Written Answers Nos. 259-278
259. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the dates in 2022 on which the Irish Consul General and-or Vice Consul General in Atlanta visited Miami; and the purpose of each visit in tabular form. [60393/22]
View answerThe team at the Consulate General of Ireland in Atlanta, currently responsible for seven states in the US Southeast, paid two visits to Miami in 2022, both connected with preparations for the opening of Ireland’s new Consulate General in Miami. The dates and purposes of each visit are listed in tabular form below.
The establishment of the Consulate General in Miami was a key commitment under the Global Ireland programme, which aims to double the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. Our Consul General in Miami took up duty in October 2022, taking over responsibility for Florida on a phased basis from Consul General Atlanta. Once fully established, the Consulate General in Miami will also take over responsibility for Alabama and Mississippi.
With the opening of the new Consulate General in Miami, Ireland now has a full-time diplomatic presence in the third most populous state in the United States, which has the fourth largest economy and acts as a major bridge between the USA and the Latin America and Caribbean region. The opening of this important new office, brings Ireland's diplomatic network in the US to nine which includes the Embassy in Washington DC and Consulates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta.
|
Date |
Representative |
Visit Purpose |
|
February 2022 |
Consul General |
Visit of Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States to prepare for the opening of the Consulate General in Miami. |
|
July 2022 |
Consul General (17-20 July) and Vice Consul (17 July) |
To host an animation networking event promoting Ireland’s children’s entertainment industry during the Kidscreen Summit, one of the most important annual events for that industry. The Consul General’s programme also included the identification of office properties for the new Consulate in Miami ahead of its opening in Q4 2022. |
260. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 29 November 2022, if he will provide a sectoral breakdown as between pharmaceutical, financial services, aircraft leasing, migration-work permits, interstate adoptions, miscellaneous notarial certs and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60664/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority to confirm that a signature, seal or stamp is from an Irish public official/body, and does this by issuing a physical apostille or authentication stamp on documents.
The last full year that a breakdown of statistics is available for is 2021. That year 54,795 stamps were issued. The following table gives the number and percentage breakdown of this figure by category used.
|
Document Type |
Total Stamps |
% Stamps |
|
Adoptions |
1145 |
2% |
|
Affidavit |
1498 |
3% |
|
Bank Statement |
30 |
0% |
|
Certificat de Coutume |
94 |
0% |
|
Character Reference |
13 |
0% |
|
Company Documents |
13804 |
25% |
|
Copy of Drivers Licence |
40 |
0% |
|
Copy of Passport |
1287 |
2% |
|
Court Documents |
333 |
1% |
|
Companies Registration Office |
1894 |
3% |
|
Education |
4282 |
8% |
|
Employment Record |
183 |
0% |
|
Export |
7081 |
13% |
|
Garda Clearance |
1415 |
3% |
|
Government Department Documents |
148 |
0% |
|
General Register Office |
4219 |
8% |
|
Medical |
361 |
1% |
|
Power of Attorney |
13922 |
25% |
|
Probate |
114 |
0% |
|
Revenue Documents |
2379 |
4% |
|
Translated Documents |
291 |
1% |
|
Utility Bills |
63 |
0% |
|
Other |
199 |
0% |
|
TOTAL |
54795 |
100% |
261. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the proposed reopening of the Irish Embassy in Tehran in 2023; his views that this should be deferred in light of recent events in Iran and until the completion of a special investigation by the UN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60745/22]
View answerThe Irish Embassy in Iran was closed in 2012 for financial reasons. In 2021 the Government decided to re-establish an Irish diplomatic presence in Iran in two phases. The first phase began in August 2021 with the appointment of a Chargé d’affaires in Tehran, co-located in the German Embassy in Tehran, with the Irish Embassy in Ankara remaining accredited to Iran. The second phase involves the re-opening of the Embassy in Tehran in 2023.
While planning is underway on this basis, as with all Embassy openings, plans are regularly reviewed in the light of political and security developments. I would note that there is strong EU engagement with Iran, and 22 Member States have a diplomatic presence in Tehran.
As is the case with all Ireland’s diplomatic contacts with other governments, the input and analysis from Irish diplomats and officials on the ground play an essential role in ensuring that our policy and political discussions, at all levels, are as informed and impactful as possible. An Irish Embassy in Tehran will also allow Ireland to more effectively deliver clear and firm messages directly to the Iranian government, including on issues like human rights and Iran’s nuclear activities.
Ireland’s diplomatic presence since August 2021 has been critical for engagement with Iran on a number of key regional files we have worked on at the UN Security Council, including Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and the Iran nuclear deal. Those issues will continue to remain priorities for Ireland after our term on the Council. While there is a relatively small population of Irish citizens living in Iran, and trade is currently limited due to the impact of sanctions, Iran remains a country with significant influence on the political, security, and economic dynamics of the broader Middle East.
I have raised my concerns on the situation in Iran directly with the Iranian Foreign Minister when I met him at the UN General Assembly in New York on 21 September, and when I spoke with him by phone on 6 October. On 20 October, I summoned the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland and again reiterated my serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini and the unjustified response of the Iranian security forces to the women and men who are protesting.
Ireland has fully supported the united EU response to Iran's disproportionate and violent suppression of protests and its transfer of weapons to Russia, including sanctions applied on 17 October and on 14 November. On 24 November Ireland co-sponsored the resolution at a special session of the Human Rights Council on Iran to establish a fact-finding mission to investigate and report on the human rights situation in Iran, which was adopted.
In using all possible channels, the Iranian government is in no doubt of Ireland’s concerns about Iran’s actions in relation to the crackdown on protestors, the human rights of women and girls, its non-compliance with its nuclear obligations and the supply of military equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine.
262. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a list of the categories of public sector workers and civil servants under his Department whose contracts fall under the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60771/22]
View answerThe Croke Park Agreement encompassed all civil and public servants employed by my Department. No distinction was made between categories of civil servants under the Agreement.
263. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the panel that makes the decisions regarding the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the criteria on which nominees are judged. [60842/22]
View answerThe opening of nominations for the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards scheme is advertised each year by our embassies and consulates and nominations must then be submitted to them within a specified time period.
The Head of Mission forwards the nominations to the Department of Foreign Affairs with an assessment, recommendation and any supporting documentation for consideration by the High Level Panel, which considers all nominations and makes recommendations to the Government.
The Panel consists of the Secretaries General to the President, of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and four external nominees - two nominated by the President and one each by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The current external members are Ms. Claire Power, Ms. Catríona Crowe, Mr. Kingsley Aikins, and Ms. Samantha Barry.
In order to be eligible for consideration, nominees must be habitually resident outside the island of Ireland, and must satisfy the following requirements:
- have rendered distinguished service to the nation and/or its reputation abroad;
- have actively and demonstrably contributed to Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad;
- have a track record of sustained support and engagement with Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad over a period of not less than five years; or
- have given sustained and distinguished service on a global or international issue of importance.
264. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there is a timeframe on posthumous nominations regarding the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards; if so, if this impacts the assessment of a nomination; if posthumous nominations can be resubmitted if unsuccessful; and the way posthumous nominations are assessed against nominations of individuals who are alive. [60843/22]
View answerThe Presidential Distinguished Service Award (PDSA) for the Irish Abroad recognises the service given to this country or to Irish communities abroad by those who live outside Ireland.
The PDSA has been awarded posthumously to seven individuals and, in order to be eligible for consideration, posthumous nominations must be first submitted within one year of the person’s passing.
All nominations, whether submitted posthumously or for living persons, are assessed on an equal basis by the High Level Panel, and in accordance with set criteria.
Nominators are free to re-submit unsuccessful nominations should they wish to do so.
Since the scheme’s inception, the following posthumous awards have been made:
|
Year |
Name |
Category |
Location |
|
2012 |
Jim Stynes (deceased) |
Arts, Culture and Sport |
Australia |
|
2014 |
Jim Flaherty (deceased) |
Business and Education |
Canada |
|
2016 |
Terry Wogan (deceased) |
Arts, Culture and Sport |
Britain |
|
2018 |
Thomas S. Power (deceased) |
Irish Community Support |
Australia |
|
2019 |
Sally O’Neill Sanchez (deceased) |
Peace, Reconciliation and Development |
Honduras |
|
2020 |
Jack Charlton (deceased) |
Arts, Culture and Sport |
Britain |
|
2020 |
Alice Kennedy (deceased) |
Charitable Works |
Britain |
265. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60981/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department has put in place a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, are having a positive impact on the number of applications being processed each month. The number of FBR applications processed per month has doubled in both September and October, with over 1,000 processed in August, over 2,000 processed in September and almost 5,000 processed in October.
The application to which the Deputy has referred has been initially processed, and is awaiting further documentation in order to progress it further. A member of the FBR team was in contact with the applicant on 27 October 2022 in this regard.
266. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60982/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department has put in place a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, are having a positive impact on the number of applications being processed each month. The number of FBR applications processed per month has doubled in both September and October, with over 1,000 processed in August, over 2,000 processed in September and almost 5,000 processed in October.
Supporting documents for the application to which the Deputy has referred were received on 11 August 2022 and are being stored in a secure environment pending entitlement checking.
267. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60983/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department has put in place a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, are having a positive impact on the number of applications being processed each month. The number of FBR applications processed per month has doubled in both September and October, with over 1,000 processed in August, over 2,000 processed in September and almost 5,000 processed in October.
The application to which the Deputy has referred has been initially processed, and is awaiting further documentation in order to progress it further. A member of the FBR team was in contact with the applicant on 30 November 2022 in this regard.
268. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60984/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department has put in place a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, are having a positive impact on the number of applications being processed each month. The number of FBR applications processed per month has doubled in both September and October, with over 1,000 processed in August, over 2,000 processed in September and almost 5,000 processed in October.
The first application to which the Deputy has referred has not been registered yet as it is awaiting supporting documents from the Applicant. The second application to which the Deputy has referred was registered on 29 July 2022 and is being stored in a secure environment pending entitlement checking. On completion of this application, all submitted documents will be returned.
The parents are advised to submit the Applicant's long form birth certificate and any other documents they have for the unregistered application in order to advance the application and enter it in the queue for checking. The parents will then be requested to submit any outstanding documents once the application has reached the checking stage. The Passport Service will contact the Applicant's parents regarding this application.
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the competition for the new roster for election monitoring will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60996/22]
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 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.
270. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider allowing all members of the Defence Forces, both veterans and serving members, to purchase the Michael Collins commemorative medal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60223/22]
View answerI have been advised by the Military Authorities that the Michael Collins commemorative medal is a commercial product of the Dublin Mint Office and as such, the question is not within my remit, and is not associated with the Defence Forces.
271. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacant emergency medical technicians, paramedics and advanced paramedics currently in the Defence Forces medical corps; and when these vacancies will be filled in tabular form. [60404/22]
View answerThe military authorities have advised that there are no specific appointments for the specialties of Emergency or Combat Medical Technicians (EMT/CMT), Paramedics or Advanced Paramedics, within the Chief of Staff’s Administrative Instruction CS4 establishment. The CS4 only provides only for 3* Medic appointments, for which there is no longer a qualification.
Medic appointments are filled, as appropriate, by individuals possessing the qualifications of EMT/CMT, Paramedic, or Advanced Paramedic. These qualifications are required to comply with the standards set by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC). The current strength of those with such qualifications is outlined in the table.
|
- |
Strength |
|
EMT/CMT |
86 |
|
Paramedic |
21 |
|
Advanced Paramedic |
10 |
272. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if any consideration is being given at Government level to seizure of archival material held by a Religious Order (details supplied) in respect of ongoing investigations into allegations of child sexual abuse. [60799/22]
View answerI have recently written to the Spiritan Order to remind the congregation of the importance of ensuring that all records relating to allegations of child sexual abuse are retained by the congregation. Consideration of any further steps which may be required is ongoing.
273. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the concerns raised by organisations (details supplied) in respect of the effect of a lack of housing on the delivery of education services. [60149/22]
View answerThe Government acknowledges that the housing issue and the current price pressures present particular challenges and are a source of concern for all public service workers, including staff in the education sector. Housing remains a priority matter for Government, led by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Housing for All strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. It will see 54,000 affordable home interventions which includes 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes to be delivered between now and 2030 by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through ‘First Home’ a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
In terms of any specific measures for public servants, there are ongoing discussions with the public service unions on any and all matters relating to the national collective agreements. Any review or changes to pay, or other pay mechanisms such as allowances, can occur only under those processes and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the relevant unions.
274. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the shortage of teaching staff in Ireland. [60150/22]
View answerI am aware that primary and post-primary schools are experiencing challenges in recruiting teachers, and I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department and I have taken significant steps to address this and will continue to do so.
Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) represent an additional source of supply for substitute and full-time posts in 2022/23, with more than 3,600 primary and post-primary NQTs registered with the Teaching Council this year.
The Department of Education runs a comprehensive programme of work to support the supply of teachers and the Department engages closely with the school management bodies and other education stakeholders to inform this work.
Significant additional posts have been allocated to the primary substitute teacher supply panels in areas where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue. This brings the total to 610 posts on 151 panels covering more than 2,840 schools.
The supply panels work alongside the existing methods of sourcing substitute teachers and schools can also make local arrangements to have their own regular substitutes to call on if needed.
Following from the Department’s Action Plan on Teacher Supply, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) has developed a portal for the recruitment of teachers to long-term teaching positions. The portal will facilitate the matching of demand and supply and provide an efficient and user-friendly recruitment process for both schools and teachers. I understand that the portal will be available in the coming weeks.
In addition, Sub Seeker a central portal for short-term substitute vacancies, was jointly developed by IPPN and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals. The portal matches available primary and post-primary teachers with short-term substitute vacancies. Almost 12,000 teachers have registered with Sub Seeker to date.
A number of measures to enhance the supply of substitute teachers have also been put in place for the current school year.
Job sharing teachers may be employed to work in a substitute capacity during the period they are rostered off, in their own or in other schools
The limits on substitute work applying to teachers on career break have also been temporarily suspended for the 2022/23 school year.
Retired teachers who have kept their Teaching Council registration represent a source of substitute cover for schools. In that regard the Department agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform a waiver of abatement for retired teachers returning to teach for up to 50 days in each of the three calendar years, 2021 to 2023 inclusive. In 2021, almost 800 retired primary teachers provided substitute cover in schools.
The Teaching Council made regulations allowing for the registration of 3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers under a new registration route, Route 5 (Student Teachers). More than 2,100 student teachers have applied to date for registration under Route 5. Approximately 1,250 have registered and more than 900 applications are currently being processed. Once registered with the Teaching Council, student teachers can be employed by a school to cover substitutable vacancies.
At post-primary level the Department has recently put in place a scheme that allows teachers to teach additional hours in their subject area over the usual 22-hour limit, up to a maximum of 20 additional hours per term. Retired teachers who maintain their Teaching Council registration can also provide substitute cover.
To meet longer term teacher demand, higher education institutions have developed new four-year initial teacher education programmes in a number of post-primary priority subject areas, including Irish, mathematics, computer science and modern foreign languages.
In addition, the Department fully funds teachers to participate in upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish. The first cohort of participants, approximately 170 teachers, is expected to graduate from these programmes this year and more than 300 teachers will graduate in 2023. It is also intended to commence an upskilling programme in Irish in 2023.
The Department also has a scheme to allow post-primary schools to share teachers, the aim of which is to recruit teachers in high-demand subjects and give teachers a full-time teaching contract. Schools are strongly urged to explore this option as a means of supporting recruitment.
These measures are underpinned by the Teaching Transforms campaign which promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign is supported by the dedicated webpage on gov.ie.
It is acknowledged that despite these important actions, which have helped to some extent, work remains to be done to address teacher supply challenges, particularly to ensure the availability of sufficient substitute teachers. The Department of Education will continue to work closely and intensively with stakeholders on this important matter.
275. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education her views on the effect on teaching recruitment of the criteria of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in respect of employment permits for non-EEA nationals; her views on the online advertising requirement for vacant education posts required by the Employment Permits Act 2006; and if she has made representations to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the matter. [60151/22]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 0031/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers.
Procedures for the recruitment and appointment of primary teachers, including for the advertising of posts, are set out in Department circular 0044/2019. Circular 20/2012 covers web-based advertising of post primary teaching posts.
The criteria in respect of employment permits for non-EEA nationals and the online advertising requirement for vacant education posts required by the Employment Permits Act 2006 are a matter for the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.
276. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to providing different levels for leaving certificate students similar to the three levels provided for junior certificate students; the mechanisms available to ensure that students of all abilities can obtain a leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60186/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that earlier this year I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience which will:
- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels
The redeveloped Senior Cycle will involve the creation and development of more flexible learning pathways within school.
The approach to Senior Cycle redevelopment is ambitious, optimistic and inclusive. Senior Cycle redevelopment will ensure that the diversity of students’ learning needs and strengths are addressed and that all learning pathways in school are accessible and equally valued. It will broaden the ways used to assess and accredit students’ achievement, to better reflect and encourage the learning we wish to promote.
In a redeveloped Senior Cycle, real opportunities to progress, consolidate and transfer learning should be available for students of Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes, for those who can currently access these programmes at Junior Cycle.
I have requested that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) develop follow-on programmes for students studying Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes (L1/L2LPs) in Junior Cycle as they progress to Senior Cycle.
To commence this process, NCCA has recently completed a review of the L1/L2LPs in Junior Cycle, during which it also sought to learn more from schools about their curriculum provision for students in Senior Cycle who followed L1/L2LPs in Junior Cycle. The findings of the review will inform the work of the Post Primary Special Education Development Group which is tasked with the development of follow-on Senior Cycle modules for students progressing from Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes.
These modules will be student-centred and age-, peer- and learning needs appropriate and contribute to students’ intellectual, social and personal growth and maturity. It is expected that the development of the modules will be completed by autumn 2024.
277. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the number of fifth class places currently available in primary schools in an area (details supplied). [60190/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System 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. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. Projections of post primary school place requirements are informed by multiple factors, including primary school enrolments in the area and primary to post primary transfer patterns.
Projections of school places in the Lucan area are anticipated to remain generally stable. However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities.
This close engagement will allow my Department to identify at an early stage particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
In relation to 5th class places, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.
278. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the available supports related to school transport for students who cannot obtain a school place in their locality during the school year and must continue to travel to schools a distance away from their home. [60191/22]
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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.
Families may still apply for school transport following the closing date, but if their application is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.
Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, will contact all applicants regarding their eligibility for school transport:
Pupils who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the School Transport Schemes and subject to the following conditions:
- a Transport Application Form is completed and submitted to Bus Éireann;
- there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their education centre;
- there is spare capacity on the service
Any remaining seats left after eligible pupils are accommodated are then allocated to concessionary pupils. Where there is a transport service available, Bus Éireann liaise directly with families.
In cases where the department is satisfied that the pupil's nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance the pupil lives from the next nearest school in relation to ethos and language.
To establish that the nearest school is full families must provide evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school, and a letter from the school authorities confirming that the school was full at the time of enrolment.
Further information in relation to the School Transport Scheme can be found at: www.gov.ie/schooltransport
