Written Answers Nos. 226-240
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which investment in indigenous job creation and job creation through foreign direct investment is likely to avail of innovation, technology and EU support over the next three years; the number of jobs likely to benefit from such supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31958/23]
View answerMy Department working with IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), continues to focus on promoting, encouraging and supporting investment from the FDI and indigenous sectors to support job creation.
Government support assists in creating and maintaining high-value jobs and develop business in Ireland. Currently, there are a variety of supports and grants available to all enterprises under a variety of headings, including innovation and technology as identified by the Deputy, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and digitalisation. Such grants are administered by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs under my Department's remit.
The White Paper on Enterprise, published in December last year, outlines the Government’s approach to enterprise policy for the period to 2030. Key targets within the White Paper include maintaining full employment and growing the number of export firms as well as increasing expenditure levels of foreign-owned firms here in Ireland. Advancing Ireland’s FDI and trade value proposition and strengthening the Irish-owned exporting sector are two of the seven priority objectives for enterprise policy identified in the White Paper.
IDA’s strategy “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth” 2021-2024 is aligned to the White Paper and is focused on identifying growth opportunities and partnering with existing clients on transformative investments in RD&I, talent development, sustainability and to increase the productivity of Irish operations and their workforce.
The strong annual results for 2022 reported by IDA Ireland illustrates the country’s continued attractiveness to FDI, with 242 investments won over the course of the year. The results also reaffirmed the scale of the impact of the multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Ireland today. In 2022 IDA reached a record number employed in their client companies totalling 301,475.
Enterprise Ireland works to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve leading positions in global markets. The agency will continue to help foster an environment that nurtures entrepreneurship, supports the sustainable growth of Irish-owned firms while increasing and diversifying our exports feeding directly in to job creation.
Enterprise Ireland companies now employ 218,178 people with 68% of these jobs outside Dublin. Enterprise Ireland client companies enjoyed strong employment growth in 2022 and the second highest increase in net jobs created by their client companies in a single year at 10,841. There was strong regional growth with 64% of new jobs created outside of Dublin.
The LEOs continue to help smaller prospective exporters to develop the required capacities to enter new markets and to increase job creation. In 2022, the LEOs supported companies who created 7,870 new jobs resulting in a net employment gain of 3,447 for the year. The LEOs client-companies now provide 37,863 jobs.
My Department continually engages with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the LEOs to ensure that the appropriate suites of support are in place to support our indigenous enterprises and our FDI companies in this time of transformation to enable them to continue to grow our employment.
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of new jobs created in the manufacturing sector in the past twelve months; his targets in this regard over the next year; the extent to which these jobs are likely to be spread throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31959/23]
View answerEmployment in the manufacturing sector in Ireland has increased from 280,500 jobs in Q1 2022 to 292,400 jobs in Q1 2023, an increase of 11,900 jobs (+4.2%) and all of these additional jobs were located outside Dublin.
Table 1: Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 - 89 years in NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector C (Manufacturing) and by NUTS3 regions, Q1 2022 and Q1 2023, 000s
|
'000 |
|||
|
Q1 2022 |
Q1 2023 |
Change Q1 2022 to Q1 2023 |
|
|
Border |
20.7 |
24.4 |
3.7 (17.9%) |
|
West |
37.9 |
39.7 |
1.8 (4.7%) |
|
Mid-West |
34.3 |
40.2 |
5.9 (17.2%) |
|
South-East |
25.4 |
28.1 |
2.7 (10.6%) |
|
South-West |
53.6 |
49.2 |
-4.4 (-8.2%) |
|
Dublin |
52.4 |
48.9 |
-3.5 (-6.7%) |
|
Mid-East |
36.3 |
42.7 |
6.4 (17.6%) |
|
Midland |
19.9 |
19.3 |
-0.6 (-3.0%) |
|
State |
280.5 |
292.4 |
11.9 (4.2%) |
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
The Irish manufacturing sector has performed strongly and has successfully weathered a number of shocks in recent years including Brexit, COVID-19, and the disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Irish exports continue to perform well with goods exports increasing 25.8% in 2022.
Building on this strong performance and improving Ireland’s competitiveness position is a key economic priority for Government. As a small, open economy, Ireland is particularly vulnerable to external shocks. Consequently, we continuously strive for improvement, so that we remain a highly competitive economy.
As part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan sets out the Government’s over-arching investment strategy and budget for the period 2021-2030. It is an ambitious plan with significant public investment across all sectors and regions of Ireland which will improve our resilience to future economic shocks.
As part of the National Development Plan, the Government has committed to an investment package of €165 billion over the years 2021-2030. In Budget 2023, the Government provided €12.4 billion for capital spending on vital infrastructure which will help reduce supply-side bottlenecks and boost the productive capacity of the economy. This will see continued growth in investment across housing, health, and transport, as well as a major step-up in climate related investment.
The recently published White Paper on Enterprise recognises in particular two major global transformations that are currently underway: the move towards a climate-neutral society by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions; and the digitalisation of the economy. Government will work to support businesses in the manufacturing and services sector in reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and improve their energy efficiency in the coming years through a range of initiatives, including grants and loans. While the transition to a net zero economy will not be easy, it also presents incredible opportunities for Ireland, specifically in the area of renewable energy production. Policy will also ensure Ireland is at the forefront of the digital manufacturing, managing and coordinating resources to deliver on the aspiration of the 2020 Industry 4.0 Strategy to become a world leading hub at the frontier of Advanced Manufacturing.
The changing global environment requires a flexible, agile approach, and our FDI policy will evolve to take advantage of the new opportunities this transformation will bring, whilst also providing continuity as an investment destination. We will ensure our domestic manufacturing and services sectors are supported in terms of resiliency and opportunity to grow and scale. We will focus our efforts on developing an integrated system wide approach to create an ecosystem that accelerates start-up growth and scaling, that includes access to finance; investments in R&D and innovation; access to skills; and an appropriate regulatory environment as well as a tax system that encourages investment in start-ups and scaling.
The steps taken by the Government in recent months along with the measures outlined in the Government’s National Development Plan and White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 means we can be optimistic about maintaining and improving the competitiveness of the Irish economy in the long term.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of new jobs created in the services sector in the past twelve months; his targets in this regard over the next year; the extent to which these jobs are likely to be spread throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31960/23]
View answerEmployment in the services sector in Ireland has increased from 1.920 million in Q1 2022 to 2.011 million in Q1 2023, an increase of 90,900 jobs (+4.7%) and 63,500 of these jobs were located outside Dublin.
Table 1: Number of employed persons (ILO) aged 15 - 89 years in NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector G-U (Services) and by NUTS3 regions, Q1 2022 and Q1 2023, 000s
|
|
|
'000 |
|
|
|
Q1 2022 |
Q1 2023 |
Change Q1 2022 to Q1 2023 |
|
Border |
137.1 |
144.0 |
+6.9 (+5.0%) |
|
West |
161.6 |
176.4 |
+14.8 (+9.2%) |
|
Mid-West |
162.3 |
167.2 |
+4.9 (+3.0%) |
|
South-East |
149.0 |
154.3 |
+5.3 (+3.6%) |
|
South-West |
264.9 |
274.2 |
+9.3 (+3.5%) |
|
Dublin |
658.8 |
686.2 |
+27.4 (+4.2%) |
|
Mid-East |
280.0 |
296.5 |
+16.5 (+5.9%) |
|
Midland |
106.4 |
112.3 |
+5.9 (+5.5%) |
|
State |
1,920.2 |
2,011.1 |
+90.9 (+4.7%) |
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
The Irish services sector has performed strongly and has successfully weathered a number of shocks in recent years including Brexit, COVID-19, and the disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Building on this strong performance and improving Ireland’s competitiveness position is a key economic priority for Government. As a small, open economy, Ireland is particularly vulnerable to external shocks. Consequently, we continuously strive for improvement, so that we remain a highly competitive economy.
As part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan sets out the Government’s over-arching investment strategy and budget for the period 2021-2030. It is an ambitious plan with significant public investment across all sectors and regions of Ireland which will improve our resilience to future economic shocks.
As part of the National Development Plan, the Government has committed to an investment package of €165 billion over the years 2021-2030. In Budget 2023, the Government provided €12.4 billion for capital spending on vital infrastructure which will help reduce supply-side bottlenecks and boost the productive capacity of the economy. This will see continued growth in investment across housing, health, and transport, as well as a major step-up in climate related investment.
The recently published White Paper on Enterprise recognises in particular two major global transformations that are currently underway: the move towards a climate-neutral society by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions; and the digitalisation of the economy. Government will work to support businesses in the manufacturing and services sector in reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and improve their energy efficiency in the coming years through a range of initiatives, including grants and loans.
The changing global environment requires a flexible, agile approach, and our FDI policy will evolve to take advantage of the new opportunities this transformation will bring, whilst also providing continuity as an investment destination. We will ensure our domestic manufacturing and services sectors are supported in terms of resiliency and opportunity to grow and scale. We will focus our efforts on developing an integrated system wide approach to create an ecosystem that accelerates start-up growth and scaling, that includes access to finance; investments in R&D and innovation; access to skills; and an appropriate regulatory environment as well as a tax system that encourages investment in start-ups and scaling.
The steps taken by the Government in recent months along with the measures outlined in the Government’s National Development Plan and White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 means we can be optimistic about maintaining and improving the competitiveness of the Irish economy in the long term.
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department can encourage the return of Irish immigrants currently based abroad, with a view to meeting workplace requirements for extra staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31961/23]
View answerMy Department is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and its Embassy network, as well as other Departments, to implement the Government’s Diaspora Strategy, Global Ireland- Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025, which was launched in late 2020. The effective coordination of the implementation of this strategy across Government will be carried out through the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, chaired by the Minister for the Diaspora, and Officials from my Department participate in this Committee. The Department of Foreign Affairs leads on the implementation of this strategy.
Global Ireland sets out a number of actions to strengthen our connections with diaspora communities and to harness the contribution from the diaspora to support our economy, including through promoting and facilitating the return of Irish emigrants.
The strategy recognises how returning emigrants bring with them skills and knowledge gained abroad that can help develop both the national and local economies. To support this, the Government also recognises the need to minimise the challenges faced by individuals and families returning to Ireland. The strategy commits to a number of actions to support the return of members of the diaspora.
These include monitoring barriers to return and adopting measures to remove them where possible; the negotiation of reciprocal agreements with countries that are home to significant Irish diaspora communities, such as double taxation and social security agreements; improvement of the provision of information on returning to Ireland and providing information for Irish citizens living overseas, including the dissemination of information on skills needs; and the expansion of mutual recognition and the portability of academic or professional qualifications earned overseas.
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department continue to support encourage and foster the creation of jobs through the indigenous sector, both in terms of traditional industry and innovative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31962/23]
View answerMy Department, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices remain committed to supporting, encouraging, and fostering job creation through the indigenous sector for both traditional industries and innovative proposals in driving economic growth and employment opportunities in Ireland.
In that regard, my Department’s White Paper on enterprise policy builds on the resilience and sustainability of our economy as we engage with decarbonisation and technological change and the opportunities these will bring. This policy also builds on the Ministerial-led SME and Entrepreneurship Implementation Group.
Enterprise Ireland’s own strategy and in alignment with our enterprise policy sets out key policy priorities to support the continued creation of high-quality jobs in every part of the country. With a strong focus on innovation, digitalisation, sustainability and regional development, we will continue to deliver sustainable employment and economic growth at national and regional level in order to ensure balanced regional development.
Enterprise Ireland will also work with regionally based partners through the Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committees, and related funding streams, to strengthen the enterprise ecosystem and infrastructure.
In rolling out implementation of the White Paper on Enterprise, Enterprise Ireland will drive increased enterprise collaboration, through cluster and network development, working in partnership with stakeholders across the country’s enterprise ecosystem, including the Local Authorities, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Regional Assemblies, and higher and further education providers.
In fostering further entrepreneurship, increased start-up activity across the country will be targeted and this will be done in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Offices. Enterprise Ireland will also put specific focus on scaling of companies, enabling Irish firms to grow faster and further in global markets, including through increased leadership capability.
In addition, in embracing digital as a key export growth enabler for Irish enterprise, my Department is delivering growth in domestic and global marketplaces through the Online Retail Scheme, implemented through Enterprise Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Offices offer a suite of productivity and competitiveness supports to assist businesses on their twin transitions of decarbonisation and digitalisation. These supports can lead to increased efficiencies and cost savings in business as they embark on their digital and green journeys.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which his plans to encourage an even dispersal of investment throughout rural Ireland are on target, given the necessity to achieve an evenly based balanced economy with equal opportunities throughout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31963/23]
View answerBalanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key policy for me and this Government, and is reaffirmed in the Department’s White Paper on Enterprise.
The Department contributes to this agenda in several ways.
The Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) are bottom-up plans which facilitate stakeholders to work collaboratively to identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and in response strengthen the regional enterprise ecosystem. Each REP is unique and is underpinned by an understanding of the local strengths and assets in each region. At a regional level, implementation of the REPs is overseen and monitored by a regional Steering Committee which is chaired by a senior level private sector businessperson. The Steering Committee includes the Local Authorities, the enterprise agencies, local enterprise offices, regional skills forum and education and training institutes in each region.
With a strong focus on innovation, digitalisation, sustainability and regional development, Enterprise Ireland continues to make a significant contribution to balanced regional development. I can report that according to the most recent data, over 218,000 people now work in Enterprise Ireland client companies, with 64% of new jobs growth occurring outside of Dublin, with the total EI supported jobs outside of Dublin now at 68%. There was employment growth in all regions, with the West and South-East regions experiencing the highest growth rates.
Regional development also remains a top priority for IDA Ireland. As part of IDA Ireland’s strategy, half of all investments to the end of 2024 are to go to regional locations outside Dublin. IDA Ireland won 242 investments in 2022 of which 52%, or 127 projects, went to regional locations. Employment in IDA client companies grew in every region of the country, with the Midlands region showing growth of 10.5% over the previous year. These record figures demonstrate the scale of the contribution of FDI to Ireland and the role inward investment continues to play in providing jobs and opportunity for people across this island.
With regard to the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), my Department allocates funding to the Enterprise Ireland LEO Centre of Excellence to provide for LEO grant assistance (Measure 1) and for management capability, training and development programmes (Measure 2). The LEO budget is dispersed to each of the 31 LEOs based on their Local Authority banding.
In addition to this, the White Paper on Enterprise specifically identifies the importance of addressing infrastructure gaps and enhancing the carrying capacity of the economy to sustain economic growth, competitiveness and productivity. Without such infrastructure, Ireland’s international reputation as a good place to do business will be significantly negatively impacted.
The National Development Plan provides the funding to develop Ireland’s infrastructure and the key now is to accelerate delivery and ensure that investment aligns with the needs of enterprise to support balanced economic development across Ireland and to maintain Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to do business. In March this year Minister Donohoe announced a number of actions aimed at enhancing project delivery for the NDP and my Department will continue to engage across Government to support delivery for enterprise.
232. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total advertising budget allocated by his Department and agencies in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, respectively; the funding provided directly to RTÉ in each year; if he has sought and secured an assurance that none of this funding was rebated via the RTÉ advertising barter account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32005/23]
View answerIn response to your question please see the table attached which sets out my Department’s allocation for its AD8 subhead for the past ten years.
During this period there was a €63,250 spend with RTÉ in 2021 through media buying agency Spark Foundry as part of a wider multi-platform campaign to promote the National Remote Work Strategy: Making Remote Work. The Department has received assurances from Spark Foundry that there was no use of an ‘advertising barter account’ to facilitate this spend.
The AD8 subhead covers the cost of advertising and publicity requirements of the Department across all media platforms. This incorporates both the Department’s statutory obligations and its remit to advertise and promote policies and initiatives. It also covers the cost of the Department’s media monitoring service, photography services, book purchases and staff subscriptions to online and hard copy resources which assist them in their work.
The advertising activity of the Agencies under my Department’s remit is an operational matter for them and I do not have any direct function in these matters.
233. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Joe McHugh den Aire Oideachais an dtabharfaidh sí cuntas ar an mbeartas teanga maidir le hiompar scoile mar éascaíocht do dhaltaí meánscoile a bhfuil cónaí orthu i limistéir Ghaeltachta agus atá ag iarraidh freastal ar an nGaelcholáiste is cóngaraí dóibh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31879/23]
View answerIs oibríocht shuntasach í an Scéim Iompar Scoile arna bhainistiú ag Bus Éireann thar ceann na Roinne Oideachais. Sa scoilbhliain reatha, iompraítear breis agus 149,000 leanbh, lena n-áirítear os cionn 18,000 leanbh a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu, go dtí bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna ar fud na tíre ar bhonn laethúil.
Tá méadú 21% ar thicéid a eisíodh do scoláirí incháilithe agus méadú 38% ar thicéid a eisíodh ar bhonn lamháltais sa scoilbhliain reatha 2022/23 i gcomparáid leis an scoilbhliain 2021/22.
Ina theannta sin, tá seirbhísí scéim iompar scoile á gcur ar fáil sa scoilbhliain reatha do bhreis agus 5,400 leanbh a tháinig go hÉirinn ón Úcráin.
Ba é costas iomlán na scéime in 2022 ná €338.9m.
Tá leanaí incháilithe le haghaidh iompair ag an mbunleibhéal más rud é go bhfuil cónaí orthu 3.2 ciliméadar ar a laghad ón scoil náisiúnta is gaire dóibh agus go bhfuil siad ag freastal ar an scoil sin, agus ar leibhéal na hiar-bhunscoile más rud é go bhfuil cónaí orthu 4.8 ciliméadar ar a laghad ón iar-bhunscoil/ionad oideachais is gaire dóibh agus go bhfuil siad ag freastal ar an iar-bhunscoil/ionad oideachais sin, de réir mar a chinneann an roinn/Bus Éireann, ag féachaint don éiteas agus don teanga.
Ina theannta sin, leanfar le Bearta Maolaithe Sealadacha ar leibhéal na hiar-bhunscoile don scoilbhliain 2023/2024 go dtí go gcríochnófar an t-athbhreithniú ar an Scéim Iompar Scoile. Ciallaíonn sé seo go gcuirtear socruithe iompair ar fáil do roinnt scoláirí iar-bhunscoile atá ag freastal ar an dara scoil is gaire dóibh, a rinne iarratas agus a chláraigh in am agus a bhfuil cónaí orthu níos mó ná 4.8km ón scoil is gaire dóibh.
Maidir le leanaí atá incháilithe ar iompar scoile agus a bhfuil an próiseas iarratais curtha i gcrích in am acu, déanfar soláthar dóibh ar sheirbhísí iompar scoile áit a mbíonn na seirbhísí sin i bhfeidhm.
Maidir le leanaí nach bhfuil incháilithe ar iompar scoile, ach a chríochnaigh an próiseas iarratais in am, déanfar iad a mheas le haghaidh suíochán spártha a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ann tar éis soláthar a dhéanamh do leanaí incháilithe; tagraítear do shuíocháin den sórt sin mar shuíocháin lamháltais.
Mar gheall ar nádúr an iompair lamháltais do leanaí neamh-incháilithe agus an tosaíocht áiteanna a sholáthar do leanaí incháilithe, d’fhéadfadh go mbeadh barraíocht éilimh ar an soláthar d’áiteanna lamháltais; sna cásanna seo leithdháilfidh Bus Éireann ticéid do shuíocháin spártha trí úsáid a bhaint as próiseas de rogha randamach.
Ar leibhéal na Bunscoile, is chuig an scoil is gaire atá an incháilitheacht d’iompar scoile, ag féachaint don éiteas agus don teanga.
Ar leibhéal na hIar-Bhunscoile, is chuig an ionad oideachais/scoil is gaire atá an incháilitheacht d’iompar scoile, faoi réir eisceachtaí teoranta. Tugann an scéim aird ar éiteas agus ar theanga sa mhéid is go ndéantar eisceachtaí ar incháilitheacht don scéim a mheas i gcás reiligiún mionlaigh agus na Gaeilge.
Ní féidir seirbhís iompar scoile nua a bhunú ach amháin nuair a bhíonn íosmhéid de dheichniúr daltaí incháilithe i gceantar tíreolaíoch ar leith. Tá sé seo freisin faoi réir iarratais agus íocaíochtaí a bheith faighte laistigh de na hamlínte ábhartha.
Dúnadh clárú ticéid le haghaidh Iompar Scoile i dtaca leis an scoilbhliain 2023/24 ar an 28 Aibreán 2023 agus ba é Dé hAoine 9 Meitheamh 2023 an spriocdháta le haghaidh na n-íocaíochta ar líne/cur isteach sonraí cárta leighis uile.
Ag leanúint ar aghaidh ón spriocdháta íocaíochta an 9 Meitheamh 2023, tá Bus Éireann anois ag tabhairt faoi athbhreithniú ar gach iarratas incháilithe ar sheirbhísí Iompar Scoile don Scoilbhliain 2023/24.
234. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education to outline the language policy with respect to transportation in order to facilitate secondary students living in Gaeltacht areas who wish to attend their closest gael coláiste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31880/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services have been provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In addition, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This means that transport arrangements are provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Under the terms of the scheme, routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
At Primary level, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school, having regard to ethos and language.
At Post Primary level, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest education centre/school subject to limited exceptions.
For the purposes of school transport provision, language relates to the Irish or English language. In practice this means that:
• Children who choose to attend their nearest all-Irish school/unit may be eligible for school transport to that school/unit, even if it is not their nearest school.
• Children who choose to attend their nearest all-English school/unit may be eligible for school transport to that school/unit, even if it is not their nearest school.
New School transport service may only be established where a minimum of ten eligible pupils exist in a distinct geographical area. This is also subject to applications and payments having been received within the relevant timelines.
Ticket registration for School Transport in respect of the 2023/24 school year closed on 28th April 2023 and the deadline for all on-line payments/submissions of medical card details was Friday 9th June 2023.
Following on from the payment deadline of 9th June 2023, Bus Éireann are now carrying out the review of all eligible applications for School Transport services for the 2023/24 School Year.
Any new service can only be established under the terms of the scheme as set out by my Department.
235. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education her plans for reducing class sizes in Ireland for 2024, given that class sizes in Ireland are significantly larger than the majority of other European countries.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31911/23]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and I am delighted that I have been able to introduce three successive PTR reductions in each of the last three budgets.
Budget 2023 provided an additional €588 million in funding for education. This significant increase built on recent budgets and further enhanced the investment in the primary and post-primary education system. The significant increased investment reflects the Government’s commitment to a quality, inclusive, school system with improved learning outcomes for every student.
For the current school year, the staffing schedule operates on a general average of 24 pupils to every 1 teacher which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level. More favourable ratios are implemented for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.
Budget 2023 has implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2023/24 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in September 2023.
In Budget 2021, I also introduced a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. The recent announcement in Budget 2023 will further reduce this retention schedule, by virtue of the one point improvement to the staffing schedule that helps to ensure better teacher retention in primary schools, while also ensuring that less pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher.
The numbers employed in our schools have now reached the highest ever level. Teacher numbers at primary level have increased by over 5,000 when comparing the 2017/18 school year with the current school year and this has led to a steady improvement in the pupil teacher ratio and average class size statistics during this period.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 15.3:1 to 13.7:1 at primary level when comparing the 2017/18 school year to the 2021/22 school year. This compares favourably with the OECD pupil teacher ratio which is 1:15.
In the same period the primary staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 24:1 for the current school year and will be 23:1 for the 2023/24 school year. Average class sizes in primary improved from 24.5 to 22.8 in the same period.
The 2023 Budget announcements will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes for the current school year, and statistics on this will be published in the next few weeks.
I am very conscious of the staffing schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools given their vital role in communities around the country. I am looking at how best to make further progress in reducing the primary teacher ratio in the context of the Programme for Government implementation.
236. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking to increase the number of Gaelscoileanna in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31847/23]
View answerAs part of the 20-Year Strategy for Irish 2010-2030, my Department is dedicated to creating opportunities to expand Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht.
This is proceeding in the context of the announcements in relation to the establishment of 47 new schools since 2019. The process to determine the patronage of these new schools pays particular attention to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí and Irish-medium Aonaid.
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 will arise.
Where demographic data indicate 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.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process.
Such analysis impacts on whether, at post-primary level, a school would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste, or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit. Where there is demand for an Irish-medium school, but not at the 600-1000 pupil level, a lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí. Alternatively, an Irish-medium unit (Aonad) may be established in an English-medium school.
In 2019, measures were announced to increase access to Irish-medium education as part of the patronage process for primary schools, including that five new primary schools being established from 2020 have been designated for Irish-medium education.
Outside of the patronage process for new schools, it is also possible for any post-primary school patron to contact my Department to explore the establishment of an Irish-medium unit in an existing post-primary school.
Work on the development of a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is now well underway in the Department. Included among the key objectives of the policy are developing a clear policy on the establishment and sustainability of Aonaid/Sruthanna (units/streams) in existing English-medium post-primary schools to strengthen Irish-medium education provision and exploring how opportunities for the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí can be increased as part of the patronage process.
The research currently being done on aonaid and sruthanna as part of this work, as well as the outcome of a post-primary Irish-medium satellite school pilot in Dundalk, will also provide useful information on possible models of provision at post-primary level.
A small number of primary schools have transitioned to Irish-medium. Schools can contact my Department to explore transitioning from English-medium to Irish-medium. The work on the development of the policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht provides an opportunity to consider how these transitions might be supported.
The Government is committed to supporting Irish-medium schools and has delivered 80 capital building projects for Irish-medium schools since 2000 and over 100 additional building projects are currently in the pipeline in respect of Irish-medium schools.
237. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the amount paid out to all consultancy firms for any services rendered; and the cost per contract for the year-to-date 2023, in tabular form [31685/23]
View answerInformation in relation to consultancy expenditure by my Department is compiled annually, in respect of the previous year, and published online at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills-expenditure-on-consultancy/
238. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education for an update on a new school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the timeframe for completion; and where the school will be situated. [31719/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the site identification and assessment exercise for the new Ériu Community College is ongoing. Potential site options have been identified, including a Minister-owned property.
The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time.
239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her Department will purchase a plot of land (details supplied) in Sallins, County Kildare, in order to future-proof plans to expand a school property. [31750/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of any applications from the school in question in relation to the purchase of land, or plans to extend the school building.
It is open to the school to apply for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
240. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a new outdoor classroom for a school (details supplied); if this can be considered under funding allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31777/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
It is open to the school to utilise its Minor Works Grant or to apply under the Summer Works Scheme for improvement works to external facilities.
The Minor Works Grant is the funding mechanism for schools to deal with small-scale improvement or maintenance works.
The Summer Works Scheme is the funding mechanism for dealing with more significant improvement works that are usually carried out during school holiday periods to minimise disruption to the operation of schools. The Summer Works Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis. It is envisaged at this stage that the Summer Works Scheme will be next opened for new applications later in 2023 for delivery of projects on a phased basis from 2024 onwards. Schools will be notified of the details of the Summer Works Scheme in due course.
