardians can engage the services of a Teacher or an SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate in the child’s home.
The Department will approve a group arrangement between parents/legal guardians and private providers subject to compliance with the published terms and conditions for group arrangements and approved in advance by this Department.
Further information on group terms and conditions is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/62b3b-home-based-summer-programme-2021-terms-and-conditions-for-group-arrangements/.
Such arrangements must be sourced and procured by parents/legal guardians. Groups interested in signing up to such an arrangement should contact homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie.
The Department will only provide funding for children who meet the home based summer scheme’s published eligibility criteria who are enrolled in school and where their school principal has signed Part 1 of the Grant Claim Form confirming their eligibility for the scheme.
291. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the amount of interest her Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35930/21]
View answerDuring 2019 and as part of the Government Bank Framework, my Department commenced migration of all its commercial bank accounts from Bank of Ireland to Danske Bank. All Department bank accounts have now fully migrated to Danske Bank.
Prior to 2017, Bank of Ireland did not charge negative interest fees to my Department. The table below sets out the negative interest fees charged to my Department from 2017 to 2020.
|
2017(€’000) |
2018(€’000) |
2019(€’000) |
2020*(€’000) |
|
|
Negative Interest Fees |
€48 |
€60 |
€49 |
€68 |
*2020 is provisional until 2020 Appropriation Accounts audit is completed by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Accounts are published.
292. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the reason for the changes made in information note TC 0016/2021 which allows a job-sharing teacher to provide substitute cover in their own school only. [35951/21]
View answerThe Job Sharing Scheme for teachers is contained in Chapter 8 of my Department’s Circular Letter Circular 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. Paragraph 11.1(a) of the Job Sharing Scheme states a teacher may not engage in any substitute teaching whilst job sharing.
In response to issues raised in relation to teacher supply, this restriction of engaging in substitute teaching imposed in the Job Sharing Scheme was suspended for the 2020/21 school year and again for the 2021/22 school year.
My Department’s published Information Note TC 0016/2021 on 28th June, to inform schools of this temporary change to the Job Sharing Scheme for the 2021/22 school year.
A Job Sharing teacher may now be employed to work in a substitute capacity, during the period he/she is rostered off duty. Given the need to minimise movement between schools during the current COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020/21 school year and again in the 2021/22 school year, the Job Sharing teacher is limited to carrying out substitute work in his/her own school.
