Written Answers Nos. 87-105
87. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is considering the introduction of further legislation to support the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to detect bid rigging in public procurement processes. [55595/23]
View answerThe Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption, often referred to as ‘the Hamilton Report’ was published in December 2020. It contained a number of recommendations focusing primarily on legislative, structural, and resourcing measures to enhance the capacity of agency and multi-agency enforcement and the prevention of corruption and white-collar crime offences.
The report outlines two recommendations related to bid-rigging. Recommendation 17 proposes that ‘Irish competition law be amended to create a specific offence of bid-rigging or, in the alternative, specify bid-rigging as an offence in the form of market sharing’. This recommendation was achieved through the enactment of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022.
Recommendation 18 arising from the report states ‘The Review Group recommends that specific legislation be introduced to enable the collection, collation and analysis of all public procurement data to detect and deter bid-rigging’. Following this recommendation, as the agency with responsibility for enforcement in this area, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) carried out an initial scoping exercise to determine how this could be achieved and the matter is the subject of ongoing engagement to further inform a legislative proposal.
My officials are exploring, with the relevant officials in other bodies, how any proposed legislation would best support the CCPC's activities in this area. I anticipate that my officials will make a recommendation to me in due course on taking forward a legislative proposal on this matter.
88. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many staff the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission currently has in the cartel detection section; his plans to increase the number of staff; and the estimated related salary expenditure. [55596/23]
View answerSection 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions. Cartels are a serious form of anti-competitive behaviour which occur when competitors agree to fix prices, share markets, restrict output or share commercially sensitive information with each other. In Ireland, engaging in prohibited cartel activity is a criminal offence. Anti-Competitive behaviour matters are generally part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has no direct function in this regard and does not have any involvement allocating what division the CCPC decides to allocate its staff to.
Nevertheless, as Minister of State in the Department, I can confirm that the CCPC has informed me that it currently has 12 staff in its Cartel Division with another two employees onboarding in early January 2024. The current salary expenditure for the 12 employees in Cartel Division of the CCPC is approximately €850k.
The CCPC is examining staffing requirements for each division as part of an overall organisational review for 2024. For comparison, in 2019 the CCPC had 104 staff and to date in 2023 it has 193.
89. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55457/23]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question was approved funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 9 mainstream classrooms, 2 SET rooms, 2 classroom SEN base and ancillary.
My Department received a pre stage 1 report, and requested further clarification on some aspects of the information submitted directly with the Design Team. This has now been received and is currently under review by my Department's Professional and Technical team and communications will issue to the school directly once this review has been completed.
Whilst this project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery, my Department will continue to engage directly with the school to provide whatever practical assistance and advice is necessary to implement this important project for the wider school community.
90. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of the number of pupils in each of the 314 school planning areas that did not secure a place in their first preference second level school in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 school year, in tabular form. [55478/23]
View answerMy Department does not have information regarding the number of pupils that did not secure a place in their first preference post-primary school.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, is the responsibility of the Board of Management on behalf of the school patron. The selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Living in a particular catchment area is one criteria that a school may apply. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My Department does not intervene in the criteria set by a school.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school.
Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie. The Education Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
91. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she and her officials have utilised the most recent census of population data in the context of the provision of school capacity; her plans to analyse the most recent census of population data in order to and compare it to information collated in respect of the 314 school planning areas. [55480/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including CSO Census data, Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
The total for the population enumerated in Census 2022 was 5,149,139 persons which is an increase of 8% since April 2016. Any change arising from an increase in the number of pupils directly linked to the Census is likely to be marginal in the short term relative to the overall challenge of meeting our targets. This is because my Department already have the precise enrolment numbers for all of the children covered by the census. In addition to this the projected intake to infant classes for next few years is tracked through the monitoring of child benefit data.
The 2022 demographic exercise indicates that 85% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2026 compared with 2021. At post-primary level some 74% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2029, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through: • Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,• Provision of a new school or schools. The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plan and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
92. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of school projects, by county, currently waiting for a decision by An Bord Pleanála, in tabular form. [55485/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and will take some time to compile. Once the information has been compiled, it will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.
93. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education for an update on the IT funding for schools (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55498/23]
View answerThe Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.
My Department intends to pay the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the 2023 to 2024 school year. The specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
As part of the forthcoming Review of the National Development Plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.
94. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 269 of 5 December 2023, if the data on the use of prefab buildings by 455 schools could be broken down on a county basis, providing the number of schools and spend per county. [55521/23]
View answerFurther to Parliamentary Question No. 269 of 5 December 2023,
Currently there are 455 schools renting prefab accommodation, 323 primary schools and 132 post primary schools. A total of €28m was spent on renting prefabs in 2022. It is expected that there will be similar expenditure in 2023.
Below is a breakdown of the 455 primary and post primary school's rental contracts for each county and also list of spend per county.
|
County |
2022 |
2023 (YTD) |
|
Carlow |
€ 587,892.06 |
357,329.35 |
|
Cavan |
374,291.58 |
398,501.45 |
|
Clare |
585,880.27 |
720,176.05 |
|
Cork |
5,248,607.81 |
3,575,058.22 |
|
Donegal |
912,635.98 |
1,098,888.90 |
|
Dublin |
5,244,623.97 |
6,001,005.03 |
|
Galway |
891,472.21 |
1,083,611.49 |
|
Kerry |
501,835.61 |
653,751.32 |
|
Kildare |
1,660,599.79 |
1,312,079.87 |
|
Kilkenny |
370,090.61 |
572,370.83 |
|
Laois |
498,069.89 |
408,382.04 |
|
Leitrim |
144,302.69 |
202,817.98 |
|
Limerick |
754,366.09 |
866,329.71 |
|
Longford |
176,656.64 |
299,131.63 |
|
Louth |
984,031.71 |
889,119.95 |
|
Mayo |
518,153.02 |
630,937.92 |
|
Meath |
2,718,507.57 |
3,095,777.23 |
|
Monaghan |
330,281.06 |
261,150.11 |
|
Offaly |
695,946.60 |
576,854.07 |
|
Roscommon |
262,537.36 |
301,823.76 |
|
Sligo |
476,928.24 |
416,553.93 |
|
Tipperary |
1,097,293.71 |
1,160,633.35 |
|
Waterford |
898,653.02 |
840,470.73 |
|
Westmeath |
622,811.32 |
671,730.23 |
|
Wexford |
547,283.64 |
271,575.89 |
|
Wicklow |
976,930.97 |
1,330,038.32 |
|
TOTAL |
€ 28,080,683.42 |
€ 27,996,099.36 |
|
County |
Primary |
Post Primary |
|
Carlow |
7 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
9 |
1 |
|
Clare |
12 |
2 |
|
Cork |
48 |
11 |
|
Donegal |
14 |
6 |
|
Dublin |
64 |
22 |
|
Galway |
17 |
6 |
|
Kerry |
11 |
5 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
6 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
5 |
|
Laois |
8 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
4 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
14 |
4 |
|
Longford |
4 |
2 |
|
Louth |
9 |
4 |
|
Mayo |
10 |
6 |
|
Meath |
19 |
7 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
5 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
6 |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
13 |
7 |
|
Waterford |
6 |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
5 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
4 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
10 |
|
324 |
131 |
95. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education the reason for the restriction on persons who are over 70 years becoming bus drivers for the Bus Éireann school bus services while there is no such restriction in place for generic Bus Éireann public bus services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55574/23]
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.
While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on over 7,000 school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.
It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.
96. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55671/23]
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 to mainstream pupils 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that while they issued tickets for school transport on bus services that had been secured for the 2023/24 school year, a number of difficulties have arisen in having services in place in some localities with a small number of contracted services.
Bus Éireann continues to work intensively and every effort is being made to ensure transport can be sourced and put in place as soon as possible.
The Department has sanctioned an interim arrangement to assist with the cost of alternative arrangements until services are in place.
The Exceptional No Service Interim Grant will be made available to families retrospectively. This payment will be paid as an exceptional measure and will be calculated from the date the service was due to commence up to the date that a service is provided for children.
Details of this grant have issued to families.
97. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of application numbers; the criteria as per admissions policy; and the number of places available and waiting list numbers in respect of all primary- and second-level schools in north Kildare and north Wicklow for the school year 2024/2025. [55740/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.
The Department is aware of pressures for school places in School Planning Areas across North Kildare and North Wicklow. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Maynooth, Prosperous_Clane, Kilcock, Celbridge, Newcastle-Rathcoole, Greystones and Kilcoole have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established.
This close engagement with schools and patrons will also allow the Department to identify particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years and put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area. It is hoped that this data will be received in the shortest timeframe possible to allow for planning to begin on any specific actions which are required.
To further inform our planning, school management bodies are assisting with a detailed analysis of school capacity in a number of areas, taking account of school-specific factors such as current class groupings and subject offerings.
The specific information requested is not available at this time.
I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students throughout North Kildare and North Wicklow for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in the North Kildare School Planning Areas will receive a first year place.
98. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) can get recognition for her qualifications considering that she is not a new entrant teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55778/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that revised pay scales have been in place for new entrants to the public service, including teachers, with effect from 1 January 2011.
I can confirm that my officials have checked the position with this person's current employer (Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB) and I can confirm that this person is not currently employed as a teacher.
This person is employed as a Youthreach Resource Person and accordingly has been correctly deemed to be a new entrant at that grade.
A person who has been appointed to the position of Youthreach Resource Person and who has worked or been paid as a teacher prior to the new entrant rules is deemed a new entrant to the post of Youthreach Resource Person.
In addition to this, the only record that my Department have available for teaching service for this person, prior to 2011, is for casual and non-continuous substitution work in 2009 and 2010, at the unqualified substitute rate. Accordingly, this person would not qualify for the pre 2011 rate of pay as she was not appointed to a teaching position prior to 1st Jan 2011, without a break in service.
99. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of WTE vacancies currently within her Department that are normally filled by staff at the grade of administrative officer and above, as of 7 December 2023, in tabular form. [55606/23]
View answerI am advised that as of 7 December 2023, the Department has 13 WTE vacancies, set out in tabular form as follows:
|
GRADE |
NUMBER OF VACANCIES |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER |
0 |
|
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
8 |
|
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OFFICER |
4 |
|
PRINCIPAL OFFICER |
1 |
100. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the actions taken to support and strengthen the tourism sector since 27 June 2020; the priorities for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55615/23]
View answerThe Government has provided a wide range of supports to the tourism sector to help it through the worst of the Covid-19 crisis and the continuing recovery of the sector today attests to strong collaboration between the sector, Government, the tourism agencies, and other key stakeholders.
A wide range of tourism businesses have benefitted from the support of the following schemes:
• Coach Tourism Business Continuity Scheme
• Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme,
• COVID-19 Adaptation Fund,
• Outdoor Dining Scheme
• Urban Animation Capital Investment Scheme
• Two Tourism Business Continuity Schemes
• Restart Grant Plus Scheme for B and Bs.
This is in addition to a number of horizontal supports which were of particular assistance to the sector such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, and Debt Warehousing.
Of particular benefit to the sector was the temporary reduction of the applicable VAT rate to 9% rate from 1 November 2020 until 1 September 2023.
In Budget 2024, I secured funding of €216 million to continue the support for tourism development at home and amongst overseas visitors whilst supporting continued recovery in the sector. Sustaining marketing campaigns at current levels will be crucial to ensure Ireland’s share of voice is maintained for longer-term success in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
As part of the Budget settlement that I have secured for tourism in 2024, up to €10 million has been identified for a comprehensive programme of supports targeted at downstream tourism businesses experiencing particular trading challenges linked to the reduction in footfall to activities and attractions in regions most impacted by tourism bed stock displacement. This programme of supports includes investment in sustainable tourism development and promotion, industry digitalisation, promotion of domestic tourism and festivals and recruitment and retention initiatives.
I have asked Fáilte Ireland to engage with impacted businesses to consider the scope for a specific business support scheme that could help the most affected tourism activities and attractions. My officials and Fáilte Ireland are engaging intensively on this and I hope to see the details of this scheme finalised and published soon.
I am also progressing the development of a new national tourism policy framework that will seek to mainstream sustainability – environmental, economic and societal – across the entire tourism sector. The new framework will shape how our tourism industry develops in the period to 2030. While I want to see the tourism sector grow, I want it to do so in a manner that is consistent with our broader sustainability targets and ultimately ensures that Ireland will be a brand leader in sustainable tourism practices.
Initial consultations with key stakeholders were completed earlier this year, and I will shortly launch a public consultation to give the public the chance to have their say. I hope to have the new policy framework itself finalised in the first quarter of next year.
101. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the application by a school (details supplied), under the 2020 Sports Capital Programme; and the name of the community sports organisations that assisted the school in its successful application for funding towards its dome project. [55695/23]
View answerThe school referenced by the Deputy, received a grant of €150,000 under the 2020 Sports Capital and Equipment Programme towards the construction of a sports dome. The associated sports clubs included in the application are Templeogue Basketball Club, Larkview Boys FC, and Dublin Futsal.
102. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she can provide funding towards the running costs of a community gym in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55719/23]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
I am advised that the community gym referred to by the Deputy previously received €200,000 in funding under the SCEP but has not applied for funding under the 2020 or 2023 rounds of the programme.
103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total value of the ask of local and regional Sports Capital and Equipment Programme applications under the latest scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55742/23]
View answerThe latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a large number of applications and it is evident that the total number will exceed the previous record of 3,106 applications submitted under the last (2020) round. The total amount of funding sought by applicants under the latest round is €358 million.
Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published shortly. Simultaneously, I also plan to publish the full list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. Once these documents are published, the detailed assessment work can commence. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.
104. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the application to host the Grand Depart in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55743/23]
View answerThe Tour de France is the biggest cycling race in the world and, during 2022, Minister Martin engaged with her counterpart in Northern Ireland, the then-Minister for the Economy, regarding a potential joint bid to co-host the opening 3 stages of the race, the Grand Départ.
Departmental officials engaged with counterparts in Northern Ireland and established a project group to scope out the details of a possible bid. In July 2023 the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland wrote to my Department to advise that it had decided to cease work on the potential for a joint bid. As any hosting bid was envisaged as a north-south all-island initiative my Department is no longer pursuing a bid and this has been communicated to the event organisers.
Should the opportunity arise again to consider a bid to host the Grand Départ, whether jointly or singly, the experience gained in the process outlined above will be of use to any such future consideration.
105. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how preparations to host the 2024 Europa League final are progressing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55744/23]
View answerThe Europa League is Europe’s secondary club football tournament, second only to the Champions League. In July 2021, UEFA announced that due to the withdrawal of hosting rights for UEFA EURO 2020 (due to Covid-19), the Aviva Stadium in Dublin was being awarded the hosting rights for the 2024 Europa League Final.
Hosting an event of this profile is an important opportunity for the FAI, the stadium, Dublin City and the country, especially in the context of UEFA's recent announcement that Ireland will co-host EURO 2028 with the UK.
Departmental officials have been liaising with the FAI, Dublin City Council, Government Departments and state agencies in preparation for the event. The project will be co-ordinated by the FAI as hosts, with my Department co-ordinating Government support where required. A number of operational, co-ordination and strategic groups have already been established and are expected to operate up to the delivery of the event with officials from my Department attending as required.
With the assistance of Government, Dublin City Council will provide a fan festival, host city dressing, mobility signage and fan meeting points. In addition, the State is also coordinating on public transport solutions for supporters and any additional policing that might be required around the event.
I am confident that all of the partners working together will ensure a successful hosting of the final.
