Wednesday, 15 Nov 2023

Written Answers Nos. 60-79

Pension Provisions

Questions (60)

Duncan Smith

Question:

60. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the issue of Government employment contracts for Garda, fire services, and prison officers, that mandate retirement at 60 years, with no supplementary pension, despite these professions previously receiving a supplementary old age pension until reaching the State pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50218/23]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

As of 1 January 2013, all new entrant public servants are members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, and this is reflected in their contracts of employment. The Single Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, established on 1 January 2013 under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The entitlements of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law and were enacted on 28 July 2012. It was designed as a key reform initiative aimed at securing the provision of affordable occupational pensions into the long term future in the public service.

Members of An Garda Síochána, firefighters, members of the Permanent Defence Force and Prison Officers are categorised as being members of the ‘Uniformed Accrual’ cohort of Single Scheme members. The uniformed grades have certain enhanced benefits that other members of the Single Scheme do not have, in recognition of their earlier retirement age, such as additional early payment of scheme benefits. This enables them to accrue more Single Scheme benefits over the expected shorter public service careers in these roles.

Once members of the ‘Uniformed Accrual’ cohort reach their normal retirement age, as provided for in Section 26 of the 2012 Act, they can retire at that earlier age and receive their occupational retirement benefits accrued at a higher rate, including their retirement lump-sum and the commencement of their pension benefit payments.

Government Policy is to facilitate longer active working lives, with the social welfare system continuing to provide a safety net for those who, for health or other reasons, are not in a position to work longer. The Single Scheme does not provide for a ‘Supplementary Pension’ to account for the fact that retirees cannot immediately access the State Pension (Contributory) between their retirement age and the State Retirement Age, as uniformed members also have the opportunity to work in other employment.

Pension Provisions

Questions (61)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

61. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50044/23]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

As the Deputy may be aware, I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service occupational pension schemes payable to retired public servants.

For all new entrants to the public service (including members of An Garda Síochána) on or after 6 April 1995 (the date of introduction of full social insurance for public servants who now pay Class A PRSI) and before 1 January 2013 (the date of introduction of the Single Public Service Pensions Scheme) pension payment comprises of three components:

1. A Public Service Occupational Pension payable by the public service employer;

2. Social Insurance benefit(s) payable, subject to eligibility, by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and;

3. Where the Social Insurance benefit payable does not equate to the full rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC), an occupational supplementary pension may be payable by the public service employer subject to an individual meeting eligibility criteria.

An occupational supplementary pension seeks to make up the difference between the occupational pension which would have been payable had that pension not been integrated, and the occupational pension in payment when combined with any Social Insurance Benefits in payment. The payment of an occupational supplementary pension is not automatic and is subject to an individual meeting the following criteria:

• The retired public servant is not in paid employment;

• The retired public servant, due to no fault of their own, fails to qualify for Social Insurance benefit(s) or qualifies for a benefit at less that the value of the SPC; and

• The retired public servant must have reached minimum pension age or retired on grounds of ill-health.

In relation to the first condition above, any paid employment would exclude a retired public servant from the payment of the occupational supplementary pension in full - see below.

The second condition is important to ensure no duplication of payments from public funds. To verify this condition, prior to payment of the Occupational Supplementary Pension, a retired public servant must engage with the DSP and obtain proof that they have exhausted any relevant benefits for which they may be eligible under the social insurance system. The rules surrounding qualifying for a Social Insurance benefit are a matter for the DSP.

Where an individual in receipt of an occupational supplementary pension takes up employment, for example, for one day, the supplementary pension would cease for that one day only and will be payable for the other 4 working days in the week, similar to how an entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit is treated. Therefore, taking up paid employment for one day in the week/year would not cause an occupational supplementary pension to cease for the whole year. The occupational supplementary pension would not be payable for that one day of paid employment. My officials have confirmed this policy with the Department of Justice. A pro-rated occupational supplementary pension is based on number of days during which the pensioner is not employed, rather than monetary amount earned, e.g. if an individual in receipt of a occupational supplementary pension takes up employment for 1 day a week, the occupational supplementary pension would be payable at 80% (i.e. 4/5th ), rather than ceasing in its entirety. The onus is on the individual to notify their pension paying authority should there be any change in their employment status.

It should be noted that no Interdepartmental Working Group has been established to examine this matter, rather my officials are engaging with the relevant stakeholders in order to progress the matter. My Department is aware that there are some issues concerning the procedures for qualifying for the payment of an Occupational Supplementary Pension and we are liaising with the DSP and other key stakeholders to review the processes involved and establish if a more efficient and streamlined approach is possible.

Office of Public Works

Questions (62)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

62. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the OPW heritage sites that currently have a restaurant/cafe service onsite; the number of these restaurants/cafés that are staffed by OPW; and the number of these restaurants/cafés that are staffed, by external agency, in tabular form. [50078/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)

As requested, please find attached in tabular form, details of the OPW heritage sites that currently have a restaurant / café (s) service onsite, those that are staffed by OPW or otherwise.

Additionally, I have included details of sites that are currently closed and closed for the season.

OPW heritage sites

Flood Risk Management

Questions (63)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

63. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the planned flood gate in Portumna; the timeline for its installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50126/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (Deputy Patrick O'Donovan)

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030 (NDP).

To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion.

The proposed project for Portumna is not in the first tranch of projects to be progressed as part of the national programme of schemes. The proposed flood relief scheme at Portumna which will include flood gates will protect 22 properties when completed.

The OPW, working closely with the Local Authority, at all times strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay within the resources, including the specialised engineering resources, available to it.

Once consultants are appointed to progress this scheme, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the scheme.

Regional Development

Questions (64)

David Stanton

Question:

64. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, his Department has to implement the recommendations from the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report pertaining to his Department's policy responsibilities; if similar recommendations are being considered for Cork and Bantry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50223/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

I welcome the ambition set out by the independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce in their Final Report. Government has committed to examining the Taskforce’s Report in detail. Among its recommendations, the Taskforce proposed that my Department coordinate the Government response to their action plan. My officials have been engaging across Government and State Agencies on this with the intention to publish an implementation update by the end of the year.  It should be noted, however, that several national policy developments recommended by the Taskforce have already been actioned by Government, including the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), the publication of a National Hydrogen Strategy and an Electricity Interconnection Policy, amongst others.

I particularly welcome the Taskforce’s proposal to develop an Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind. My Department has established a dedicated Unit tasked with delivering on this objective recognising the vast potential the industry has for Ireland. My officials are leading on extensive consultations across Government and industry to develop the Strategy, and the intention is to publish a Strategic Roadmap in the first half of 2024. This Strategy will be an iterative piece of policy development which will, over time, capture many of the areas of industrial development that the Taskforce make recommendations on.

Enterprise development and sustainable local job creation across all regions is a key policy priority of this Government, and with that in mind, my Department last year launched nine Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) to 2024 – including a plan for the South West, covering counties Cork and Kerry. The REPs are an integral part of Ireland’s enterprise policy, aimed at driving economic growth and sustaining better standards of living throughout Ireland. These are bottom-up plans, developed by regional stakeholders and are overseen by a Steering Committee comprised of regional stakeholders and chaired by a senior level private sector businessperson.  My Department has secured €145m co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund to support initiatives aligned with with the REPs through the new Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Scheme launched in October.

The REPs provide an effective forum for facilitating regional stakeholder collaboration and play a central role in advancing the economic development potential unique to each respective region. Recognising this, I recently wrote to the Chairs of all nine REPs on the regional economic development opportunities presented by offshore wind energy. I have asked each REP to continue using the unique REP structures to facilitate collaboration between ports, local authorities, industry and enterprise agencies alongside the Higher Education and Training Institutes in realising the opportunities presented by the development of offshore wind energy.

I understand that the South-West REP, which includes Co. Cork, is considering how that plan can be enhanced to deliver offshore wind actions for the Region and my Department continues to facilitate the South-West and all the REPs in responding to this significant opportunity.

Small and Medium Enterprises

Questions (65)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

65. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he would consider additional mitigation measures to ensure that small and medium sized business are able to absorb some of the additional costs that they have recently faced, e.g. increased wage bills, overheads and so on. [50062/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

It is understandable that SMEs are concerned about the rising costs they are encountering at the moment. The impact of rising prices is not unique to Ireland, but an issue facing all major economies around the world as the effects of the pandemic unwind with the rapid resumption of economic activity, and more recently the geopolitical uncertainty following the invasion of Ukraine.

Inflation in Ireland – although still elevated at 5.1 per cent in October – is generally declining and is down from 6.4 per cent in the 12 months to September 2023. In its most recent quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank of Ireland have forecasted inflation to fall to 3.2 and 2.3 per cent in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

The Government has provided significant support to business, including SMEs, throughout this period of rising costs and has been proactive in limiting the fallout from higher rates of inflation in input costs and prices. It is, however, not possible to insulate all businesses from the full impact of rising costs.

Prior to Budget 2024 a total of €12 billion – 4½ per cent of national income – was provided in direct relief to absorb some of the impact and ease the burden of inflation on households and businesses. The main programme introduced by Government to alleviate cost pressures for small business was the €1.3 billion Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS).

Budget 2024 also contained a number of additional measures which will support businesses facing increased costs. These include:

• The 9% VAT reduction for gas and electricity is being extended for an additional 12 months, until 31st October 2024;

• The temporary excise rate reductions applying to auto diesel, petrol and marked gas oil which were due to expire on 31st October 2023 are being extended until 31st March 2024;

• An increase in the limit on the amount that an investor can claim relief on under the Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme, to €500,000;

• An increase in VAT registration thresholds for SMEs to €40,000 for services and €80,000 for goods;

• Reduced Capital Gains Tax rate of 16% for Angel Investors in innovative SMEs, on gains of up to €3 million;

• An increase in the R&D tax credit from 25% to 30%, as well as increasing the first-year upfront payment from €25,000 to €50,000, which will be of particular benefit to SMEs;

• The commencement of a range of amendments to the Key Employee Engagement Programme for the attraction and retention of staff.

The Increased Cost of Business Grant (ICOB) was also announced as part of Budget 2024 and will be targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. Firms who do not have a rateable premises are not within the scope of this scheme. It is important to be clear that this scheme is a once-off grant aid provision and not a commercial rates waiver. It will have no bearing on the commercial rates paid by firms. The grant is intended to aid firms but is not intended to directly compensate for all increases in costs for every business.

In line with a recommendation from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council in its report Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2022 there is currently an assessment being undertaken by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection which will examine the cumulative impact of measures including Pension Auto-Enrolment, Parent’s Leave and Benefit, Statutory Sick Pay, Additional Public Holiday, Living Wage, and Remote Working. The report is due for publication later in Q4 2023 and will inform public policy in this area.

The Government is continuing to monitor the situation, however no new measures are currently under consideration beyond what has already been announced.

State Bodies

Questions (66)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

66. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant full-time staff, by grade, currently in the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court; the estimated full-year cost of filling each of these vacancies; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [50077/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The tables below set out the current vacancies in the Workplace Relations Commission (Table 1) and the Labour Court (Table 2) broken down by number, role/grade and the estimated full-year cost of filling each post:

Table 1: Labour Relations Commission

Number of vacancies	Role/Grade	Estimated full-year cost of filling the post
1	Director General	€202.066.00
1	Adjudication Officer (Assistant Principal Equivalent)	€95,174.51
1	Inspector Team Manager (Higher Executive Officer equivalent) + allowance	€77,376.51
2	Industrial Relations Officer (Higher Executive Officer equivalent) + allowance	€161,538.14
5	Inspector (Executive Officer Equivalent) + allowance	€302,842.70
1	Executive Officer (General)	€51,113.54
7	Clerical Officer (General)	€280,057.12

Regarding time frames for filling these posts, arrangements are currently underway to fill the Director General vacancy in the Workplace Relations Commission following a competitive process run by the Public Appointments Service on behalf on my Department.

With regards to the other vacancies in the Workplace Relations Commission, my Department is working closely with the Public Appointments Service to have them filled as soon as possible.

Table 2: Labour Court

Number of vacancies	Role/Grade	Estimated full-year cost of filling the post
2	Labour Court Secretary (Executive Officer equivalent)	€102,227.08

The filling of the two vacancies in the Labour Court will be reviewed following the completion of the recent upgrade of their ICT system.

Small and Medium Enterprises

Questions (67)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what plans or strategies he has to support the SMEs of Ireland to prevent hours from being cut, job layoffs, or businesses shutting down as a result of the rising costs of doing business, including as a result of extra costs from measures introduced by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50228/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

It is understandable that businesses are concerned about the impact of rising costs.

The Government has provided significant support to business throughout the period of increasing overheads and has been proactive in limiting the fallout from higher rates of inflation in input costs and prices. However, it is not possible to insulate every business from the total impact of these costs.

Inflation in Ireland – although still elevated at 5.1 per cent in October – is generally declining and is down from 6.4 per cent in the 12 months to September 2023. In its most recent quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank of Ireland have forecasted inflation to fall to 3.2 and 2.3 per cent in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Over the two-year period prior to Budget 2024 a total of €12 billion – 4½ per cent of national income – was provided in cost of living and doing business supports, comprising a mix of permanent and one-off measures, to absorb some of the impact and ease the burden of inflation on households and businesses. The main programme introduced by Government to alleviate cost pressures for small business was the €1.3 billion Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). Budget 2024 contained a number of measures which will support businesses facing increased costs of doing business.

• The 9% VAT reduction for gas and electricity is being extended for an additional 12 months, until 31st October 2024;

• The temporary excise rate reductions applying to auto diesel, petrol and marked gas oil which were due to expire on 31st October 2023 are being extended until 31st March 2024;

• An increase in the limit on the amount that an investor can claim relief on under the Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme, to €500,000;

• An increase in VAT registration thresholds for SMEs to €40,000 for services and €80,000 for goods;

• Reduced Capital Gains Tax rate of 16% for Angel Investors in innovative SMEs, on gains of up to €3 million;

• An increase in the R&D tax credit from 25% to 30%, as well as increasing the first-year upfront payment from €25,000 to €50,000, which will be of particular benefit to SMEs;

• The commencement of a range of amendments to the Key Employee Engagement Programme for the attraction and retention of staff.

The Increased Cost of Business Grant (ICOB) was announced as part of Budget 2024 and will be targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. Firms who do not have a rateable premises are not within the scope of this scheme. It is important to be clear that this scheme is a once-off grant aid provision and not a commercial rates waiver. It will have no bearing on the commercial rates paid by firms. The grant is intended to aid firms but is not intended to directly compensate for increases in costs for every business.

In line with a recommendation from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council in its report Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2022 there is currently an assessment being undertaken by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection which will examine the cumulative impact of measures including Pension Auto-Enrolment, Parent’s Leave and Benefit, Statutory Sick Pay, Additional Public Holiday, Living Wage, Remote Working. The report is due for publication later in Q4 2023 and will inform public policy in this area. The Government is continuing to monitor the situation, however no new measures are currently under consideration beyond what has already been announced.

The Government’s approach to enterprise policy continues to be guided by the priorities set out in the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 – published in December last year. The White Paper aims to ensure that Irish-based enterprises can succeed internationally, through a focus on innovation and productivity. To achieve the vision set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, across Government we are focused on seven priority enterprise policy objectives:

• integrating decarbonisation and net zero commitments;

• placing digital transformation at the heart of enterprise policy;

• advancing Ireland’s FDI and trade value proposition;

• strengthening the Irish-owned exporting sector;

• enabling locally trading sectors to thrive;

• stepping up enterprise innovation; and

• building on Ireland`s existing strengths and opportunities, through a clustering approach.

Wider supports for SME`s and Entrepreneurs set out in the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 include; supporting firms to decarbonise and providing fiscal support for firms in the green and digital sectors; improving access to finance for start-ups and scale-ups; increasing the number of first time exporters; increasing productivity growth in domestic sectors; expanding programmatic supports to capture additional SME`s/Entrepreneurs; enhanced assistance for HPSU`s; and reducing the regulatory burden on SME`s/Entrepreneurs.

The White Paper also includes an examination of the key components of the competitive enterprise environment including cost of doing business, alongside infrastructure, skills and talent, access to finance, taxation and regulation. The first Implementation Plan for the White Paper on Enterprise was published in May of this year, and identifies a portfolio of 40 new and ongoing initiatives and projects across the seven priority objectives set out in the White paper. The first update report detailing progress made across Government on these initiatives and projects is due to be published shortly.

Industrial Development

Questions (68)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

68. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the masterplan for the IDA land bank in Killally, Dundalk; when he expects to see progress on this project and the long-term objectives of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50264/23]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Regional development is at the centre of IDA Ireland's strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainability 2021-2024 with IDA Ireland committed to the pursuit of balanced, compact regional development with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. The timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of multinational companies remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be a key differentiator in winning FDI projects. IDA’s regional property programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office clients.

In June 2021, IDA Ireland acquired two landbanks in Co Louth. These land acquisitions, with a combined total of c.157 acres are situated in Drogheda and in Dundalk and form part of IDA’s long term strategic plan to position Louth and the wider region to compete for FDI investment. IDA Ireland has also recently delivered an Advanced Office Solution on their Finnabair Business Park and an Advanced Building Solution at Mullagharlin Science & Technology Park in Dundalk. The Agency also plans to commence the delivery of an Advanced Building Solution in Drogheda as part of the current strategy, 2021-2024.

The IDA landbank at Killally, Dundalk is part of a strategic acquisition for IDA as a long-term property solution to support future FDI and EI investments. The IDA is currently reviewing its overall strategy for development of these lands in line with potential longer term requirements for FDI to ensure maximum flexibility in the development of the landbank, aligned to this and future strategies.

The FDI performance in the Mid-East Region, which comprises counties Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, has been strong over the past five years with employment growing among IDA clients within the Engineering & Industrial Technologies, Medical Technologies, Technology, International Financial Services and Life Sciences sectors.

There are currently 113 IDA Ireland client companies in the Mid-East Region employing 21,861 people directly with an additional 17,489 indirect jobs being supported. IDA Ireland client employment in the region grew by 13% in 2022 with an additional 933 net jobs created. County Louth is home to 36 IDA Ireland client companies directly employing 4,485 people.

In recent years, IDA Ireland supported companies including Wuxi Biologics, Wuxi Vaccines, Becton Dickinson, Wasdell, Almac, IT Renew, Amazon Web Services and Simply NUC who have announced investments and expansions for Co. Louth and most recently Kaseya who set up operations in Dundalk on the Xerox Business Campus in Dundalk in 2022.

Schools Administration

Questions (69, 70, 72, 73)

Michael Ring

Question:

69. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) submitted an application for change of status to coeducation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50019/23]

Michael Ring

Question:

70. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when the decision was made to refuse an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50020/23]

Michael Ring

Question:

72. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if other schools who applied for a change of status to coeducation after a specific application (details supplied) were approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50026/23]

Michael Ring

Question:

73. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if consideration was given to information in respect of an application for a change of status to coeducation (details supplied) which has been refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50028/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 70, 72 and 73 together.

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the application by the school in question for a change of status to co-educational has not been refused. My Department continues to work with the school's patron to support a move towards co-educational provision at the school.

In the context of the current post-primary provision in the town, the move to co-educational provision at the school to which the Deputy refers needs to be managed carefully to ensure that there are sufficient places available for all students and that any accommodation implications are addressed. If the transition were not carefully managed there would be a real risk of there being a deficit of post-primary school places for boys in the town. In that context, my Department is working with the patron to gain a full understanding of the implications for school places and any required solutions. Given the complexities it will not be possible to approve a change of status to coeducational for the 2024/25 school year. Nevertheless, my Department is committed to continuing to work with the school’s patron to facilitate a future change of status to co-educational for the school.

The application referred to was received on the 19th April 2023. I can confirm that my Department received six other applications for change of status to co-educational since the that application was received. Of these, five have been approved and one remains under consideration.

Question No. 70 answered with Question No. 69.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (71, 79, 80)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

71. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review correspondence (details supplied); if she can provide an update on the issues raised and the report mentioned in the email and provide an update on this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50023/23]

Ciarán Cannon

Question:

79. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Education if she has any plans to introduce a transfer/relocation scheme for post primary teachers, bearing in mind the need to make teaching an attractive career option; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50054/23]

Brendan Smith

Question:

80. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in establishing a transfer/relocation scheme for teachers, as requested in a proposal to her Department by teacher unions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50065/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 79 and 80 together.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post-primary schools, as well as ETBs).

Earlier this year the Department received a report of a TUI working group. The report proposed the creation of a national relocation scheme whereby teachers would identify the locations that they would like to relocate to through a portal and then effectively “swap” with teachers in that location.

Department officials subsequently met with TUI representatives to discuss the matter and the proposal is being given consideration with a view to a formal response issuing.

It should be noted that an existing voluntary redeployment pilot operates that is distinct from the relocation scheme proposed by the TUI. The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers.

The Department meets regularly with the teacher unions on many issues relating to teachers. The Department will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the needs of teachers and teacher supply challenges facing schools.

Question No. 72 answered with Question No. 69.

Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 69.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (74)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate the current status of an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) which was originally sanctioned for an extension in 2018, and given that 70% of the fees for the abortive scheme have been paid; if clarification can be given regarding issues outstanding, given their eagerness to move the project forward without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50038/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers, was approved funding under my Department's Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 9 mainstream classrooms, 2 science laboratories and 1 prep area and 1 art and crafts room.

The approved brief was subsequently increased to provide a total of 11 mainstream classrooms, 2 science laboratories and 1 prep area, 1 art room, 1 textiles room, 1 multimedia room, and 2 pastoral offices and additional locker space to accommodate 480 lockers.

As the new approved accommodations is above the original scope of the project, abortive design team fees have been issued for the original project. The current design team is being retained by the school authority to oversee the new project brief, and a revised fee proposal is currently under review by my Department officials. The outcome of which will be conveyed to the school authority upon completion of the review.

The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.

National Educational Psychological Service

Questions (75)

Paul Murphy

Question:

75. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education to outline, in tabular form, the NEPS areas across the country, and the number of psychologists appointed to each. [50043/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special schools.

The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:

• Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident

• A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).

• A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and

• Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.

The number of NEPS Psychologists assigned in each of the eight NEPS regions is contained in the table attached.

NEPS regions

Region	WTE (School)
Dub/Mid Leinster	35.7
Dublin	35.6
Mid-Munster	32.72
North East	20
North West	20.1
South East	26.3
South-West	28.4
West	23.2
	222.02

School Transport

Questions (76)

Michael Creed

Question:

76. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in providing transport to a pupil attending an ASD unit (details supplied); if she will expedite this transport provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50045/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The 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.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, a pupil with special educational needs is eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education criteria.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

There was a 30% increase in the number of special educational transport journeys from 2019 to the 2022/2023 school year, and already over 1,400 new applications have been received since July for the 2023/2024 school year.

New applications for the 2023/2024 school year will be catered for through a mix of new services (some being individual), children being accommodated on existing services where capacity exists, extensions of existing routes and grants to families.

I am pleased to advise that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for pupils to the school referred to by the Deputy.

Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.

Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised.

School Transport Section of my Department will liaise with the families with regard to sanction of the special transport grant for the child referred.

School Accommodation

Questions (77)

Michael Creed

Question:

77. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if her Department has received an application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); when a decision can be expected on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50046/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently received an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority 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.

Once the application has been assessed by Officials from my Department, the application will be progressed and the decision will issue to the school authority directly.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (78)

Colm Burke

Question:

78. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50051/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

As the Deputy is aware, the project referred to has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.

The brief for this project is to provide an extension to the existing school buildings, as defined in the schedules of accommodation, decanting if required, necessary to satisfactorily develop the post primary school on its existing site.

The Stage 2B report has been received and is currently under review in my Department. It is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks and the Department will revert to the school authority directly on the outcome of this review.

Question No. 79 answered with Question No. 71.