Aindrias Moynihan
Question:27. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance for a reduction in VAT to 9% for the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4526/24]
View answerTax Code
Questions (27)
Written answers
At the outset, the Deputy should note that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, the EU VAT Directive provides that all goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate (23% in Ireland), unless they fall within categories of goods and services specified in Annex III of the VAT Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply a lower rate of VAT. Tourism and hospitality fall within Annex III thus explaining why they have been subject to these lower rates for a considerable period of time. The lower VAT rates that apply in this country are 13.5% and 9%.
As the Deputy will be aware the 9% VAT rate applied on a temporary basis to the hospitality and tourism sectors until 31 August 2023 when it reverted to the 13.5% rate. The 9% rate was introduced on 1 November 2020 in recognition of the fact that the tourism and hospitality sectors were among those most impacted by the public health restrictions put in place throughout the pandemic.
The economic rationale for a VAT rate reduction at that time as it was in 2011 when it was also reduced to 9% was to lower consumer prices, encouraging higher demand, more output and an increase in employment.
However, it is important to remember that VAT reductions, even temporary VAT reductions, do have a cost to the Exchequer. The estimated cost of the 9% VAT rate for tourism and hospitality, from 1 November 2020 to 31 August 2023, was €1.2 billion. This represented a very substantial support by the Government to the hospitality and tourism related sectors.
The Government obviously wants to maintain a healthy and profitable environment for the sector going forward. However, in making any decision in relation to VAT rates or other taxation measures, the Government must balance the costs of the measures in question against their impact and the overall budgetary framework.
I have no plans to reduce the VAT rate for the hospitality sector to 9%.
Motor Fuels
Questions (28)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:28. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance for a further extension on the current deadline of 31 March 2024 on the rate reduction to auto diesel, petrol and marked gas oil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4527/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, in 2022 in light of the acute impact rising prices were having on households and business, Government provided for excise rate reductions in the order of 21, 16 and 5.4 cent per litre on petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) respectively. These temporary reductions were due to end initially on 31 August 2022 but following review and monitoring of fuel prices were extended until February 2023 with a phased restoration beginning in June 2023, followed by a second restoration in September 2023. A final restoration of excise rates was due to take place on 31 October 2023 but in Budget 2024, I provided for a further extension until 31 March 2024 with a phased restoration legislated to occur in two final stages on 1 April 2024 and 1 August 2024.
While I recognise that households and business continue to face challenges, the Government must strike the appropriate balance between providing support and avoiding fuelling cyclical inflationary trends.
To note national average prices have eased considerably from highs of over €2.00 per litre which we saw in 2022. As per the Central Statistics Office Consumer Price Index, average national retail prices of auto diesel and petrol have decreased from approximately €1.85 per litre in October 2023 to approximately €1.71 per litre in December 2023. More recently the European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin shows that the national average price as of 22 January 2024 was approximately €1.68 for both fuels.
In conclusion, I have no plans to postpone the excise restorations of 8cpl for petrol and 6cpl for diesel due to commence on 31 March 2024.
Financial Services
Questions (29)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:29. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Finance what engagement he has had with financial institutions to have machines available in their branches to print off financial statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4528/24]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal and policy framework governing financial regulation and I am precluded from intervening in commercial and operational decisions in any particular bank, even one in which the State has a shareholding.
Decisions in this regard are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis.
The European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018 transpose Directive 2015/2366/EU on payment services and took effect in Ireland from 13 January 2018. These Regulations provide that Payment Service Providers must provide their customers with statements of the relevant details of individual payment transactions on paper or another durable medium in a clear and comprehensible manner.
The Payment Service Provider must provide the customer with the option to receive this information “at least once a month, free of charge and in an agreed manner which allows the payer to store and reproduce information unchanged”.
The Central Bank's Consumer Protection Code also sets out that a regulated entity must inform a consumer that he or she may request statements relating to term and notice deposit accounts, credit and investment products to be provided on paper and, if requested by the consumer, the regulated entity must provide these statements on paper to the consumer.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (30)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:30. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance his views on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4652/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by Revenue that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, S.I. No. 353 of 1994 as amended provides for the repayment or remission of VAT and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) on the purchase of an adapted vehicle for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities. Qualification for the scheme also provides access to the Fuel Grant scheme and for a waiver of motor tax.
Revenue has advised that a letter issued to the person (details supplied) on 29 June 2023, outlining the details of the scheme and that it is available to:
Drivers with a disability
Passengers with a disability, and
Family members of the person with a disability.
As the person is not a family member of the holder of the Primary Medical Certificate, he does not qualify under this scheme.
Revenue’s Central Repayments Office can be contacted on 01-7383671 if any further guidance or assistance is required.
Flood Relief Schemes
Questions (31)
Thomas Gould
Question:31. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the current status of works on the weir at Ballincollig Regional Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4454/24]
View answerWritten answers
Ballincollig Weir, which is part of Ballincollig Regional Park, is in the ownership of Cork City Council since the boundary change between Cork County and City in June 2019. The Weir had apparently been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, which has left the weir in extremely poor condition.
While there are no hydraulic benefits to the flood relief scheme from the weir, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group in 2021, committed to the incorporation of remedial works to the weir as part of the construction contract and budget for the Scheme, if appropriate.
The nature of any such remedial works will be subject to an assessment of planning, structural, fisheries and cultural heritage considerations, which the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group has asked the Scheme’s design consultants, contracted by the OPW, to review. The consultants’ proposal to undertake a preliminary feasibility assessment and constraints study for the reinstatement of Ballincollig Weir has been approved and is ongoing. Site surveys and inspections have now been completed, and a report is being prepared.
Workplace Relations Commission
Questions (32)
Mick Barry
Question:32. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current average waiting time for a WRC adjudication hearing to be heard from the time the complaint(s) are submitted; whether the delay in the hearing of a particular case (details supplied) can be accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4378/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services.
In the case of adjudication hearings scheduled from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, the average waiting time was 317 calendar days, equating to approximately 10.5 months. However, the vast majority of complaints received a hearing within 7.7 months from date of receipt.
The particular case identified was offered a first hearing within 10 months of receipt and this was postponed due to the Respondent Representative’s unavailability. The postponement was granted with the consent of the Complaint Representative.
Industrial Development
Questions (33)
Frankie Feighan
Question:33. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what action he is taking to safeguard the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, and future investment in manufacturing and research and development into Ireland, from any unintended consequences as a result of the European Commission pharmaceutical review, currently under way; if he can update on any meetings his Department has had on the subject in Ireland and at an EU level since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/24]
View answerWritten answers
On 26 April 2023 the European Commission published a proposal to revise and replace the existing general pharmaceutical legislation. The EU Pharmaceutical legislative package proposes a suite of measures with the purpose of assuring the quality and safety of medicines and ensuring their availability to health services across the EU. As such, the Department of Health is leading on this file in Ireland.
Ireland advocates for ensuring predictability, consistency, equity, sustainability, and transparency in the medicines legislative ecosystem across the EU. For my part, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I recognise the good jobs and strong economic growth this sector brings to Europe and so would wish that the EU is at the centre of developing such medicines to ensure that equitable and sustainable access to new and innovative medicines is achieved. In this regard, my colleague Minister Calleary confirmed the importance of regulatory predictability and the need to support the life sciences ecosystem at the EU Competitiveness Council on 25 September 2023.
To inform the national deliberation of this proposal, the Minister for Health formally established the Pharmaceutical Strategy Working Group (PSWG) in April 2023. This group, on which there is representation from my Department and our agencies, works with stakeholders to ensure the development of a national position that is fully informed and based on all available data. Accordingly, Government will continue to engage with stakeholders in shaping a national, cross-Government position on this important package.
More generally, I fully recognise the importance of the pharmaceutical sector in Ireland, and my Department will continually engage with key stakeholders throughout the course of the negotiations and will assess the impact of any further proposals made. In keeping with our ongoing focus on maintaining Ireland’s reputation as an exceptional place to do business, we will continue to advocate for measures that ensure predictability, consistency, equity, sustainability, and transparency in the medicines legislative ecosystem across the EU. To this end, and since the publication of the European Commission’s proposal, officials from my Department have been engaging with stakeholders, EU colleagues and colleagues in the Department of Health to examine the proposal and analyse the impact of the proposed measure for the Irish pharmaceutical sector.
Business Supports
Questions (34)
James O'Connor
Question:34. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline details of a scheme for those businesses that have a shortfall of flood cover (details supplied) compared with the cost of damages to their businesses from the flooding from Storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4419/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Schemes closed to applications on 15th December 2023.
The scheme was available to businesses with up to 20 employees, (whole-time equivalents), community, voluntary and sporting bodies that through no fault of their own cannot secure flood insurance.
Under the emergency business flooding schemes the Government made provision to provide up to €100,000 for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies directly affected by the weather events in Counties Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Louth, Wexford, and Kilkenny.
These schemes provided urgent assistance to businesses that were unable, through no fault of their own, to get insurance to help with the costs of repairing the damage caused by flooding.
The scheme is intended as an emergency humanitarian assistance contribution only and not as compensation for loss or a replacement for the cover provided by insurance.
In addition, financial assistance by way of low-cost loans was immediately made available from Microfinance Ireland to businesses with up to 9 employees that could not secure loan financing from other lenders. Loan options include cashflow loans of up to €25,000, which can be used for general business purposes including restocking and other business costs. Loans for capital expenditure were also available, which could fund the refurbishment of premises, or the replacement of equipment damaged by the floods.
Job Losses
Questions (35)
Thomas Gould
Question:35. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what action he has taken to safeguard employment at a company in Ballincollig (details supplied) which is an IDA client company and has recently announced job losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4462/24]
View answerWritten answers
VMWare is a leading virtualisation and cloud computing software and services company, which first established in Ballincollig in 2005, following its acquisition by EMC. In May 2022, VMWare and Broadcom jointly announced that Broadcom would acquire VMWare. As a result of the acquisition, which formally closed on Wednesday 22nd November 2023, Broadcom’s current software division rebranded and operates as VMWare.
The company is planning a substantial rationalisation of VMWare’s headcount across its global operations in 100 countries, and, on Monday 11th December, VMWare notified me of potential redundancies in its Irish operations. My and Government's first concern remains for the staff and families of those impacted by the redundancy announcement and Government support is on hand to assist the impacted employees in relation to income, employment and training supports.
IDA Ireland has a strong relationship with the Irish and corporate management team at VMWare and is working with the local leadership team to understand the skills profile of impacted employees and to match that with existing or target client-company skills requirements. In that regard, I understand that several alternative employment opportunities have been identified for those likely to be affected by redundancies.
I should also acknowledge that VMWare is still regarded as a highly valuable IDA client-company in the South-West region which has helped to drive the growth of the software and broader technology base in the region.
Departmental Data
Questions (36)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated annual cost of establishing an additional public holiday. [4473/24]
View answerWritten answers
A recent 2022 study on the causal effects of public holidays on economic growth, which utilised a global panel of national holidays for over 200 countries over the period 2000-2019, estimated that 0.08% of annual GDP is foregone for each additional day of public holiday.
GNI* is used here as a more accurate estimate of Irish economic activity when compared with GDP. Based on the above estimate, the introduction of an additional public holiday could have an estimated cost of 0.08% of Gross National Income. The Department of Finance projects Modified Gross National Income of €283.7 billion in 2023 – meaning an additional public holiday could have an estimated cost of €226 million, in terms of output forgone.
In assessing the impact of public holidays there can be difficulty in separating the costs from the benefits. For example, certain sectors – such as retail, accommodation and food – may see a boost to economic activity while in other sectors (such as agriculture) the costs of a public holiday may be lower due to natural processes continuing throughout the holiday. Evidence also suggests that there is a level of ‘bounce-back’ in terms of the loss in production associated with public holidays which is recovered either through higher effort on other working days or effective management of scheduling. There are also likely to be strong well-being benefits from public holidays which are difficult to quantify.
An underlying assumption in the analysis of public holiday costs is that the impact of each additional public holiday is identical and transitory. However, there is likely a limit to the number of public holidays which could be incorporated into each year before each public holiday would begin to have a larger proportionate cost to national output, this would take the form of interrupting production schedules, or missing critical tasks to a greater extent, and would ultimately be more costly than the above analysis suggests.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection are currently undertaking an assessment of the impact of a range of changes to working conditions. This work will include a fuller assessment of the impact of an additional public holiday in Ireland. This report is currently being finalised and will be published in the coming weeks.
Business Supports
Questions (37)
Michael Lowry
Question:37. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the increased cost of business scheme, ICOB, announced as part of budget 2024 (details supplied); the current status of the ICOB; the date on which it will start; the process businesses need to follow to apply for this grant; the measures in place to ensure the grant is distributed fairly and reaches the businesses most in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant was announced as part of the Budget 2024 package and will be particularly 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. The total allocation for the ICOB grant is €257m.
Officials in my Department are currently working with the Local Authorities on the administration of the ICOB grant to ensure that support can be provided in early 2024.
A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is currently being drafted between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Local Authorities, to underpin the operation of this scheme. This SLA will cover the delivery, funding, and oversight arrangements for the grant scheme.
The administration of the ICOB will be carried out by Local Authorities and it is intended that the grant will be provided to qualifying firms in the first quarter of this year. It is not intended that there be a formal application process, rather it is intended that the business will be contacted directly by the local authorities. The grant scheme has been set up in this way so as to ensure that the scheme is accessible to smaller businesses, who may have had difficulties availing of previous schemes.
Eligibility for the ICOB grant will be assessed on the basis of a firm satisfying a minimum of the below conditions:
• The business is a commercially trading business operating directly within a premises that is commercially rateable by a Local Authority.
• The business has provided confirmation of its bank details to the respective Local Authority.
• The business is rates compliant, including those businesses with a phased payment arrangement in-place.
• The business is tax compliant, and in possession of a valid Tax Registration Number.
In recognition of concerns about the abrupt cut-off point of the scheme as initially announced on Budget Day and the need to provide support to firms who were at the margins of the scheme as initially designed, I had decided to extend the ICOB grant to ratepayers paying up to €30,000 in rates.
The grant is designed to be of particular benefit to small and medium businesses who pay commercial rates. To ensure that the smallest firms see the greatest benefit, the grant will be paid at a rate of half the enterprise’s 2023 commercial rates bill, for firms paying up to €10,000 in rates. For those paying between €10,000 and €30,000 in rates, they will receive a grant of €5,000. This further ensures that smaller premises receive a higher proportional grant.
School Curriculum
Questions (38)
Peter Burke
Question:38. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will review the well-being element of the secondary school curriculum, as advocated by Cycle Against Suicide; if she will reshape and resource it to improve the outcome for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4334/24]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister, I am committed to inclusive education for all. My Department is fully committed to creating safe and supportive environments in schools that are welcoming and inclusive for every student.
The area of wellbeing and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for my Department. This includes promoting emotional wellbeing, resilience and positive coping skills, which support children and young people to manage the complexities of modern life.
My Department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice, which informs the ongoing work in the area of student wellbeing and mental health. The approach in the Wellbeing Policy is founded on research and best international practice in relation to how schools can best support the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory part of the Primary and Junior Cycle curriculum, which provide vital opportunities for the development of children’s wellbeing in the physical, social, emotional and intellectual domains.
An updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification was published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in May 2023 and was rolled out for first years in all schools from last September.
The updated Junior Cycle specification provides clear direction on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that all students should gain during the three years of Junior Cycle SPHE. It places a strong focus on the development of important life skills that young people need growing up in a fast changing and complex world. The SPHE specification is grounded in values of respect, equality, inclusivity, responsibility, dignity, compassion and empathy.
The updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification consists of four strands: ‘Understanding Myself and Others’, ‘Making Healthy Choices’, ‘Relationships and Sexuality’, and ‘Emotional Wellbeing’.
The learning outcomes of the ‘Emotional Wellbeing’ Strand include that students should be able to ‘discuss the fluid nature of emotional wellbeing and ways to nurture and protect it’, to ‘consider the impact of stress and draw upon a variety of techniques to help self-regulate emotions and cope with the day-to-day stresses of life’, and to ‘discuss ways to support themselves and others in challenging times and where/how/when to seek support, if needed’.
Work is ongoing to update the SPHE specification for Senior Cycle and a draft specification was published for consultation in July 2023, with the consultation running until 3rd November last.
The draft specification includes a strand called ‘Health and Wellbeing’. The learning outcomes of this strand include that students should be able to explore the factors that influence mental health and wellbeing, to recognise unhelpful thinking patterns and negative self-talk, to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress and anxiety in themselves and others and recognise when help should be sought, where to go and how to access help if needed.
Also, in March 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience.
These reforms include initiatives to spread the assessment load for students and do so in a way that enhances student wellbeing, to ensure that students and their wellbeing are at the forefront of everything we do.
For this reason I have decided that, Additional Assessment Components (AACs) will be introduced across all new and revised subjects to spread the assessment load more evenly. AACs will be worth a minimum of 40% of the overall available mark, and will be different to a terminal written examination. They will be externally assessed by the State Examinations Commission
These components will also allow for a greater range of students’ skills and competences to be assessed, and will enable the assessment load experienced by Senior Cycle students to be spread more evenly, with a reduced emphasis on the final examinations in June of Sixth Year.
In relation to primary schools, work to develop a draft updated specification for Wellbeing, including SPHE, at Primary level, is being undertaken currently by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, or NCCA. This work follows on from the publication of the Primary Curriculum Framework in March 2023, which set out proposals for the redevelopment of the primary curriculum. It is intended that public consultation on a draft specification will happen this year, with the intention of introducing in schools in 2025. There will be an opportunity for anyone with an interest in this area, including issues relating to healthy and unhealthy behaviours, to make their views known and give their input and I strongly encourage you to do so.
Schools are encouraged to use a reflective, school self-evaluation approach to identify and prioritise the needs of its own school community in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health, and to respond to meeting those needs. To support schools in this work the Department funded Teacher Education Support Service, Oide, provides training to schools to ensure that the promotion of wellbeing is at the core of the ethos of every school. The role of Oide’s Health and Wellbeing teams is to support leaders, teachers and schools in the development and promotion of students’ emotional, social, personal and physical health and wellbeing in the context of a positive health-promoting school environment.
In addition, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS have lead responsibility for Wellbeing Policy Implementation and NEPS teams offer training and guidance for teachers in the provision of universal and targeted evidence-informed approaches and early intervention to promote children’s wellbeing, social, emotional and academic development.
A dedicated wellbeing portal is also available, bringing together all the wellbeing supports and resources that have been developed by the Department and the Department’s support services, which is available under ‘Wellbeing for Education’ on gov.ie.
School Accommodation
Questions (39)
Michael Ring
Question:39. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education to provide an update in relation to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4340/24]
View answerWritten answers
The school, to which the Deputy refers, was granted approval for one general classroom and one SET room under my Departments Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The school authorities submitted a revised Stage 2B report in November 2023 and this report is currently being reviewed by my Department’s technical team.
Once this review is completed my Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities to advise of the outcome and progress this project to the next stage.
School Staff
Questions (40)
Mattie McGrath
Question:40. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education her plans to reintroduce the allowance for teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4346/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments (September 2012) by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which means that many allowances, including this one, were no longer payable to “new entrant” Teachers.
Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this review on teachers. In common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries of the Teaching through Irish and Gaeltacht allowances was withdrawn from 1st February 2012 under the terms of the Circular. Furthermore, if a teacher was eligible for receipt of the allowance prior to 1st February 2012 and subsequently left that job role on or after 1st February 2012 on a voluntary basis, their entitlement to the allowance ceases from the date of the move and they cannot re-gain entitlement.
Additional amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions. Over the course of recent collective agreements amendments have been agreed including that “new entrant” teachers had the equivalent of an honours primary degree allowance integrated into their salary scale.
Any further amendments to alter the allowances paid to teachers, whether “new entrant” or not, give rise to significant cost issues and should, as mentioned, be part of engagement and collective agreements between Unions and Government. Any review of the eligibility criteria for qualification allowances can occur only under that process
State Examinations
Questions (41)
Thomas Pringle
Question:41. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education whether the State Examinations Commission will consider reducing the number of sraithpictiúrí on the Irish leaving certificate oral exam from 20 to 10 permanently as has been the case on a temporary basis for the past number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4349/24]
View answerWritten answers
The sraitheanna pictiúr, or picture sequences, are a component of the common Irish Oral test for Higher Level and Ordinary Level candidates, with the Oral test accounting for 40% of the overall marks for Leaving Cert Irish.
In response to issues highlighted in National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta research about the sraitheanna pictiúr and the conversational elements of the Oral Irish exam, the State Examinations Commission introduced adjustments to the structure of the Common Oral examination for the 2020 exams and thereafter. These aim to create greater opportunity for candidate-examiner interaction and so give the candidate scope to display their competence while keeping a balance between the different parts of the oral exam. However, the oral exams did not take place in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
Since then there have been adjustments to assessment arrangements in light of the pandemic’s impact on teaching and learning. These adjustments have been made with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, in relation to student-to-student, subject-to-subject, and year-to-year comparisons. They include a reduction in the number of sraitheanna pictiúr that each candidate must prepare, from 20 to 10. On the 16th of May 2023, I announced that these adjustments would apply again in 2024.
A decision has not yet been made in relation to assessment adjustments for 2025. The details of any assessment adjustments which may apply to the 2025 examinations will be communicated to schools once a decision is made, and schools will be asked to ensure that all students are made aware of these changes.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (42)
John Lahart
Question:42. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if her Department is aware of the lack of learning support resources in classrooms due to the shortage of teachers and, as a result, resource teachers having to be redirected to fill the place of the teacher in many classrooms across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4352/24]
View answerWritten answers
Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.
While schools in certain locations are experiencing challenges in both recruiting teachers and obtaining substitute teachers, the vast majority of sanctioned teacher positions are filled. The rate of resignation and retirement is very low by any standard and is consistent with previous years.
The Department recognises the importance of providing well-timed and appropriate support to pupils with identified learning needs and the crucial role this plays in supporting these students in their educational development.
The Special Education Teaching allocation for mainstream schools provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on the educational needs profile of each school.
Schools are frontloaded with ring-fenced SET resources for the purpose of supporting pupils with an identified and recorded special education learning need. This allocation allows schools to provide additional teaching support for pupils who require such support in their schools based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.
It is a matter for schools to deploy SET resources effectively to meet the needs identified in the Student Support Plans, which should be based on the continuum of support framework. Once the Department allocates SET hours to a school it is the responsibility of the school and the board management to utilise the allocation to meet the needs of those students with special educational needs. Special Education Teaching Hours should only be used for their intended purpose to support pupils with an identified and recorded special education learning need.
The importance in providing regular and structured support on a weekly basis to students with special education needs is crucial to their educational development and long term life prospects and for that reason it is in the interests of these children that all hours allocated to them in the current school year are used as envisaged.
Budget 2024 contains a range of measures that demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system. In addition to numerous actions I have taken in recent years to address teacher supply, a number of specific, targeted measures will be introduced with the new funding provided.
These include a professional masters of education (PME) incentive scheme and increasing the number of posts of responsibility.
A professional masters of education (PME) incentive scheme will be introduced for newly qualified teachers graduating in 2024. Those newly qualified teachers who graduate with a PME will, subject to some conditions, be eligible for an incentive payment of up to €2,000.
Also, an additional 1,000 posts of responsibility will be provided in the school system for the 2024/25 school year. This is in recognition that school leaders play a key role in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.
These new measures are in addition to a range of targeted measures that I have introduced in recent times, including:
• At primary level, 610 additional places have been approved on initial teacher education programmes for this and the next academic year (2023/24 and 2024/25).
• Post-primary teachers can provide up to 35 additional hours of substitute cover per term in the subject they are qualified to teach.
• Restrictions on job-sharing teachers from working as substitutes have been reduced and limits on substitute work applying to teachers on career breaks have also been suspended.
• The Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourage students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign uses digital, radio and video media, and is supported by a dedicated webpage, www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms
Teaching remains an attractive career choice in Ireland.
• CAO first preference choices for post-primary teaching increased in 2023 by 14%, in addition to a 9% increase in 2022.
• Starting pay for primary teachers is over €41,000 and for post primary teachers over €42,000 since October under the extension to Building Momentum.
• Over 3,700 newly qualified teachers have registered with the Teaching Council in 2023, with over 122,000 now on the Teaching Council register.
My Department continues to engage closely with school management bodies, teacher unions and other education stakeholders to develop further, innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (43)
Bernard Durkan
Question:43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current position in regard to the provision of a new school (details supplied); the progress on the project to date; when work will be completed, given the number of local primary feeder schools to this particular school and given the level of anticipated applications for the school for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4368/24]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
It is currently at Stage 2b of the process, which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When this stage is finalised, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction, in due course.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, KWETB will be engaging directly with the school to keep it informed of progress.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (44)
Patricia Ryan
Question:44. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the reason no special needs school place is available for a child (details supplied). [4393/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
In 2023, my department spent over €2.6 billion on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113m will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.
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 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs 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.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two special schools for this current school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools and that a further four special schools for the 2024/25 school year will be established.
Along with the two new special schools, 389 new special classes – 253 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this current school year.
In Kildare, 12 new special classes have been sanctioned for opening in the current school year, 7 at primary level and 5 at post-primary level, bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Kildare to 116.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at: www.ncse.ie/special-classes.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (45)
Gino Kenny
Question:45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to address the need for another secondary school in Newcastle, County Dublin and to examine the population growth in Newcastle and predicated population growth to ensure second level education is provided to all in this community. [4409/24]
View answerWritten answers
I 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 my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications
• School of choice
• Single sex schools
• External draw
Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
In response to such previously identified demographic pressures, my Department has delivered a Modular Accommodation project in 2022 of an additional 3 main classrooms for Holy Family Community School which allowed for a further 90 mainstream school places. Additionally, my Department is providing significant additional post primary capacity, including new 1,000 pupil school buildings for both Holy Family Community School and Coláiste Pobail Fola. These projects are currently at Stage 3, Tender Stage.
My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area. A critical next step for my Department is to establish 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 Newcastle_Rathcoole, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions.
This data has been received by my officials and is currently being analysed with a view to establishing the actual requirement for places. Preliminary assessments indicate that duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area, are very much contributing to enrolment pressures in the town.
The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation. Enrolment data for previous schools years is available on the Department website. Provisional enrolment data for the 2023/24 school year is available of the Departments website at www.gov.ie
My Department is working to clarify the actual requirement for additional school places and to identify particular further capacity requirements for 2024 and forthcoming years. 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 in Newcastle_Rathcoole 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 across the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area will receive a first year place.
My Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas including in Newcastle_Rathcoole.
School Accommodation
Questions (46)
James O'Connor
Question:46. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the expected timeline for an appointment of a project manager on an application for the feasibility study under the additional school accommodation scheme, from a school (details supplied) that has issues with spaces within the school and the lack of expansion for classrooms, SET Rooms, toilets and play areas; if her Department is examining the possibility of moving the school to a green field site due to the lack of capacity for expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4411/24]
View answerWritten answers
The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics.
I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, for the school to which the Deputy refers. The purpose of the Additional School Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by other schools in the area.
The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.
The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department. My officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider area for 2024/25 and future years.
In the context of making the most effective use of our capital allocation, and mindful of climate action goals, we are working to make sure that all school accommodation capacity is being maximised. We are looking at how each individual school's accommodation can be best utilised and at capacity across schools in each school planning area.
With this in mind and due to the complexities of the site at this school, the file of the school in question has been transferred to the Department’s technical team to undertake a feasibility study. The feasibility study will examine all aspects of the proposed project including the current school site and the current and future accommodation needs of the school. When the study is complete an update will issue directly to the school.