Written Answers Nos. 280-288
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which new school buildings are required throughout north Kildare, whether replacement or the building of new schools; the progress to date in this regard, and the schedule for the provision of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14596/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country, including North Kildare, will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the annual demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 90% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show decreasing enrolments for the period to 2025 compared with 2021, whereas some 88% of school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2028, with most expected to reach a peak in the next two or three years.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
The requirement for additional school places in North Kildare school planning areas is kept under on-going review. New schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.
My Department is progressing a number of building projects in North Kildare under the National Development Plan. This includes projects at primary and post primary schools, and includes provision for mainstream accommodation as well as for children with special educational needs. These projects include recently completed new school buildings for Maynooth Community College, Maynooth Post Primary School, Naas Community College and Maynooth ETNS. Additionally, a number of further new school buildings and extensions are at construction stage or planned, including for St. Farnan’s Post Primary School, Prosperous; Scoil Dara and Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock; Maynooth BNS; Celbridge Community School; Scoil Naomh Padraig, Celbridge; St. Raphael’s Special School, Celbridge; Leixlip ETNS; Gaelscoil Ruairí, Maynooth; Mercy Convent Primary School, Naas; Hewetson NS, Clane; St Patrick’s BNS, Clane; Enfield Community College and Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad.
My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
There were over 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 which included accelerated delivery of modular accommodation to support provision for 900 pupils with special education needs.
Circa. 300 school building projects continued in construction at the start of 2023 – the majority of which will be completed in 2023 / early 2024, this includes over 40 new school buildings. All of these projects are helping to support the operation of our schools, are delivered to the highest standards and are very energy efficient.
This strong level of delivery is a key driver of capital pressures in the Department. Over 70% of the NDP allocation for 2023 is needed to cover expenditure on contractual commitments on approximately 300 existing projects at construction carried forward from 2022.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision.
High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.
I want to reassure the Deputy and the relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered – it is a question of timing. I am well aware of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible. The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects. This is a key priority for me.
The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of the architectural process.
This also lists all school building projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current and future proposals for the replacement and improvement of a school (details supplied); the progress of the project in the past three years; when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14597/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the Board of Management of the school.
I can confirm that a Design Team was appointed by the school in March 2022. The Design Team is now preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design). Thereafter, it will ensure that the project obtains the necessary statutory planning permission, and will be responsible for developing the project such that it can be approved to progress to tender and construction stages in due course.
As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.
282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position in regard to the provision of a new school at Enfield, County Kildare; the progress on the project to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14598/23]
View answerThe permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.
It is intended that the school will move to suitable interim accommodation on the permanent site for the 2023/24 school year, pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the new school.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision.
High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.
I want to reassure the Deputy and the relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered – it is a question of timing. I am well aware of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible. The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects. This is a key priority for me.
We will be providing an update to individual schools when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform concludes. In tandem with this, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit will also be updating Patron Bodies and School Management Bodies at that stage.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school’s patron body in relation to the school’s interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the school.
283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current position in regard to the provision of a new school (details supplied); the progress on the project to date; when it is expected that work will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14599/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
The Design Team is currently preparing the Stage 2a report (developed design) for submission and the Department understands from KWETB that the report is nearing completion. It is a matter for KWETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible.
Once the Stage 2a submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, tender and construction stages will follow.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, KWETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress
284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current position in regard the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); if the permanency of the buildings has been appropriately determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14600/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.
I want to reassure the Deputy and the relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered – it is a question of timing. I am well aware of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible. The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects. This is a key priority for me.
We will be providing an update to individual schools when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform concludes. In tandem with this, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit will also be updating Patron Bodies and School Management Bodies at that stage. Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a permanent teaching post is likely to be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14612/23]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for each individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in a school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
286. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the way a person (details supplied) can adequately complete a disability allowance application. [14445/23]
View answer287. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualifying period for lump sums (details supplied). [14453/23]
View answerLast month, the Government announced a €1.2 billion package of measures to assist people with the cost of living. This package includes a range of measures, amounting to €470 million, to help social protection recipients from April to July. One of these measures is a €200 lump sum to be paid to all long-term social welfare recipients in April.
The Deputy is asking about the circumstances in which a person in receipt of the Back to Work Family Dividend will qualify for this €200 payment and, in particular, whether people must have been in receipt of the payment for a particular length of time in order to qualify.
Back to Work Family Dividend is a weekly payment to help people with children move from social welfare into work. It gives financial support to people with qualified children who are in or take up employment or self-employment and stop claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed, One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker's Transitional Payment.
The €200 payment will be made in the week beginning 17 April and it will issue to all recipients of the Back to Work Family Dividend in payment that week. This applies regardless of the length of time for which they have been in receipt of the payment because in order to qualify for Back to Work Family Dividend a person will already been in receipt of a long term payment. However, where a person is also in receipt of another payment, such as Working Family Payment, which also attracts the €200 payment, they will receive the €200 payment in respect of one scheme but not both.
Recipients of the Back to Work Family Dividend who have a child or children in respect of whom Child Benefit is payable will also qualify for the lump sum Child Benefit payment of €100 in respect of each such child in June.
I trust this clarifies the position.
288. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the way in which savings and assets are treated in means-test assessments, since the very stringent valuation rules risk becoming a deterrent to saving for a fruitful retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14461/23]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection provides income supports through a mixture of contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments.
Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse / partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares and other investments.
The assessment of capital reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of capital and property are in a position to use that capital or to realise the value of property to support themselves without having to rely solely on a means-tested welfare payment.
In this regard, for most social assistance schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
Disability Allowance and Carer’s Allowance have the highest capital disregard of all social assistance schemes; the first €50,000 of capital is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
Means tests in my Department are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years. I have also committed to a carrying out broad review of means testing this year which will include a review of how capital is assessed.
Any proposals to change the capital means assessment would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
