Written Answers Nos. 154-165
154. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any chief executive of a State/semi-State body or other public body under the aegis of his Department received any benefit from taxable benefits being paid on their behalf by the body/organisation for each of the years 2019 to date; if so, the amount and details, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40757/23]
View answerThere are a number of State Agencies that come within the remit of my Department. The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below according to each agency.
|
Year |
Agency |
For Chief Executives – Any benefit from taxable benefits being paid by the body/organisation |
|
|
Amount |
Details |
||
|
Enterprise Ireland |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
Health and Safety Authority |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
InterTrade Ireland |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
Corporate Enforcement Authority – Established July 2022 |
|||
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
Personal Injuries Assessment Board |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
IDA Ireland |
|||
|
2019 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2020 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2021 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2022 |
Nil |
N/a |
|
|
2023 |
Nil |
N/a |
155. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to addressing Ireland's appalling record of employment of people with disabilities by investing and developing a clear strategy to support people with disabilities to gain and retain employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40819/23]
View answer156. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to an investment in the development of an Irish assistive technologies ecosystem that supports the act of inclusion and participation of disabled people in all aspects of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40823/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together.
As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I consider that increasing the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the labour market represents a significant opportunity for employers and the enterprise sector.
The development of policy measures and initiatives to support disability rights and inclusion fall, primarily, under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Strategies under that Department include the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. The CES is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland. It is a cross-government approach, bringing together actions by Government Departments and Agencies to address the barriers and challenges to employment of persons with disabilities.
In terms of specific employment supports and grants provided by Government, my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, plays the lead role, supporting jobseekers, existing employees with disabilities, and private sector employers seeking to hire or retain a person with a disability. Under the Reasonable Accommodation Fund, the department can help employers and employees with a disability to take appropriate measures to help a person with a disability to access, improve or retain their employment by providing specific grant aid to employers and employees and disability awareness supports which offer funding to private sector employers to provide Disability Awareness Training for staff who work with a colleague who has a disability.
Agencies under the remit of my Department have a number of initiatives in place to help encourage employers to employ persons with disabilities.
Enterprise Ireland is focused on ensuring that their supports for entrepreneurs and enterprise are accessible to all, including people with disabilities. EI’s online content has been adapted to make information more accessible. EI continues to invest in accessible training content, available on eiLearn.ie and works in conjunction with stakeholders in the LEOs and third level colleges to develop new programmes and initiatives.
In 2022 Enterprise Ireland signed a partnership agreement with Open Doors to further develop awareness campaigns and programmes that will utilise success stories of self-employed and entrepreneur role models with a variety of disabilities. Additionally, the office infrastructure is designed, or has been adapted, to accommodate people with intellectual and physical disabilities. EI will have one to one mentor support in place for persons with intellectual disabilities by the start of 2024.
IDA Ireland have worked in partnership with Generation Ireland to launch a Pilot Programme designed to widen the talent pool and attract people from diverse backgrounds to avail of employment opportunities. Individual discussions to progress this offer are underway with IDA client companies. IDA aims to have a significant number of companies engaged with Generation Ireland and accessing the wider talent pool in place by 2025.
As part of our high-level engagement on the new National Disability Strategy my Department will continue to work with colleagues across Government and consider what further actions we and our Agencies can take to increase participation in the labour market by persons with a disability.
157. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if any chief executive of a State/semi-State body or other public body under the aegis of her Department received any benefit from taxable benefits being paid on their behalf by the body/organisation for each of the years 2019 to date; if so, the amount and details, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40756/23]
View answerMy officials have been in contact with the agencies under the remit of my Department in regard to the Deputy’s query.
I am advised that no CEO received benefits from taxable benefits being paid on their behalf.
158. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if the authentic certificate of leaving certificate examination can be given to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40782/23]
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.
159. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if two siblings (details supplied) in County Mayo can be accommodated on the return journey from school in view of the fact that there are four confirmed vacant seats on the bus for this specific journey and the fact that the children have always availed of school transport and the obvious need for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40796/23]
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.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2023/24 school year as they paid late and all existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity. Family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Ballina with regard to the availability of the afternoon service referred.
160. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the actions she is taking to assist with the shrinking play area at a school (details supplied); if she will review this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40797/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of a current application from the school in question, for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or 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.
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 the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has very recently received correspondence from the school in question regarding retrospective funding for the play area at the school. You will appreciate that officials in my Department will need to consider this correspondence carefully.
Officials in my Department will consider the correspondence received and will liaise with the school authority directly.
161. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the reason a hall at the school is inaccessible to the students attending a school (details supplied); if it will be made available to the students for use; and if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40800/23]
View answerMy Department has provided significant capital funding to provide refurbished accommodation to a former school building to cater for the recently established school referred to by the Deputy. The refurbishment works was provided in two phases and provided high quality facilities comprising a total of 8 classrooms and ancillary provision including Quiet Spaces, a multi-purpose sensory room and external play areas.
The hall in question is in the ownership of a third party and is not part of the accommodation available to the school.
162. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the reason the payment for after-school studies in DEIS schools in south County Kildare has to be paid in full, at approximately €180 per term per child, causing further financial stress on families, where no option for payment in instalments is available despite requests for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40807/23]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school on behalf of the Patron.
My Department provides a number of policies and programmes which are supportive of homework clubs for students at risk of educational disadvantage.
DEIS is the main policy initiative of the Department of Education to tackle educational disadvantage at school level. Schools in the DEIS Programme are required to develop and implement three-year improvement plans as a condition of their participation in DEIS. Targets are set under key themes, such as attendance, retention, progression, literacy and numeracy, partnership, transition, wellbeing and examination attainment (post-primary).
The Department spends €180m annually in supporting schools in the DEIS programme, of which, over €20m is allocated to schools by way of a DEIS grant.
The DEIS grant should be utilised to attain the targets set in the school's three year improvement plan across the DEIS themes. It is a matter for the Board of Management of each school to allocate DEIS grant funding so that it targets those students deemed most in need. This may include allocating a proportion of the DEIS grant funding towards the cost of setting up and running Homework Clubs.
It is a matter for the school authorities to decide on what additional charges, if any are applicable for these activities.
My Department also encourages schools to facilitate the opening of after-school facilities, wherever possible, for activities such as homework clubs. Decisions on the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner.
163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to ensuring a first-class education experience for learners with a disability through the provision of capital investment, funding for core costs and students’ extra-curricular activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40818/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
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).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2023, the spend by my department on special education has been 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.
For the first time ever there will be 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.
For 2023, the NCSE funding will see an increase of over 50% in staffing levels in the NCSE. This will provide for an additional 161 staff. This level of investment, of close to an additional €13m in the NCSE, will ensure that they can expand as required, to increase their capacity to deliver real and meaningful supports for children, families and schools who support children with special educational needs.
There has also been significant additional investment in the National Education and Psychological Service (NEPS) with a particular focus on supporting children with special educational needs in our special schools and classes. Their budget has been increased by €2.9 million, providing for an extra 54 professional, technical and support staff.
There are a range of additional supports designed to support children with special educational needs, including;
The school transport scheme for children with special education needs which provides free school transport to eligible children and can include the provision of additional transport assistance such as escorts or the provision of specific or individual transport arrangements.
The assistive technology scheme where funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex learning needs who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
To offer longitudinal support to children who are deaf or hard of hearing, the visiting teaching service under the NCSE is available. This service provides qualified teachers, who have particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss to support the child, the school and parents.
In addition, the home tuition scheme provides funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for;
(a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
(c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school.
It should be noted that home tuition is provided as an interim measure and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.
My department has also developed school building guidelines based on the principle of universal design to ensure that children and young people can access school buildings and attend school with their peers.
The preferred approach is that children are educated in school settings where children have access to fully qualified teachers, individualised education programmes, special needs assistants, school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with student peers.
These supports and modes of study, support the aim of my department in ensuring every child is allocated a suitable school placement appropriate to their needs.
I want to assure you that my department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
164. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education to consider the appeal by a school (details supplied) to retain a teaching position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40826/23]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing arrangements include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. These posts are approved provisionally pending confirmation of enrolment on 30th September. The school referred to by the Deputy has been allocated one of these posts.
The staffing process also contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including one aimed at schools that do not achieve the required enrolment to maintain their projected enrolment post. The final meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board, for the 2023/24 school year, will be held in October. Schools that submit an application to this meeting will be informed of the outcome of their appeal ahead of the Halloween break. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
165. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of reports that Tallaght Community National School has no working interconnected smoke alarms in the building; if she will ensure that immediate actions are taken to resolve this issue and if she will order and inspection to guarantee that all schools have adequate smoke alarms. [40839/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that while the relevant school authorities are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of each school, significant capital expenditure is made available by the Department via the Summer Works Scheme and Emergency Works Scheme to safeguard the future of schools by undertaking essential improvement works and addressing issues which have the potential to impact on health and safety. To date in 2023, over €60m in funding has been provided to schools under these schemes.
The ‘Guidelines on Managing Safety and Health in Post-Primary Schools’ and ‘Guidelines on Managing Safety, Health and Welfare in Primary Schools’ are management tools offering guidance and practical advice to schools. They assist in planning, organizing and managing a safe and healthy school environment for staff, pupils and visitors.
In addition, my Department’s planning and Building Unit is currently undertaking a comprehensive update of its Maintenance Manual for schools, which will provide detailed practical guidance on the implementation of a strong school maintenance regime. This will also guide schools on circumstances in which specialist expertise may be required and/or it may be necessary to make an application for support under the Department’s Emergency Works Scheme.
I wish to further advise that immediate actions are underway to resolve the issue at the school referred to by the Deputy as funding has been made available for a new fire alarm along with other electrical works through the EWS scheme and works are expected to commence shortly
