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Wednesday, 6 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 46-65

Emergency Accommodation

Questions (46)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

46. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he is taking to ensure that staff working in privately-run emergency accommodation and services for persons experiencing homelessness and that are in receipt of public funds are Garda vetted; when the National Quality Standards Framework will be applied to privately run accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48605/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. My Department does not provide homeless service directly but contributes to overall expenditure incurred by housing authorities in the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.

Exchequer funding provided by my Department is governed by a Protocol agreement between my Department and the lead authority in each region. This Protocol sets out the funding arrangements and structures to ensure adherence with statutory requirements and public financial procedures. The Protocol requires that local authorities and their service delivery partners, including voluntary NGOs and private operators, comply with all statutory codes including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the Fire Services Acts and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016.

In respect of Garda vetting, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 sets out the legal requirement for Garda vetting and the parameters for same. While many of the NGOs working within the homeless sector have members of staff and volunteers that are vetted under the Act, homeless services are not currently specifically identified in the relevant legislation whereby vetting is mandatory. My Department is actively engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the Department of Justice in this regard with the objective of ensuring that where it is needed, Garda vetting is made available under the Act.

All homeless accommodation that is provided by local authorities and funded by my Department, are required to comply with standards. The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. The NQSF specifically provides that service users are safeguarded and protected from abuse and their safety and welfare is promoted where services are provided. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has recently reframed the quality assurance arrangements under the NQSF to cover all privately operated facilities and these are currently being rolled out.

Rental Sector

Questions (47, 48)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

47. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases that have been taken against landlords for non-compliance with the rent pressure zone rules in the past 12 months; the number of landlords that were found to be non-compliant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48719/21]

View answer

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

48. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of landlords that were fined by the RTB for non-compliance with the rent pressure zone rules in the past 12 months; the number that paid the fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48720/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.

My Department does not collect the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.

Question No. 48 answered with Question No. 47.

Rental Sector

Questions (49)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

49. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional powers and resources that the RTB requires in order to adequately enforce compliance with rental rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48721/21]

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Written answers

The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.

Since 1 July 2019, the RTB is empowered under Part 7A – Complaints, Investigations and Sanctions – of the Residential Tenancies Acts to investigate improper conduct by landlords and to impose sanctions, where appropriate.

The breaches of rental law that the Investigations & Sanctions (I&S) unit of the RTB can investigate include a contravention of the rent increase restriction and related procedures in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs). The RTB has the power to impose sanctions if improper conduct by a landlord is found to have occurred, ranging from a formal written caution and/or a fine of up to €15,000 and/or costs up to €15,000.

Section 56 of the Acts provides for the award of damages for abuse of the termination procedure, and the RTB can make a direction that a landlord pay an amount by way of damages for the deprivation of the tenancy.

The drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 benefited from input from the sector, including the key Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working in housing and homelessness. In particular, the 2019 amendments to legally tighten the tenancy termination provisions and to significantly extend the tenancy termination notice periods were informed by the experiences in the rental sector, as highlighted by the NGOs.

The Government is fully committed to ensuring that the full protections for tenants provided for in the Residential Tenancies Acts are applied. As of Quarter 2 2021, the RTB has commenced over 400 investigations into improper conducts and to date, almost €260,000 has been refunded to current and former tenants as a direct result of breach of rent setting rules.

I have formally requested the RTB to escalate its response to non-compliance with the RPZ rent increase restriction, given its extensive investigation and sanction capabilities. An increase of €2M in Current Exchequer Funding was made available to the RTB in 2020, bringing the total amount of funding available to the RTB for operational costs to €9M for 2020.

An additional €2M in Current Exchequer funding for RTB operational costs was secured in Budget 2021 bringing the total amount available to €11M in 2021.

Rental Sector

Questions (50)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

50. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to the RTB for inspections and enforcement in each year for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48722/21]

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Written answers

The Residential Tenancies Board's (RTB’s) funding is derived primarily from a proportion of the fee income accruing from tenancy registrations, as set down by Ministerial Order. This allowed the RTB to move to an entirely self-financing position in 2010. However, due to a deterioration in the RTB’s finances as a result of reduced registrations, a growing demand for RTB services and new functions under amendments made to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, it became necessary to obtain direct Exchequer funding since 2016.

The total Exchequer allocation of current funding made available to the RTB for operational costs 2016 – 2021 is outlined in the table below.

Allocated Exchequer Funds to RTB

Year

Amount

2016

€351,000

2017

€1,350,000

2018

€4,390,000

2019

€7,010,000

2020

€9,000,000

2021

€11,000,000

My Department does not collect the breakdown of the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.

Electoral Process

Questions (51)

Holly Cairns

Question:

51. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will carry out an audit of all polling stations to ensure that they are accessible for all and ensure that they carry out any remedial works that are required. [48732/21]

View answer

Written answers

Under electoral law, Returning Officers are responsible for the selection and provision of polling stations at polling places. Section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended by section 3 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996, provides that Returning Officers must, where practicable, select buildings for polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users.

A Working Group on Disability Voting was established by my Department in December 2018 to examine and make recommendations on issues that arise under a range of areas, including improving accessibility to polling stations for voters with physical disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, with the goal of all polling stations being fully accessible as soon as possible. Returning Officers continue to work to reduce the number of inaccessible polling buildings and polling stations. The progress being made will continue to be monitored by the Working Group.

Recognising that people with disabilities have particular needs, my Department endeavours to ensure that the voting process is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

The Electoral Acts provide for a range of measures to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities, including:

- The requirement on local authorities, in making polling schemes, to appoint as polling places areas where at least one polling station will be accessible to wheelchair users;

- The requirement on Returning Officers, where practicable, to provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users and to give public notice of all polling stations which are inaccessible to wheelchair users not later than eight days before polling day. In guidance to Returning Officers, my Department has suggested that consideration should be given to providing suitable ramps in the case of polling stations that cannot be reached without negotiating steps;

- The requirement on Returning Officers to put in place arrangements to facilitate the marking and placing in the ballot box of ballot papers by wheelchair users. In guidance to Returning Officers, my Department has suggested the provision at each polling station of an appropriately located table and chair to facilitate this requirement;

- The requirement on Returning Officers to ensure, where practicable, that the place appointed for the counting of votes is accessible to wheelchair users.

If an elector anticipates difficulty in gaining access to his or her polling station, he or she may apply in writing to the Returning Officer for authorisation to vote at another polling station in the same constituency. Furthermore, a person with a physical disability or illness which prevents him or her from going to the polling station can vote by post if he or she applies to be included in the postal voters list which is drawn up each year as part of the register of electors. A person residing in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution who has a physical disability or illness which prevents them from going to the polling station, can vote at the hospital or nursing home if they apply to be included in the special voters list which is drawn up each year as part of the register of electors.

While comprehensive arrangements are in place to assist participation in the electoral process by individuals with physical disabilities, nonetheless my Department continues to seek to improve these arrangements and to have regard to the special needs of such persons.

Fire Service

Questions (52, 53, 54)

Gary Gannon

Question:

52. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a plan is in place to address the under staffing in Dublin City Fire Brigade resulting in an overreliance on overtime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48734/21]

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Gary Gannon

Question:

53. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the staffing number for Dublin City Fire Brigade for the past five years in tabular form. [48735/21]

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Gary Gannon

Question:

54. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been an increase in the use of overtime used in Dublin City Fire Brigade over the past five years; his views on whether this is obscuring a staffing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48736/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 53 and 54 together.

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and national standards, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.

Dublin City Council provides fire prevention and fire and rescue services for the four Dublin local authorities: Dublin City, South Dublin, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Councils. It also provides an emergency ambulance service by arrangement with the National Ambulance Service of the HSE.

The prioritisation of work and effective management of all resources is, in the first instance, a matter for the fire authority, based on its assessment of risk, needs and resources. In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, under the Local Government Act 2001, it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of their local authority.

In relation to staffing in Dublin Fire Brigade, I am aware that the most recent fire-fighter recruitment campaign began in September 2019; all recent fire brigade recruit training has taken place in the shadow of the pandemic, which has placed considerable additional challenges on the process. The first class of recruits from that campaign began training in April 2020 and have taken up positions across the brigade. A second recruit class began training in June 2021 and will finish this December to take up positions across the brigade in January 2022. A further third recruit class will begin training early in February 2022 with a start date for a fourth and final class of the remaining panelled recruit’s currently under review.

The provision of fire services by local authorities is based on a statutory risk management approach which involves an analysis of the nature of the fire hazards and the incidence and extent of fires which occur, as well as the fire protection measures in place. There has been a welcome downward trend in the incidence of fire, with the fire fatality rate per million of population, using a three year average, currently at 4.3 deaths per million of population. While each death is one too many, this figure is a third of what it was twenty years ago when it stood at 12.9 deaths per million of population. That level of fire fatalities positions Ireland among countries with very low fire fatality rates. As this is Fire Safety Week 2021, I remind everybody of the importance of testing their smoke alarms regularly and I commend the kind of community fire safety initiatives aimed at protecting the most vulnerable in our society, which are undertaken by fire services and are seen a key driver of the welcome downward trends.

Local Authority fire services in Ireland is staffed by over three thousand professional, competent and highly committed personnel in the full-time and retained fire services. Local authorities, as the funders and the employers of fire service personnel, have demonstrated their commitment to this service over the past number of years. The number of frontline fire service staff have been maintained at a consistent high level throughout the economic challenges of the past number of years, even at a time when staffing numbers were of necessity reduced in other areas of the local authorities.

With regard to staffing in Dublin Fire Brigade, I understand that Dublin City Council, as the employer, has engaged in an extended process with firefighter representative bodies, Fórsa and SIPTU at the Workplace Relations Commission. Unfortunately, the parties were not able to reach agreement on all the issues at this time, some of which are intended to alleviate pressures caused by current staffing arrangements. I encourage all parties involved to re-engage and to continue to use the State's established statutory industrial relations machinery to resolve the issues concerned.

Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 52.
Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 52.

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Questions (55)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

55. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent efforts made by his Department to highlight the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; the progress made in relation to securing citizenship for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48432/21]

View answer

Written answers

Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the US and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people wishing to live and work in the US have been priority issues for successive Governments and continue to be key priorities for the current Government.

Immigration issues continue to be raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with US Administrations and political leaders. During his St. Patrick's Day virtual visit this year, the Taoiseach raised the matter directly with President Biden. I also raised immigration issues in my meetings on Capitol Hill during my most recent visit to Washington, DC. These engagements will continue as we maintain close relations with Members of Congress and contacts from across the political spectrum in the US, and as we seek opportunities to deepen and strengthen our bilateral relations with President Biden's Administration.

I am pleased to see that immigration issues, including possible pathways to citizenship, are a priority for President Biden, as demonstrated by his proposed US Citizenship Act of 2021. I look forward to working with his Administration as well as with the US Congress, on a bipartisan basis, as they pursue comprehensive immigration reform in the US. We will actively engage with the Administration and Congress on this matter, including through our Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Government continues to pursue the E3 Visa Bill, which, if passed, could allow access to thousands of US visas each year to Irish citizens, providing new opportunities to live and work in the US.

Through our Embassy in Washington, D.C., as well as our Consulates across the US, my Department works closely with Irish immigration centres, which support the needs of Irish citizens. The Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers receives significant annual funding through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme. Last year, in response to the pandemic, a dedicated COVID-19 Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad was set up to help these organisations meet the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable. In 2020, over €4.25m was paid to diaspora organisations in the US for ESP and Covid-19 related projects.

Passport Services

Questions (56)

Michael Ring

Question:

56. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport for a person (details supplied) will be dispatched in time for their travel plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48500/21]

View answer

Written answers

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant.

The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express for applications which have been completed correctly.

Defence Forces

Questions (57)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

57. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the reason he has not met a person (details supplied) who has been in regular communication with him, An Garda Síochána and others in relation to a litany of sex abuse allegations relating to boys and men in particular during their time in the Defence Forces. [48550/21]

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Written answers

The Secretary General of the Department of Defence has met with the individual named on two occasions. The individual corresponds with the Department on an almost daily basis and sometimes more than once a day. The correspondence includes allegations from others as to events personal to them and not necessarily occurring in the workplace. The individual named has been informed by statutory agencies as to how certain matters should be reported. Every effort has been and is being made to address the concerns raised by him.

In recent statements, I have set out that I would like to say sorry to anyone who has suffered during their time in the Defence Forces and assure them the State will now urgently carry out an Independent Review. This sentiment is not gender specific.

I keep an open mind on meeting with any person who expresses views on any aspect of policy within my remit.

School Transport

Questions (58)

James Lawless

Question:

58. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to lift the restriction on the capacity for school buses to ensure that there are more places for students on buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48490/21]

View answer

Written answers

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 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.

Planning for school transport for the 2021/22 school year has proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as term began in this new school year. This includes the recommendations from Public Health that post-primary services would operate at 50% capacity. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students are also in place. However, as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services is rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeds, the capacity limit of 50% on post-primary school transport services will be subject to ongoing review and the Department will be considering the position in this regard over the coming weeks.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (59, 60, 61, 62)

Bríd Smith

Question:

59. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the reason for the failures of CMETB and LMETB in which processes and procedures were ignored to safeguard management to the detrimental treatment of other staff at a huge cost to public funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48509/21]

View answer

Bríd Smith

Question:

60. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if protected disclosures were allegedly ignored by CMETB and LMETB (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48510/21]

View answer

Bríd Smith

Question:

61. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the way in which CMETB and LMETB bound by processes and procedures agreed nationally can ignore a duty of care to all employees, not just some employees, when they have a legal obligation to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48511/21]

View answer

Bríd Smith

Question:

62. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the reason a situation in CMETB and LMETB that has been flagged many times has been allowed to continue; if he will now commit to an investigation in which those responsible will be held to account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48512/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 60, 61 and 62 together.

The Deputy will be aware that each ETB referred to by the Deputy is a separate statutory body that is responsible for managing its own affairs. Each ETB is the employer of teaching and other staff of the ETB and has similar powers and responsibilities to any other employer. While my Department has functions in the setting of terms and conditions for teachers and certain other ETB staff, my Department is not their employer. My Department does not have any employer/employee relationship with the teachers or other staff in an ETB and it cannot perform functions which are proper to the employer in relation to the management of such employees. It is a matter for the parties involved to address such matters having regard to relevant procedures or policies in place including any grievance or complaints processes relevant to the issues concerned.

In the case of a complaint about a member of teaching staff in a school, any complaint should be addressed, in the first instance, to the ETB as employer. In addition, the Teaching Council of Ireland has a complaints facility that can be accessed in appropriate cases, details are available on their website at www.teachingcouncil.ie/

In relation to protected disclosures, under section 21(1) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, all public bodies, including Education and Training Boards (ETBs), are required to establish and maintain procedures for the making of protected disclosures by their employees. Where an ETB receives a protected disclosure, they are required to follow those procedures.

Any follow up actions in relation to a protected disclosure made to an ETB are a matter for the ETB concerned. Depending on the nature of the disclosure, the ETB may need to deal with the matter in accordance with other relevant internal procedures and/or refer the matter to an external investigative or regulatory authority where appropriate. In handling a disclosure, ETBs must also adhere to their obligations under the Act to maintain the confidentiality of the employee concerned.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has issued guidance to assist public bodies, including in the performance of their functions under the Act. The guidance includes that the procedures should allow for a system for review in respect of the outcome of an assessment/investigation undertaken in respect of the protected disclosure or of any complaint of penalisation.

Both of the ETBs referred to by the Deputy have confirmed that they have a protected disclosure policy in place. While ETBs are obliged to protect the confidentiality of persons making a disclosure and therefore are constrained in terms of commenting on particular disclosures or actions arising from same, all ETBs are required to report on the number of protected disclosures received in their annual reports. The ETBs in question have published this information in their annual reports and separately as a standalone document and both are available on their respective websites.

Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 59.
Question No. 61 answered with Question No. 59.
Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 59.

School Transport

Questions (63)

Noel Grealish

Question:

63. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education when school buses which are operated by Bus Éireann will be returning to full capacity given that private school buses are operating at full capacity at the moment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48531/21]

View answer

Written answers

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 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.

Planning for school transport for the 2021/22 school year has proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as term began in this new school year. This includes the recommendations from Public Health that post-primary services would operate at 50% capacity. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students are also in place. However, as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services is rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeds, the capacity limit of 50% on post-primary school transport services will be subject to ongoing review and the Department will be considering the position in this regard over the coming weeks.

School Transport

Questions (64)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

64. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if the restrictions on bus drivers preventing those aged over 70 can be lifted in view of the current shortage of drivers to allow those aged 70 years or over to continue to drive; if those over 70 can be allowed to drive a Bus Éireann contracted bus if they undergo a medical assessment and are deemed medically fit to do so; the other efforts being made to fill the shortfall in drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48541/21]

View answer

Written answers

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were 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.

It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However Bus Éireann part-time School Bus Drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite licence and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.

This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (65)

Michael Creed

Question:

65. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 29 September 2021, if she will elaborate on the specific plans in place for the establishment of new special classes at each of the schools referred to; the current status with regard to the proposed building projects in each specific school; if ASD classrooms will be available in each school for September 2022 enrolments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48422/21]

View answer

Written answers

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

Major buildings projects that include accommodation for special classes are being planned for two post primary schools in Ballincollig, Le Chéile Secondary School and Coláiste Choilm.

Le Chéile Secondary School opened in interim accommodation in September 2021. It is my Department's intention to make provision for two special classes in the school's interim accommodation for September 2022. This is subject to planning permission being granted by the local authority.

The process to secure a site to construct a new 1,000 pupil school, to include a 4-classroom special education needs (SEN) base for the school has been initiated.

In relation to Coláiste Choilm, a major building project to provide permanent accommodation for 1,300 pupils is currently at stage 1 of the architectural planning process. The project, when completed, will include accommodation for a 2-classroom SEN base.

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