Written Answers Nos. 243-262
243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the degree to which the various forms of assistance available for first-time house buyers are upgrading satisfactorily without contributing to house price inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/23]
View answer244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which affordable housing can be made available in such a way as to ensure that those in need are not being subjected to market price inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3908/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
My Department has oversight of a number of supports under Pathway 1 of the Government's Housing For All strategy, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”.
I have introduced the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) to assist first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. The significant majority of the planned 36,000 affordable homes under Housing For All will be developed by Local Authorities on public land under this scheme. Affordable Purchase homes are advertised on the relevant Local Authority’s website in advance of their sale, together with eligibility requirements such as household income limits. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a significant discount. The assessment of eligibility and the level of support available is household-specific, so purchasers are only supported when they need this assistance to afford the home.
The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, employs a similar equity share model in order to support the purchase of new homes in the private market. Subject to eligibility criteria, it can provide funds up to 30% of the value of a newly constructed home. This scheme is intended to support up to 8,000 affordable purchases in the period out to 2026, and the State has committed funding of €200m, to be matched by the participating mortgage lenders. There are regional price ceilings, aligned to median prices for new homes purchased by first-time buyers, which restrict purchases. First Home provides only as much support as is necessary, on top of a standard mortgage, to purchase a home within these limits. The price ceilings were revised from 1 January 2023 in line with updated market data. These measures, together with the time- and budget-limited nature of the scheme, minimise any influence on house price inflation.
The Local Authority Home Loan commenced on 4 January 2022 and is a Government-backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used by first-time buyers for both for new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds, and also incorporates regional price ceilings. As with other supports, the Loan is only available where someone can demonstrate a need for it.
In all these schemes, the Department is mindful of the environment of increased delivery costs and house price inflation. At a global level, construction costs have increased substantially over the past 12 months, primarily driven by international factors such as the war in Ukraine, post-COVID supply chain issues, and Brexit. Both the First Home Scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan incorporate regional price ceilings based on market prices. This ensures the supports are targeted at purchases in the lower part of the price distribution of the first-time buyer market, delivering support where it is needed most and encouraging new supply at these price points.
245. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if an application for a passport card for a person (details supplied) will be accepted in view of the circumstances in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3767/23]
View answerThe loss or theft of passports and passport cards is considered very serious by the Passport Service as it compromises the safety and security of personal data and can result in fraudulent activity.
With regard to the case about which the Deputy has enquired, it is the policy of the Passport Service that if an applicant has lost more than three passport cards in a ten-year period, they cannot be issued a fourth card. Further, such persons cannot apply for a new passport card until 10 years from the date of issue of the first card that was lost or stolen.
The policy on lost or stolen passport cards is in place to protect the integrity of the Irish Passport and given the significant risk of fraud posed by frequent loss of valid passport cards, is not subject to amendment at this time.
246. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education if a child (details supplied) can be given an urgent appointment to undergo an assessment for dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3883/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to recognised primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework where there is need via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
Historically, a small number of Education Training Board (ETB) schools in the Dublin area have been supported by a psychological service provided by the ETB. I understand that the student to which the Deputy refers attends such a school.
I have asked officials in my Department to refer this matter to the ETB in question, to allow the ETB to follow up with the school directly.
247. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that young persons, especially in schools and colleges, are not exposed to indirect advertising by drinks companies; if she will ensure that an organisation (details supplied) is not permitted in secondary schools; if she will ensure that there is a prohibition on alcohol industry funded programmes in Irish secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3751/23]
View answerAs I have previously stated, it is not appropriate to use resources or materials produced or funded by the alcohol industry for education and awareness on alcohol in schools, or for teachers to attend, in their professional capacity, associated training which may be offered by organisations funded by the alcohol industry.
This is reflected in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, and Information Note 11/2022, Updates on the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle with particular reference to the school year 2022/23, which state that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry. This position has also been confirmed to principals of post-primary schools, in a communication issued by the Department in December. This letter was published on the Gov.ie website on the same day and is available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6ace6-letter-to-principals-alcohol-resources/
The letter has also reminded principals of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's (NCCA’s) SPHE Guidelines for Teachers, which encourages teachers to question the origin and funding of such resources as well as the evidence base used in their production. If, for example, resources are funded by parties with potential conflicts of interests, such as alcohol resources produced by Drinkaware, which is funded by the alcohol industry, then in line with the clear advice of the HSE they should not be used in schools. These guidelines are available on the NCCA’s online toolkit.
The communication issued to school principals in December also outlines the evidence-based resources on alcohol and drugs for schools developed by the HSE with the support of the Department of Education and the NCCA. The 'Know the Score' programme is a substance misuse programme published in 2019 for Transition Year or 5th year pupils. Know the Score can be found on HSE.ie, and training is available for teachers.
In addition to this, ‘Making Healthy Choices’ resources for Junior Cycle SPHE are being developed. Unit 1 is currently available on the NCCA’s online toolkit for SPHE to support teachers in addressing issues of alcohol, tobacco and drug use. Units 2 and 3 of this programme are due to be published this year.
248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will issue a brief formulation report in respect of a school project in Maynooth; and the reason for the delay in issuing same (details supplied). [3758/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has informed the school patron that the accommodation brief for the building project in question is being prepared and that my Department will be in further contact with the patron when this process has been completed.
249. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to the Programme for Government 2020 commitment, the status of the roll-out of free, adequate, safe and suitable period products in all educational publicly-funded settings, including schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3760/23]
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 has also taken the decision 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. In doing so, 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 implementation group, led by the Department of Health, has been established. My Department is represented on this group and is engaging with it to determine how best these commitments will be taken forward in the context of schools, to ensure no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty as committed in the Programme for Government.
250. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3766/23]
View answerThe School to which the deputy refers has been approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme 2022 for the reconfiguration of three mainstream classrooms to provide a two classroom SEN base.
The delivery of this project has been devolved to the School Authority; an approval letter issued to the school in this respect on September 2nd 2022.
A design team has been appointed to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning. The design team is currently preparing a Stage 1 report for submission to my Department for review.
251. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposed secondary school in a location (details supplied); when this school will be constructed given the recent population increase with the population to continue to grow over the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3774/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that a Framework Plan was developed by Fingal County Council in 2018 for the Ballymastone area of Donabate indicating a significant amount of residential land use zoning. This level of residential development would potentially produce a demand of new primary and post primary schools in the area. The proposed location of these potential new schools were identified and these lands have been zoned Community Infrastructure in the current Fingal County development plan. The requirement for these schools will be dependent on the development of the proposed residential lands, which will be kept under review.
252. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of the primary school in a location (details supplied); if, in light of the recent judicial review proceedings being lodged in respect of a planning application on this site, she will now commence the process of identifying another location for this much-needed school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3775/23]
View answerMy Department has reached agreement in principle for the acquisition of a 3.31 acre site in Donabate to permanently accommodate Gaelscoil na Mara. The acquisition of this site is conditional on the development of a large residential development that was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in November 2022. As the Deputy is aware, unfortunately judicial review proceedings have been lodged in respect of An Bord Pleanála’s decision. My Department now await for the outcome of this process.
253. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3792/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has informed the school patron that the accommodation brief for the building project in question is being prepared and that my Department will be in further contact with the patron when this process has been completed.
254. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that post-primary teachers have no secure way to switch jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3804/23]
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 the Department 's recruitment and appointment Circular 0031/2011 (post primary) which is available on my Department’s website under www.gov.ie , schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired.
There is no provision in this circular for a teacher to switch jobs. It is a matter for a teacher if they wish to apply for advertised teaching jobs in another school.
255. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that schools have to cancel junior cycle technology subjects in-service training due to the lack of substitute teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3805/23]
View answerThe Department of Education is engaging with education stakeholders about the difficulty being experienced by schools in accessing substitutes for teacher absences at this time. It is recognised that there are continuing pressures in this area.
As part of a broad range of measures being progressed to address immediate issues, the Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) support service has deferred some of its planned CPD for this period, which includes CPD aimed at teachers of Junior Cycle Graphics. The other Junior Cycle technology subjects CPD, will continue as planned up to Easter, including Junior Cycle Engineering and Wood Technology, as this CPD does not necessitate teacher substitution. Similarly JCT whole school training will also continue as it too does not necessitate teacher substitution.
JCT Graphics CPD roll-out was set to commence on 23rd January and finish on 15th March. JCT will instead provide this CPD for these Graphics teachers in the post-Easter period and they are currently working on devising a new schedule for its roll-out, a schedule that will ensure minimum disruption to schools, and the work of this cohort of teachers, during the last term.
256. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) can be accommodated in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3806/23]
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 school places in the Rathkeale area are anticipated to increase over the coming years. 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 individual school admissions, 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.Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.The Act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Some schools may apply a catchment area as one of their selection criteria. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools
257. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 696 of 18 January 2023, the counties in which the pilot scheme was deployed; and the dates that each scheme was deployed in each county. [3819/23]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.
The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties. The data requested by the Deputy is attached.
|
Carlow |
2019 |
||||
|
Cavan |
2018 |
||||
|
Clare |
2015 |
2016 |
2022 |
||
|
Cork |
2015 |
2016 |
2022 |
||
|
Donegal |
2013 |
2018 |
|||
|
Galway |
2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
2019 |
2021 |
|
Kerry |
2015 |
2016 |
|||
|
Kilkenny |
2019 |
||||
|
Laois |
2017 |
||||
|
Leitrim |
2013 |
2014 |
|||
|
Limerick |
2015 |
2016 |
|||
|
Longford |
2017 |
||||
|
Louth |
2018 |
||||
|
Mayo |
2013 |
2014 |
2022 |
||
|
Meath |
2018 |
||||
|
Monaghan |
2018 |
||||
|
Offaly |
2017 |
||||
|
Roscommon |
2013 |
2014 |
2018 |
2019 |
2021 |
|
Sligo |
2013 |
2014 |
|||
|
Tipperary |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
||
|
Waterford |
2015 |
2019 |
|||
|
Westmeath |
2017 |
||||
|
Wexford |
2019 |
||||
|
Wicklow |
2021 |
The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly for 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year will shortly be available on the Department's website.
Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.
258. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate the reasons a place on the school bus has not been approved in the case of a student (details supplied); if this route will be examined to determine if it is operating to maximum capacity; if further places on the bus can be provided for those in need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3820/23]
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.
Under the terms of the Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from their nearest Post Primary School as determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may be considered for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme and subject to the following conditions:
- an application is made by the deadline date
- there is an existing service in place
- there is spare capacity on the service
It is recognised that all pupils issued with tickets will not travel every morning and every evening. In addition, certain after school activities may also result in pupils not travelling on certain days.
Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle. For safety reasons, it is not possible to issue additional tickets over and above the seating capacity of the vehicle which could result in a potential overload situation arising and all pupils not being carried on the service.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they do not attend their nearest school therefore they do not meet the criteria as set out in the post primary school transport scheme.
Bus Éireann also advise that the existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and that there are no seats available. The child referred was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2022/23 school year. The current service is operating at full capacity, however, If a seat does become available, the family referred to by the Deputy will be contacted directly by their Local Bus Éireann office.
259. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the situation regarding the minor works grants for schools for the 2023-2024 school year; when schools can expect payment for this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3821/23]
View answerMy Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The funding provides good flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage and undertake works that support the operation of the school.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the Minor Works Grant for primary schools for the current school year was paid in December 2021 - in order to give schools a good lead in period.
The timeline for the payment of the Minor Works Grant, which involves expenditure of circa €30m, is currently being assessed by my Department having regard to the overall availability of financial resources and further clarity will be provided later in January.
260. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the current status of a school building project (details supplied); if the project will be expedited and the necessary funding provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3822/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
My Departments Professional and Technical staff are currently carrying out a technical assessment to determine if the special classes can be accommodated in the school building. On completion of the assessment process, a decision will be relayed directly to the school authorities.
261. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage in view of the urgency of providing additional permanent accommodation at this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3823/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
This application is under consideration by my officials. On completion of the assessment process a decision will be relayed directly to the school authorities.
262. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education in view of comments made by An Uachtaráin if she will review his Department's guidance on students receiving homework; if she plans to issue a circular on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3835/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question on the provision of homework. It would not be appropriate to comment on the office of the President.
The Department acknowledges that homework can play an important part in helping students to prepare for forthcoming classwork and in reinforcing work already covered during class time, however, it is a matter for each school, at local level, to arrive at its own homework policy which best serves the school community. In keeping with good practice, the process of drafting a homework policy should involve consultation with teachers, parents and of course the pupils themselves.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
