Tuesday, 5 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 425-449

Passport Services

Questions (433)

Gerald Nash

Question:

433. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18409/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to provide an update on the status of the passport application. The estimated issue date for this application is 22 April 2022. 

Applications can only be expedited in cases of genuine emergency such as a need for urgent medical treatment overseas or the death of a family member abroad.

In cases where the estimated issue-by date has passed and the application is fully complete, the Passport Service will prioritise the application to ensure that no further delay is experienced.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (434)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

434. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of consultants to his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will provide an outline of the role of each. [18888/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary.

External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money.

Such external expertise may involve the provision of specialised reports, expert analysis or expert technical services to the Department.

A small number of consultancies are engaged directly by our Missions abroad from time to time and in some instances they prepare technical reports relating to Ireland’s overseas development aid programme.

My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).

My Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) focusing especially on achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of different categories of supplies and services.

The table below details the amount spent on consultancy services by my Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022.

	Consultant	Role/Nature of Consultancy	Cost
2020	Mark Durkan	Options for Steps to Advance Reconciliation, Inclusive Dialogue, Cooperation and Partnership on the Foundation of the Good Friday Agreement After Brexit	€14,760
	Gill Roe – Southern Cross Consulting	Appraisal of the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme and evaluation of online application system	€31,668
	Rob Kevlihan – Gumfoot Consultancy	Consultancy Services for Process Review of Irish Council for International Student (ICOS) Systems	€16,335
	Enabling outcomes	EVOLVING IRELAND'S PRIVATE SECTOR	€32689
	Helen Newman	Facilitation Services Stragegy Planning and Review Women’s rights orgs and movements, and gov institutions	€1875
	MJB Consulting	TASK FORCE FOR RURAL AFRICA AND FOOD SYSTEMS	€60,594
	Stewart Gee Consulting	Agricultural Research Partnership Review CGIAR and Teagasc	€20,298
	EY Consultants	Climate change and gender equality	€25,765
	EY Consultants	Climate change and gender equality	€31,633
	Deirdre Clancy	Consultancy on Protection intervention cluster	€11,588
	Rachel Widdis	Review of Access to Remedy (in regard to Business and Human Rights)	€17,000
	Change by Degrees	Climate Consultancy	€984
	John Moody Risk Management	Strategic Partner Systems Review	€24,539
2021	Public Good Ltd	Consultancy Services to DFA on IFAD and Food Systems	€89,298
	Social Development Direct	Consultancy for safeguarding policy engagement	€26,028
	Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd	Review of the Civil Society Fund	€28,430
	Change by Degrees	To support the development of Ireland’s international Climate Finance Roadmap, a commitment made in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”.	€23,650
	Arab World for Research and Development	Gender Review of the Palestine Programme	€7,500
	William Langslet	Review of the Embassy’s support to mine action and unexploded ordnance across Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar over the previous Mission strategy (2017-2020)	€7,500
	Gill Roe	Review of the IDEAS programme over the previous Mission Strategy (2017-2020)	€8,674
	Pham Thai Hung	Review of the EMPRO portfolio in support of ethnic minorities up to 2020	€1,315
	IOD PARC - Vietnam	Review of Ireland’s Mission strategy for Vietnam and the Mekong sub region.	€37,379
	Boris Gandon	Consultancy Support on Francophone Africa and the Sahel	€34,560
	Dillon Development Associates Ltd	Advisory role to the evaluation of the Programme Grant II/Humanitarian Preparedness Programme Funding Schemes	€4,182
	Tony Tyrell	Advisory role to the Review of Ireland’s Mission strategy for Vietnam and the Mekong sub region	€4,750
	Bernard McLoughlin	Review the Performance and Effectiveness of Management Arrangements in place for the Zimbabwe Programme	€23,616
	Lisney	Advisory role to the Spending Review of the Management of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Leased Property Portfolio	€5,658
	GARTNER IRELAND LIMITED	ICT Research and Advisory Services to support the ongoing ICT Strategy and associated activities of the ICT Unit.	€72,570 (covers September 2021 to August 2022)
2022	Mokoro Ltd	FRM Consultancy	€7,156
	Deirdre Waldron t/a Fuzion Communications	Fuzion Communications – AADP Programme	€6,210
	Boris Gandon	Consultancy Support on Francophone Africa and the Sahel	€8,820
	Dr. Richard Collins	Consultancy Services to Support an Assessment of the Antarctic Treaty System	€11,250
	Bernard McLoughlin	Review the Performance and Effectiveness of Management Arrangements in place for the Zimbabwe Programme	€5,904
	Irish Centre for Diversity	The Irish Centre for Diversity conducted a review of results from a DFA survey on Diversity through Recruitment. As part of this analysis, the Irish Centre for Diversity also conducted a number of focus groups with staff employed by the Department	€3,690

Air Corps

Questions (435, 444)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

435. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of serving and former Air Corps whistle-blowers who have been placed under surveillance by the State Claims Agency or its agents. [18187/22]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

444. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of serving and former Air Corps whistle-blowers who have been placed under surveillance by the Defence Forces. [18185/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 444 together.

The conduct of surveillance activities by the Defence Forces is an operational security matter carried out in line with relevant national legislation. The relevant military authorities provide regular assessments, reports and briefings to me, as Minister for Defence, to the Secretary General of the Department of Defence and to the Chief of Staff. These assessments, by their nature, are confidential.

I am informed by the State Claims Agency that they do not comment on individual claims. The Agency’s statutory mandate is to manage claims in such a manner as to ensure that the State’s liability is contained at the lowest achievable level.

International Bodies

Questions (436)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

436. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the projected initial cost and projected annual cost for the first five years of membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for Ireland. [17510/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Ireland is not a member of NATO nor are there any plans for Ireland to join NATO. Accordingly, Ireland does not contribute to NATO common costs or common funding.

Ireland’s relationship with NATO is set within the framework of Partnership for Peace (PfP), which we have been a member of since 1999. Over the last two decades, Ireland’s participation in PfP has been of significant importance in the development of the peacekeeping capabilities of our Defence Forces and their interoperability with other potential peacekeeping contributing nations. This has allowed the Defence Forces to operate seamlessly alongside other countries on UN peacekeeping operations and other crisis management missions overseas.

There is no membership fee associated with PfP. The only costs relate to Defence Forces attendance at training and other activities that ensure that the Defence Forces can operate safely and effectively in crisis management operations and for some services, including secure comms and Role 2 medical facilities in KFOR. Costs in respect of office accommodation and services for the PfP Liaison Office in Brussels are discharged by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the Defence element being recouped from the Defence Vote.

Naval Service

Questions (437)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

437. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the number of patrol days scheduled from 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of patrol days lost from 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the reasons for the patrol days lost from 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022, by year in tabular form. [17511/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I am assuming the Deputy's query 's relates to Naval Service patrol days.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In terms of fishery protection the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary.

A range of factors including adverse weather conditions and unscheduled maintenance, as well as staffing issues can impact scheduled patrol days. For example, a total of 10 scheduled Naval Service patrol days have been cancelled up to 28 February this year as detailed in the table. All of the cancelled patrol days are due to members of a ship's crew contracting Covid-19.

The table below provides information on Naval Service patrols from January 2011 up until the end of February 2022.

Year	Fishery Patrol Days	Non-Fishery Patrol Days	Cancelled Patrol Days - Personnel reasons	Cancelled Patrol days - Mechanical reasons	Total days for year
2011	1267	223	0	0	1490
2012	1086	172	0	36	1294
2013	1238	111	0	39	1388
2014	856	218	0	7	1081
2015	716	452	0	276	1444
2016	1068	308	0	104	1480
2017	1091	317	0	72	1480
2018	1076	221	53	154	1504
2019	1036	25	52	42	1155
2020	781	226	28	53	1088
2021	786	66	196	44	1092
To end February 2022	104	22	10	0	136

The increase in cancelled patrol days in 2021 is mainly due to issues relating to Covid-19 as one of the ships, LÉ Ciara could not go to sea given its inability, due to its size, to implement safely the necessary Covid-19 precautions. There were also some unforeseen mechanical issues. In particular 47 scheduled patrol days were cancelled in 2021 due to a fire which occurred on board LÉ Niamh in late 2020. A shortage of suitably qualified and experienced personnel during the period in question was also a factor.

Notwithstanding the mechanical and staffing challenges being experienced, I am satisfied that the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government.

Public Sector Staff

Questions (438)

Michael Ring

Question:

438. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff who are currently absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes in his Department and in agencies and public bodies within his area of responsibility; the number who have been absent from work for up to three, three to six, six to 12 and over 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17594/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The number of staff presently absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes in my Department for any of the time periods requested by the Deputy is nil.

The only State body currently under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. There is no absenteeism due to suspension or workplace disputes in the Army Pensions Board.

Defence Forces

Questions (439)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

439. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if construction works have commenced on a new cadet school headquarters in the Defence Forces Training Centre; when works will be completed; and the name of the company that was awarded the contract for same. [17702/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I can advise the Deputy that Duggan Lynch Ltd have been appointed as the contractor for the provision of a modernised Cadet school at the DFTC. I am advised that works have now commenced onsite with a construction programme of 12 months expected to complete the project.

Air Corps

Questions (440)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

440. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacant air traffic controller posts currently in the Air Corps; and if there are plans to increase the number of air traffic controllers. [17703/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The military authorities have advised that there are currently 10 Air Traffic Controller (ATC) vacancies in the Air Corp.

The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining, the agreed strength of each branch of the Defence Forces. In that context, training of ATC's continues with the aim of returning to full establishment. Currently, 4 personnel are undertaking ATC training and intake is planned for a further 3 students, with the induction process due to commence in Q2 2022.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (441)

Brian Stanley

Question:

441. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence the total value of expenditure from his Department’s annual accounts in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form, that related to financial transactions with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will provide a breakdown of the nature of expenditure. [17867/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Ireland’s relationship with NATO is set within the framework of Partnership for Peace (PfP), which we have been a member of since 1999. Over the last two decades, Ireland’s participation in PfP has been of significant importance in the development of the peacekeeping capabilities of our Defence Forces and their interoperability with other potential peacekeeping contributing nations. This has allowed the Defence Forces to operate seamlessly alongside other countries on UN peacekeeping operations and other crisis management missions overseas.

There is no membership fee associated with PfP. Costs detailed below relate to Defence Forces attendance at training and other activities that ensure that the Defence Forces can operate safely and effectively in crisis management operations and for some services, including secure comms and Role 2 medical facilities in KFOR.

The total value of expenditure from the Department of Defence to NATO institutions in 2019, 2020 and 2021 is as follows:

SUPPLIER - NATO INSTITUTION	2019	2020	2021	TOTAL
NATO COOPERATIVE CYBER DEFENCE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE	0	0	500	500
NATO MARITIME INTERDICTION OPERATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE	0	0	11,000	11,000
NATO SCHOOL OBERAMMERGAU SHAPE	7,800	24,400	18,850	51,050
BICES GROUP EXECUTIVE	164,935	125,393	142,651	432,979
NATO SUPPORT AGENCY for Role 2 Medical Facilities for personnel deployed in KFOR	206	0	6,003	6,209
TOTALS	172,941	149,793	179,005	501,739

The above costs do not include reimbursement to the Department of Foreign Affairs for office and accommodation costs in respect of the PfP Liaison Office in Brussels.

Traffic Management

Questions (442)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

442. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence if he will liaise with officials in his Department regarding granting access to a location for a person (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18178/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

In light of the reported concerns of An Garda Siochana in relation to potential impacts on traffic management arising from the intended building works, I have instructed my officials to engage further with the requestor to ascertain how best this matter can be resolved.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (443)

David Stanton

Question:

443. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18161/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department, in line with other civil and public service organisations, has adhered to public health advice and to the Guidance for Public Service Employers published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This has meant employees working from home, but also attending the workplace to carry out essential work that cannot be discharged from home.

A central government policy, the Civil Service Blended Working Framework was launched by Minister Michael McGrath and Minister Ossian Smyth on 31st March 2022. The Blended Working Policy Framework provides an overarching framework to inform the development of blended working policies in government departments and offices and to ensure a consistency of approach across the Public Service. My Department is currently reviewing this framework with a view to finalising a Blended Working Policy tailored to the specific business needs of my Department.

This policy is expected to be in place no later than the end of June 2022.

Question No. 444 answered with Question No. 435.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (445)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

445. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the cost of consultants to his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will provide an outline of the role of each. [18901/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The table below provides details of consultancy services engaged by my Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the reason for each consultancy, the name of the provider of the consultancy service and the cost incurred.

Year	Provider of Consultancy Service	Purpose of Consultancy	Amount
2020	Col EV Campion	To provide expert advice to the Army Equitation School’s Horse Purchase Board	€5,000
2020	Vedette Consulting	To provide expert advice on the Feasibility of the Establishment of a Research, Technology & Innovation (RTI) Capability for the Irish Defence Organisation	€30,012
2020	Marman & Associates Ltd	Watercraft Safety Consultancy in relation to Passenger Boat Licences in Civil Defence Units in various Local Authorities across the country.	€5,040
2020	Padraig Love	Review of recruitment practices and processes in the PDF: project arising out of the 2019 Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Permanent Defence Force	€17,700
2020	John O'Hehir Consulting Ltd	Embedding Workforce Planning in the PDF: project arising out of the 2019 Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Permanent Defence Force	€69,246.38
2020	Iron Mountain	File decant project carried out in late 2020	€50,825.47
2020	Info Security Assur Services Ltd T/A Isas	ICT Security Advice	€44,135.48
2020	Anthony Kerr SC	Professional legal opinion under direct access.	€7,032.50
2020	Bewell Management Ltd T/A ID Doctor	Medical	€480
2020	David P Moore Orthopedic Surgeon	Medical	€356
2020	Dublin Audiology Ltd	Medical	€1,216
2020	Michael P Colreavy	Medical	€3,456
2020	Veronica O'Keane	Medical	€1,280
2021	Marman & Associates Ltd	Watercraft Safety Consultancy in relation to Passenger Boat Licences in Civil Defence Units in 13 Local Authorities across the country.	€14,400
2021	Survey Drones Ireland	UAS (Drones) Consultancy: Advice on the implications of EU/EASA Regulations (EU) 2019/945 and (EU) 2019/947 and how these regulations may impact the responsibilities of Civil Defence at a national and local authority level.	€3,198
2021	Padraig Love	Review of recruitment practices and processes in the PDF: project arising out of the 2019 Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Permanent Defence Force	€25,200
2021	John O'Hehir Consultancy Ltd	Embedding Workforce Planning in the PDF: project arising out of the 2019 Report of the Public Service Pay Commission on Recruitment and Retention in the Permanent Defence Force	€34,629.97
2021	The Circa Group	Feasibility Study regarding proposed Institute for Peace Support & Leadership: project arising out of the 2015 White Paper on Defence	€7,405.20
2021	Col EV Campion	To provide expert advice to the Army Equitation School’s Horse Purchase Board	€5,000
2021	Quadra Ltd	Covid-19 risk assessments for Department offices in 2020 and 2021 and the provision of online ergonomic assessments home workstations.	€26,783.09
2021	Storm Technology Ltd	IT consultancy services	€79,886.04
2021	Iron Mountain	File decant project carried out in late 2020	€18,810.29
2021	Info Security Assur Services Ltd T/A Isas	ICT SECURITY	€78,540.60
2021	KPMG	ICT TARGET STATE ARCHITECTURE REPORTING	€69,187.50
2021	Dr Aoife Hunt T/A IUSMEDICUS LTD	Medical	€800
2021	Dr Mike Scully	Medical	€3,520
2021	Dr Patricia Walsh	Medical	€2,400
2021	Michael P Colreavy	Medical	€5,184
2021	Anthony Kerr SC	Professional legal opinion under direct access.	€8,241
2022	Altea Aerospace	MATS – Short term Contingent arrangements	€15,150
2022	Marman & Associates Ltd	Watercraft Safety Consultancy in relation to Passenger Boat Licences in Civil Defence Units in various Local Authorities across the country.	€4,320
2022	John O'Hehir Consulting Ltd	PDF Strategic Workforce Plan 2020-2035	€25,368.75
2022	Info Security Assur Services Ltd T/A Isas	ICT SECURITY	€8,575.56
2022	Storm Technology Ltd	IT consultancy services	€24,354
2022	Anthony Kerr SC	Professional legal opinion under direct access.	€615
2022	Dublin Audiology Ltd	Medical	€800
2022	Dr Milke Scully	Medical	€1,100
2022	Dr Patricia Walsh	Medical	€2,000

School Transport

Questions (446)

Seán Fleming

Question:

446. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education if funding will be approved for transport for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18210/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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 the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

The pupil referred to by the Deputy has been deemed eligible under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil had been availing of a school transport service up to the end of the 2019/20 school year, when Bus Éireann were advised by family that the pupil would no longer require a transport service and therefore a ticket was not issued for the 2020/21 school year.

This pupil has been approved for transport to this school for the 2022/23 school year. Bus Éireann’s local office will liaise with the school authorities to ascertain if a school transport ticket is required for this pupil for the remainder of the 2021/22 school year and if a ticket is required, a ticket will be issued to this pupil. A school transport ticket will also be arranged to be issued to this pupil in the 2022/23 school year in the Summer of 2022 if required.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (447)

Bríd Smith

Question:

447. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if there are grounds for an appeal by a person (details supplied) to be included in the redress scheme for persons who were sexually and physically abused in Catholic schools in view of the fact that the original appeal was refused on the grounds that legal proceedings had not been brought against the State before 1 July 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18320/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

A revised ex gratia scheme to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in O'Keeffe v Ireland, which concerned sexual abuse in day schools, is open for applications. This scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provides for ex gratia payments to be made to those who are eligible to apply and satisfy the criteria as set out in the Terms of Scheme.

The ex gratia scheme was originally established in 2015 and was put in place to provide those, who had instituted legal proceedings against the State in respect of day school sexual abuse and subsequently discontinued those proceedings following rulings in the domestic courts, with an opportunity to apply for an ex gratia payment. The Scheme was paused in 2019 following a report from retired High Court Judge Iarfhlaith O’Neill who, as Independent Assessor, reviewed a number of unsuccessful applications to the Scheme and was of the view that the criteria to qualify for a payment were too restrictive for this group of applicants. The revised scheme opened for applications on 21 July 2021.

Ireland is committed to fulfilling its obligations in implementing the ECtHR ruling. This means that the revised scheme is designed, first and foremost, to provide a remedy to those who had issued and discontinued their proceedings against the State prior to the ECtHR ruling in O'Keeffe v Ireland and who did not receive a payment under the 2015 Scheme. However, the revised scheme goes beyond that group in that all others who issued legal proceedings against the State at a later date and up to 1 July 2021, whether they are still in being, were discontinued at any point, or who had settled with the State, may also apply for an award.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (448)

Gerald Nash

Question:

448. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on a policy issue raised by persons regarding the new proposed frontloading model for deployment of special needs assistant resources (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17412/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school. It should be noted that not every student with a special educational need requires SNA support.

Where a school considers that it requires additional SNA support to meet the needs of its students, it can seek a review from the NCSE.

School Patronage

Questions (449)

Dara Calleary

Question:

449. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the ownership of a school property (details supplied); if it is not in the ownership of her Department, if she will provide details of the owners and all monies paid by her Department to the owners since the lease commenced; if her Department has plans for this property; if she will provide details of discussions it has had regarding its future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17420/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership as Minister for Education.

In respect of the other matters raised by the Deputy my officials will be in contact with the Deputy’s office in the coming days.