Written Answers Nos. 310-326
310. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timeframe for the establishment of a new election observation roster; the body that will be responsible for conducting the competition; the locations in which it will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56636/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs maintains and administers a voluntary roster of suitably skilled and vetted individuals who are available to participate at short notice in election observation missions, organised by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union (EU).
The current Election Observation Roster was established for a period of five years, effective as of 1 January 2019. It is scheduled to run until 31 December 2023. However, it may be extended, given the suspension of nominations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recruitment of members for the next Roster will be on the basis of an open and competitive application process, in accordance with public sector recruitment, in compliance with Irish equality law, and based on criteria for election observers set out by the EU and the OSCE.
Details will be made available on the Department’s website in due course.
311. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which Ireland plans to engage with the IMF on its policy of austerity, with particular concern for the way that this policy is impacting on the public sector wage bills, education, especially girls' education and development outcomes in lower-income countries benefitting from Ireland's foreign aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56669/22]
View answerIreland is strongly committed to supporting effective, quality public service provision in developing countries. In addition to our extensive work with partner governments and civil society organisations, we work with a range of international partners and within multilateral structures to further this ambition.
Ireland is particularly committed to supporting education. In line with our international development policy, A Better World , the government has pledged to provide €250 million for education up to 2023 through our official development assistance budget. We continue to scale up support for education across our work, with a focus on education in emergencies and girls’ education, guided by the underlying principle of reaching the furthest behind first. Ireland supports the strengthening of education systems in developing countries so that states can provide free and inclusive quality primary and secondary education for all children.
Macroeconomic stability and high quality, sustainable growth are necessary conditions for success in this area. Restoring this stability and fostering conditions for such growth are the overarching goal of the IMF. Conditionality has always been an integral part of IMF programmes. In recent years, the IMF has become more flexible in the way it engages with countries on issues related to reform. For example, there is greater collaboration with member countries requesting assistance when selecting, designing, and implementing policies, in order to make the IMF-supported programmes successful. Ireland engages with the IMF both at a global level, through our Constituency Office in Washington DC, and at a country level with IMF’s Resident Representatives through our Mission network. We follow closely the implementation and impact of IMF programmes in our partner countries and work, wherever possible, to influence these positively.
312. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Passport Office plans to automatically email persons a minimum of three months in advance of their passport expiring where the Passport Office has an email address to inform persons that their passport is due to expire within the subsequent three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56724/22]
View answerEach year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the following year. Part of this planning involves a public communications strategy carried out by my Department, with a view to ensuring passport demand is manageable throughout the year.
This year the Passport Service communications campaign was deployed at the start of the year with the objective of informing the public about the passport application process and to encourage citizens to apply online and in good time. This campaign ran over print, broadcast and digital mediums, as well as stadium, event and airport advertising. It included advertisements in national and local radio, as well as advertisements in national press, during a two week period in January. Further advertisements ran in the second half of the year across digital, social media, print and radio.
In the coming months, my Department will be rolling out a Digital First media and communications strategy for the Passport Service in 2023, which aims to encourage citizens to apply for their passport online, in plenty of time, and to check their passport before booking travel.
For the majority of passport holders whose passports are due to expire in the coming year, it would not be possible for the Passport Service to email these citizens to inform them that their passport is due to expire. The Passport Service does not currently hold email addresses for the majority of these citizens, as at the time of their applications, the Passport Service was not collecting applicants' email addresses.
The Passport Service continues to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service including as part of future system enhancements. This will be considered as part of the reform program.
313. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the members of the national emergency co-ordination group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56339/22]
View answerI chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which coordinates emergency management policy across Government departments and agencies. The Office of Emergency Planning in my department provides a secretariat function to the Government Task Force. One of the tasks of the Office of Emergency Planning is to convene a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group within 1 hour of notification by a lead government department. For this purpose the Office of Emergency Planning maintains a list of the principal and deputy representatives to the Government Task Force from each government department and relevant agencies.
The Deputy may wish to note that a National Emergency Coordination Group is convened at the request of a Government department in response to a threatened or ongoing national-level emergency in the area of responsibility of that department. It is chaired by the Minister or senior official of that department. The National Emergency Coordination Group membership is the same as the Government Task Force with the exception of the Chair, which transfers from myself as Minister for Defence to the Minister or senior official from the lead government department responsible for the emergency in question.
At the behest of the lead government department, other agencies and stakeholders may also be called upon to attend a National Emergency Coordination Group. These could include, electricity transmission and generation providers, utility companies, sectoral regulators, etc.
Below you will find a list of departments and agencies represented at the Government Task Force and National Emergency Coordination Group:
Department of Agriculture and the Marine
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Department of Defence
Department of Education
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Health
Department of Transport
Department of Justice
Department of Social Protection
Department of An Taoiseach
Department of Finance
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
National Cyber Security Centre
Geological Survey of Ireland
Environmental Protection Agency
Defence Forces
Office of Emergency Planning
Civil Defence
Met Éireann
Local Government Management Agency
Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Office of Public Works
Health Service Executive
Health and Safety Authority
An Garda Síochána
National Security Analysis Centre
Government Information Service
Irish Coast Guard.
314. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Defence if any meetings of the national emergency co-ordination group have taken place during 2022 to discuss the State's response to arriving Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56340/22]
View answerA National Emergency Coordination Group is convened at the request of a Government department in response to a threatened or ongoing national-level emergency in the area of responsibility of that department.
As Minister for Defence, my Department, and specifically the Office of Emergency Planning, has the responsibility to convene the National Emergency Coordination Group in the National Emergency Coordination Centre on behalf of the lead government department responsible for a particular emergency. The National Emergency Coordination Centre is maintained to the extent that it can be activated within 1 hour of tasking by the lead government department in order to hold a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group.
At the time of writing, the National Emergency Coordination Group has not been convened to discuss the State's response to arriving Ukrainian refugees.
315. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the progress made in selecting a location for a base for the Naval Service on the west coast to service the immense area of Irish waters off this coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56417/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, there has been significant recent investments made in improving the infrastructure at the existing Naval Service base with more to come in 2023. To that end, I am satisfied the current infrastructure provision is sufficient to enable the Naval Service carry out it's current operational requirements. The provision of additional infrastructure will be considered in the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Defence and the Naval Service Regeneration Plan.
My Department has not been advised of any current operational requirements for the use of a location on the West Coast as a base for the Naval Service. If future operational requirements of this nature arise, they will be considered.
316. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 25 October 2022, when a revised salary certificate will issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56140/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that a salary certificate as requested was issued to the teacher referred to, on 20th October 2022. Arrangements are currently underway to implement the Building Momentum pay increases on the Department's teacher payrolls. A member of my staff has been in contact with the teacher referred to and we are issuing a further salary certificate reflecting these pay increases.
317. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the car park lease agreed as part of the building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56146/22]
View answerA technical examination is presently being undertaken within my Department in order to inform the proposed terms for the licence referred to. This planned licence has been prioritised and is currently being prepared.
318. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the way the extra funding allocated in budget 2023 for the school bus scheme is to be spent by her Department; if the list of names provided by this Deputy of students that did not get a place on a school bus will now be accommodated; if all existing school buses are being operated to capacity; and if she will list the counties that are worst affected by the lack of places on school buses and the actions she intends to take or is taking to resolve all outstanding matters relative to this matter. [56152/22]
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.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are now 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 have continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, transport is 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.
As part of the budgetary process, some additional funding has been approved for the scheme which has allowed officials in the Department of Education, in consultation with Bus Éireann, to consider and evaluate where additional capacity may be available. Bus Éireann have been prioritising areas where there were “on time concessionary pupils” who had tickets previously. Bus Éireann are currently assessing the existing school transport services and accommodating additional pupils where possible. Bus Éireann are in direct contact with families in this regard.
It is important to stress that this is subject to capacity considerations. Constraints in sourcing vehicles and drivers in certain areas of the country may also mean that it may take a number of weeks to explore solutions for additional capacity.
319. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to reports that school bus drivers are currently required to retire at 70 years of age, regardless of their ability or desire to keep working; and if she has any plans to change the retirement rules. [56173/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the past 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.
It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided, they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.
320. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when the National Council for Special Education will complete and submit its policy advice on education provision in special classes and special schools which was first commissioned in September 2018; and the reason that it has taken over four years to complete. [56186/22]
View answerIn 2018, the NCSE was asked by the then Minister to advise on the educational provision that should be in place for students in special schools and classes and to make recommendations on the provision required to enable them achieve better outcomes. The Minister requested that the NCSE examine whether there is local, or international, evidence that placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences for students with special educational needs.
In November 2019, the NCSE published its progress report on the work to date including (some) preliminary analysis of emerging findings from the consultation and research strands, which underpins NCSE policy advice. This report includes reviews of special education needs provision in Ireland, the UK and other jurisdictions.
The completion of this advice paper and its publication was delayed, mainly due to the pressures on the educational system brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic. The NCSE final report on this policy advice is expected to be finalised and submitted by the NCSE to the Department by the end of 2022. It will inform the Department in relation to making decisions about the future direction of special education policy in the coming years, including in relation to special school and special class provision. Consultation will take place with education partners, disability representative organisations, and parental representatives before any changes are made.
321. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when an application for school transport will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56197/22]
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
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 a random selection process.
Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but did not apply for school transport by the closing date of 29 April 2022 and did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July 2022. This application for school transport was made on 2nd September 2022 in respect of the 2022/23 School Year.
The service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present. Bus Éireann has further advised that their Local Office is currently assessing school transport routes for late applicants and if a seat becomes available, the family will be contacted directly.
322. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that insufficient consultation took place ahead of the announcement of the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied); and if she will pause this process until such consultation has taken place. [56199/22]
View answerI wish to advise the deputy that the decision making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron of the schools, subject to the approval of the Department. The Department has received correspondence from the patrons of both schools regarding their proposed amalgamation and a change of status of the new amalgamated school to co-educational. It is the responsibility of the patrons to undertake any consultation that they deem appropriate and to make the final decision as to whether to amalgamate.
I am aware that there have recently been concerns raised by some members of the school communities. The Department understands that further discussions have since taken place between the two school patrons. The Trustees of St Vincent’s School have now written to the Department to confirm that they are withdrawing from the proposed amalgamation process with North Presentation Secondary School.
323. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education when the selection of schools under the pathways school building retrofitting programme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56207/22]
View answerMy 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.
My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency and they are based on solid energy research projects.
Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009 with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher performance than required by the current Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
All new technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments. The Departments policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie., a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This government-funded energy retrofit pathfinder programme will target energy use and CO2 emission reduction by 51%, testing deep retrofit and low carbon heating solutions.
This programme continues to assist the Department to explore options and test various solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our broad range of school building types. It is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger schools national programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan and will play a key part of meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.
Design teams are being appointed to each school in the pathfinder programme to feasibility stage to investigate retrofit and decarbonisation options, and works will roll out from summer 2023 subject to the outcome of the feasibility stage. The feasibility stage includes looking at various options for potential retrofit levels with renewable heat up to what would be required to be a Zero Emission Building.
The schools for 2023 present a variety of challenges, including building age, archetype and retrofit requirements. The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
The pathfinder programme has retrofitted 42 schools across Ireland to date with work on an additional 15 schools currently at various stages of progress. The 2023/2024 programme will see up to ten schools benefitting from a selection of energy efficiency works.
The general principles and approach to school selection include schools meeting Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements and demonstrating a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the Energy in Education Programme. The programme selection also seeks to enable various cross sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles and different elements of construction type and heritage/conservation requirements where specific learnings are being targeted. The pathfinder programme is thus delivered on broad assessment in line with the above considerations and not on an application basis.
324. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education when the Donegal ETB request for additional resources to support students and staff directly affected by mica in County Donegal will be assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56209/22]
View answerMy Department recently met with representatives of Donegal ETB earlier this year and provided information about the range of supports and resources available to it to support students and staff who have been affected by the MICA issue in the county, and will continue to liase with the ETB in this regard.
325. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if she has a policy and report on the future of second level education on the north side of Cork city. [56211/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System (GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in these, and other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.
The Capital 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 in question, 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.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can also be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
Specifically, in the northside of Cork city, there are a number of significant school building projects providing additional capacity at post primary level:
- Scoil Mhuire Wellington Place Cork R/N 62690E – project at stage 2a – project to cater for LTPE of 400 pupils
- Gaelcholaiste Mhuire Cork R/N 62531H – project at stage 2b – this is an extension project to expand the school to cater for 700 pupils.
- Cork ETSS R/N 68263P – project at stage 2b for a new school building to cater for 600 pupils.
- Colaiste An Phiarsaigh (62301N) is a mixed post primary school with an enrolment of 526 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to include an extension to provide LTPE of 750 pupils has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
- Deerpark C.B.S (62540I) is a mixed post primary school with an enrolment of 466 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to cater for LTPE of 500 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
- Coláiste Chríost Rí (62560O) is an all boys post primary school with an enrolment of 445 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to cater for LTPE of 600 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
- Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh (62580U) is an all boys post primary school with an enrolment of 521 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to cater for LTPE of 750 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
- St. Angela's College (62640M) is an all-girls post primary school with an enrolment of 594 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to cater for LTPE of 600 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
- Coláiste Daibhéid (71124S) is a mixed post primary school with an enrolment of 227 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to include cater for LTPE of 300 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
- Bishopstown Community School (91397T) is a mixed post primary school with an enrolment of 312 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project cater for LTPE of 350 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery
- Mayfield Community School (91400F) is a mixed post primary school with an enrolment 445 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to cater for LTPE of 350 has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
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
326. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to reports that a subcontractor (details supplied) employed by a main contractor on a school project has been having difficulties obtaining payment for work carried out; and when the subcontractor can expect the matter to be resolved. [56251/22]
View answerA building project is a complex arrangement of contractual relationships between the client, the main contractor, specialist sub-contractors, domestic sub-contractors, suppliers of materials, suppliers of plant etc. In general all sub-contractors employed on education sector building projects are employed directly by the Main Contractor or indirectly by the Main Contractor through other sub-contractors. It is a matter for all sub-contractors to agree terms and conditions and a schedule of payments with the Main Contractor as their direct employer.
The specific issue outlined in the details provided by the Deputy involves a contractual matter between two private companies.
