Wednesday, 9 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 93-107

School Funding

Questions (94)

Richard Bruton

Question:

94. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the budget for technology technical support for primary and secondary schools over the past five years. [6961/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

As the Deputy may be aware, an investment programme of €210m has been delivered to schools under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 –2020.

Schools are supported to develop their Digital Learning Plan, using the Digital Learning Framework, which enables schools to embed the use of digital technology in teaching and learning and assessment. Extensive supports, resources and advice for teachers and schools on the embedding of digital technologies including advise on selection of individual devices and technical support are available through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and its Technology in Education (PDST TiE) team at www.pdsttechnologyineducation.ie/en/Technology/.

Direct funding is provided to schools as they are best placed to determine the preferred approach for planning and embedding the use of digital technology in their school in accordance with their own particular context and requirements. The grant funding allocation can be used to provide devices for use by students and teachers, for learning platforms, software and overall digital technology infrastructure development in the school. To assist schools in this matter, the Department together with the Office of Government Procurement, have put in place single provider frameworks that meet technical and procurement requirements for schools for the provision of such devices, which include warranty supports of up to five years.

Schools have autonomy in the expenditure of their ICT grant and while there is no specific ring-fenced allocation for the provision of technical support, schools can use their ICT funding for this purpose. Schools are also free to use their capitation allocation for the purpose of maintenance and upkeep of equipment including digital equipment. When purchasing equipment schools can also include maintenance and support from the provider as part of that purchase.

The Schools Broadband programme provides internet connectivity and associated services including filtering to all recognised primary and post-primary schools, with at least 98% of schools availing this service. This programme is funded by the Department at an annual cost of some €13m, with a dedicated Schools Broadband Service Desk for schools managed for the Department by the PDST TiE.

A new Digital Strategy will be published shortly. This will build on the progress made under the previous strategy and continue to build capacity in schools to support teachers and learners to avail of the opportunities that the use of digital technologies in education can provide.

The aim of the Digital Strategy for Schools is to ensure that our young people develop the skills they need to navigate effectively and safely in a digital world and transition successfully to further and higher education and to the world of work.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (95)

Martin Browne

Question:

95. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have applied for funding under the once-off Covid-19 minor works funding of €17 million for post-primary schools; and the number of schools that were successful in their application by county. [6962/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The payment once-off Covid-19 minor works funding for post primary schools of €17m announced on the 13th of December 2021 was paid automatically to schools in the free scheme with no onus on schools to make an application.

Applications from post-primary schools in the fee-charging sector and Public Private Partnership schools are being considered on a case-by-case basis.

Minor works funding for post primary schools is important in terms of supporting the operation of schools within a COVID-19 environment. This funding enables post primary schools to address small-scale ventilation improvements at school level as a short-term mitigation measure, should they require to do so. Schools may also apply for emergency works grant assistance to address larger-scale issues on a permanent basis.

Disadvantaged Status

Questions (96)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

96. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the details of the process to identify a school as disadvantaged and which therefore should be included in the DEIS initiative; the number of additional schools that will be included due to increased funding for expansion of the programme; if a school (details supplied) is being considered; the documents or other items that the school needs to supply to be considered for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7007/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Budget 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 DEIS ID 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 the DEIS programme and all schools will be considered under the refined DEIS model when it is applied.

Education Policy

Questions (97)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

97. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if her Department has plans to examine the concept of trauma-informed practice in education; and if there are plans to roll-out a national framework for trauma-informed education. [7098/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Department of Education promotes a comprehensive and whole-school approach in schools to the promotion of positive mental health focusing on the entire school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified need. This spans the curriculum in schools, culture and environment, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care, guidance counselling and the provision of professional development for teachers.

The Department’s Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice which was first published in 2018 and refreshed in 2019 describes how schools can best promote wellbeing through the provision of a whole-school, multi-component and preventative approach.

The approach in the Wellbeing Policy is founded on research and best international practice in relation to how schools can best support the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. The approach proposed is a whole school and preventative approach which has multiple components that include:

- Providing children and young people with opportunities to build core social and emotional skills and competencies

- Providing children and young people with opportunities to experience supportive relationships within the school setting and to learn through those relationships

- Providing children and young people with opportunities to be part of a school environment and culture that feels both physically and psychologically safe, an environment in which children and young people feel a sense of belonging and connectedness, in which they feel their voice is heard, and they feel supported.

- Schools are encouraged to use a reflective, school self-evaluation approach to identify and prioritise the needs of its own school community in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health, and to respond to meeting those needs.

NEPS provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS recognise the importance of whole-school, compassionate and trauma-informed approaches in building safe and connected schools.

NEPS provides a casework service to schools through the assigned NEPS psychologist, Individual casework service involves a high level of psychologist collaboration with teachers and parents, often also working directly with the child/young person. NEPS may become involved with supporting individual students where the school’s SET team or Student Support Team (in post-primary) feels that the involvement of the psychologist is needed. Psychologists may provide consultation in relation to therapeutic informed approaches to be delivered in the school setting and engage in direct work with an individual student as appropriate. In the event that the need for a more targeted counselling or a specialised intervention is identified by the NEPS psychologist, a referral is made to an outside agency for evaluation and ongoing support. The NEPS psychologist can identify the most appropriate referral pathway and supports school with the onward referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team (CAMHS), HSE Primary Care/Community Psychology teams, or an identified local community based specialist mental health service.

NEPS’ Support and Development work involves the provision of applied psychology services for teachers and school communities to build and maximise their capacity to respond to the needs of all students and those with particular needs. This includes trauma informed education.

As part of this support and development work NEPS has developed a series of Wellbeing and Resilience in schools webinars, exploring the use of whole-school, compassionate and trauma-informed approaches to build safe and connected schools. Part 1, is called ‘The Stress factor - Getting the balance right’ a webinar for all school staff. This will be followed by a series of special interest modules using the Department’s e- learning platform. The approaches outlined in the workshops are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in schools. The focus of the workshops is on exploring and understanding the sources and impact of stress on children and young people including attachment, trauma and adverse experiences. The emphasis will be on creating environments to reduce stress and on developing skills all children and young people need to better manage in school. The training will also cover the influences of stress on school staff and how to best to manage this. It is intended that staff will find the content useful in supporting their own wellbeing. The workshops will be available to build the capability of school staff in both primary and post-primary settings. The workshops are for all staff and all students including those with SEN or those children impacted by trauma and adverse experiences. NEPS psychologists will be available to support implementation in schools.

NEPS psychologists have engaged in extensive national training in the area of trauma in recent years with Karen Treisman and Dr David Trickey to inform their practice and inform their development of CPD for school staff. NEPS has been participating in the 5 Nations ACEs Network for a number of years. This Network includes delegates from government departments, public health bodies, social services and education from the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the United Kingdom.

State Examinations

Questions (98)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

98. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the stress and upset students are experiencing since the announcement of the leaving certificate exams reverting back to written; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7112/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am very aware of the disruption and stress experienced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations this year. I also know that students had sought certainty and clarity regarding the approach to be taken in respect of this year’s examinations. I hope that the measures I announced on 1 February, including further significant changes to examination papers, and confirmation that the overall set of Leaving Certificate results that the class of 2022 will attain will be at least the same level as the results attained by the class of 2021, will help address the concerns of students and provide the certainty and clarity sought by them.

In recent weeks and in advance of my announcement of 1 February, I met with the Advisory Group on Planning for the State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a bilateral basis and also had further engagement with each of them thereafter. I listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders has had to say and examined each of their points.

It was following this engagement, and after consideration of the matter by Government, that I announced the decision to operate an examinations approach for Leaving Certificate in 2022.

The further significant changes to the examination papers, over and above those announced in August 2021, have just been communicated to schools. These changes will mean that candidates: have greater choice in the papers; have less questions to answer; and still have the same amount of time as in a normal year to complete the examination.

This is in addition to previously announced changes, such as the running of the Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations and Music Practical over the first week of the Easter Break.

Timeframes for certain assessment elements of the Leaving Certificate Applied examinations have also been moved out. Schools were also reminded of the flexibilities they have regarding the dates for completion and authentication of examination Coursework.

Additionally, I have confirmed the waiving of the fees for the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.

As part of the adjustments for the 2022 examinations, an alternative set of Leaving Certificate examinations will be run in 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the main set of examinations. These examinations will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of examinations due to close family bereavement, COVID 19 illness and certain other categories of serious illness to be determined, with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, which govern all aspects of the examinations system.

The most current information on all matters relating to the Leaving Certificate examinations is available on an ongoing basis at gov.ie - Leaving Certificate 2022 (www.gov.ie). This includes an updated set of wellbeing information and supports for students, parents/guardians and school staff, developed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in my Department. In addition, NEPS, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE, have collaborated to provide up-to-date information and links to supports available for Leaving Certificate students at this time in a Mental Health and Wellbeing Information Leaflet, copies of which have been sent to all post primary schools.

Information regarding the examinations is also available from the State Examinations Commission at SEC Home - State Examination Commission (examinations.ie).

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (99)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a further social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6785/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income tested, in work payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children.

In order to satisfy the qualifying and continued entitlement condition for receipt of WFP an applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in remunerative employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight.

To be eligible for WFP, a family's average weekly income must not exceed a fixed limit which varies in accordance with family size. All household income is assessable for WFP. Household income that is assessable for WFP includes an applicant's and their spouse's or partner's average net weekly assessable earnings from employment plus any other income such as other social protection payment(s), income from self employment, income from rented property etc. Any additional income such as overtime bonuses or commission is also assessable. The following are deducted from a family's gross earnings: Tax, employee PRSI, USC and any pension/superannuation contributions if applicable.

In calculating entitlement to WFP no allowances can be made for personal, family or household expenditure.

For a family of 2 qualified children the WFP fixed weekly income limit is currently €642.00 and the WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between this income limit and the applicant's average weekly family income.

In order to establish if the person (family) concerned qualifies for WFP, they should submit a formal WFP application to the Department. The quickest and most convenient way to apply for WFP is online via MyWelfare.ie. Alternatively an application may be downloaded and submitted by post.

The person concerned should also contact her local Intreo Office @ www.gov.ie in relation to other income supports.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (100)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a change of payment details for a child benefit payment can be processed in the case of a person (details supplied); the reason that the information provided cannot be processed in the normal manner; the reason that the information is required to be provided by post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6905/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.Customers who wish to change their Child Benefit payment method have two options:

- Register with MyGov.ie and have their ID verified to the necessary SAFE security level, or

- Submit the change request in writing, with a signature.

The use of these options is a standard requirement to verify the customers authority to change their payment details.

Child Benefit is only paid into one specified account per claimant.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Welfare Services

Questions (101)

Duncan Smith

Question:

101. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community welfare service has seen a reorganisation; if so, the reason for same; if she will provide the details of the new structures by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6930/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Deputy can be assured that I am focused on the delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of customers across the country and this remains a priority for me and my Department. I am fully committed to developing and enhancing access to the Community Welfare Service nationwide, and to ensuring that the service is responsive to customer needs, particularly in a time of crisis or emergency.

It is important that the Community Welfare Service remains a flexible service to meet the varied needs of vulnerable customers. The continued availability of locally based Community Welfare Officers is a key feature of the service. For this reason, consultations can be arranged via phone, at our Intreo Centres and Social Welfare Branch Offices which are open five days per week or, indeed, a direct home visit depending on the customer’s need and public health restrictions.

Furthermore, customers no longer have to meet in person with a Community Welfare Officer (CWO) to make a claim and access to Community Welfare Services is not limited to a face-to-face meeting with a CWO.

To help our customers and support our CWOs where possible, the preparatory work on customer applications, for example the gathering of supporting documentation that is necessary to assess and finalise a claim, will be carried out by a back office team. However, the assessment and decision on claims and any further customer interactions or engagements with other agencies is then carried out by locally based Community Welfare Officers as it always has been. There are no changes to the structure of the service by County.

It is vital that the Community Welfare Service is easily accessible and responsive to customer needs and developing and enhancing access to the Service remains my priority.

Social Welfare Payments

Questions (102)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

102. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a top-up to a carer's allowance payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6964/22]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned made an application for Enhanced Illness Benefit from the 30th December 2021. Their claim was awarded; however,as they are in receipt of Carer's Allowance, they are only due a reduced amount of payment to increase their Carer's Allowance payment up to the Enhanced Illness benefit rate of €350.00 per week.

The claim from the person concerned has been processed and a payment of €359.50 has issued to them.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (103)

Paul Murphy

Question:

103. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare centres, preschools and crèches that have installed HEPA filters as part of the grant programme announced in December 2021. [6765/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

In December 2021 as part of a new suite of measures aimed at supporting Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) services during the Omicron wave of COVID-19, I provided €10 million through a Grant Programme for Improved Ventilation and other measures to reduce transmission.

The objective of the grant programme is to support infection control in services, including by improving ventilation and air filtration through temporary structural changes and/or the use of mobile HEPA filters. This grant aims to improve natural and mechanical ventilation indoors, on a once-off and exceptional basis given the need to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19 in line with the current national public health guidance. Other eligible expenditure under this grant programme includes play equipment and waterproof clothing to support increased outdoor play and medical grade face masks.

As ELC and SAC services are free to spend the grant on a number of eligible expenditure items, there is no data available on the number of HEPA filters installed.

The grant closed for applications on the 31 January 2022. My Department received 4,109 applications for the amount of € 7,783,500 out of 4,304 eligible applicants representing over a 95% take up for the grant programme.

International Protection

Questions (104)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

104. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1125 of 19 January 2022, if certain additional hotels (details supplied) are being used to provide emergency accommodation to persons in the international protection process; if these hotels are sufficient to meet the current demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6863/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As the Deputy will be aware, as international travel restrictions have lifted, there has been an increase in the number of new arrivals seeking international protection in Ireland.

In the period from 4 October 2021 to 6 February 2022, 2,969 new arrivals have sought International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation. This increase, if unaddressed, would place significant pressure on the National Reception Centre at Balseskin and on IPAS accommodation generally.

To address this, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has put in place five pre-reception facilities at five hotels in the Dublin area, including the three hotels mentioned by the Deputy.

There are psychosocial supports available in each facility. These are provided by DePaul Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust.

My officials are closely monitoring capacity across the IPAS network and will continue to respond proactively to changes in demand for accommodation.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (105, 106, 107, 108, 109)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

105. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the mother and baby institutions payment scheme Bill will provide for access to redress for survivors of institutions not included within the scope of the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes (details supplied). [7093/22]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

106. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the mother and baby institutions payment scheme Bill will provide for access to redress for survivors who spent a period of less than six months in an institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7094/22]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

107. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is envisaged that applicants for the planned redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby and county homes will be entitled to seek assistance from a solicitor when completing an application. [7095/22]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

108. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the interim compensation scheme to ensure that older survivors of mother and baby homes and county homes have timely access to redress. [7096/22]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

109. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline on the passage of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme Bill. [7097/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 109, inclusive, together.

I fully understand the sense of urgency in relation to the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. I have been given Government approval to bring forward legislation on the basis of the agreed proposals for the Scheme and my officials are working on drafting a General Scheme of a Bill as a matter of a priority. As previously stated, I will seek priority drafting of the Bill when submitting the General Scheme to Government to ensure that the Bill can be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible thereafter, subject also to any pre-legislative scrutiny process which may take place. Once the legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas and the administrative infrastructure required to deliver the Scheme has been established, the Scheme will be open for applications. I hope that this will be possible by the end of 2022.

The Deputy has asked about an interim payment scheme for older survivors. My focus is on delivering the Scheme itself as quickly as possible. Once the Scheme is open for applications, it is intended that priority will be given to those who are elderly, and any other categories deemed appropriate for prioritisation. As the design of the scheme is predicated on a single payment based on evidence of residency, it is not clear how any interim arrangement could be designed more quickly than the scheme itself. This is because the same administrative infrastructure must be established to receive applications and make payments on this scale, regardless of whether this would be done by way of interim arrangement or through the scheme itself. Similarly, a legislative basis is needed to govern access to records confirming residency and to provide for eligibility for an enhanced medical card, as well as to ensure that any payments received will be disregarded for the purposes of establishing social welfare entitlements or tax liabilities.

The proposals for the Scheme are centred on a non-adversarial approach which will be as straightforward as possible for applicants. As the Deputy will be aware, it is intended that an Executive Office will be established in my Department to administer the Scheme. The staff of the Executive Office will be trained to support survivors in completing their applications. Applicants will also be entitled to financial support, subject to agreed limits, to avail of independent legal advice at the point of signing a waiver and should an affidavit be required to support their application.

In terms of eligibility, the Scheme will encompass the 14 Mother and Baby Institutions investigated by the Commission of Investigation and all County Home Institutions. The agreed proposals set out that a person will be eligible for a General Payment if they were either:

a) A pregnant or unmarried mother who was resident in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution for any period of time, including when under 18 years of age at the time of being pregnant.

b) A person who was resident as a child in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution for a period of six months or more (and who did not receive redress under the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme).

It is also important to note that the Government's comprehensive Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions will cater for the needs of all those who are affected by Ireland's complex legacy in this area. In particular, I would reiterate that the overwhelming priority need which has been expressed to me by people who, as children, were adopted or otherwise separated from their birth family, is access to records concerning their birth and early life information. Action 4 of the Action Plan provides for this through the Birth Information and Tracing Bill and the investment which has been made available to support implementation of this legislation, which has recently completed Second Stage in the Dail.

I trust this information in relation to the proposals for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and the broader Action Plan is helpful. Further details concerning the Scheme and the Action Plan can be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/294f6-mother-and-baby-homes/.

Question No. 106 answered with Question No. 105.

Question No. 107 answered with Question No. 105.