Written Answers Nos. 244-253
244. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedures and protocols that apply to the issuing of invitations to foreign Heads of State to visit Ireland; the legislation or provisions of the Constitution that pply to the decision to issue such invitations; if such invitations require a Government decision; if he can issue them on behalf of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56019/22]
View answerVisits to Ireland by foreign Heads of State provide an important opportunity to promote Ireland’s interests and values internationally. They contribute to the development of strong economic, political and cultural links between Ireland and other States.
Depending on the timing and nature of such foreign Head of State visits, these can include elements such as an official welcome ceremony, State hospitality and courtesy calls on the President, the Taoiseach, and the Oireachtas. Other elements may include business or community engagements or visits to places of historical, cultural and other interest.
A State Visit is the highest level of official visit by a Head of State from one country to another. A prioritised and limited number of State Visits to Ireland take place each year. Over the past decade, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State would typically host 2-3 State Visits per year.
A limited number of Official or Working Visits to Ireland by Heads of State may also take place in any given year. Such visits typically do not include the same formal ceremonial elements as a State Visit, are shorter in duration, and are often focused on specific engagements.
Invitations to foreign Heads of State to pay a State Visit to Ireland are formally extended by the President of Ireland, who officially hosts visiting Heads of State during such visits. Invitations to foreign Heads of State to pay a State Visit to Ireland are issued by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Government.
Each year, an exercise is undertaken within the Department of Foreign Affairs to bring forward a prioritised programme of State Visits to Ireland for the coming year. Invitations are extended to States where there is a clear opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, promote our national and international interests and our values, or to reciprocate a previous State Visit by the President of Ireland.
This annual programme of State Visits to Ireland is prepared in consultation the across the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the Department of the Taoiseach and Áras an Uachtaráin.
245. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence if the Irish Army is now engaged in the training of Ukrainian soldiers for their conflict against the invading Russian forces; if so, when this training started; the length of time this will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55929/22]
View answerThe Defence Forces are not currently involved in training members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and coordinate existing Member State training activities. The mission has been developed within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). On 17 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted a Council Decision establishing and launching the mission.
The objective of the assistance mission is to train Ukrainian soldiers on EU soil to respond to the urgent short-term needs expressed by Ukraine and to aid Ukraine in exercising its inherent right of self-defence against Russian aggression in defence of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
While it has always been and remains a matter for each Member State to decide whether or not to participate in any given military or civilian CSDP mission or operation, I have supported the establishment of this mission and Defence Forces' participation in it.
Ireland has been invited to fill a senior staff position in the mission’s Operational Headquarters, which will operate within the EU’s Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) in Brussels. My officials and the Defence Forces are also engaged with Ukraine to assess how best to respond to a specific request from the Ukrainian Prime Minister for support in the area of demining.
246. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider using the lands of Nenagh military barracks for social housing. [56083/22]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that in the first instance, the provision of social housing is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on same. However, I can advise that my Department has offered Nenagh Barracks to Tipperary County Council. This offer remains open should the Council wish to avail of same.
247. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education her views on whether it is appropriate to allow an alcohol industry-funded organisation (details supplied) to provide literature and programmes on the risks of alcohol to school-aged children; if she will direct schools not to utilise any material which they have received from the organisation; if she will support a named campaign for school-based education on the risks of alcohol to be independent of any alcohol industry influence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55942/22]
View answerIt is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. That is reflected in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry, and in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s SPHE Guidelines for Teachers published on its website.
My Department is currently considering how best to ensure that this position is reflected across our schools. In that regard, my Department will continue to liaise with the HSE, in the context of ongoing work with both the HSE and the Department of Health on the cross-Government Healthy Ireland programme, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland.
248. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of the planned projects included in the school building programme in 2022 as of January 2022, and as of now respectively; the budget for same; if she will provide a list of the projects that will not proceed in 2022 due to construction inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55985/22]
View answer249. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the planned budget for school building in 2023; if she will provide a list of the proposed projects for 2023; the number of projects it is expected to support in 2023; if she has sought an increase in the capital budget to reflect increased construction inflation; the process for deciding which projects to proceed with or which ones to delay; the projects that are now delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55986/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. The capital allocation for my Department is €860m for 2023.
This provides a platform for strong rollout of school building projects and delivering on the ambitions set out in the NDP in respect of catering for demographics, provision for special education needs etc. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. There are currently in excess of 300 school building projects at construction with other projects in design and at or near the tendering stage. There are central arrangements in place for dealing with inflation which are reflected in the Co-Operation Framework for Inflation which was announced by Government earlier this year. This framework provides clarity for contractors when tendering for public works contracts. The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
My Department continues to keep the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform updated on NDP rollout.
250. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if any plans exist to open a special class at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55995/22]
View answerI would like 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.
For 2022, my Department will spend in excess of €2.3 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
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 approach is delivering. As of 31st October, we have seen 393 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,545 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 393 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 133 at post primary level.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
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.
As your query relates to an individual school, I will arrange to have it sent to the NCSE for their direct reply.
251. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase school capacities in Naas and the surrounding towns; and her plans to allocate further resources in the area and its surrounds. [56003/22]
View answerThe school building programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the area referred to by the Deputy, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
In response to projected future need and to enrolment demand in the area, there has been significant capital investment by my Department providing additional capacity at primary and post primary schools.
With regard to the Naas School Planning Area, a number of major building projects in primary and post-primary schools are currently underway which will provide further capacity. These include projects at the following schools:
- Mercy Convent Primary School, Naas - a project to provide a new 32-classroom school is currently on site and close to completion.
- St Corban's Primary Schoo,l Naas - a project to provide an extension to cater for a 16-classroom school is currently at stage 2b of the architectural planning process (detailed design).
- Colaiste Mhuire Secondary School, Naas - an extension to expand this school to cater for 1,000 pupils is currently at stage 2a of the architectural planning process.
- Naas Community College - recently completed new school building that has capacity for 1,000 pupils.
There are also further projects progressing under the Department's additional accommodation scheme (ASA) at Scoil Naomh Mhuire Primary School, An Linbh Iosa and Gaelcholaiste Chill Dara.
In relation to surrounding towns the following projects are also progressing:
- In Clane - two primary school building projects are ongoing. Scoil Padraig Primary School - a new 24-classroom school is on site and a major extension / refurbishment project at Hewetson N.S. is at stage 1 of the architectural planning process. At post-primary school level, a building project at Scoil Mhuire Community School is at stage 1 of the architectural planning process and will provide 2 Science Labs and 5 classrooms (prefab replacement) when completed.
- In Prosperous - St. Farnan's post primary school, a major building project is at stage 2a of the architectural planning process and will provide a new school with capacity for 1,000 pupils when constructed.
School place needs across all school planning areas will continue to be kept under review, using refreshed Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and other updated information as they become available.
252. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the post-primary catchment area that persons living in a location (details supplied) fall into; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56074/22]
View answerAccording to the Department's Geographical Information System, the area referred to by the Deputy is in the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.
In most areas, school planning areas were based on traditional school catchment areas where all primary schools were assigned to a post-primary feeder area (typically a population centre or town), containing one or more post-primary schools. With the introduction of Small Areas in Census 2011, these feeder areas were amended to align with Census Small Areas. The current school planning areas take account not only of local groupings of schools, but also of natural boundaries, Census Small Areas and other local conditions. In urban areas, including Dublin, districts were created to allow for the grouping of schools and took into account natural boundaries where feasible, but also were specifically drawn to incorporate census electoral divisions and enumerator areas.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
The most recent projections for the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area indicate a slight increase in requirement at post primary level up to 2025. There are two post primary schools in this school planning area. The schools’ have a current enrolment of 1,200 pupils. The projected peak year is 2025 with 1,892 pupils and enrolments are projected to decrease thereafter.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if any grants or assistance exist to help a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55917/22]
View answerDisability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a disability, aged between 16 and 66 years, who are habitually resident in Ireland.
Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and substantially restrict a person’s ability to work.
In addition to income supports, my Department provides a wide range of services and supports to assist jobseekers with a disability to find work and to incentivise employers to recruit and support them in employment.
Disability Allowance is structured to support recipients to avail of employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375, are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. The lower earnings disregard will increase by €25 from January 2023 so a person will be able to earn €165 per week without it having any impact on their payment.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance has been designed to support persons, including persons with disabilities, to become self-employed. Customers retain a percentage of their income support payment for up to 2 years.
My Department provides a case managed employment service to jobseekers, including those with disabilities, who seek support from their local Intreo Centre. They work with an Employment Personal Advisor with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available. Intreo also delivers a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
Funding is also available through the Training Support Grant to help the person access private sector training providers.
As part of our commitments under the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, my Department has commenced an early engagement approach with the Intreo service proactively engaging with persons with a disability at the earliest opportunity, to offer support and assistance to help them enter or return to employment. The process initially focuses on persons aged 18 to 22 in receipt of Disability Allowance, before being expanded to other age groups and schemes.
My Department recognises the additional challenges that some jobseekers with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment, and contracts for the provision of specialist employment services (EmployAbility) to help address this. A jobseeker with a disability who is working with their Intreo Employment Personal Advisor may be referred to these service providers if it is agreed that they would benefit from the type of services and support provided. Jobseekers work with a job coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
My Department also provides a range of services and supports for employers to recruit/retain jobseekers with a disability, including financial incentives under the Wage Subsidy Scheme and Reasonable Accommodation Fund Grants. The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides funding for employers to pay for disability awareness training for staff who work with a colleague with a disability.
Budget 2023 also saw the introduction of a number of employment related measures, to further support this group:
- A €25 per week increase to the earnings disregards for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, increasing it from €140 to €165 per week. This means, from January, a person can earn €165 per week without having any impact on their payment.
- €1m in funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants – which support the employment of disabled people in the private sector. Following a public consultation, conducted earlier this year, the Department will bring forward reform proposals before the end of the year.
- Changes to the JobsPlus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension from January 2023 can avail of the grants under the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
