Written Answers Nos. 1161-1175
1161. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of increasing the July provision rate for SNAs to that paid to a teacher; the number of individuals who would benefit; the overall cost of the July provision programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41673/22]
View answerIn May the Government announced this year's Summer Programme, which allowed all primary and post-primary schools to offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. The Summer Programme is an expanded version of what was previously known as July Provision.
Building on the 2021 programme, all primary and post primary schools can offer a summer programme and in line with last year’s funding, there is up to €40 million available to provide for this year’s programme. The actual cost will be available after all claims have been processed.
My Department recognises that not all schools will be in a position to provide a school-based programme. A home-based summer programme will continue to be available for children with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school-based programme.
Teachers and SNAs are paid per hour of tuition/care support delivered in line with agreed terms and public service pay agreements. Public service pay is dealt with through centralised engagement and collective bargaining between Government and the public service unions.
Payment rates for Overseers, Teachers and SNAs who work on the school based programme will be based on what they are normally paid during the school year (their personal rate). Preparation hours will be paid in the same way. All others will be paid a daily/hourly rate of pay.
Under the home-based programme, grant funding is made available so that parents/legal guardians can engage the services of a Teacher or an SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate in the child’s home.
1162. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the status of legislation that will speed up the ability of the State to compel schools to open special classes. [41745/22]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision. It is important to note that a range of supports are provided to schools opening new classes, these include funding for new staff (for example certain special classes will consist of 6 students and one teacher, plus two SNAs), support from the Planning and Building Unit within the Department for any physical alterations needed to the building, a grant for equipment, and a range of training courses provided by the NCSE.
Schools have been working with us and the NCSE to open new classes and we will open at least 332 additional classes in the 2022/23 school year. I am grateful to all concerned for their ongoing work in this regard and I want to commend the schools who are making provision for these students.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
All parties would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from the Minister.
The overall aim of the S37A process is to ensure that sufficient specialist places become available to meet the current and projected need of an area.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has been actively engaged in reviewing and updating the relevant legislation at this time. The new Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022 passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 July 2022 and the Bill has been signed by the President. Commencement orders are now scheduled to be signed with a view to the legislation being enacted the week commencing 25 July 2022.
This legislation provides for a truncated and more streamlined Section 37A process. It is envisaged that a Minister could issue a direction within a period of 6 to 8 weeks of receiving a detailed report from the NCSE advising of a lack of provision in a certain area.
Under the new Section 37A process, schools still have two opportunities to make representations to the Minister before a decision may be made to issue a direction. A school can of course agree to open an additional class at any stage in the process before a direction may be issued.
This new legislation also places additional duties on schools to co-operate with the NCSE in relation to making additional provision for children with special educational needs.
It also confers an additional function on the NCSE to manage and co-ordinate admission to school in co-operation with parents and schools where necessary. Section 67 of the Education Act 1998 which provides for the NCSE to designate a school place for a child has also been amended and it is planned to commence this Section of the Act shortly. Both of these measures should be of particular benefit to parents seeking a school place for a child with special educational needs.
We are committed to providing appropriate places for all children with special educational needs. We know that Dublin is the real pinch point in relation to placements for these children and this legislation seeks to address that shortage.
1163. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to reform the post-primary voluntary redeployment process to enable teachers to relocate to a school closer to their residence given the long distances involved in available school places and the need to reduce car dependency as part of Ireland’s climate action goals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41771/22]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent and CID teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to vacant teaching positions is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget.
Under these redeployment arrangements, teachers that are redeployed retain their employment rights as per the relevant agreed redeployment schemes.
There are currently no plans to introduce changes to the redeployment scheme as per the Deputy's question.
Information about the redeployment schemes, including Frequently Asked Questions documents, is available on the Department’s website.
1165. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her Department has explored the feasibility of making education truly free of charge; if this will be a priority area for budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41823/22]
View answerI am supportive of all measures which support students and their families. A range of measures are in place to support access to education.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has increased capitation funding for all schools over the last few years, and further improving capitation funding will also be a priority area for Budget 2023.
The Department of Education provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €17.2 million in 2021 to all of these schools. Schools participating in the Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant.
The Minister for Education has announced that students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the academic year 2022/23. This measure removes all costs of ticket for all categories of student. Any family that has already made a payment for school transport for the 2022/23 school year will be refunded.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is being increased by €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. Consequently, the amount being paid for each qualified child aged 4–11 years will be €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over will be €385. It is estimated that some 151,000 families will benefit from this measure in respect of over 262,000 children.
1166. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of classes at primary school level with 30 pupils or above by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41830/22]
View answerPlease find attached requested information.
Data is based on the 2021-2022 class size tables and can be found on the Department website at the following link:
gov.ie - Class-size information at individual primary-school level (www.gov.ie)
Academic Year 2021-22
|
County |
Number of classes with 30 pupils or more |
|
Carlow County Council |
30 |
|
Cavan County Council |
36 |
|
Clare County Council |
46 |
|
Cork City Council |
35 |
|
Cork County Council |
208 |
|
Donegal County Council |
87 |
|
Dublin City Council |
124 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
96 |
|
Fingal County Council |
82 |
|
Galway City Council |
17 |
|
Galway County Council |
108 |
|
Kerry County Council |
63 |
|
Kildare County Council |
108 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
46 |
|
Laois County Council |
28 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
16 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
106 |
|
Longford County Council |
19 |
|
Louth County Council |
63 |
|
Mayo County Council |
59 |
|
Meath County Council |
113 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
35 |
|
Offaly County Council |
35 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
37 |
|
Sligo County Council |
27 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
142 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
79 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
57 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
54 |
|
Wexford County Council |
73 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
91 |
|
Grand Total |
2,120 |
1167. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the average, median, maximum and minimum primary school class sizes for each council area in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [41831/22]
View answerPlease find attached requested information for Primary Schools for the years 2019-2021 inclusive, 2021-2022 being the most recent data available.
The figures are based on mainstream classes in mainstream schools and were collated from the relevant Class Size tables published on the DES website and can be found at the following link:
gov.ie - Class-size information at individual primary-school level (www.gov.ie)
|
Local Authority |
Ave. Class Size 2019 |
Ave. Class Size 2020 |
Ave. Class Size 2021 |
Median 2019 |
Median 2020 |
Median 2021 |
Max 2019 |
Max 2020 |
Max 2021 |
Min 2019 |
Min 2020 |
Min 2021 |
|
Carlow County Council |
25.0 |
23.8 |
23.9 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
34 |
34 |
34 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
|
Cavan County Council |
23.3 |
22.7 |
22.0 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
36 |
35 |
35 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
|
Clare County Council |
22.9 |
22.2 |
21.4 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
36 |
36 |
35 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
|
Cork City Council |
22.3 |
21.6 |
21.4 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
34 |
34 |
34 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
|
Cork County Council |
24.5 |
23.5 |
22.9 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
58 |
37 |
38 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Donegal County Council |
22.7 |
22.2 |
21.6 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
35 |
34 |
35 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
|
Dublin City Council |
23.0 |
22.5 |
22.0 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
36 |
35 |
34 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
25.6 |
24.8 |
24.3 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
33 |
36 |
35 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fingal County Council |
25.8 |
25.5 |
24.9 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
34 |
34 |
34 |
13 |
1 |
9 |
|
Galway City Council |
22.9 |
22.7 |
22.4 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
37 |
39 |
38 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
|
Galway County Council |
23.1 |
22.2 |
21.7 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
37 |
38 |
36 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kerry County Council |
23.2 |
22.0 |
21.4 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
38 |
38 |
35 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
Kildare County Council |
25.3 |
24.7 |
24.3 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
35 |
35 |
35 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
24.6 |
23.3 |
22.9 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
36 |
36 |
36 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
|
Laois County Council |
24.1 |
23.2 |
22.6 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
35 |
38 |
38 |
5 |
7 |
3 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
23.8 |
22.3 |
21.6 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
36 |
34 |
34 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
23.9 |
23.1 |
22.7 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
37 |
38 |
38 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
|
Longford County Council |
22.8 |
21.2 |
20.6 |
23 |
21 |
21 |
34 |
36 |
35 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
|
Louth County Council |
24.7 |
24.2 |
23.5 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
37 |
37 |
37 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
|
Mayo County Council |
22.0 |
20.9 |
21.0 |
23 |
22 |
22 |
36 |
36 |
37 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Meath County Council |
25.5 |
24.6 |
23.9 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
37 |
37 |
37 |
11 |
5 |
5 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
24.3 |
23.3 |
23.2 |
25 |
23 |
24 |
35 |
37 |
39 |
7 |
1 |
6 |
|
Offaly County Council |
23.7 |
22.8 |
22.0 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
36 |
34 |
37 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
22.7 |
21.5 |
21.9 |
24 |
22 |
23 |
36 |
37 |
36 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
|
Sligo County Council |
23.0 |
22.6 |
21.8 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
35 |
35 |
35 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
24.5 |
24.1 |
23.7 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
35 |
35 |
35 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
23.4 |
22.1 |
22.0 |
24 |
23 |
22 |
35 |
37 |
36 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
24.0 |
23.4 |
23.2 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
36 |
35 |
35 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
24.4 |
23.3 |
23.2 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
45 |
39 |
36 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
Wexford County Council |
24.5 |
22.9 |
22.2 |
25 |
24 |
23 |
36 |
36 |
37 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
24.8 |
24.1 |
23.6 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
39 |
38 |
36 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
1168. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of successful applicants for the school transport scheme, separating those with concessionary places, and the number of unsuccessful applicants broken down by county in each of the past three years in tabular form. [41832/22]
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.
Bus Éireann have provided the following information and tabular statement as requested by the Deputy.
- The 2019/20 school year data below is accurate as of 23/09/2019.
- The 2020/21 school year data below is accurate as of 11/01/2021.
- The 2021/22 school year data below is accurate as of 18/11/2021.
Please note some pupils who paid for transport provision, may have subsequently been accommodated with a ticket at a later date within the relevant school year. This information is the position at a specific date in time as outlined in the above three bullet points.
The first six columns relate to the number of Tickets Issued at a particular date. The last six columns relate to the number of pupils where no ticket issued.
|
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2021/2022 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
2021/2022 |
|||||||
|
County |
Eligible |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Concessionary |
|
Carlow |
1400 |
689 |
1365 |
669 |
1435 |
719 |
17 |
25 |
28 |
45 |
15 |
5 |
|
Cavan |
2218 |
987 |
2131 |
972 |
2273 |
1033 |
113 |
71 |
98 |
73 |
65 |
103 |
|
Clare |
2348 |
708 |
2272 |
688 |
2375 |
715 |
33 |
36 |
42 |
35 |
32 |
9 |
|
Cork |
10459 |
3432 |
10213 |
3326 |
10819 |
3549 |
122 |
181 |
177 |
223 |
113 |
106 |
|
Donegal |
6586 |
2096 |
6350 |
1941 |
6863 |
2004 |
63 |
37 |
157 |
76 |
54 |
37 |
|
Dublin |
1639 |
339 |
1681 |
341 |
1817 |
392 |
58 |
48 |
21 |
18 |
35 |
23 |
|
Galway |
6085 |
2226 |
5760 |
2081 |
6190 |
2427 |
40 |
55 |
192 |
136 |
171 |
104 |
|
Kerry |
3507 |
1417 |
3346 |
1358 |
3516 |
1429 |
11 |
20 |
21 |
24 |
62 |
31 |
|
Kildare |
3475 |
1393 |
3286 |
1283 |
3344 |
1333 |
73 |
93 |
59 |
73 |
63 |
87 |
|
Kilkenny |
2212 |
1297 |
2166 |
1265 |
2231 |
1374 |
13 |
27 |
30 |
37 |
2 |
16 |
|
Laois |
1111 |
326 |
1054 |
300 |
1099 |
328 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
18 |
16 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
1235 |
713 |
1160 |
633 |
1198 |
623 |
24 |
12 |
33 |
36 |
24 |
54 |
|
Limerick |
3376 |
1171 |
3168 |
994 |
3374 |
1137 |
32 |
19 |
94 |
105 |
10 |
11 |
|
Longford |
1381 |
706 |
1259 |
591 |
1344 |
635 |
16 |
8 |
24 |
48 |
22 |
16 |
|
Louth |
2311 |
670 |
2377 |
603 |
2635 |
653 |
82 |
34 |
37 |
55 |
52 |
43 |
|
Mayo |
3389 |
1245 |
3201 |
1039 |
3402 |
1097 |
40 |
11 |
125 |
42 |
57 |
23 |
|
Meath |
2970 |
1573 |
2920 |
1500 |
2984 |
1562 |
67 |
70 |
34 |
73 |
69 |
110 |
|
Monaghan |
2352 |
801 |
2385 |
725 |
2515 |
810 |
111 |
38 |
60 |
49 |
10 |
23 |
|
Offaly |
1688 |
962 |
1592 |
851 |
1634 |
853 |
14 |
23 |
35 |
24 |
24 |
39 |
|
Roscommon |
1058 |
516 |
980 |
464 |
1025 |
481 |
19 |
11 |
28 |
9 |
12 |
26 |
|
Sligo |
1298 |
659 |
1193 |
619 |
1262 |
662 |
19 |
21 |
25 |
24 |
30 |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
3262 |
1561 |
2939 |
1484 |
3204 |
1673 |
28 |
38 |
107 |
89 |
26 |
28 |
|
Waterford |
1788 |
665 |
1771 |
611 |
1912 |
664 |
39 |
11 |
42 |
26 |
10 |
21 |
|
Westmeath |
1763 |
749 |
1629 |
691 |
1723 |
726 |
22 |
21 |
52 |
34 |
16 |
35 |
|
Wexford |
3863 |
1778 |
3766 |
1636 |
4013 |
1775 |
34 |
35 |
61 |
55 |
9 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
2332 |
891 |
2269 |
835 |
2382 |
835 |
61 |
19 |
37 |
51 |
31 |
90 |
|
Grand Total |
75106 |
29570 |
72233 |
27500 |
76569 |
29489 |
1159 |
965 |
1623 |
1478 |
1030 |
1063 |
1169. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if she will review the process for qualifying for DEIS status for schools; if her attention has been drawn to the particular difficulty posed to schools in the Killarney area due to the bluntness of the current assessment criteria; if she accepts the negative impact that this is having on students and staff in these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41858/22]
View answerIn March I announced a major expansion of the DEIS programme which means that, for the first time since 2017, the programme is being significantly expanded and eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This is the largest ever single investment in the programme and will extend DEIS status to schools serving the highest proportions of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage. From 2023 my Department will spend in the region of €180 million on the DEIS programme, an increase of €32 million.
The extension of the DEIS programme to additional schools follows intensive work by the DEIS technical group, which involved valuable input from stakeholders. The refined DEIS identification model builds on the objectivity and fairness of the 2017 version, but now captures a greater breadth of disadvantage and accounts for severity of disadvantage through the application of a weighted process. It also takes into consideration the significant educational disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma learners and of students residing in direct provision or emergency homeless accommodation. The model uses information from the school’s individual enrolment database and 2016 national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index which is a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area. The details of the refined DEIS Identification Model are available on the gov.ie website.
The DEIS programme focuses on targeting additional resources at those schools with the highest concentrations of students who are at risk of educational disadvantage.
Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed.
Circular 0019/2022 outlined the details of this appeals process and is available on the gov.ie website.
My Department will continue to support schools to deliver high quality, inclusive teaching and learning to students and young learners. It is important to note that the extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one phase of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Conscious of this, and recognising the need to target resources to those schools who need them most, the next phase of work will explore the allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Following the National Census 2022 held on the 3rd April last it is envisaged that an updated HP Deprivation Index will be generated by Pobal and will be available in Q3 of 2023. My Department will engage with Pobal in relation to this process. The updated HP Deprivation Index when available can be considered by my Department to inform future resource allocation to tackle educational disadvantage.
1170. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the shortage of school places in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41870/22]
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 including South Kildare.
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.
There are a number of building projects planned for the South Kildare area:
- Curragh Post-Primary School - following an extensive site identification, assessment and negotiation process, agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached for the acquisition, by the Department of Education, of a permanent school site in Kildare Town to provide a replacement school for the Curragh Post Primary School. This site will accommodate 1,000 pupils and will include a 4 classroom special education needs unit. The new school will cater for the increased demographic growth at post-primary level due to occur in the Kildare South region over the coming years, the majority of which is projected to occur in Kildare Town. The location of this 8 acre greenfield site is next to two existing primary schools, Kildare Town Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha, within the grounds of the former Magee Barracks, Kildare Town. The development of the post primary school on this site will enhance the education facilities available to the Curragh Post Primary School and the existing primary schools in a new educational campus arrangement. Due to commercial sensitivities, it is not possible to provide further information at this time.
- Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen - building project is at stage 2a (Developed Sketch Scheme). This project will provide for an extension to expand the school to cater for 1,000 pupils.
- Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge - building project is at stage 2a (Developed Sketch Scheme). This project will provide for an expansion of the school to cater for 1,000 pupils.
- Ardscoil Rathangan - Additional School Accommodation (ASA) project approved for this school to allow for the school to expand to 750 pupils.
- St. Conleth’s Community College, Newbridge - plans to expand this school being discussed with the patron Kildare Wicklow ETB.
- St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin - building project on site to provide a replacement new school to cater for 850 pupils.
- Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge (application received and currently under assessment)
My Department is aware that there are currently places available in St. Conleth's Post-Primary School in Newbridge for the 2022/23 school year. My Department's engagement with Patrons/school authorities is ongoing and is focused on ensuring that the start of the 2022/23 school year operates as smoothly as possible for all schools and their students. The Department is satisfied that with the additional places proposed with these building projects that the projected enrolments for South Kildare can be catered for within the existing schools in the school planning areas of South Kildare.
1171. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in the building of the new secondary school in Monasterevin; the target date for opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41876/22]
View answerThe major construction project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2020. Works are progressing satisfactorily on site and it is anticipated that the school will be ready for occupation in quarter four 2022.
1172. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in the provision of the new secondary school in Kildare town; the target date for opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41877/22]
View answerFollowing an extensive site identification, assessment and negotiation process, agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached for the acquisition, by the Department, of a permanent school site in Kildare Town to provide a replacement school for the school referred to by the Deputy. This site will accommodate 1,000 pupils and special class provision. The new school will cater for the increased demographic growth at post-primary level due to occur in the Kildare South region over the coming years, the majority of which is projected to occur in Kildare Town. The location of this 8 acre greenfield site is next to two existing primary schools, Kildare Town Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha, within the grounds of the former Magee Barracks, Kildare Town. The development of the post primary school on this site will enhance the education facilities available to the Curragh Post Primary School and the existing primary schools in a new educational campus arrangement. Due to commercial sensitivities, it is not possible to provide further information at this time. This will provide for significant additional capacity in the area.
1173. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of all properties in cases in which they were leased by State bodies under her aegis; the list of all State bodies under her aegis that are or could be currently acting independently of the OPW to acquire their own property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42021/22]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is being collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
1174. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year revenue that would be generated by establishing a new employer PRSI rate of 19.75% on any salaries paid over €90,000 per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41558/22]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has clarified the question to mean that there would be no change to the current employer rate of 8.8% which applies to all weekly earnings from €38 up to and including €410; that there would be no change to the current employer rate of 11.05% which applies to all weekly earnings over €410 up to and including €1,731; and that there would be a new additional employer rate of 19.75% on the portion of weekly earnings over €1,731.
The estimated additional revenue that would be raised by establishing a new employer PRSI rate of 19.75% on the portion of weekly earnings over €90,000 per year would be €865.8 million.
This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from introducing the increased employer contribution rate.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1175. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year revenue that would be generated by increasing the 11.05% employers PRSI rate to 13.05% on salaries paid below €90,000 per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41559/22]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has clarified the question to mean that there would be no change to the current employer rate of 8.8% which applies to all weekly earnings from €38 up to and including €410; that there would be an increase of 2% to the current employer rate of 11.05% which applies to all weekly earnings over €410 up to and including €1,731; and that there would be a new additional employer rate of 19.75% on the portion of weekly earnings over €1,731.
The estimated additional revenue that would be raised by increasing the 11.05% employer rate of PRSI by 2% to 13.05% and by introducing a new employer PRSI rate of 19.75% for incomes over €90,000 per year would be €2.38 billion.
This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from increasing the PRSI rates.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
