Written Answers Nos. 64-86
64. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all EU Directives which have not yet been ratified within her Department; the estimated date of ratification of each Directive; and the deadline set by the EU for ratifying each Directive, in tabular form. [52703/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy of a NIL response for the Department of Education.
65. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a case for school transport (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52736/23]
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.
Over 134,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport but the family did not pay/input their medical card details until after the closing date of 9June 2023 and did so on 18 August 2023. Bus Éireann has further advised that the existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity for the 2023/24 school year.
It is recognised that all pupils issued with tickets will not travel every morning and every evening. In addition, certain after school activities may also result in pupils not travelling on certain days.
Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle. For safety reasons, it is not possible to issue additional tickets over and above the seating capacity of the vehicle which could result in a potential overload situation arising and all pupils not being carried on the service.
66. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education for an update on the school transport for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52737/23]
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.
Over 134,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
An application for School Transport under the Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, for the child to whom the Deputy refers was received on 1st September 2023.
Bus Éireann manages the operation of the school transport scheme which includes the procurement tender process to include services provided by contractors under the scheme. This is a competitive procurement process conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under national and EU procurement legislation.
Bus Éireann has advised that a service for the child referred to by the Deputy has been sourced and is due to commence on Monday, 27th November 2023. Bus Éireann further advise they have liaised with the family referred with regard to the details of the service.
The procurement of a transport service can take a number of weeks and in a small number of cases there have been challenges in procuring transport in certain areas. In these instances, a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided to families of eligible children.
The School Transport Section of my Department has sent details to the family referred with regard a special transport grant to assist with the cost of alternative arrangements until the commencement of the service for the child referred.
67. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding an application for additional subject hours lodged with her Department by a special school earlier this year (details supplied); the status of a response to the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52754/23]
View answerEnabling 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. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where 26% of my department’s budget will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs, representing a 5% increase on Budget 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 and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs
The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 has provided for a number of targeted measures to support special schools. These measures are being introduced to tackle a range of issues raised by special schools and representative organisations in discussions with my Department. These include issues similar to those raised by the school referred to by the Deputy in relation to providing for increased numbers of post-primary aged students in our special schools.
These new Budgetary measures are effective for the 2024/25 school-year.
Firstly, the removal of the current 15 teacher threshold for the appointment of administrative deputy principals in special schools, so that all special schools can benefit from this additional resource. These posts will be instrumental in assisting principals with leadership and management functions and to support learning and parental and community engagement.
Secondly, an additional allocation of 100 post-primary teaching posts will be provided to special schools. The majority of special schools provide an education for children and young people aged from 4-18 years of age. These posts will support schools in delivering a greater range of the national curriculum subjects and improve student progression and transition. The posts are particularly targeted at supporting schools to offer a wider array of subjects for post-primary aged children. These additional hours will assist the school referred to by the Deputy in providing additional post-primary teaching hours and a greater range of subjects for students.
The department will be working with the NCSE, on the allocation of the additional posts to support post-primary provision, in the context of the annual staffing review for special schools in the coming months.
In addition, special schools will also benefit from the increase in capitation grants for all schools. Funding has also been secured to continue to provide an enhanced summer programme for students with special educational needs, with a focus again on children and young people in special schools.
I want to assure you also 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.
68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will report on her recent meeting with the British Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52763/23]
View answerI was pleased to meet with the Secretary of State for Education, the Right Honorable Gillian Keegan MP, on 16 November 2023 at the Department for Education offices in London.
At the meeting we discussed areas of mutual interest: the use of smart phones by young people; the emerging impact of generative artificial intelligence on teaching, learning and assessment; and her proposals for the Advance British Standards and the redevelopment of Senior Cycle in Ireland.
Generative AI has huge potential for teaching, learning and assessment. I want to ensure that young people can benefit from the paradigm shift that AI presents and prepare them for an AI world; but I also want to safeguard against the potential challenges that any evolving technology may bring.
We also discussed the redevelopment Senior Cycle in Ireland and Secretary Keegan’s proposals to reform the A-Levels in England. On 20 September, I announced accelerated plans for a redeveloped Senior Cycle. Commencing from 2025, students in fifth year will be following new and revised curricula for the first tranche of subjects; with additional tranches to be available thereafter on an annual basis. All new and revised subjects will have additional assessment components, worth a minimum of 40 percent of the available marks. These additional assessment components will be externally assessed by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
We also discussed the challenges of smartphone usage among young people. Smartphones play a central part in all aspects of modern life, and I acknowledge that they, as well as the online world they are used to access, are now part of the daily lives of our young people. I have heard the concerns of parents and schools in respect of smart phone usage among primary school children in particular - including risks of cyberbullying, exposure to violence and sexual content, and reduction of sleep. I have recently announced the roll out of a number of resources aimed at supporting parents and school communities tackle the negative impact of smartphone usage among young children.
69. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of students in Connacht and Ulster who will benefit from the free schoolbooks scheme in both primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52764/23]
View answerAs Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families.
As part of Budget 2023, I announced a major investment of over €50 million to provide free schoolbooks in recognised primary schools and special schools. This was a landmark moment in Irish education and one that furthers our goal to provide free education for all and ensure that every child can benefit from free education.
The Free Primary Schoolbook Scheme has resulted in over 561,000 pupils in over 3,230 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools benefitting from free schoolbooks, workbooks and classroom resources from September 2023.
To further the delivery of our important government commitment funding is allocated under Budget 2024 to extend the free schoolbooks scheme to all students in junior cycle years in public post primary schools from the 2024/25 school year. The total funding available for this extension of the scheme is €67 million. Students in over 670 post-primary schools across all counties will benefit from this new measure.
The grant for this scheme will be paid based on the previous year’s validated enrolment figures which, for the 2024/25 school year, will be the enrolment figures at 30th September 2023.
The most recent data held by my Department on junior cycle enrolments show that 208,736 students were enrolled in junior cycle years in the 2022/23 school year.
An attachment is provided for the Deputy containing the breakdown by county of:
• Primary pupils benefiting from Free School Books Scheme in the current 2023/24 school year
• Junior cycle post primary students, based on the 2022/23 validated enrolment figures, expected to benefit from the Free School Books Scheme for junior cycle years for the 2024/25 school year.
As Minister for Education, I am acutely aware of the various costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school each September and am confident that this new provision will further and significantly reduce the back to school financial burden for many families.
70. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education for an update on the capital build project for a school (details supplied). [52784/23]
View answerMy Department is currently in the process of finalising the brief for the school referred to by the Deputy. The implications of the school's immediate and short-term accommodation needs are being considered in terms of the optimum arrangements on site for the location of accommodation. Officials will continue to work to progress this project on to the next stage.
In the interim period, additional modular accommodation was approved for the school for 2023 to cater for current accommodation needs.
71. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the case of a school (details supplied); if she will review the attached correspondence from the school and indicate when the appropriate resources will be allocated to this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52794/23]
View answerIn relation to EAL support, the Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations.
The Department also provides specific English Language support to schools with pupils newly arrived into the country that have English as an additional language. Schools may apply for further language support through the staffing appeals process. Having considered the circumstances outlined by the school and having regard to the high number of pupils requiring EAL support, additional support may be approved to meet the educational needs of such pupils. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
In June 2023 my department announced a continuation of the scheme of SET and SNA support for schools with large enrolment of Ukrainian pupils for the 2023/24 school year.
The process implemented worked very well and a total of 548 schools received additional temporary special education teaching (SET) hours and 329 received additional temporary special needs assistant (SNA) supports in the 2022/23 school year.
The allocation of supports is based on graduated thresholds of Ukrainian enrolments which align with the SET and SNA allocations on a national basis. The process is responsive to the needs and the allocation is adjusted on circa a 6 weeks basis for any changes in the Ukrainian enrolment numbers in our schools.
To allow schools plan for the 2023/24 school year, they were advised in mid-June of their starting allocation for the new school year based on enrolment data at the 31st May 2023.
Schools who meet the thresholds at that time were advised of their temporary allocation in writing. In mid-September the enrolment data for each school was reviewed and updated temporary allocations based on any change in enrolments or new enrolments was issued to schools before the end of September for the first term of the new school year.
The enrolment data was further reviewed in late October and schools were provided with additional resources at that point if their enrolments had increased.
At present, enrolments are being reviewed so as to advise schools of their allocation for the start of new term in January.
Details of the scheme is available at gov.ie - Information for schools – Ukraine (www.gov.ie)
72. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education her views on the supports given by the provision of homework clubs for Traveller children; the homework clubs, if any, that her Department funds either partially or fully; the number of children benefitting from such support; her future plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52825/23]
View answerMy Department provides a number of policies and programmes that are supportive of homework clubs for students at risk of educational disadvantage, including Traveller children.
The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of the Department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level in a targeted and equitable way. Following the single largest expansion of the DEIS programme last year, at least 60% of all Traveller students are in a school supported by the DEIS programme.
The DEIS grant is used by schools 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. Many schools in the DEIS scheme use their DEIS grant to assist in the operation of homework clubs after school, and other afterschool activities aimed at groups of children deemed to be at most risk of educational disadvantage, including Traveller children.
The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a key support under the DEIS programme. Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is responsible for the operational management and delivery of SCP. SCP Local Management Committees plan a suite of service provision to ensure that all of the available SCP resource is maximised to support children and young people in relation to school attendance, participation and retention across all schools in the SCP cluster. These interventions and supports may include afterschool clubs, which are allowable under the SCP funding.
Homework clubs are among the initiatives currently underway as part of the Supporting Traveller and Roma (STAR) in education pilot project. STAR was established in 2019 under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy with the aims of improving attendance, participation and retention in specific Traveller and Roma communities regionally. There are four pilot areas: Galway, Wexford, Dublin and Cork. Additional resources provided include an additional Educational Welfare Officer (EWO), an additional Home School Community Liaison coordinator (HSCL) and two Traveller/Roma community education workers from the local communities employed by local Traveller/Roma support groups. Based on identified local needs, STAR teams run a wide range of initiatives.
14 non-DEIS post-primary schools with high numbers of Traveller and Roma children and young people have 10 new Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinator posts funded by Dormant Accounts. The HSCLs receive funding to implement and run initiatives to encourage improvements in school attendance, retention and progression for Traveller and Roma students. As part of their role, a new coordinator for the STAR pilot project, also funded under Dormant Accounts, facilitates effective information-sharing between the STAR teams and the 10 new HSCL coordinators, including in relation to good practice and initiatives that work well such as homework clubs.
I recognise the need to target resources to those schools that need them most. To this end, my Department is undertaking a programme of work to explore the allocation of resources to all schools to address educational disadvantage. The OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies project has been invited to review the current approach, to provide an independent expert opinion on the current resource allocation model for the DEIS programme, and to inform a policy approach for an equitable distribution of supplementary resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage attending all schools.
More generally, my Department 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. Under 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.
73. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will act to ensure that oral exams are moved back before the Easter break, as requested by a union (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52847/23]
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.
74. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been brought to the shortage of bus contractors and drivers available to provide the school transport service in parts of Galway, and in particular on bus route 5060, which has left up to 50 families without school transport since September 2023; the engagement she or her Department have had with Bus Éireann with a view to resolving this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52865/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. As part of the management of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. There are currently in the region of 7,000 vehicles operating on the scheme.
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.
Over 134,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and directly recruited drivers, and private contractors who recruit their own drivers to operate on the scheme. As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. There are currently in the region of 7,000 vehicles operating on the scheme.
The competitive procurement process is conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under national and EU procurement legislation.
Bus Éireann has advised that the service referred to by the Deputy is currently in the procurement process. Bus Éireann’s local office are in the process of sourcing a suitable contractor/driver. Once a suitable contractor/driver is sourced transport will commence, families have been informed in this regard.
Bus Éireann has reported challenges in sourcing drivers and contractors in certain areas. This is against a backdrop of significant shortages of drivers in the labour market overall and competing demands for drivers to deliver additional public transport initiatives such as Connecting Ireland and Bus Connects/Local Link services.
Officials in the Department engage with Bus Éireann on a daily basis in relation to operational matters. Bus Éireann is continuing to prioritise sourcing vehicles and drivers, through a mix of targeted campaigns seeking taxi/bus operators through NTA bulletins and mailing lists of registered licenced operators, continued engagement with existing contractors, and a national and local media advertising campaign seeking additional drivers and contractor operators for the Scheme has also taken place and is supported by additional targeted social media campaigns. Further information can be found at buseireann.ie/schooltransport.
Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are usually 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
Families can also submit queries via the ‘contact form’ which can be found on our website (buseireann.ie/schooltransport)
75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 17 October 2023; the timeline for the publication of the final report of the review of the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52866/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/23 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 are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Under the current terms of the scheme, pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible. Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level are being continued for the current school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
As you are aware, my Department undertook to complete a review of the School Transport Scheme. The review has been conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
The Technical Working Group and the Steering Group have recently completed their work on the final report of the review. This final report includes recommendations on the future operation of the scheme. The report has recently being submitted by the Steering Group for my consideration.
I am aware that this review is much-awaited, it is recognised that there are improvements which need to be made to the scheme and I know the importance of doing so. I expect to be in a position shortly to bring the review to government, and further to government approval, the review will be published.
76. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 713 of 18 January 2023; the status of plans to establish a new system of redeployment for post-primary teachers, whereby teachers wishing to relocate could retain their permanent and CID status; the details of any engagement her Department has had in this regard in 2023 with teacher representative groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52867/23]
View answerEarlier this year the Department received a report from a Teachers’ Union of Ireland (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. The proposal included findings from a survey undertaken by the TUI on the commute to work of members.
Any initiative that seeks to ensure that the educational needs of children are prioritised is to be welcomed. This proposed relocation scheme may be beneficial for those who are commuting considerable distances, and for the environment more generally, however, a number of challenges are apparent.
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 in achieving its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers.
Officials of my Department met with TUI representatives where an overview of the proposal was presented by the TUI and a discussion followed. The proposal has been considered by my department and a reply, based on the discussions and the report received, has recently been received by the TUI.
In that reply, the Department has advised the TUI that it would welcome a jointly agreed proposal from management bodies and post-primary teacher unions on a relocation scheme. The reply highlights some of the challenges that such a scheme would present. These include determining the criteria for a proposed relocation, the resolution of disputes that may arise, and whether the terms and conditions of teachers would continue if they relocated. The reply also emphasises the need to take into account the views of the management bodies and other union representatives.
Addressing these, and any other issues that the representatives of school management bodies may raise, would be a pre-requisite to further consideration of this proposal by the Department.
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 including this proposal for a teacher relocation scheme.
77. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 150 an 29 Iúil 2023, an dtabharfaidh sí soiléiriú ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an bplean chun beartas cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, idir leibhéal an oideachais réamhscoile agus leibhéal an oideachais do mhúinteoirí, a fhorbairt agus a fhoilsiú; cathain a fhoilseofar an beartas nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [52868/23]
View answerTá obair faoi lán seoil i mo Roinnse faoi láthair chun polasaí nua a fhorbairt don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tógfaidh an polasaí nua seo ar an méid atá bainte amach ag an bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta agus beidh sé mar chéim thábhachtach eile i dtreo ghealltanais Chlár an Rialtais a chomhlíonadh.
Bunaíodh coiste stiúrtha le hionadaithe ó na ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí rialtais ábhartha chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt an pholasaí.
Cuireadh próiseas comhairliúcháin poiblí ar bun chun tuairimí páirtithe leasmhara a fháil – daoine óga, tuismitheoirí, gairmithe oideachais, páirtithe leasmhara oideachais agus eagraíochta Gaeilge ina measc. Bhí trí thréimhse sa chomhairliúchán seo – ceistneoir ar líne agus glao ar aighneachtaí scríofa, sraith grúpaí fócais, agus cruinnithe déthaobhacha idir mo Roinn agus páirtithe leasmhara.
Tá anailís déanta ag Sealbhú, ionad taighde in DCU, ar an t-eolas ar fad a bailíodh le linn an chomhairliúcháin. Tá na tuairiscí faoi bhráid an Choiste Stiúrtha faoi láthair agus foilseofar ar shuíomh na Roinne in am trátha iad.
Tá réimse gníomhartha glactha le cinntiú go mbeidh an polasaí nua bunaithe ar thaighde reatha:
• Tá athbhreithniú ar an litríocht náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta coimisiúnaithe trí phróiseas soláthair phoiblí agus déanta ag Sealbhú, DCU.
• Scríobhadh agus foilsíodh tuarascáil a thugann léargas ar sholáthar don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht ag mo Roinnse.
• Tá taighde maidir le haonaid agus sruthanna lán-Ghaeilge i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla ar bun.
• Foilsíodh dhá thuarascáil ilchodacha ar thorthaí cigireachta ar chaighdeán soláthair oideachais i nGaelscoileanna agus i nGaelcholáistí in earrach na bliana 2021. Tugann na tuarascálacha seo léargas cabhrach ar chleachtais i scoileanna. Tá tuarascáil ar thorthaí cigireachta ar naíonraí á ullmhú chomh maith.
Answer
Work is currently underway in my Department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. This new policy will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and will be another important step towards achieving the Programme for Government commitment.
A steering committee has been established with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies to oversee the development of the policy.
A public consultation process has been conducted to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish-language organisations. There were three phases in this consultation – an online questionnaire and a call for written submissions, a series of focus groups, and bilateral meetings between my Department and stakeholders.
Sealbhú, the research centre in DCU, has carried out an analysis of all information gathered during the consultation. The reports are currently being reviewed by the Steering Committee and will be published on the Department’s website in due course.
A number of actions are being taken to ensure that the new policy will be informed by current research:
• A review of national and international literature has been commissioned through a public procurement process and has been carried out by Sealbhú, DCU.
• A report giving an overview of provision for Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas was compiled and published by my Department.
• Research on Irish-medium Aonaid and Sruthanna (Units and Streams) in English-medium schools is being carried out.
• Two composite reports on inspection findings on the quality of educational provision in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí were published in spring 2021. These reports provide a helpful insight into practice in schools. A report on inspection findings from visits to Irish-medium early learning and care settings is also being prepared.
78. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education what analysis her Department has carried out into the different approaches to funding, and any disparities that may arise as a result, between ETB Irish-medium secondary schools and voluntary sector schools; what engagement she has had with the ETB sector in 2023 in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52869/23]
View answerMy Department has different models of funding to meet the needs of the different types of post-primary school. In the ETB sector, financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its own priorities and needs. This differs from the capitation grants provided to voluntary secondary schools.
Voluntary secondary schools, in the Free Education scheme, which are privately owned and managed, are funded by my Department by way of per capita grants. An additional per capita grant, known as the Irish and bilingual grant, is paid to secondary schools in the voluntary sector in which instruction is through the medium of Irish in full or in part. Such a grant is not paid to schools in either the Community and Comprehensive or the ETB sectors.
Work on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is now underway in my Department.
An extensive public consultation process has been conducted to gather the views of stakeholders, including the ETB sector. The issues raised in that consultation will be considered as part of the work on the development of the Policy on Irish-medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht.
79. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount paid in late payment interest payments for goods and services provided to her Department in each of the years from 2016 to date in 2023; and separately, the top five highest late interest payments made in each of those years, and the service and goods supplier that received the payments, in tabular form. [52656/23]
View answerMy Department was established in its current configuration in September 2020 and the information provided therefore only covers from that period to date.
Details of the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty (compensation) payments by my Department and all Government Departments are published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on a quarterly basis. I have attached the relevant links below:
enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/government-departments-prompt-payment-returns-2023.html
enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/prompt-payment-returns-by-government-departments-2022.html
enterprise.gov.ie/en/Publications/Prompt-Payment-Returns-Government-Departments-2021.html
enterprise.gov.ie/en/Publications/Prompt-Payment-Returns-Government-Departments-2020.html
All officials within my Department are aware of their obligations under the Prompt Payment legislation and the Department’s Management Board closely monitors the performance of the Department in this regard on a quarterly basis. I am advised that the amounts paid in Prompt Payment interest and compensation in the period 2020 - Q3 2023 are as follows:
|
Year |
€ |
|
To Q3 2023 |
€1,042.43 |
|
2022 |
€1,315.25 |
|
2021 |
€2,246.84 |
|
2020 |
€5,428.78 |
The top 5 Suppliers paid Prompt Payment interest & compensation in each of the years from 2020 to Q3 2023 are set out in the table hereunder.
|
Year |
No |
Supplier Name |
PPI Interest & Compensation Paid |
|
To Q3 2023 |
1 |
SICL |
€145.23 |
|
To Q3 2023 |
2 |
Energia Customer Solutions Limited |
€136.44 |
|
To Q3 2023 |
3 |
Limelake Graphic Limited |
€121.23 |
|
To Q3 2023 |
4 |
Pelko Limited |
€71.75 |
|
To Q3 2023 |
5 |
Cronin Movers Group |
€71.24 |
|
2022 |
1 |
Aspiracon Ltd |
€240.89 |
|
2022 |
2 |
John McLaughlin Architects Ltd |
€170.90 |
|
2022 |
3 |
Fusio Limited |
€91.35 |
|
2022 |
4 |
Apex Fire Ltd |
€90.16 |
|
2022 |
5 |
Agile Networks Ltd |
€77.76 |
|
2021 |
1 |
Dublin City University |
€292.07 |
|
2021 |
2 |
Fusio Limited |
€182.87 |
|
2021 |
3 |
Canon (Irl) Business Equip Ltd |
€162.58 |
|
2021 |
4 |
Massey & King Ltd |
€144.48 |
|
2021 |
5 |
Europus |
€129.10 |
|
2020 |
1 |
Eir |
€663.42 |
|
2020 |
2 |
Europus |
€332.12 |
|
2020 |
3 |
Bunzl Ireland Ltd |
€241.75 |
|
2020 |
4 |
ECO Group Services |
€147.92 |
|
2020 |
5 |
MCO Projects Ltd |
€138.82 |
80. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide a list of all EU Directives which have not yet been ratified within her Department; the estimated date of ratification of each Directive; and the deadline set by the EU for ratifying each Directive, in tabular form. [52716/23]
View answer|
Directive |
Current Position |
EU Deadline for Transposition |
|
Directive (EU) 2018/1808 concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) in view of changing market realities. |
The Directive has been partially transposed through the enactment and commencement of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, and the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán. This progress was notified to the European Commission in March 2023. Coimisiún na Meán will complete the transposition of the Directive through the adoption of its first online safety code and updating of certain media service codes. An Coimisiún is working intensively to achieve this progress, targeting completion end-February 2024. |
19 September 2020 |
81. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the swimming pool grant will be available to groups in the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52720/23]
View answerCapital support for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the Department’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Eight of 33 projects awarded funding under the most recent round of the LSSIF are swimming pool projects.
Separately, applications for improvements or renovations to existing, publicly accessible swimming pools were accepted under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) which closed for applications in September 2023.
Both the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and the Sports Action Plan 2021-2023 commit to the development of a National Swimming Strategy. A Working Group chaired by my Department was established in 2022 and tasked with developing the Strategy, which is based on a vision to ‘provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’ . The working group comprises representatives from relevant National Governing Bodies for sport and stakeholders, specifically Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland (formerly CARA), Ireland Active and the Local Authorities.
Extensive stakeholder and public engagement has allowed for a wide range of viewpoints to be considered in shaping this Strategy. Over 5,800 submissions were received during the public consultation process which is testament to the popularity of the sport and the critical role it can play in terms of our physical health and mental well-being.
Work on developing the Strategy is nearing completion with a view to publishing it before the end of the year.
82. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she can provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52721/23]
View answerCapital funding for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the Department’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). No application was received under the first call for LSSIF proposals for a new swimming pool in the location referenced.
The National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a LSSIF. The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. Eight of the 33 projects are swimming pool projects.
With regard to a possible new round of the LSSIF, Minister Martin and I are determined to see continued investment in sports facilities in order to ensure we achieve our ambitious targets for sports participation across the country. Accordingly, we will continue to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on the funding required to underpin any new round.
83. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on a project which has applied under the LSSIF (details supplied); if she can provide an update on this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52738/23]
View answerThe first Large Scale Sport Infrastrure Fund (LSSIF) allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic gave rise to financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees.
In light of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions, a majority of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding in the next 12 months.
Following engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and in recognition of challenges, such as construction inflation, officials in my Department wrote to all LSSIF grantees inviting them to apply for additional support by 4 August. To be considered for additional funding, grantees were advised that the key elements of the project should remain as set out in the original application and that priority would be given to those who provide evidence-based documentation to support their application.
I can confirm that the project referenced has applied for additional support and Minister Martin and I hope to be in a position to confirm further support to grantees in the coming period to ensure that all existing LSSIF projects are advanced.
84. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if additional funding will be provided to pay sports capital grant claims from sports clubs in County Kerry which have been informed that payments have ceased because the budget has been drawn down for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52855/23]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
85. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether appointment-only private falconry exhibitions operating with an appropriate falconry licence which operate on an appointment-only basis and are not open to the public generally are considered to fall within the definition of "zoo" in Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos, and subsequently SI 440 of 2003 European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003; if not, if such private appointment-only venues fall outside of these regulations;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52636/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has responsibility for implementation of the European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 440/2003) which deal with the inspection, licensing and regulation of zoos and aquaria. These Regulations transpose the EU Zoos Directive, giving effect in the national context to the EU Zoo Directive (Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 of the Council of the European Union).
As defined under European Directive 1999/22/EC a zoo is a permanent establishment where animals of wild species are kept for exhibition to the public for 7 or more days a year, with the exception of circuses, pet shops (as defined above) and establishments, which Member States exempt from the requirements of this Directive on the grounds that they do not exhibit a significant number of animals or species to the public, and that the exemption will not jeopardise the objectives of this Directive.
Where a permanent establishment is closed to the public but maintains a collection of wild animals kept for the purposes of exhibition to the public external to the facility, on 7 or more days in a twelve month period, then the holding facility is classed as a zoo with regards to these regulations. This includes ‘Hawk Walks’, ‘Mobile Zoos’ and other similar operations.
A significant majority of the licenced zoos in Ireland that offer hawk walks or bird of prey exhibits operate on an appointment only basis and are not open to the public generally. These facilities have held zoo licences for a number of years. Any similar facility would require a zoo licence.
86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid in late payment interest payments for goods and services provided to his Department in each of the years from 2016 to date in 2023; and separately, the top five highest late interest payments made in each of those years, and the service and goods supplier that received the payments, in tabular form. [52650/23]
View answerUnder the Prompt Payment Act 1997, and later the SI 580 2012 European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012, my Department is required to pay Prompt Payment Interest on valid invoices that are not processed within 30 days. In this scenario the Department applies a daily 8% interest rate (which is currently the ECB rate of 4.00% plus the margin of 8%) followed by a compensating amount based on the value of the invoice.My Department has robust procedures and system controls in place to monitor payments to ensure that they are paid as promptly as possible and to reduce the possibility of Prompt Payment Interest and associated compensation being applied. My Department consistently pays invoices within the due dates and in 2022 this equated to over 99% of all invoices
Details of the amount of interest and compensation paid in respect of late payments for goods and services provided to my Department in each of the years from 2016 to date in 2023 are outlined in tabular format below:
|
Year |
Late Payment Interest € |
Compensation Costs € |
Total Amount € |
|
2016 |
9,364 |
2,210 |
11,574 |
|
2017 |
714 |
3,460 |
4,174 |
|
2018 |
1,240 |
2,240 |
3,480 |
|
2019 |
742 |
2,630 |
3,372 |
|
2020 |
3,805 |
9,580 |
13,385 |
|
2021 |
1,854 |
8,530 |
10,384 |
|
2022 |
2,689 |
7,460 |
10,149 |
|
2023 (to 27 Nov) |
4,695 |
8,350 |
13,045 |
The top five highest late interest payments made in each of those years and the service and goods supplier that received the payments are outlined in tabular format attached:
