Written Answers Nos. 337-352
337. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education the reason the capitation grants differ so much from primary school (€183) to second level school (€316); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29772/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc.
It is difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post-primary level.
In general, post-primary schools are larger than primary schools. They have specialist rooms such as laboratories, workshops etc. This leads to higher unit costs for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.
338. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if her Department can provide any form of funding, one-off or reoccurring, to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29779/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following.
My Department provides grant funding to state-recognised schools to ensure that all children, including children with special educational needs have access to an appropriate education. These resources are generally not allocated to bodies other than recognised schools.
My Department understands that the organisation referred to by the Deputy provides social and therapeutic supports to children and vulnerable adults. The provision of such supports is normally under the remit of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 SNAs. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
339. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking in response to concerns regarding a Leaving Certificate examination paper (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29839/23]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
340. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department is considering the full roll-out of mental health supports for schools in Ireland; if the establishment of mental-health supports on-site in schools is being considered, with 544,788 primary pupils (details supplied), which equates to €20 per pupil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29860/23]
View answerThe provision of child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a service that provides assessment and treatment for young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties. However, The Department of Education plays an important role in supporting the well-being and mental health of our young people. I recently announced a programme of counselling and mental health supports to be piloted in a number of primary schools from September 2023. The new programme will work to mitigate the mental health challenges which may be experienced by children in our schools.
The pilot project has two strands. Strand 1 comprises the provision of one-to-one counselling to support small numbers of children experiencing mild to moderate levels of emotional distress. All schools in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan and Tipperary will be included in the first strand of the pilot. The Department of Education will establish a county panel of pre-approved experienced counsellors to work in the selected schools for the duration of the pilot. Schools in the pilot will be allocated a number of blocks of up to eight sessions of counselling per child.
Details of Strand 2 will be announced shortly and this strand will see the establishment of a new in-school support which will strengthen whole school preventative approaches, including the provision of psycho-education support for parents and teachers.
This pilot is in addition to the existing supports for well-being and mental health in schools.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides 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 individual pupil casework where there is need. NEPS works closely with the HSE and its agencies to ensure those who may require the provision of therapy or counselling are referred on to the appropriate clinical services for intervention and support.
Psychologists from NEPS are facilitating post-primary schools to improve the Student Support Team process. Student Support Teams are the structure through which key well-being and well-being-related policies are implemented in post-primary schools.
NEPS has developed training for school staff on the promotion of well-being and resilience in schools which include upskilling school staff on the use and implementation of therapeutically-informed approaches in schools. These include trauma-informed approaches, approaches based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy, and attachment-aware approaches. The approaches outlined in the training are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in schools. The training will build the capability of school staff in both primary and post-primary settings, including for school leaders, teachers and SNAs.
NEPS provides training for school staff on the Friends for Life programmes to help reduce anxiety in children and also the Incredible Years Classroom Management System. NEPS has also launched an eLearning course - Responding to Critical Incidents in Schools. This course is aimed specifically at the school’s Critical Incident Management Team, but open to all interested staff.
341. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a breakdown of vote 33 across programmes A, B and D subheads, including both current and capital expenditure in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29145/23]
View answerDetails of 2022 and 2023 allocations across all programme subheads including A, B and D can be found in the published Revised Estimates Volume for 2023, available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2023 (pgs 163 - 172 refer).
Details of capital and current expenditure by my Department, and all Government Departments, are published by the Department of Finance on a monthly basis at www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/fd5ef4-the-fiscal-monitor/
Details pertaining to final outturn for 2022 are contained in my Department’s 2022 Annual Appropriation Account, which is currently being audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and will fall to be published by that Office in due course. Full details of 2023 outturn will similarly fall to be published in 2024.
342. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will detail the way in which Fáilte Ireland select influencers for use on its promotional campaigns; the due diligence process that is undertaken; and if payment issues post-campaign after all metrics are reviewed and KPIs achieved. [29239/23]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of March 28 last, when I outlined my Department's responsibilities in relation to matters such as promotional campaigns and other specific aspects regarding the operational activities of the agencies under my remit.
My Department's role within tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy and the tourism agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, deal with the implementation of this policy.
Fáilte Ireland, as the National Tourism Development Authority, develops, supports and promotes tourism at regional and county level within the State in line with the relevant tourism experience brands.
The specific matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.
Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
343. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media where the results of the National Swimming Strategy survey that was carried out in 2022 by the former Minister of State for Sport, the Gaeltacht and Defence can be accessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29259/23]
View answerWork on the first National Swimming Strategy continues apace, with the working group tasked with its development scheduled to hold its ninth meeting in early July. The working group is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from relevant National Governing Bodies for sport and stakeholders, specifically Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland (formerly CARA), Ireland Active and the Local Authorities.
Work on the analysis of the very large number of responses to last year’s Public Consultation process is now complete and a report detailing its findings will be made available in tandem with the Strategy, which I hope to be in a position to publish in Q3 of 2023.
344. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when details of the 2023 Sports Capital Programme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29291/23]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. The final allocations under the 2020 round were announced on 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. Details of all allocations can be found on the Department's website.
The priority in recent months has been to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage. This requires detailed, ongoing engagement with all grantees.
Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. This Review has now been published and is available on the Department’s website.
Among the recommendations contained in the published Review is a continued prioritisation of projects that share facilities with other sports and further enhanced investment in areas of disadvantage. The Review also identifies new areas for consideration including:
• an increase in thresholds for capital grants at both local and regional level
• rewarding projects which include adaptations for persons with disabilities through ring-fenced scores at assessment stage
• rewarding projects which incorporate climate action measures
• expanding the SCEP remit to include applications for upgrades to swimming pools, and
• prioritising applications from areas witnessing significant population growth.
Now that the Review has been published, I have asked my officials to draft the "Guide to Making an Application" for the 2023 round to reflect the recommendations in the Review and I hope to have this finalised shortly. Once completed, the Guide will be published on my Department's website and I will then announce the exact date on which the SCEP will open for applications.
345. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the financial assistance available for operating costs for community radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29372/23]
View answer346. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the financial assistance available for operating costs, and the programme of costs that may be available for community radio stations from her Department. [29402/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 together.
Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for 7% of net TV licence receipts to be made available to the Broadcasting Fund, which is administered by Coimisiún na Meán (formerly the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland).
The Fund supports the Sound and Vision Scheme and Archiving Scheme. The objectives of the Sound and Vision Scheme include developing local and community broadcasting, and the Act also makes further provision that An Coimisiún, in preparing a scheme, may have regard to the development needs of community broadcasters.
In this context, a new funding initiative was established in 2021 under the Sound and Vision Scheme with the purpose of supporting the development of the community broadcasting sector. The objective of this funding measure, the Social Benefit Fund, is to provide the social benefits as set out in the Social Benefit Framework for community broadcasters, published on the 19th of June 2020. This funding aims to facilitate better representation and diversity of local communities, communities of interest or of special interest in their respective community radio or TV station.
This active participation and representation assists in the creation of more diverse broadcast content, stronger community engagement and inclusiveness, and support for communities to develop a greater involvement in the production and dissemination of broadcast content through their engagement with community radio or TV. This initiative also provides an opportunity for the community broadcasting contractors to focus on building capacity to support the achievement of greater sustainability.
Community radio can avail of funding through the Community Services Programme (CSP) which gives financial support to community companies and co-operatives to help with the cost of hiring staff. This initiative is managed by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Affairs.
To date €1.5m was made available for two social benefit rounds which were awarded by Coimisiún na Meán/BAI in 2021 and 2023. Further supports, in which some operational funding is eligible, are also offered to the community sector through the open rounds of the Sound and Vision Scheme. In addition, a further community benefit round is expected to be announced by Coimisiún na Meán later this year.
Coimisiún na Meán is independent in relation to the discharge of its functions including the administration of funding under the Sound and Vision Scheme.
347. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she can verify whether any funding for the commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion was provided under the auspices of her Department; if she can provide information on which counties have received grant funding under this initiative; when this scheme was advertised; when applications closed; if there will be funding available to facilitate a commemorative event in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29409/23]
View answerMy primary focus is to lead the co-ordination of the commemorative programme for the final year of the Decade of Centenaries (2012-2023). I am also aware, however, of the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion this year and its significance for our shared history.
My officials have been considering how we can help and appropriately support plans to mark this anniversary in the context of my Department's support for commemorative activities and the budgetary resources available. I have approved a funding contribution of €75,000 to support Wexford County Council in developing specific initiatives as part of the Council's broader Rebellion 225 commemorative programme. My officials have also received proposals from Mayo and Longford County Councils and are liaising with these local authorities to explore how we may be able to support these plans.
348. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she last met the CEO of Screen Ireland; the issues that were discussed; and when she is next scheduled to meet the CEO. [29423/23]
View answerI met with the CEO of Screen Ireland on a Trade Mission to Los Angeles and San Diego in March 2023. The Trade Mission strengthened the working relationships between the Irish sector and the world’s largest film studios, streamers and production companies.
Officials of my Department engage with the CEO and the executive of Screen Ireland on a weekly basis.
While no formal meeting is currently scheduled with the CEO of Screen Ireland, I anticipate that a further meeting will take place in the coming months.
349. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline the implementation of circular 25/2016 by each State body under the aegis of her Department; and if she will provide, in tabular form, by State agency, the compliance with each of the standards and timelines set out in responding to Oireachtas Members’ queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29484/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:
|
BODY |
Compliant with Circular 25/2016 (Y/N) |
Notes |
|
Fáilte Ireland |
Y |
|
|
Arts Council |
Y |
|
|
Chester Beatty |
Y |
|
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
Y |
|
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) |
Y |
|
|
National Concert Hall |
Y |
|
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
Y |
|
|
National Library of Ireland |
Y* |
NLI is in the process of completing the final requirement for full compliance by putting in place a procedure for reporting compliance to the Minister, and publishing responses to queries from members of the Oireachtas. |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
Y* |
NMI is in the process of completing the final requirement for full compliance by setting up a dedicated email address in line with the requirements of the circular. |
|
Screen Ireland |
Y |
|
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Y* |
Údarás na Gaeltachta is in the process of completing the final requirement for full compliance by setting up a dedicated email address in line with the requirements of the circular. |
|
Sport Ireland |
Y |
|
|
Coimisiún na Meán |
Y |
|
|
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) |
Y |
|
|
Teilifís na Gaeilge (TG4) |
Y |
|
350. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if, given the 3,000-year historical and cultural impact of hurling, money will be provided to support the GAA in promoting the sport in counties where it is not the primary sport. [29646/23]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes the allocation of funding to sporting organisations, including the GAA, across its various programmes.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to its funding for the GAA. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
351. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will support the funding of Irish-language programmes within the GAA, given that the Irish language is to be promoted by the State and the GAA. [29647/23]
View answerMy Department directly funds several initiatives to support the use and learning of Irish within the GAA and recognises the strong connection between the GAA and the Irish language. Below is a list of relevant programmes funded by my Department:
- Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha: Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha is a scheme administered by the GAA and Glór na nGael, and funded by my Department since 2019, to support clubs all over the island to actively promote and use the Irish language. This support includes grants for Irish language events in clubs and an awards scheme to recognise the achievements of clubs for their work in promoting the Irish language. In 2022, 55 clubs were recognised for their efforts, and this demonstrates the excellent work of the GAA community in support of the language, with the assistance of my Department. It is expected that as many as 200 clubs will take part in the scheme in the coming years.
- Na Gaeil Óga: My Department has provided funding to the Irish-medium GAA Club, Na Gaeil Óga, in Dublin since 2021 to support them in implementing a games development and community participation plan. These initiatives support children and parents to learn and use Irish through the club, and also provide GAA coaching through Irish to several gaelscoileanna in the area. Na Gaeil Óga has grown significantly since in foundation in 2010 to a club with approximately thirty teams this year.
- Ciste Spreagtha Chonradh na Gaeilge: This support fund, administered by Conradh na Gaeilge, aims to encourage community groups inside and outside the Gaeltacht to organise Irish Language community events. This year, I approved a significant grant of €200,000 to support this programme, with 27 GAA clubs in 16 counties benefiting from this funding, particularly during Seachtain na Gaeilge.
- Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha: Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha is a programme administered by my Department in collaboration with the GAA’s Connacht Council since 2005 in the Galway and South Mayo (Tuar Mhic Éadaigh) Gaeltacht areas. In 2012 the scheme was extended to the Munster Gaeltacht and to the wider Mayo Gaeltacht in 2021. The objective of Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha is to further support participating Gaeltacht schools in providing language acquisition and enrichment opportunities to pupils. The measure is one of a suite of actions implemented by my Department in support of the language planning process and the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022.
Under the arrangements in place with the Connacht and Munster Councils, the Councils respectively bear the remaining 33% of the total cost of the programme. Coaches operating under the stewardship of both Councils respectively visit schools participating in the Scheme for Gaeltacht Education to provide football, hurling and handball sessions through the medium of Irish.
It is estimated that up to 87 schools will benefit from the programme over the next three years. Discussions are also underway with the GAA to provide this programme in Ulster.
The following funding has been approved under the scheme:
Connacht GAA Council
• Funding up to le €382,216 for the school years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25
• Munster GAA Council
• Funding up to €132,273 for the school years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25
352. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 630 of 13 June 2023, the number of applications received from League of Ireland clubs (male and female) in the past three rounds of the sports capital and equipment grants and the large-scale sports infrastructure fund which were unsuccessful, in tabular form; the names of the unsuccessful applicants; the reason the applications were unsuccessful; if there is a common reason for such unsuccessful applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29812/23]
View answerIn relation to the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP), all applications under the last three rounds of the SCEP were assessed in accordance with the published scoring criteria. A list of all allocations, including the three most recent rounds, is published on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/. Details of applications under the SCEP can also be found at www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/
The final grants under the latest round were announced on Tuesday 31 May last year and the total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. It is important to note that every valid capital application under the 2020 round, including all of those from soccer clubs, received a grant offer. Accordingly, the only reason a capital application was unsuccessful under the 2020 round was if it was deemed to be invalid under the terms and conditions of the SCEP.
With regard to the 2018 round of the SCEP, for local capital applications the top 75% by score got a grant offer while all of the highest scoring regional projects received 75% of the funding sought. With regard to the 2017 round, all valid local applications received a grant offer while, for regional applications, the top scoring 66% of applications received an allocation. Accordingly, under the last three rounds of the SCEP, the vast majority of valid applications received a grant offer and the minority that did not scored relatively poorly under the agreed scoring system.
After each of the last three rounds of the SCEP, a Review was published which sets out in more detail how the grants were assessed and allocations decided. These most recent Reviews can be found on the www.gov.ie website.
With regard to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), the first call for proposals closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Applications were accepted for design funding (Stream1) or construction funding (Stream 2). By the deadline, a total of 72 applications were submitted, 38 under Stream 1 and 34 for Stream 2. Full details of all applications are available at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/#applications-and-priorities. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals (7 Stream 1 and 26 Stream 2) Full details of all allocations are available at: www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/
The top scoring applications under each Stream were awarded grants. The scores were awarded based on factors such as the priority given to the project by the relevant NGB and/or local authority, the level of funding being provided by the project sponsor and how the project was likely to increase participation. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and it was not possible to award grants to all applicants.
