Written Answers Nos. 254-274
254. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to alter the rate at which money is lent by the Housing Finance Agency to the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46493/22]
View answerThe Housing Finance Agency (HFA) plc is a non-commercial semi-State company under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, limited by shares under the terms of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981.
The setting of interest rates is an operational matter for the HFA.
The dedicated email address set up by the Agency to respond to queries and requests for information from members of the Oireachtas is oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie.
255. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way that the income threshold for eligibility for housing aid, mobility aid and grants to support the adaptation of a home for a person with a disability are set; when they have last been updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46494/22]
View answerThe income thresholds for the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme are set by secondary legislation, namely, S.I. 670 of 2007 which was updated by S.I. 104 of 2014.
The scheme is means tested and operates on a sliding scale with the highest percentage grants available to those with the lowest incomes and vice versa. Grant assistance is not available to applicants whose household income, after disregards and deductions, exceeds €60,000 per annum. Local authorities must adhere to the income thresholds set down by the regulations, so that the funding is focused on those households who need it most.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Among the areas which the review, currently underway, will consider are the income thresholds, the grant limits, the application and decision making processes, including supplementary documentation required. The review will have regard to, inter alia , any relevant increases in the broader economy as appropriate including, for example, the Central Statistics Office data on earnings in the case of the income thresholds. The review is to be completed by the end of 2022.
256. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the social and affordable housing provision completed or currently in progress for each county and local authority area in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46551/22]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available to the end of Quarter 1 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 1 2022 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6912a-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q1-2022/. A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis at the link below: Social Housing Construction Status Report Q1 2022 - Dataset - Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
The Quarter 2 social housing statistics are being collated and will be published shortly, in conjunction with the Quarter 2 Construction Status Report.
Over the period to 2026, the Government's Housing for All strategy commits to delivering 10,000 Cost Rental homes and 18,000 Affordable Purchase homes which will be delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), local authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the First Home shared equity scheme.
Local authorities have begun collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently undertaken for social housing. It is intended that information across all delivery streams, including AHB delivery and LDA delivery, will be gathered centrally and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery on a quarterly basis later this year.
To date, six projects in four local authorities have advertised a cumulative total of 325 affordable purchase homes. It is anticipated that there will additional projects advertised before the year end. The six projects are;
- Boherboy Road (Cork City Council) (117 units);
- Cluain Chaoin (Cork City Council) (36 units);
- Elder Walk, Summerfields (Waterford City and County Council) (92 units);
- Deer Park, Williamstown (Waterford City and County Council) (25 units);
- Kilcarbery Grange (South Dublin County Council) (16 units); and
- Dun Emer, Lusk (Fingal County Council) (39 units)
The Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) supports AHBs in the delivery of Cost Rental homes and approval has been confirmed for approximately 900 homes to be delivered under scheme in the period to 2023. Approximately 300 CREL funded homes have been delivered to date in 2022.
Cost Rental properties are also in development by local authorities through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and 50 Cost Rental homes tenanted in Enniskerry Road earlier this year were supported by approximately €4.5m in funding from my Department. The AHF will help to facilitate a local authority-led financing structure for Cost Rental, which will provide important opportunities for local authorities to directly delivery Cost Rental homes on their own lands, such as at Emmet Road in Dublin City.
The LDA will also deliver Cost Rental homes, as well as affordable purchase homes on its own portfolio of sites or through Project Tosaigh. Project Tosaigh is a market engagement initiative to unlock land with full planning permission that is not being developed by private sector owners. The LDA has advised that it will deliver Project Tosaigh cost rental homes and affordable purchase homes in partnership with local authorities during 2022. Full details will be made public as commercial arrangements are concluded. Full details of the initiative can be found here: lda.ie/home-building-partnership/.
In respect of the LDA, details of the work that the LDA is progressing on public lands that will deliver Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental can be found here: lda.ie/projects-schemes/
257. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of relations between Ireland and Armenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46404/22]
View answerDiplomatic relations between Ireland and the Republic of Armenia were established in 1996.
The Irish Ambassador to Bulgaria, Martina Feeney, is accredited to Armenia on a non-resident basis and presented her credentials in October 2021. Varuzhan Nersesyan was appointed as Ambassador to Ireland, also on a non-resident basis, in July 2021. Ireland’s Honorary Consul in Armenia since 2010 has been Jonathan Stark, while the Honorary Consul of Armenia in Ireland since 2008 is Orhan Yergainharsian.
The Irish community in Armenia is very small, consisting of about 20-25 citizens, many of whom left in 2020 due to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that a few hundred people of Armenian descent may live in Ireland.In terms of bilateral meetings, the most recent at a leadership level was in May 2022, when I met with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the margins of the 132nd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in Turin. There are also regular contacts at an official level.
There are a number of academic and private sector links between the two countries, and some trade links. I refer the Deputy to the Central Statistics Office for further details on Ireland's trade with Armenia. Irish Aid has provided support to a number of non-governmental organisations for projects in Armenia over the years.
258. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of relations between Ireland and Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46405/22]
View answerIn line with the United Nations’ designation, Ireland recognises Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, which is defined under Chapter XI of the United Nations charter as a territory “whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government”. Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963.
Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN-led process, and the UN Secretary General’s efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement.
Ireland wholeheartedly supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 2602 on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. We do not have a view on the outcome of a decision regarding the future of the territory, so long as it is decided peacefully and in a genuine exercise of self-determination.
259. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will assist a married couple (details supplied) who are in distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46463/22]
View answerMy Department has been in ongoing contact with the citizens concerned since 8 September. Guidance is being provided with regards to documentary requirements, and all possible consular assistance and support is being provided by the relevant Embassy, in line with the Consular Charter (available at www.dfa.ie.)
260. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education if her Department has been in contact with the Department of Transport in regard to school bus transport; and if so, if a decision has been made to put on additional capacity to ensure that all children who require a seat on a bus will get one. [46556/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Officials in my Department engage with colleagues in other Departments including the Department of Transport on a regular basis on a wide range of issues including school transport.
Already over 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants which is a substantial increase on children using mainstream school transport services last year.
Bus Éireann will continue to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service.
With regard to the waiving of school transport fees for the 2022/2023 school year, on 26th July 2022 I submitted a memo to Cabinet asking Government to agree to the following:
- In light of the increasing cost of living and with a view to easing the financial burden on families, that as part of a set of initiatives to assist families with Back to School costs, students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the academic year 2022/23. This is a temporary measure for the current year only.
- Pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, that Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level be continued for the 2022/2023 school year.
On 27th July 2022 a Government Decision issued, agreeing to these proposals .
261. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education if schools will be advised to return to remote learning for part of the school week in view of the increased cost of fuel and heating. [46381/22]
View answerThere are no plans to partially or fully close schools for the reasons referred to by Deputy. My Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. I have committed to seeking funding for further increases in the capitation in future budgets.
My Department has also ensured that centrally negotiated rates are available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels. These rates are available through existing frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) which run until 2024. OGP has run competitions specifically for Schools at a national level and the Schools Procurement Unit and the Department has communicated with schools and school management bodies informing them of the options available to them through these national arrangements. It is planned to run future competitions to ensure that bulk rates continue to be available from 2024 onwards. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website, www.spu.ie
Furthermore, my Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification and is advancing a number of programmes to further develop this.
The Energy in Education website portal and advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also assists schools reduce their energy consumption and empowers participating schools and pupils to learn the benefits of sustainability www.energyineducation.ie. Typically savings of between 5 to 10% are identified through low and no cost measures, while some schools participating have identified potential savings of up to 15% or more.
I am very conscious of the cost of living pressures facing families and schools and these issues will be considered as part of the budgetary process.
262. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the reason that a child was refused a school bus ticket (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46388/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Eireann has advised, that the pupil referred to by the Deputy did not request a ticket by the deadline of 29th July 2022. The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
263. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if her Department is considering using a former school building (details supplied) for a purpose other than education; if so, when she expects the decision to be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46389/22]
View answerThe property in question, a former school, is not in the ownership of my Department.
My Department has established current and future permanent accommodation requirements in the area in question. The property referred to by the Deputy is under consideration to meet some of these requirements and my Department has been in discussions with the owners of the particular building in this regard.
264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the case of students (details supplied) who have been left without a school bus place. [46395/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
It is recognised that all pupils issued with tickets will not travel every morning and every evening. In addition, certain after school activities may also result in pupils not travelling on certain days.
Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle. It is not feasible to issue additional tickets over and above the seating capacity of the vehicle which could result in a potential overload situation arising and all pupils not being carried on the service.
On 30th August 2022, an appeal in respect of this application for school transport was lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board. The Board will liaise directly with the appellant when the appeal is due for consideration.
265. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to siblings (details supplied) in County Mayo who have availed of transport for several years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46398/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Eireann has advised that while the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for mainstream transport, there are seats available on an existing service to accommodate these pupils. Tickets have issued to these pupils and they will arrive at their home address in the coming days.
266. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of an education and training board employee (details supplied) who has been advised that they will not receive wages until mid-October 2022 due to an issue with the payroll system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46409/22]
View answerEducation Shared Business Services (ESBS) is a stand-alone section that comes under the remit of the Department of Education. The ESBS has been set up to host some of the Shared Service operations to be provided directly by the Department under its Shared Services Plan.
12 ETBs have now migrated their Payrolls to ESBS with LCETB in line to become the 13th ETB to migrate their Payroll to ESBS in October 2022. MSLETB migrated their Payroll to ESBS during 2021.
ESBS pay staff from MSLETB on the same pay dates and frequencies as had transpired prior to the migration of the MSLETB Payroll to ESBS. Accordingly, ESBS pay MSLETB part-time Tutors and Teachers on the 19th of each month for hours worked up to the last Friday of the previous month. Accordingly, hours worked from 29th August 2022 – 30th September 2022 inclusive will be processed and paid on 19th October 2022. Hours worked from 1st October 2022 – 28th October 2022 inclusive, will be processed and paid on 19th November 2022.
This payment schedule aligns with the standardised payment schedule within ESBS which was approved by the ESBS ETB Payroll Project Steering Committee which includes representatives of the ETB Sector.
267. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct officials in her Department to open a second ASD unit at a school (details supplied) to serve the needs of ASD students whilst the process of building takes place in the intervening period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46417/22]
View answerI want to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes additional teaching and care supports.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year. My Department and the NCSE continue to work very closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen 383 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,535 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 383 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 253 at primary level and 130 at post primary level.
In relation to the school specifically referenced by the Deputy, I am advised that there is ongoing engagement with and support for the school by the NCSE. The school currently has one ASD special class, opened in their existing accommodation.
I am also advised that NCSE is currently engaged with the school regarding the establishment of further special class provision at the school.
A building project for this school is in the early stages of the tender process. The Design Team are issuing invitations to tender. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged works will commence in Quarter 2 of 2023 with a construction timeframe of 22 months. On completion, this project will deliver accommodation for 2 special classes.
My Department and the NCSE work closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
Should the NCSE sanction the opening of a second class in the intervening period, my Department will also engage with the school in relation to the provision of an additional special class to serve the needs of students with ASD while the process of building takes place.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
I want to reassure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
The local SENO engages regularly with the school and families locally and remains available to the school to provide further advice and support.
268. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) in County Mayo can draw down its previously approved funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46420/22]
View answerThe Dept. is in contact with the school in respect of this matter, and the Dept. are assisting the school in progressing the project.
269. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the refusal of special school transport for a pupil (details supplied) to the ASD unit in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46428/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.
The School Transport Section of my Department has received an application for school transport for the child referred to by the Deputy and it has been reported by the SENO that this child is not attending their nearest school that is, or can be, resourced to meet the child's educational needs under Department of Education criteria. The child referred to in this case is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.
An appeal was submitted to the School Transport Appeals board on 22/07/2022. The Board considered the case based on the information provided to them and determined that the terms of the scheme have been properly and appropriately applied and the appeal was not allowed. The Board notified the family of the decision.
If the family have any new information they would like to be considered, an appeal should be submitted to the School Transport Appeals Board for their attention.
270. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the current average pupil-teacher ratio for mainstream classes in primary schools, not including special educational needs classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46430/22]
View answerThe pupil-teacher ratio for mainstream classes in primary schools in 2021/2022, the most recent year for which we have data, was 22.8. This figure only accounts for mainstream teachers in mainstream classes, and special education teachers working in mainstream classrooms are excluded.
271. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the current average pupil-teacher ratio for mainstream classes in post-primary schools, not including special educational needs classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46431/22]
View answerThe pupil-teacher ratio in post-primary schools in 2021/2022, the most recent year for which we have data, was 12.2. There is currently no means of identifying post-primary pupils in special classes on the Post-Primary Online Database, and therefore the stated pupil-teacher ratio includes all pupils and teachers at post-primary level.
272. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if discussions are expected to reimburse host families for school transport for foreign-exchange pupils attending school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46443/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Already 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new school year. To date, circa 20,400 additional places have been created for children for the 2022/2023 school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
It is very important for families to note that the application deadline for 2022/23 was 29 April 2022, and that the deadline to confirm registration for tickets was 29 July 2022. Any application completed after this date is a ‘late application’ and therefore, many school transport services are already operating at full capacity. Late applications will only be assessed after all “on time” applications have been processed and there can be no guarantee of places for late applicants.
For safety reasons, only students with a valid ticket for school transport will be permitted to travel on school transport services.
273. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the assistance that is being given to schools to combat high energy bills in order that classrooms can remain warm. [46462/22]
View answerMy Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. I have committed to seeking funding for further increases in the capitation in future budgets.
My Department has also ensured that centrally negotiated rates are available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels. These rates are available through existing frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) which run until 2024. OGP has run competitions specifically for Schools at a national level and the Schools Procurement Unit and the Department has communicated with schools and school management bodies informing them of the options available to them through these national arrangements. It is planned to run future competitions to ensure that bulk rates continue to be available from 2024 onwards. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website, www.spu.ie
Furthermore, my Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification and is advancing a number of programmes to further develop this.
The Energy in Education website portal and advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also assists schools reduce their energy consumption and empowers participating schools and pupils to learn the benefits of sustainability www.energyineducation.ie. Typically savings of between 5 to 10% are identified through low and no cost measures, while some schools participating have identified potential savings of up to 15% or more.
I am very conscious of the cost of living pressures facing families and schools. In advance of this year's Budget I will engage with my Cabinet colleagues to continue to deliver on my priorities to support the students, staff, and families within the education sector and to address these pressures.
274. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education the reason that a person (details supplied) was not considered for redeployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46546/22]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.
Following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.
To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme assists the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all the surplus permanent teachers.
Teachers who applied under the pilot voluntary scheme and were not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.
The criteria for the allocation of teachers to post-primary schools including the redeployment arrangements, are available on my Department's website.
