Written Answers Nos. 341-360
341. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will address the issue of substandard accommodation in the married quarters section of Cathal Brugha Barracks (details supplied). [3013/23]
View answerMembers of the Defence Forces who were allocated a Married Quarter and who subsequently retire, or leave are required under Regulation to return vacant possession of that property. Where the property is not vacated those remaining in the property, be they the former serving member, their spouse, children and/or other person, are regarded as Overholding. My Department has no agreement with the current occupant that allows her to remain in the property and the occupant was informed in writing that she does not have my Department’s consent to remain there.
That being said, the Deputy may wish to note that when maintenance issues are brought to the attention of my Department in relation to properties occupied by Overholders, matters of a Health and Safety concern are dealt with. In this regard, I understand that in 2020 when my officials were advised of an issue with the supply of water in the bathroom it was addressed without delay. Similarly, I understand that emergency works to the value of €28,000 were approved by the Department in 2021 to address the then reported issues. In relation to the matters now being raised by the Deputy, I have instructed my officials to liaise with the local military authorities to have this matter addressed.
342. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the refurbishment works that were carried out at Gormanston Camp during 2022; if each of the capital works are completed or ongoing; and the refurbishment works that will be carried out at this camp during 2023. [3251/23]
View answerThe Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015. The Plan is iterative in nature thus ensuring that it remains relevant and that investment is targeted where most needed. A midterm review of the Plan was recently completed by my Department and the Defence Forces to ensure the Plan continues to reflect current operational requirements.
In respect of Gormanston Camp the following projects were (i) completed/ ongoing during 2022 and (ii) scheduled for progression in the coming year at a combined cost of some €1.3m (VAT incl):
2022 - Works completed/ ongoing
- Provision of electrical cabling and associated ducting and trench work to service accommodation Blocks A and B;
- Design and installation of photo voltaic array and ancillary equipment for accommodation Blocks A and B;
- Provision and connection to interim distribution centre;
- Installation of low voltage electrical cabling.
2023- Works Scheduled for Progression
- The refurbishment of building No. 23 as a classroom/training rooms;
- The installation of heat pumps in Accommodation Blocks A and B;
- Site Clearance Works/Demolition works.
The future development of Gormanston Camp is prioritised in the Infrastructure Plan for 2022-2027 and in that regard the Deputy may wish to note that a number of significant capital projects are scheduled for progression to construction during 2024;
- New Accommodation Block (providing accommodation for 100 personnel), €8m
- Dining Hall Upgrade Works; €3m
- Provision of a New Gym and Obstacle Course ,€5m.
343. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total monetary amount of non-repayable moneys provided by his Department through grants, funding supports, tax breaks or other means to businesses in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [3377/23]
View answerThere have been no payments of non-repayable monies by the Department of Defence through grants, funding supports, tax breaks or other means to businesses in the specified years. Payments made by my Department to businesses are only issued in respect of the supply of goods and services.
344. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education To ask the Minister for Education, further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 22 November 2022, if she will provide an estimated timeframe for the delivery of the new scheme to provide free books for primary school students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2731/23]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free books to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to these families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the free school book pilot, currently in 102 DEIS primary schools, as resources permit. The free primary school books scheme will benefit up to 540,000 pupils in approximately 3,240 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools.
The implementation of the measure will build on the existing school book rental scheme which is available in some 96% of recognised primary schools and on the free school books pilot provided to over one hundred primary DEIS schools in recent years. Schools buy books directly from school book suppliers at present as part of the implementation of the school book rental scheme. It is currently planned on the basis that funds will be provided directly to schools to purchase school books and related classroom resources.
Initial stakeholder engagements were held in December last and over the coming period my Department will be engaging further with the education partners and other stakeholders to roll out the measure in time for the 2023/24 school year.
Guidance for primary schools on the free schoolbooks measure will be developed. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils. Schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet curricular requirements. My Department will consider the information from the 102 schools involved in the free school book pilot when developing the guidance.
345. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when the Traveller Education Strategy committed to in the 2020 programme for Government will be completed. [2740/23]
View answerWork is progressing to advance a Traveller Education Strategy in line with the Programme for Government commitment. Work currently underway that will inform the development of the Traveller Education Strategy includes:
- work underway by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to support teaching and learning of Traveller history and culture, which follows the 2019 audit of the curriculum in respect of Traveller culture and history;
- the refined DEIS identification model I announced in March last year, which includes components to reflect the educational disadvantage experienced by students who have self-identified as Traveller or Roma;
- a pilot project Supporting Traveller and Roma (STAR) which is underway in four areas (Galway, Wexford, Dublin and Cork), with the aim of addressing the barriers impacting on Traveller and Roma attendance, participation and retention in education;
- in line with the Programme for Government commitment to: “Undertake an independent assessment of the pilot projects aimed at retaining Traveller and Roma children in education”, in September 2022 I announced the opening of a tender process for the independent evaluation of the NTRIS STAR pilot project. Work is ongoing in my Department to finalise the award stage. A Research Advisory Board is also being established to support the evaluation, and there will be a Traveller representative on that Board;
- My Department received €400,000 from the 2022 Dormant Accounts Fund to tackle education disadvantage for Traveller and Roma communities. In October last year, I announced that this is being used to fund 10 new Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinators in 14 non-DEIS post-primary schools with high numbers of Traveller and Roma students. These HSCL coordinators will also have access to funding, to implement and run initiatives to encourage improvements in school attendance, retention and progression for Traveller and Roma students. Funding is also being used to provide targeted supports to ensure the effectiveness of the HSCL role in working with Traveller and Roma families. Funding for these measures will continue in 2023.
Officials from my Department, together with officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, engage with Traveller representative organisations as part of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) education subcommittee. This engagement will continue in the context of the development of the Traveller Education Strategy.
346. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of accommodation for practical subjects and other facilities in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2757/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently received an application for capital funding for additional accommodation from the patron of the school in question.
The application is being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the patron as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
347. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if her Department’s policy is to include principals to carry out assessment of needs in special schools or mainstream schools; and when this policy changed from healthcare workers and CDNT’s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2828/23]
View answerThe Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment Officers working under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the Assessment of Need. The Assessment Officer coordinates and completes the Assessment Report and makes the determination as to whether or not a child or young person meets the definition of disability contained in the Act. .
Following on from a court ruling in October 2021 there is now a legal obligation on the education system to assist the HSE as part of the HSE’s Assessment of Need Process (AON).
The Department of Education and NCSE have worked intensively to ensure the process put in place adheres to legal obligations arising from the HSE’s AON process and is one that is rooted in existing good practice in schools. Under the Disability Act (2005) the NCSE is obliged to nominate a person with appropriate expertise to assist in the education assessment process.
It is important to note that the educational component of the AON process refers to assessment of education needs. Assessment in education is an everyday practice in schools which results in the identification of a child’s education need and the measures required to address these needs.
Identification of education needs, therefore, is central to the way schools operate. Schools provide for the inclusion and participation of all students and provide an education which is appropriate to a student’s abilities and needs.
This aligns with the obligations on schools arising from the Education Act 1998. They use a range of assessment practices as part of the Continuum of Support process. The Continuum of Support framework enables the school to identify, address and review progress in meeting the academic, social and emotional needs of the pupil, as well as other education needs.
Schools have been provided with a range of resources to ensure that the education needs of all students, including those with a disability or other special education needs, are identified and supported. The Department of Education issued Guidelines for Primary and Post-Primary schools (2017) to assist them in identifying and providing for the special education and learning needs of students.
Information derived from the schools’ assessments in education are recorded in a ‘Student Support File’. In line with best educational practice, the Student Support file details a student’s education needs as identified by the school. The information contained in the Student Support File is used in completing the educational component of the AON form which is returned to the HSE via the NCSE.
The Department of Education and the NCSE are conscious of the workload on schools and on school leaders and, in that regard, an extensive consultation process on the educational component of the AON is ongoing. The Department of Education and the NCSE worked with a small number of schools on a draft of the documents required as part of the HSE’s AON process. The Department extended the trial period of the AON process and provided additional support through support teams led by the NCSE and supported by the Department. The extended trial included a further 63 schools. This process was completed in December 2022 and feedback from the schools involved and stakeholders is being incorporated into revised guidance documents and the AON form.
The Department of Education and the NCSE have put in place a suite of supports to assist schools in completing the educational component of the HSE’s AON process. These include:
- Detailed guidance,
- Short video for use by schools setting how to comply with the process,
- Email support,
- Dedicated support line – this line is staffed by education professionals who will assist schools in completing the process.
I think it is important to note that this remains a HSE process. The responsibility for the Assessment of Need remains with the HSE. The assessment of health needs is still carried out by the HSE. Schools are assisting on the educational component only.
The Department has committed to working with the education partners to monitor and review the process and provide the necessary supports to schools.
348. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) still has not obtained school transport despite approval for the scheme. [2840/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.
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.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and sanction has been granted by the School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for the pupil to the school referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family have put in place until services are finalised. The Parent of the pupil referred to by the Deputy has been sanctioned the Special Transport Grant until the service commences. If the family require any further assistance, they can contact school_transport@education.gov.ie where an official from School Transport Section will be happy to help with their queries.
349. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2848/23]
View answerThe issues that have arisen in this case are related to the assignment of an incorrect PRSI Class. This occurred when the individual concerned who had previously been paid as a Home Tutor (S Class PRSI) took up a role as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) and should at that time have been assigned to A Class PRSI.
Staff working in the Payroll Section of my Department have been in contact with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) on the SNA's behalf, as the DSP records need to be amended in order to regularise matters. We have also been in contact with the SNA directly to update them on progress. I am hopeful that this matter will be resolved in the coming days.
350. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the status of the amalgamation of two primary schools (details supplied); the stage it is at; when she expects work to start on the construction of the new school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2864/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a building project is proposed which will facilitate the amalgamation of the schools to which he refers. Additional land is required to facilitate the development and in that context, agreement in principle has been reached with the land owner for my Department to acquire these lands. In tandem with this, my Department will progress the preparation of the accommodation brief for the building project.
351. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school building programme at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; the stage of the process this school is at; when works on a permanent school building will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2885/23]
View answerMy Department progressed 8 Design & Build (D&B) projects (Lots 1 & 2) to construction in 2021, with a further 10 projects (Lots 3, 4 & 5) progressed to construction in Summer 2022. A further 10 projects (Lot 6) are due to proceed to tender shortly.
All of these projects are tendered to my Department’s current D&B Contractors Framework. It will be 2024 before the next scheduled bundle of projects (Lot 7) can be tendered to that framework and into late 2024 before further projects could proceed to tender.
In order to have projects delivered at the earliest possible opportunity, my Department is of the view that the intervening period can be utilised to bring a number of projects with planning permission, including the project for the school referred to by the Deputy, to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s project manager. This will ensure that such projects do not have to await capacity on the current framework to proceed to tender but rather can be progressed and actioned over that timeframe to tender outside of the D&B framework.
It is envisaged that this will also serve to broaden the range and number of Contractors to which such projects can be tendered than would hitherto have been possible within the Design & Build Framework. This forms part of my Department’s ongoing strategic approach to seek to widen the pool of Contractors tendering for school building projects.
My Department’s Project Manager will be tasked with appointing Design Teams to these projects from my Department’s newly established Frameworks of Consultants with the expectation that these projects could then proceed to tender in early to mid-2024.
352. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school building programme at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; the stage of the process this school is at; when works on a permanent school building will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2886/23]
View answerMy Department progressed 8 Design & Build (D&B) projects (Lots 1 & 2) to construction in 2021, with a further 10 projects (Lots 3, 4 & 5) progressed to construction in Summer 2022. A further 10 projects (Lot 6) are due to proceed to tender shortly.
All of these projects are tendered to my Department’s current D&B Contractors Framework. It will be 2024 before the next scheduled bundle of projects (Lot 7) can be tendered to that framework and into late 2024 before further projects could proceed to tender.
In order to have projects delivered at the earliest possible opportunity, my Department is of the view that the intervening period can be utilised to bring a number of projects with planning permission, including the project for the school referred to by the Deputy, to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s project manager. This will ensure that such projects do not have to await capacity on the current framework to proceed to tender but rather can be progressed and actioned over that timeframe to tender outside of the D&B framework.
It is envisaged that this will also serve to broaden the range and number of Contractors to which such projects can be tendered than would hitherto have been possible within the Design & Build Framework. This forms part of my Department’s ongoing strategic approach to seek to widen the pool of Contractors tendering for school building projects.
My Department’s Project Manager will be tasked with appointing Design Teams to these projects from my Department’s newly established Frameworks of Consultants with the expectation that these projects could then proceed to tender in early to mid-2024.
353. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will roll out a pilot scheme for secondary level schools replicating the ‘Worryfree’ period poverty campaign being run by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2921/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government (PFG) includes the commitment to ‘provide a range of free, adequate, safe, and suitable period products in all educational publicly-funded settings (including schools, colleges and HEIs), to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty.’
The Government also took the decision in 2021 to support the Private Members’ Bill, the Free Provision of Period Products Bill, 2021 (Bill 4) which seeks to make period products freely available to all those who need them. It has also been agreed that the recommendations of the 2021 Discussion Paper on Period Poverty in Ireland will be taken into account in the development of the Bill.
To co-ordinate all of the work here, an inter-departmental group (IDG) led by the Department of Health has been established. My Department along with a number of other Departments including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) is participating in the work of the group.
The outcomes from the 'Worryfree' period poverty campaign, launched last year as a pilot initiative in 9 colleges across 6 Education and Training Boards will be shared by DFHERIS with the IDG and will inform the work of my Department to support and implement the PFG commitment to ensure no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty.
354. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of the progress and timelines for delivery of a new school accommodation for post-primary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2971/23]
View answerHoly Family Community School 91301D
The major building project for Holy Family Community School is advancing through Stage 3 of Architectural Planning – Tender Action, which includes for the appointment of a building contractor.
Griffeen Community College 76454S
The permanent school building project for Griffeen Community College has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
An application for planning permission for a 1,000 pupil post-primary school building, including 4 classrooms for children with special educational needs, was submitted to the relevant Local Authority in June 2021. The Grant of Planning decision was received from the Local Authority on 24th February 2022.
Lucan Community College 70080T
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 3 of Architectural Planning – Tender Action, which includes for the appointment of a building contractor.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the three projects above. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under my Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction, most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During January, my Department will be assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.
355. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of progress and the timelines for the delivery of new school accommodation for schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2972/23]
View answerScoil Chrónáin 19503H
My Department progressed 8 Design & Build (D&B) projects (Lots 1 & 2) to construction in 2021, with a further 10 projects (Lots 3, 4 & 5) progressed to construction in Summer 2022. A further 10 projects (Lot 6) are due to proceed to tender shortly.
All of these projects are tendered to my Department’s current D&B Contractors Framework of three main contractor consortia. It will be 2024 before the next scheduled bundle of projects (Lot 7) can be tendered to that framework and into late 2024 before further projects could proceed to tender.
In order to have projects delivered at the earliest possible opportunity, my Department is of the view that the intervening period can be utilised to bring a number of projects with planning permission, including the project for Scoil Chrónain, to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s project manager. This will ensure that such projects do not have to await capacity on the current framework to proceed to tender but rather can be progressed and actioned over that timeframe to tender outside of the D&B framework. It is envisaged that this will also serve to broaden the range and number of Contractors to which such projects can be tendered than would hitherto have been possible within the Design & Build Framework. This forms part of my Department’s ongoing strategic approach to seek to widen the pool of Contractors tendering for school building projects.
My Department’s Project Manager will be tasked with appointing Design Teams to these projects from my Department’s newly established Frameworks of Consultants with the expectation that these projects could then proceed to tender in early to mid 2024.
St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS, Lucan RN 19542R & 19676P
The joint major building project for St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.
ADAPT is an acronym which stands for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The Programme Manager has begun the tender process to appoint the Design Teams for projects in this Programme - (Consultant Architect, Civil Structural Engineer, Building Services Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and PSDP). The Project Manager is in contact with the school authorities in relation to the appointment of the Design Team, which is anticipated to be completed at end Quarter 1 of 2023.
Upon appointment, the Design Team will proceed to the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team will assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
Divine Mercy JNS 19865S & SNS RN 20187H
The joint major building project for Divine Mercy Jnr & Snr schools is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.
My Department met with both schools and their Design Team in December 2022 to discuss proposed changes to the school design, to include for the recently approved addition of a 2 Class SEN Base for both schools.
The Design Team have been requested to provide further reports for Department review. Once the reports are received, reviewed and agreement is reached on the proposed changes, the Design Team will proceed to prepare a revised Stage 2(b) Submission including a new Planning Permission application, and other statutory applications, along with a revised suite of Tender documents.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain & Gaelscoil na Camogie 19855P/ 19991A Clondalkin
The large scale capital project for the schools referred to by the Deputy are part of a joint campus project with a post-primary school. My Department authorised the Design Team to retender the project as the first tranche of tenders were deemed unviable. The Design Team applied for a new planning permission due to a change in the Planning Acts introduced by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in Sept 2021 which removed the option to extend a planning permission. The application for a new planning permission is progressing in parallel with the new tender process.
The Tender report was received by my Department and is currently being examined.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project for the schools to which the Deputy refers. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under my Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction, most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During January, my Department will be assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.
Rathcoole Educate Together National School 20549P
The permanent school building project for Rathcoole ETNS has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
The school and its patron body were advised by my Department in August 2021 that it would not be possible to proceed at that time with the proposed planning application for the school as South Dublin County Council had advised my Department of its intention to undertake a masterplan of the Rathcoole area, including the proposed school site. The Council has concluded the masterplanning exercise and following consultation with the Council, my Department intends to proceed with a planning application for the school on the existing Department-owned site.
A further pre-planning meeting with the Council was held on 30th June 2022 and the discussions from this meeting are informing the progression of the design and the preparation of the planning application for the school on its permanent site.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and their patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.
356. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the reason the stage 3 planning process for a school (details supplied) has not been completed; the current timeframe for completion of stage 3 planning and the commencement of construction of the new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2978/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
This school is part of ‘Project Nore’, and as the Deputy will be aware, the tender process for appointing a contractor for ‘Project Nore’ is currently underway. Following the completion of this tender process and a Departmental review of the Tender Assessment Report, approval for stage 4 construction will follow.
357. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education following the arrival of Ukrainian children to Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim, if she will prioritise school transport for three children to attend the nearby secondary school (details supplied) by providing a larger bus to meet the new needs of the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3008/23]
View answerThe Department of Education and Bus Éireann have a process to facilitate the provision of School Transport Scheme Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine.
For children residing with a host family or for children of Ukrainian families living in their own private accommodation, an application for school transport can be made via a link to a form on www.gov.ie/ukraine.
For families and children residing in accommodation centres (or similar), school principals may apply for transport for children attending their school who are residing in such accommodation. School principals should complete the information required on a form which is available on Gov.ie/Ukraine and return it to their local REALT coordinator.
Children will be accommodated on existing services where there is capacity. If there is no service or capacity, a grant can be offered to the family as appropriate.
Every effort is being made to ensure school transport services are up and running as they are required. However, given the ongoing movement and arrival of families, it may in some cases take some time to arrange services for families.
358. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the progress of the LMETB headquarters plans for Drogheda; if plans for the headquarters will be funded; if so, when; when the project is expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3118/23]
View answerThe project referred to by the deputy has been devolved for delivery to Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB).
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process. The position of both LMETB and the Department is that the completion of the building in question will facilitate the location of all headquarters staff.
At this early stage of the architectural planning process, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project.
359. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the status of the new percolation area required for a school (details supplied). [3153/23]
View answerI am pleased to advise the deputy that the school in question has received approval for a building project under the Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme, which has been devolved for delivery to the Board of Management for the school. The brief for this project provides for 1 x 121.5m2 ASD class & 1 x 80m2 Classroom and the project is currently at Stage 2b (Planning Stage) of architectural design.
A submission by the school in respect of the matter referred to by the deputy has raised some questions and is currently being reviewed by the Professional & Technical Team within the Department.
Following completion of this review an update will be issued by my Department to the Board of Management for the school.
360. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will assign staff within the payroll division of her Department to examine the anomaly whereby a small cohort of primary school teachers are not paid the honours allowance in their salary (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3155/23]
View answerMy Department implemented the outcome of the review of allowances and premium payments (September 2012) by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which included that certain allowances were no longer payable to many new public service entrants including new entrant teachers. Circular 8 of 2013 outlines the effect of this review on teachers and, in common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries was withdrawn from 1st February 2012 under the terms of the Circular.
Amendments to the existing allowances give rise to cost issues and can impact on other sectors or categories of public. Any such amendments, such as those you refer to in your question, can therefore only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions.
Following such engagement with the unions representing teachers, the value of the honours primary degree qualification allowance was added to the pay scale of all new entrant teachers with effect from 2018. The issue you raised was not included in that agreement.
In addition, as part of the existing national pay agreement, Building Momentum, a Sectoral Bargaining Fund was established to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims within the Exchequer funding limit in place. It was open to the union representing the primary sector to use this process to explore resolving this matter but this was not done.
