Written Answers Nos. 262-281
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the military authorities in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps continue to be adequately resourced to meet possible challenges arising from a terrorist attack, natural disasters or other security issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4203/22]
View answerThe Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks. The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and supports to other Government Departments and Principal Response Agencies. In particular, in recent times, the Defence Forces have played an important role in the Covid 19 response through providing a broad range of supports to the HSE which has provided surge support to our health services through bolstering their capacity and providing them with the additional resiliency needed to respond to the Covid 19 pandemic.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
At National level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency.
In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to emergencies such as severe weather events or terrorist attacks rests with the three designated principal response agencies, namely, the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. The Defence Forces provides assistance within means to the appropriate Lead Department or Principal Response Agency in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency situation in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) and Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) roles.
In respect of security threats, responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. In that regard, among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2015) is the provision of ATCP which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is on-going and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters, including ATCP deployments and includes military training activities which are specifically designed to respond to possible security emergencies. Regular coordination and liaison meetings also take place between the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána in relation to ATCP issues.
The Government established an independent Commission on the Defence Forces in December 2020. The work of the independent Commission on the Defence Forces underpins this Government's commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces are fit for purpose, in terms of meeting immediate requirements and also in terms of seeking to develop a longer term vision beyond 2030. The Commission are finalising their work with a view to completing the Report as soon as possible.
I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards and I can confirm that the Defence Forces keep their operational plans and response capabilities for dealing with a wide range of threats and emergencies under constant review. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces will continue to respond in an effective and timely manner to such events were they to occur in the state.
264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which accommodation at military barracks is modern, up-to-date and in keeping with best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4205/22]
View answerThe Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe.
As the Deputy may be aware it has been a long standing policy, since the 1990’s that the provision of Married Quarters to serving Defence Forces personnel would be discontinued. This move away from this provision was accepted by senior military management at the time and it is not intended to reverse this policy. Single Living in Accommodation is provided for personnel where same is required for training and operational purposes.
The modernisation of such accommodation features significantly in the Defence Forces 5 Year Infrastructure Plan, which has seen the completion of the following refurbishment projects at a combined cost of €11.2m:
- Blocks B & D Pearse Barracks, DFTC ;
- Block 7 Plunket Barracks, DFTC ;
- Blocks 1 & 2 Cathal Brugha Barracks; and the
- Apprentice Hostel, Casement Aerodrome.
The following accommodation projects are now also being progressed at combined estimated value of €26.5m :
- Refurbishment of Blocks 4 & 8, Naval Service,
- New accommodation Block in Collins barracks, Cork, and
- the refurbishment of the USAC accommodation Block in Renmore, Galway.
The Deputy may also wish to note that my Department has allocated in the region of €10m this year to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock. This devolved budget is a regular feature of the Delegated functions assigned to the Defence Forces by my Department. The individual prioritisation of specific projects to be carried out is solely a matter for the Defence Forces in keeping with the delegated nature of this budget.
265. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to provide additional first year places at a school (details supplied) to meet the demand for the 2022-2023 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3991/22]
View answerThe Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country.
However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area.
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area.
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils.
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area.
My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities/patrons. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with school patron bodies/school authorities to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
My Department has examined the school planning areas for which the school referred to by the Deputy was established as a regional solution and is satisfied that the first year places being offered by schools in the two school planning areas concerned will cater for the projected demand for 2022/23.
266. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the status of the review by her Department of the school transport scheme. [3995/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.
The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes in terms of how each element of the schemes currently operate, to include eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.
Following commencement of this review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school. Following consideration of this report, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures in the current school year for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses. While work on the review has been impacted somewhat by the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, efforts are continuing to complete the review as close as possible to the previously announced timeline of end of quarter 1 2022.
267. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the grant funding available for afterschool clubs or activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4002/22]
View answerDevelopment of guidelines for all schools to support extra-curricular activities in schools is currently underway in my Department. These guidelines will facilitate schools in the provision, on a voluntary basis, of extra-curricular activities after school hours.
With regard to funding provision my Department provides a number of policies and programmes which are supportive of afterschool clubs or activities for students at risk of educational disadvantage.
DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of the Department of Education to address educational disadvantage at school level. In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools (687 Primary and 197 Post Primary) in the DEIS Programme serving over 180,000 pupils. My Department spent over €150 million on the DEIS Programme in 2021, which included over €26 million for the School Completion Programme.
Budget 2022 has allocated the largest-ever increase in funding for the DEIS programme, providing for an additional allocation of €18 million in 2022 and rising to an additional €32 million in 2023. This means that by 2023 my Department will target over €180 million at addressing educational disadvantage through the DEIS programme, an increase of 20%.
All DEIS schools receive a DEIS grant which is to be used to support the implementation of the schools’ DEIS Action Plan for Improvement. This Plan sets targets under key themes, such as attendance, retention, progression, literacy and numeracy, partnership, transition, wellbeing and examination attainment (post-primary only). A key focus of these themes is that they are targeted at those students most at risk of educational disadvantage. It is a matter for the school Board of Management to allocate DEIS grant funding so that it targets those students deemed most in need; this can include afterschool activities.
The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a key support under my Department’s DEIS programme. SCP supports students in relation to school attendance, participation and retention. These interventions and supports may include afterschool clubs, which are allowable under the SCP funding. In March 2021 I announced a 5% increase in funding for the School Completion Programme to support the attendance and participation of vulnerable learners and those at risk of education disadvantage.
268. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of the progress and timelines for delivery of a new school accommodation for post-primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4006/22]
View answerThe status of major building projects is as follows:
Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole (RN 91301D)
The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed and the Design Team have submitted the Design Team Confirmations. The Design Team has recently completed the pre-qualification process.
As this project has a projected cost in excess of €20 million, it is a requirement under the Public Spending Code for the NDFA to carry out a Financial Robustness Check of the shortlist of prequalified main contractors.
Upon completion of this Financial Robustness Check and subject to no issues arising my Department will be in contact with the Design Team and school with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 - Tender. Subject to no issues arising a tender normally takes between 6 and 8 months to complete.
St. Joseph's College, Lucan (RN 62063V)
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy recently completed Stage 2(b) Detailed Design and was authorised to proceed to tender stage on 27th October. A Tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months to complete. The project is expected to commence on site in Quarter 2 of 2022.
Griffeen Community College (RN 76454S)
The permanent building project for Griffeen Community College is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
An application for planning permission for a 1,000 pupil post-primary school building, including a 4 classroom Special Educational Needs Unit, was submitted to the relevant Local Authority in June 2021. A Request for Further Information (RFI) was received on 27th July 2021 and the response submitted to the local authority on 7th December 2021. A Clarification of Further Information was received from the Local Authority on 12th January 2022 with the response submitted to the local authority on 24th January 2022.
It is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
Lucan Community College (RN 70080T)
This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed and the Design Team has carried out a final review of all tender documentation. The pre-qualification process, to select a shortlist of candidates to whom the project will be tendered, is completed. The Design Team are preparaing an application for Planning Permission as the existing Planning Permission is due to expire in July 2022. Upon grant of planning, my Department will be in contact with the school Patron with regard to the further progression of this project to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 3 Tender Stage. Subject to no issues arising, a tender normally takes between 6 and 8 months to complete.
269. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education the status of the school building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4019/22]
View answerI wish to advise that the school referred to by the Deputy will relocate to an existing building currently occupied on an interim basis by another school while awaiting the construction of a building project for that school.
In this regard, the building project for that school is at tender stage. The Design Team are currently preparing a fully compliant Stage 3 Tender Report, which will identify a recommended bidder. This report is expected to be submitted to my Department shortly.
Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction could commence in Quarter 2 2022, with an estimated completion timeframe of 18 months.
270. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education the status of the school building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4020/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, agreement in principle has been reached with the Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, subject to the approval of the Elected Members of the Council, for the sale of land at Mount Anville depot for the development of new permanent school facilities for Gaelscoil laighean.
Agreement has also been reached with Executive, subject to the approval of the Elected Members of the Council, to lease the same piece of land to the Department in order to facilitate the development of interim accommodation on this site until the start of the construction of the permanent facilities. The interim facilities are intended to be in place in time for the next school year, commencing September 2022.
The Department have been advised that the disposal and lease of this piece of land is to go to the Elected Member of the Council for decision early in 2022.
271. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will make a recommendation that schools relax their uniform policies over the winter period to allow children to wear warmer clothing while the Covid-19 restrictions require additional ventilation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4030/22]
View answerUnder the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority).
Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. Decisions on changes to school uniform polices are a matter for the schools at local level. Schools are advised to consult with parents and students when drafting a policy on uniforms.
The Student and Parent Charter Bill is currently progressing through the Dáil. The legislation particularly recognises the importance of listening to the voice of children and students. It is intended that the bill will enhance this by actively inviting and responding to comments and feedback from children in an age appropriate manner.
The Bill will enable students and parents to be better informed about matters relating to their school. Under national guidelines provided for in the legislation, schools will be required to provide a range of information to students and their parents on school plans and policies.
272. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if her Department has commissioned any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies within the remit of her Department for the period 1 January 2021 to date; if so, if she will provide details of the policies; the costs incurred for each individual poll; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4040/22]
View answerThe Department has not conducted any polling of the general public related to possible or existing policies for the period outlined.
273. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will assist a school (details supplied) to improve its broadband connection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4061/22]
View answerMy Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on the best available service of 12mb wireless broadband connection, which is a dedicated service to the school.
I have requested the Schools Broadband Service Desk, to work with the service provider to ensure that the current level of service is maintained as contracted to the school.
The school referred to by the Deputy is in the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area, for which implementation is underway. My Department is engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on this implementation to prioritise school connectivity, with all schools in the NBP to be provided with high speed broadband infrastructure by the end of 2022. When the necessary infrastructure becomes available, the school will be upgraded to that service through the Schools Broadband Programme. My officials have confirmed with colleagues in the Department of Environment. Climate and Communications that this school in question is on the list for NBI infrastructure connectivity by end 2022.
274. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the DEIS status of a school (details supplied); and if it will be granted DEIS status following the forthcoming review. [4082/22]
View answerBudget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools.
This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. It is important to note that there is no application process for inclusion in the DEIS programme and all schools will be considered for inclusion when it is applied.
275. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will continue banked hours for all additional educational needs after mid-term (details supplied). [4099/22]
View answerWhile the Department has provided supports to schools to allow them to support their operation during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department also recognises that given the current high case numbers schools will continue to require additional substitute cover. In the period leading up to the mid-term break (to 23rd February 2022) a range of measures have been put in place to assist in dealing with absences during this phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include flexibility around student teacher availability.
Given the current level of employee absences across sectors, including the education sector, the Department understands that some schools have on occasion had to use their non-mainstream, non-classroom teachers to maintain in-person education. In these circumstances the Department is conscious that these children may also have missed an opportunity to get additional support from their SET and is now permitting the banking of SET hours from January until the February mid-term break, in line with all of the additional measures to support schools during this phase of the pandemic. This is being kept under review.
276. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a pedestrian crossing on the road in the ownership of her Department outside a school (details supplied) in collaboration with South Dublin County Council. [4102/22]
View answerThe road in question will ultimately be in the charge of the local authority referred to by the Deputy.
The ‘taking in charge’ process is ongoing and any queries in relation to the future installation of a pedestrian crossing at that location would be a matter for the local authority to consider.
277. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the plans by her Department for the introduction of minimum education standards and qualifications for appointment as special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4119/22]
View answerSpecial Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a huge role in helping to ensure the inclusion of pupils with significant care needs in education and in school life. This was acknowledged in the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018.
The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs including referencing the training needs of SNAs. In this regard, the NCSE recommended that a new national training programme at Level 5 of the National Qualification Framework be developed for existing SNAs who do not have the requisite level of training and for new SNAs on appointment. The NCSE also recommended that training tailored to the specific complex needs of some students being cared for by SNAs would also be provided.
The policy advice has been considered by the Department. It was decided that priority should be given to the development of a training programme for SNAs who may not have had a recent opportunity to access a training programme tailored to their role. The new first national training course for SNAs provided by UCD now in place aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs whose work is central to the inclusion of students with additional care and complex needs in school life. The programme is fully funded by the Department and delivered at no cost to the SNA.
This is the first national training programme for SNAs employed in schools and is tailored to their needs. As this is the first programme, it is appropriate to take the time to review outcomes which will inform the future approach to ongoing training and professional development of SNAs. Part of that consideration will include accreditation.
Raising the minimum qualification for appointment as a special needs assistant has been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Department has been engaging in that process.
The recruitment and appointment of Special Needs Assistants is a matter for the individual school authority and the Department's circular 36/2020 and 51/2019 sets out the current educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA). In addition, the actual requirements for a post will vary depending on the specific needs of the children and the school to which the SNA is to be appointed. The Department does not believe that the existing minimum qualifications has impacted on the calibre of person appointed and it is also the case that people with experience and/or higher qualifications than the minimum are often the successful candidate in competitions held by schools.
However, having considered the claim and, in particular, the period of time since they were set, the Department is open to reviewing the position. However, the Department is not yet in a position to indicate when that review might take place but is of the view that the forthcoming review of the SNA contract proposed as part of the Building Momentum national pay agreement should be carried out and implemented first.
278. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if supports are available to assist families whose children have been unable to secure a school place within their locality and as such must incur large financial costs to transport their child to a school outside their locality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4120/22]
View answer279. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will consider introducing a financial support to assist families with the cost of school transport in cases which a child has been unable to secure a school placement in or near their locality and as a result must travel long distances to a school outside their locality at great personal financial cost. [4121/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
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 general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may, following an application process for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. The grant amount is distance related and is payable annually at a fixed daily rate (from €1.30 - €5.10 per day), to each eligible family, regardless of the number of children from the same family, travelling to a particular school.
Children who apply but who are not eligible 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.
In cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance that children reside from their next nearest school having regard to ethos and language. If a family require further information in regard to the closest school being full they can contact School Transport Section of my Department. Further information in this regard is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
280. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if an application for additional school accommodation has been received in regard to a school (details supplied); and the next steps with regard to this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4126/22]
View answerI can confirm that my Department recently received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Educational Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation. At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by my Department's Teacher Allocation Section, or a new Special Education Unit class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
On completion of the assessment process, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.
281. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the eligibility criteria for an application (details supplied) for Teaching Council registration. [4133/22]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It acts in the interests of the public good while upholding and enhancing standards in the teaching profession.
The Teaching Council assesses overseas qualifications in accordance with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 (Revised), the EU Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EC, as amended) and, in the case of teachers applying for registration as a post-primary teacher, the Teaching Council Curricular Subject Requirements (Post-Primary), 2017.
In accordance with the EU Directive 2005/36/EC, the qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are assessed to ensure that they are of a comparable standard to those achieved by graduates of accredited programmes in Ireland. Where significant differences arise, conditions (qualification shortfalls) will be applied to the teacher's registration.
I am informed by the Teaching Council that the individual referred to is registered with the Council under Route 1 (primary) and Route 3 (Further Educaion), in line with the assessment of qualifications process.
A person deemed to be a fully qualified teacher has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and programme of induction in the country in which they qualified and can provide an official letter from the relevant teacher registration body/Competent Authority or Ministry of Education confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in the State/country.
it is important that they registrants have any queries or issues around their registration, including the individual referred to by the Deputy, that they engage directly with the Teaching Council as the body, established by Statute to deal with and resolve these matters.
