Written Answers Nos. 200-220
200. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if her Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5363/24]
View answerThe answer below was supplied to the Deputy (PQ Ref: 39969/22) last year and has not changed to date in 2024.
During the period August-October 2020, the Department of Education entered into two contracts for the provision of enhanced communications capacity for short periods. The companies engaged supported necessary communications with a wide range of stakeholders on matters relating to school reopening and the Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades projects.
The Department paid €6,000 to McQuaid Media and Communications to provide communications services to the Department to support the school reopening process and the Calculated Grades project.
The Department used the services of the Communications Clinic to provide communications services to the Department and Minister in preparing communications material for disseminating important messages to students and the general public in respect of the Calculated Grades process for 2020 Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students. The cost of this was €16,100.
The Department has not incurred any other costs in relation to external public relations for the period outlined.
201. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the amount spent by her Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5381/24]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in regard to the amount spent by my Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024 is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
202. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the amount spent by her Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [5399/24]
View answerInformation in respect of payments made from my Department’s administration expenditure for the purchase of furniture and IT equipment has been extracted from my Department’s Financial Management System (FMS). Total expenditure in the period outlined by the Deputy for the purchase of office furniture and IT equipment for my Department’s offices, including the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), is set out in the attached table.
The procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as the agent for Government departments and offices. However; NEPS pay a lease for office space in one location, included in the attached table.
|
Year |
Office Furniture amount € |
NEPS Office Lease Amount € |
Office IT Equipment Amount € |
|
2014 |
36,991.29 |
33,000.00 |
193,399.00 |
|
2015 |
68,654.21 |
33,000.00 |
497,012.00 |
|
2016 |
117,534.89 |
33,000.00 |
485,649.00 |
|
2017 |
143,413.90 |
47,400.00 |
477,888.00 |
|
2018 |
187,076.71 |
47,400.00 |
1,318,077.00 |
|
2019 |
221,582.30 |
47,400.00 |
880,204.00 |
|
2020 |
267,898.86 |
47,400.00 |
1,153,410.00 |
|
2021 |
61,781.19 |
47,400.00 |
1,332,560.00 |
|
2022 |
197,305.26 |
47,400.00 |
872,599.94 |
|
2023 |
488,846.56 |
47,400.00 |
954,628.15 |
|
To date 2024 |
15,185.97 |
0.00 |
57,180.48 |
|
TOTAL |
1,806,271.14 |
430,800.00 |
8,222,607.57 |
|
Grand Total |
10,459,678.71 |
203. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if an application for a school extension (details supplied) will be considered favourably; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5414/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that there is no current Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme application on hand, from the school in question.
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.
However, I am pleased to state that approval was given to the school for a significant project in 2021.
The approval includes the provision of:
3x General Classrooms,
1x Textiles room,
1x Science lab/Prep Area,
1x Graphics room,
1x Art room, 1x Art Project store,
2 Special Education Classrooms
1x WC for Assisted users.
This project has been devolved to the school authorities and it is currently at Stage 1.
204. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education how many additional teachers have been employed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5461/24]
View answerThe 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.
There are currently 47.24 whole time equivalent teaching posts allocated to support the EAL needs of new entrant pupils in Co. Mayo.
205. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 687 of 17 January 2024, the funding provided per fee paying school for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; if she is aware of funding to fee-paying schools from other Government Departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5470/24]
View answerA request for additional information was requested from the Deputy. This will be forwarded directly once it is received.
206. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if an update on a case of expulsion (details supplied) can be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5495/24]
View answerIn line with the arrangements set out as part of the current Government formation, since January 2021 Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), is under the remit of my Department.
TESS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three strands namely the Statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School Completion Programme (SCP). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, families and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people. All three strands share the same national outcomes:
• Improved Attendance
• Improved Participation
• Improved Retention
TESS has informed my Department that the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) has not received any contact regarding the young person referred to by the Deputy. No notification of intent to expel this young person from his school has been received by the EWS.
If a child or young person attends a boarding school, and, is expelled or requested to leave their boarding accommodations only, it is not a ground of appeal against an expulsion under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998.
The Education Welfare Officer for the area referred to by the Deputy is available to offer any assistance to the parents/guardians regarding any potential expulsion from the school, The contact details for the relevant region of the Educational Welfare Service is available at the following link: https://www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/ .
207. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the funding or grants available to schools to insulate attics and walls and to provide new windows and doors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5501/24]
View answerAs you may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for categories of works such as roof works, window replacement, mechanical and electrical works, external works etc. and was last opened for applications in 2019.
The Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings.
As part of it’s planning for 2024 and beyond, Department officials are considering and planning for the next phases of the summer works programme and the opportunities this may create to support the sustainability agenda. In this regard, it is envisaged at this stage that, a Multi-Annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.
It should also be noted that the Energy in Education website portal and advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also provides schools with information on how to improve energy use practices and to reduce school operating costs while helping to protect the environment for future generations. The website can be accessed at the following link. www.energyineducation.ie
208. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the STEM grant funding process for schools, following the recent announcement of €4.7 million; how unsuccessful schools can ensure that STEM is made a key learning area in the curriculum without the adequate STEM resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5557/24]
View answerThe STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023. The grant is to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project.
As you are aware the initial funding available at the time of the call for applications was €1.5 million. Given the high demand from schools, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7 million. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the funding fell short of the ask of over €25 million. Given the very high number of valid applications (2,727) and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery on this occasion. Each of the applications were read and logged with any invalid applications removed. They were then subject to the lottery system. Any school that succeeded in the lottery system was assessed with regards to the requirements as set out in the call for grant applications.
The promotion of STEM and digital learning within our education system is a key priority for the Department of Education, and is reflected in multiple strategy documents, such as the STEM Education Policy Statement, Digital Strategy for Schools, Action Plan for Education, Ireland’s National Skills Strategy, Arts in Education Charter, and the National Strategy: Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life.
Under the STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 my Department continues to provide support for STEM including STEM related curricular reform, ongoing provision of STEM professional development by the Department of Education support services, development and publication of guidelines for STEM partnerships between schools and business/industry, partnership with Science Foundation Ireland to support education and public engagement projects in STEM through the SFI Discover Programme, development of the SFI ‘Curious Minds’ programme and ongoing support of informal STEM education projects such as SciFest, BTYSTE, Science Blast and iWish.
The Department continues to provide support in relation to the redevelopment of the Primary curriculum. In the STEM area the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum (PMC) was published in September of this year. A suite of high-quality professional development supports is being provided by the Department, together with Oide and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to support the engagement, collaboration and professional learning of school leaders and teachers to become familiar with, and implement, the PMC. The support includes a comprehensive range of face-to-face and online supports to introduce, implement and embed the Primary Mathematics Curriculum over the course of an extensive three-phase continuous professional development (CPD) framework. This follows on from the support provided for the Primary Language Curriculum. Support for the other areas which will be introduced to schools in the coming years will provided by the Department.
The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year with all monies available having been allocated to schools. It is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year which means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. The amount of funding available will depend on the priorities and demands on the Department’s allocated budget. In relation to any future funding that becomes available, the Department will be in contact with schools.
209. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on funding for temporary modular accommodation for a school (details supplied) given works on the school extension, including demolition works are to begin in September and the temporary accommodation needs to be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5583/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional temporary accommodation from the school in question.
The school in question received approval for a permanent build which consists of 2x Special education classrooms, 7x mainstream classrooms and toilets. This project is currently at stage 2b with delivery section. As part of this project, approval was given for purchased modular accommodation which was devolved to the school authority for delivery.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
In an effort to assist the school, officials in the Department have been in contact with the principal directly, and will continue to work with him on the provision of accommodation for the school.
210. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education in relation to education issues for a person (details supplied) why it was decided by the Education Welfare Officer that they did not meet the criteria for home tuition; can this decision be appealed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5584/24]
View answerThe Department of Education's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The scheme is governed by annual circulars which set out the details, purpose and eligibility criteria. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/24 Home Tuition Grant Scheme – Special Education component - and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/67f37-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20232024-special-education-component/
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
In exceptional cases the Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school. This exception will only apply where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the reintegration of the student in their school.
In relation to applications in respect of students with diagnoses of a significant medical condition, the principle that home tuition cannot be provided as an alternative to school applies.
Eligibility is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria
• Confirmation the student is currently enrolled in school.
• The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.
• A relevant medical/professional report which should:
Clearly confirm a diagnosis of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety.
Provide details of medical or therapeutic intervention plans in place with a view to reintegrate the student back into his/her school.
• Details of engagement with the relevant support agencies (e.g. School, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), Education Welfare Officer (EWO), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), TUSLA (Child and Family Agency), HSE, NCSE).
For students enrolled in schools with a significant medical condition grant aid based on a range of between 2 and 10 hours tuition may be approved with the allocation reflecting the level of attendance in the previous school year (i.e. the 2022/23 school year), and whether the attendance was at primary or post-primary level. As a general guide, up to 5 hours may be granted to children at primary level while students at post-primary level may be granted between 2 and 7 hours, and students sitting their leaving certificate examinations may be granted between 2 and 10 hours.
Appeals in relation to decisions made under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme may be submitted in writing to the below address, quoting the home tuition reference number, and outlining the reasons for the appeal along with additional documents or reports, as appropriate.
Home Tuition Unit, Special Education Section, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 X659
Email Address: special_education@education.gov.ie
To date, no application for Home Tuition has been received by my Department in respect to the child referred to by the Deputy.
211. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school (details supplied). [5591/24]
View answerThe school to which the deputy refers submitted an Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) application for funding for a roof replacement. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works and the school was advised to submit a revised scope of works based on a leak detection test, and an accompanying Itemised Cost Breakdown for the revised scope of works. My Department is currently awaiting this information which, once received, will be assessed by the EWS team. My Department is aware of the urgent nature of these works and will keep the school informed throughout the process.
212. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the development of schools (details supplied). [5596/24]
View answerThe first school referred to by the Deputy was approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide a 2 classroom SEN base.
This project has been devolved for delivery to the Cork ETB (CETB).
My Department are awaiting a stage 1 report submission from the CETB. Once received this will be reviewed and the outcome of the review will be communicated to the school authority.
In relation to the second project referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that the school in question was approved under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for the provision of 19 general classrooms, 3 science Labs, 1 art room, 1 home economics room, 5 SET rooms and a 2 classroom SEN base.
The project is also devolved to Cork ETB (CETB).
Phase one of this project is now nearing completion. In relation to phase 2, my Department has received a pre stage 1 report and held a phase 2 stage meeting with all relevant stakeholder, where additional information was requested. This has been received and my Department has agreed to the revised brief.
My Department will continue to engage with the ETB to progress this important project.
213. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education her intentions to urgently intervene in the school transport crisis at a school (details supplied); her plans to hire sufficient drivers to meet the demand for school transport services in Limerick; if she is considering alternatives to school transport in high demand areas where school transport cannot be provided, such as utilising existing public transport with the school transport ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5652/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02 million.
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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2023/2024 school year.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level have continued for the current school year. Under these measures, 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.
In relation to the issues raised by the Deputy in this case, Bus Éireann has confirmed that a service to the Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick, has not yet commenced due to driver shortages.
Bus Éireann is continuing to prioritise sourcing vehicles and drivers, however, they have confirmed that a small number of routes remain without a service, this equates to less than 1% of pupils nationally (or less than 2% of vehicles) with services being provided for over 99.5% of pupils on a daily basis.
The Department has established an “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements families may have to put in place until their service begins. The Department has contacted families directly in regard to this payment.
In relation to the route in question, the local school transport team is actively working to re-instate this service and will continue to engage with families involved. Bus Éireann.
214. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if he can provide a detailed timeline for building works including estimated completion for the delivery of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5716/24]
View answerThe permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a campus development and will provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.
The Programme Manager was appointed in Q3 2023 and is in the process of preparing documentation for the tender process for the appointment of multi-disciplinary design team consultants.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
215. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education what options are available to students living in the Beaumont, Coolock D5 school planning area to access Educate Together or other multi/non-denominational primary school education, given that there is no educate together provision in their school planning area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5717/24]
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.
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.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
These new arrangements also give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental patronage and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 Government Decision.
The 2023 demographic analysis indicate primary school enrolments in the Beaumont_CoolockD5 school planning area reached their projected peak year in 2022 and enrolments are projected to decrease thereafter.
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.
Progress has been made towards increasing the numbers of multi-denominational schools in recent years. There are currently 168 primary schools with a multi-denominational or inter-denominational ethos. For historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron, although this pattern is changing. It is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society.
The Schools Reconfiguration for diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local communities, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools. During 2022/23 a structured engagement process took place with school communities in a number of towns and areas of cities that had no multi-denominational primary schools. This process aimed to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there was sufficient demand for this. Following consultation with relevant stakeholders, it is intended that the review of the 2022/23 engagement process will be finalised and published in Q1 2024. It is envisaged that it will include a framework for delivering on the Government commitment for increasing multi-denominational provision. A significant amount of work has been done by the Department on the scope, logistics and practical arrangements for a potential survey of primary schools in relation to reconfiguration and details will be announced in due course.
The Government’s goal remains to establish a strong process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools across the country.
216. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the amount the actors/ “edinfluencers” were paid to take part in a campaign (details supplied); and the amount that was spent to promote the campaign in general. [5723/24]
View answerAll persons featured in this video work are educational professionals and participated on a voluntary basis.
The only payments received by participants were their travel expenses (for participating in the production which took place in Dublin), all of which have been vouched.
The video piece concludes with a professional voice-over who directs viewers to a government website to find out more information. This voice-over artist was paid according to industry rates for his services, as is normal practice.
217. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether any contact has been made by Dublin City Council with her officials, or applications made by them to the sports capital grant scheme, in relation to addressing the lack of sports facilities, in particular grass or synthetic full size pitches in the Liberties area of Dublin, as highlighted by the Sporting Liberties collective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4920/24]
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.
The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications, exceeds the record number submitted under the previous (2020) round.
The "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with the full list of all applications received by county and the relevant sport type for each application received. Dublin City Council has submitted a number of applications, including one in respect of St Catherine's Sports Centre in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties area of Dublin. A number of sports clubs that are part of the Sporting Liberties collective have also made individual applications.
The detailed assessment work has commenced and 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.
218. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she can seek assistance for Irish Ice Hockey for their upcoming trip to the Scotiabank junior hockey tournament in Nova Scotia, Canada in April (details supplied); if the Minister can enquire or advise if any funding would be available to assist the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4929/24]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland provides core funding to the relevant National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), in this case the Irish Ice Hockey Association.
The Irish Ice Hockey Association should accordingly contact Sport Ireland to see what financial support may be available.
Unfortunately, there is no discretionary funding available to my Department through which financial assistance could be provided.
219. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding plans to regulate platform short-term lets; and if delays imposed on the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill by the European Union have been lifted. [4956/24]
View answerIn accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535, the proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill remains with the EU Commission. TRIS requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law. Such a notification triggers a standstill period during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. This standstill period was in place until 22 December 2023. The EU Commission extended the standstill period as it considered that the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022 (EU STR).
My officials have continued to consistently engage with the EU Commission, there has been engagement between officials and the EU Commission Directorate. As part of this ongoing engagement, officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and representatives from Fáilte Ireland have also met with representatives of the Commission.
y Department has and continues to engage extensively with the Commission in relation to the alignment of Ireland’s proposed STTL Bill and the EU STR once adopted. Clarity on the EU STR should allow the legislative process to commence soon with enactment of the Bill in the period shortly thereafter. The enactment of the STTL Bill will provide the statutory basis for Fáilte Ireland to establish the STTL register. Once established all properties in the STTL sector will have to be registered with Fáilte Ireland. Upon registration STTL proprietors will be asked to confirm their compliance with statutory obligations, including planning permission requirements.
220. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on a project (detail supplied); if she will provide the expected timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5150/24]
View answerThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with new swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools eligible to apply for LSSIF grant funding subject to published guidelines and regulations. The first LSSIF allocations were announced in January 2020 and thus far €124 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including 8 swimming pool projects.
The Minister and I recently confirmed that a new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course. While the 2019 LSSIF programme was aimed primarily at National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply but such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or an NGB.
I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens later this year.
