Written Answers Nos. 303-318
303. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael McNamara den Aire Oideachais an ndéanfaidh sí cur síos ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le bunú Gaelcholáiste neamhspleách in Inis, Co. an Chláir ón 23 Márta 2023 i leith, tráth a rinne sí cur síos ar an dul chun cinn go dtí an dáta sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [46690/23]
View answerMar chuid den straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, tá gealltanas tugtha ag mo Roinn deiseanna a chruthú chun oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a leathnú lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá sé seo déanta i gcomhthéacs na bhfógraí ar bhunú 47 scoil nua ó 2019, inar féidir aird ar leith a dhíriú ar bhunú Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, agus Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge mar chuid den phróiseas pátrúnachta do scoileanna nua.
Ní mór d’fhormhór na n-iarbhunscoileanna nua acmhainn rollaithe de 600 – 1,000 scoláire a bheith acu. Féadfaidh tairseach níos ísle de 400 dalta a bheith i gceist do Ghaelcholáistí, ag féachaint don mhalairt rogha aonad lán-Ghaeilge (Aonad) a bhunú i scoil atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán an Bhéarla. Is toradh féideartha é seo ón bpróiseas pátrúnachta do scoileanna nua a bunaítear chun freastal ar riachtanas déimeagrafach. Is féidir freisin le haon phátrún iar-bhunscoile dul i dteagmháil le mo Roinn chun bunú Aonaid i scoil atá ann cheana féin a fhiosrú.
Mar is eol don Teachta, is dócha, tá obair idir lámha sa Roinn anois maidir le polasaí nua a fhorbairt don oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá an polasaí ar oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht mar chuid de chreat iomlán na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 agus tá sé ag tógáil ar éachtaí an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017-2022. I measc phríomhchuspóirí an pholasaí tá polasaí soiléir a fhorbairt ar bhunú agus ar inbhuanaitheacht Aonaid/Sruthanna in iar-bhunscoileanna atá ann cheana féin agus atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán an Bhéarla chun an soláthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a neartú agus chun deiseanna nua a fhiosrú do bhunú Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí mar chuid den phróiseas pátrúnachta.
Cuireadh tús le comhairliúchán poiblí i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2022 chun bonn eolais a sholáthar d’fhorbairt an pholasaí nua seo. Chuimsigh sé seo ceistneoir ar líne, glao ar aighneachtaí scríofa, agus sraith fócasghrúpaí. Tá an t-eolas a bailíodh sa phróiseas comhairliúcháin á anailísiú ag institiúid taighde Sealbhú in OCBÁC. Eagraíodh cruinnithe déthaobhacha freisin idir an tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus príomhpháirtithe leasmhara.
Tá roinnt píosaí taighde a threoróidh forbairt an pholasaí freisin:
• Athbhreithniú ar thaighde náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta ar oideachas mionteanga (Sealbhú, OCBÁC)
• Taighde ar Aonaid agus Sruthanna trí mheán na Gaeilge i scoileanna atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán an Bhéarla (foireann taighdeoirí ó Choláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál agus Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan)
• Tuarascáil ar an soláthar reatha don oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht (An Roinn Oideachais). Dhá thuarascáil ilchodach ar thorthaí cigireachtaí ar cháilíocht an tsoláthair oideachais i nGaelscoileanna agus i nGaelcholáistí (An Roinn Oideachais).
Beidh toradh na hoibre thuasluaite fóirsteanach nuair a bheidh iarratais ar nós iad siúd a ndearna an Teachta tagairt dóibh á mbreithniú.
304. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 245 of 26 September 2023, if she will expedite an additional school accommodation application for a school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46694/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question for replacement of a prefab which currently accommodates 2 SET rooms, a sensory room and a preschool.
The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working to ensure that there is appropriate school accommodation in place to meet the school place needs of all children. In the first instance, this is focused on ensuring that the use of existing school accommodation capacity is fully optimised. Where additional capacity is required this can be provided by means of modular accommodation where accelerated delivery is required, or by means of traditional construction projects.
I can confirm that officials from my Department have made further contact with the school in question following a proposed brief being issued to the school on 26 September 2023. The school are considering further options regarding the delivery of accommodation proposed. My Department awaits a reply from the school in this regard.
305. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the reason that the Teaching Council of Ireland will no longer recognise BA Honours graduates from St. Nicholas Montessori, prohibiting them from registering under route 4 of the Teaching Council from December 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46696/23]
View answerThe Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The Council registers teachers under five routes of registration, the minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the regulations.
All initial teacher education (ITE) programmes in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. A degree in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning, while valuable, is not an accredited course nor does it meet the registration requirements under Route 4 Other of the 2016 Regulations (formerly Regulation 3 Montessori and Other Categories of the 2009 Regulations).
Registration under Route 3 (Further Education) of the 2016 Regulations is the route of registration available where an accredited qualification in the primary or post-primary sector is not held. Applicants who apply under this route must hold a degree qualification but are not initially required to hold a teacher education qualification (TEQ). Applicants who meet the degree qualification requirements and who have not completed an accredited TEQ are eligible for conditional registration for a period of three years in which time this requirement must be completed.
The St. Nicholas Montessori College degree in Montessori Education has long-standing recognition with the Department of Education (DE) and was subsequently amalgamated into the Council’s Registration Regulations under Route 4. Since the making of the 2016 Regulations it has been known that this is being phased out with a clear timeframe for same, which outlines that the qualification is only acceptable for registration under Route 4 Other where the application is made on or before 31 December 2023.
There are a number of Graduate and Post-graduate Diplomas in the field of Special Education which are approved by the Department of Education and can be used to add this sector to a teacher’s registration where the teacher also holds an accredited teacher education qualification. The Teaching Council works within Department policy and central to this policy is that all teachers teaching children with Special Educational Needs should be qualified Primary or Post-primary teachers in the first instance and may then apply for one of the DE recognised qualifications in Special Educational Needs as outlined in circular 0044/2019.
Route 4 of the 2016 Registration Regulations remains in place for overseas applicants with a qualification in Special Education Needs teaching which is deemed acceptable for the purposes of teaching in SEN settings on assessment by the Teaching Council. This Route of registration is recognised for the purposes of employment in Department of Education circular 0044/2019.
306. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the reason for her Department's decision not to approve accessibility modifications, including a ramp for wheelchair access to the PE hall and a wet room/shower facility, in the recent SEN room reconfiguration project at a school (details supplied), given the importance of promoting equality of access as stated in section 6 of the Education Act 1998 (c); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46703/23]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the provision of a Special Education Needs (SEN) class.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes. This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
Kerrigan Sheanan Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project. This consultant is leading the project through the various stages of planning process and construction.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this project and will continue working closely with the school authority and its project manager in order to ensure this project is completed as soon as possible. Upon review with the Design Team, in relation to accessibility modifications including ramp access/wet room I have to advise that such works do not form part of the Modular project brief. However, it is open to the school authority to apply to the Emergency Works Section within my Department for funding for such works. The Emergency Works Scheme ensures the availability of funding for urgent works to schools that need resources as a result of an emergency situation, or to cater for special needs pupils who have enrolled.
The School Authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of the existing project.
307. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the organisations (details supplied) from 2013 to 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46130/23]
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 current funding to sporting organisations across its various programmes, including the organisations mentioned by the Deputy.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to the funding it has allocated to the organisations. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
In relation to capital funding, the 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 benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. A list of all allocations under all recent rounds of the SCEP, including all allocations in respect of the organisations mentioned by the Deputy, is published on my Department's website at: - www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/.
308. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of current Fáilte Ireland board members who are directors or shareholders in companies that have received finance, grants and other supports from the State agency. [46478/23]
View answerThe matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to the agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
309. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide details of all agencies and bodies under the aegis of her Department; if a dedicated Oireachtas email address is available for each; if not, if she will direct that such a dedicated email address be established to facilitate more efficient communication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46553/23]
View answerA list of public bodies under the aegis of my Department and their Oireachtas contact details is provided below.
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Arts Council |
pqs@artscouncil.ie |
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Coimisiún na Meán |
info@cnam.ie |
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Chester Beatty |
docarroll@cbl.iecdukes@cbl.ie |
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Crawford Art Gallery |
director@crawfordartgallery.ienormacuddihy@crawfordartgallery.ie |
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Fáilte Ireland |
oireachtas@failteireland.ie |
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Foras Teanga (Foras na Gaeilge) |
socoinn@forasnagaeilge.ie |
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Foras Teanga (Ulster-Scots Agency) |
Icrozier@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk |
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Fís Éireann | Screen Ireland |
info@screenireland.ie |
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Irish Museum of Modern Art |
fintan.mcdonald@imma.ie |
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National Concert Hall |
robert.read@nch.ie Barry.Walsh@nch.ie |
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National Gallery of Ireland |
directorsoffice@ngi.ie |
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National Library of Ireland |
oireachtasqueries@nli.ie |
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National Museum of Ireland |
directorsoffice@museum.ie pq@museum.ie |
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RTÉ |
companysecretary@rte.ie |
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Sport Ireland |
oireachtas@sportireland.ie |
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TG4 |
Noramaire.ui.mhochain@tg4.ie |
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Tourism Ireland |
FNugent@tourismireland.com |
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Údarás na Gaeltachta |
bridie@udaras.ie |
310. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in the context of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, if she will provide a schedule of functions of her Department that have been devolved in full or in part, or are in the process of being devolved in full or in part; the date on which the devolutions commenced; and if she will indicate whether any function was returned to the Department subsequently. [46589/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that, in the context of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, no functions of my Department have been devolved and no functions are currently in the process of being devolved.
311. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding allocated per year through the Sport Capital Fund, over the past ten years; the amount allocated this year; the value and number of applications, per county this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46622/23]
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.
A list of all allocations made under the SCP/SCEP since 2000 is published on my Department's website at: -
www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/.
In addition, following the most recent rounds of the Programme, a Review has been published. These Reviews include, inter alia, statistical information on the breakdown of allocations. A Review of the last round, 2020, can be found at the following link: -
www.gov.ie/en/publication/84105-review-of-sports-capital-and-equipment-programme-2020/ .
The final grants under the 2020 round were announced on Tuesday 31 May 2022 and the total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.
With regard to future allocations, the latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications is now underway but it is clear that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications and it is likely that the total number will exceed the previous record 3,106 applications submitted under the last (2020) round.
Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published in the coming weeks. Simultaneously, I also plan to publish the full list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. Once these documents are published, the detailed assessment work can commence. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first with a view to announcing these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on the assessment of the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.
312. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if an increase in payment to RTÉ pensioners is under consideration; if she will indicate how long has elapsed since the last increase; and whether the process for assessing this issue can be accelerated. [46641/23]
View answerI previously considered and approved a 2% increase to pensions in payment for RTÉ in May 2022, which was implemented by the Trustees of the RTÉ Pension Scheme in August 2022.
The Trustees subsequently made an application, in September 2022, for a 2.5% increase to pensions in payment, backdated to 1 January 2022. I have evaluated this request following advice from NewERA and the matter is currently subject to further review and final decision by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
The Trustees of the RTÉ Pension scheme also made an application, in September 2023, for a 4.0% increase to pensions in payment, backdated to 1 January 2023. This request has been sent to NewERA for their evaluation and I am awaiting their response.
Requests for pension increases to be paid by the RTÉ Pension Scheme are made by the Trustees of the Scheme to my Department. The requests are subject to review by NewERA in the first instance, and are then submitted for my own consideration and recommendation. My recommendation then needs to be reviewed and approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in line with RTE Pension Scheme Rules. The above process is necessary to allow for a detailed and thorough consideration of the requests.
313. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a list of all sporting groups and clubs the Junior Minister for Sport (details supplied) met during their tenure in her Department, including the date of meetings, sporting organisation met, location of meetings and Government/public representatives present, in tabular form. [46689/23]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that a copy of Minister Jack Chambers' diary during his tenure in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media is available on the Department's website and details of any meetings he held with sporting organisations are available therein. His diary can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/6e364-ministers-diaries/
314. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost for 2023 and 2024 of delivering pay parity between section 10 staff. [46720/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of homeless services including the cost of, and number of places in emergency accommodation facilities are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis.
315. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason those on a widow’s pension, rather than a State pension, remain ineligible for the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46058/23]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme.
To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a minimum annual reckonable income. The Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021, with a number of amendments implemented from 1 February 2022. These included reducing the minimum reckonable income required from €15,000 to €12,500, facilitating older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, to buy their homes if they have the financial means to do so.
The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose. It ensures the scheme is sustainable and the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period. For these reasons, certain income is not considered when determining an applicant's reckonable income. This includes the Widow's, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) Pension which, for some recipients, is currently below the minimum reckonable income threshold.
Further changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda and I look forward to receiving proposals on them shortly.
316. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ scheme purchases in progress, completed and refused by local authority to date in 2023. [46145/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023 and these allocations are being kept under review.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by the Department. It is matter for each local authority to decide on appropriate acquisitions having regard to the arrangements for the scheme. Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and where it is not possible to purchase the property, the local authority will seek alternative supports, which may include support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock where possible.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 2 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. My Department does not hold the additional details requested.
317. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to respond to data in respect of housing adaptation grant waiting lists compiled by an organisation (details supplied); if, in his view, the €75 million allocated to housing adaption in Budget 2024 will be sufficient to clear existing waiting lists and meet projected demand for next year; the steps he is taking to reduce the waiting list of over 3,500 older people and people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46160/23]
View answer318. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the overdue review of the housing adaptation grants; the date on which this review will be published; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46161/23]
View answer340. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position on the review of the housing adaption, housing aid and mobility grants as administered by each local authority; when the review will be announced; if additional funding will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46623/23]
View answer345. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 283 and 286 of 10 October 2023, when it is anticipated that engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in respect of recommendations on the Housing Adaptation Grants Review report will be completed. [46658/23]
View answer348. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the review of the housing adaptation grants scheme administered by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46702/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 318, 340, 345 and 348 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes including assessment, approval and prioritisation is the responsibility of local authorities.
Exchequer funding of €66.5 million is available nationally for the grant scheme in 2023. As part of the annual budgetary process the Exchequer funding provision for 2024 has been increased by €8 million to a total of €75 million, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity and my Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. My Department encourages all local authorities to ensure all applications on hand are processed to the degree possible for final payment to ensure optimal spend on their annual allocation.
The details supplied relate to point in time information held by local authorities. This information does not account for the ongoing continuous processing of applications and therefore does not provide a comprehensive and up to date account of the existing numbers of applications awaiting assessment in local authorities.
My Department developed a new recoupment claim form which was implemented by local authorities on a phased basis throughout 2022. The new form captures data on the date a valid application is received, approved and paid by a local authority. This will allow the Department to calculate the average length of time that it will take a local authority to approve valid applications and issue grant payments over the 12-month period of 2023 taking account that local authorities submit recoupment claims in batches at various stages throughout the year. This approach will ensure that all local authorities are correctly represented in the resulting data, which will be available for publication in early 2024.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the grants scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. The review was informed by engagement with external stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Written submissions were also invited and considered as part of this process. Among the areas the review considered are the income thresholds (including the means test provisions) and grant limits, and the application and decision-making processes including the supplementary documentation required.
Following my consideration of the Review report, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the report, this engagement is ongoing at present and will conclude as soon as possible. I will publish the report once this engagement has concluded.
