Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:210. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will address the teacher shortage at post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7353/24]
View answerSchool Staff
Questions (210)
Written 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.
Budget 2024 contained a range of measures that demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system.
• A professional masters’ of education 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 in 2025.
• Additionally, there will be an expansion in the number of upskilling programmes available. These programmes, which are free to teachers, increase the number of teachers who are qualified to teach in-demand subjects and reduce the level of out-of-field teaching. These new upskilling programmes in Irish, French, politics and society, and computer science will be in addition to existing upskilling programmes in maths, physics and Spanish.
• 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:
• Post-primary teachers can provide up to 35 additional hours of substitute cover per term in the subject they are qualified to teach.
• Ensuring initial teacher education providers created existing flexibilities that enable student teachers to support schools, either while on placement, or in a substitute capacity. In 2022/23, more than 2,700 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate student teachers registered with the Teaching Council under Route 5 and provided valuable support to schools as substitute teachers. In January this year there were 3,300 registered under Route 5 on the Teaching Council register.
• Encouraging retired teachers to provide substitute cover. A new communications campaign has begun recently to encourage retired teachers to return to teaching.
• The 50 day pension abatement waiver, for retirees returning to work, has been extended for a further two years to the end of 2025.
• Restrictions on job-sharing teachers and those on a career break from working as substitutes have been reduced.
• 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;
• CAO first preference choices for post-primary teaching increased in 2023 by 14%, in addition to a 9% increase in 2022.
• Starting pay for post-primary teachers is over €42,000 since October under the extension to Building Momentum. Further increases will arise under the new public sector pay agreement once it is ratified by union members.
• Over 3,700 newly qualified teachers have registered with the Teaching Council in 2023, with over 120,000 now on the Teaching Council register.
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.
My Department continues to engage closely with education stakeholders to develop further, innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.
Tourism Schemes
Questions (211)
James O'Connor
Question:211. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on the installation of the new Fáilte Ireland-funded outdoor water-based activity infrastructure in Claycastle, Youghal, County Cork that was announced in June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7153/24]
View answerWritten answers
My role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Sports Funding
Questions (212)
Alan Dillon
Question:212. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on an application (details supplied) pursuant to the sport capital equipment grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7168/24]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 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, including one from the organisation to which the Deputy refers. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last (2020) round.
The "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. 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 to be announced later.
Gaeltacht Scholarships
Questions (213)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:213. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of Gaeltacht scholarships available to post primary level students in DEIS schools; her plans to increase this number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7226/24]
View answerWritten answers
The DEIS Gaeltachta initiative commenced in 2019 with an allocation of €50,000 in order to assist in providing the opportunity to post-primary students attending DEIS schools to attend recognised Irish summer colleges.
Additional funding was allocated to this initiative in 2022 bringing the total funding available for the scheme to €400,000 annually. Over 400 scholarships are offered annually worth c.€850 each to provide unique opportunities for attendees of DEIS post-primary schools throughout the country to attend a summer college in the Gaeltacht. This initiative will continue for 2024.
This fund is administered by the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) on behalf of my Department. This social inclusion measure is providing greater opportunities than ever before to DEIS students who might not otherwise get the chance to attend a summer course in the Gaeltacht.
The Deputy may wish to know that an additional allocation of €500,000 is being made available in 2024 to provide similar opportunities for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who do not attend DEIS schools. Details of this new scheme will be announced in due course.
Television Licence Fee
Questions (214, 215)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:214. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total revenue collected by the TV licence in the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7227/24]
View answerPaul McAuliffe
Question:215. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total number of households who paid for a TV licence in the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7228/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
Public Service Media plays a vital role in our democracy and our society as a whole. It is therefore essential, as I have always maintained, that households continue to purchase a TV licence and contribute towards funding quality public service media.
The total number of TV Licences purchased, and the total revenues collected from these sales, over the last four years are shown in the table below.
|
2023 |
824,278 |
€131.884m |
|
2022 |
947,924 |
€151.668m |
|
2021 |
951,454 |
€152.233m |
|
2020 |
961,277 |
€153.804m |
In addition to the above, the Department of Social Protection has made a contribution of €69.8m each year for ‘free’ TV Licences distributed under the Household Benefits Package. The number of these free licences averaged 514,245 in 2023; 506,635 in 2022; 478,482 in 2021; and 463,819 in 2020.
The TV Licence not only provides funding for RTÉ but also for content funded though the Sound and Vision program which is of such assistance to the independent production sector, both in radio and in television. This funding supports a wide range of public service content, from impartial current affairs programming, educational public service content, and a broad variety of children's, sport and entertainment programming that speaks to all of Ireland’s communities, without which our democracy and our society would be much the poorer.
Question No. 215 answered with Question No. 214.
Television Licence Fee
Questions (216)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:216. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total number of prosecutions for not having a TV licence in the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7229/24]
View answerWritten answers
Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 makes provision for the administration of the TV licence fee system.
As statutory collection agent, operational issues regarding collection and enforcement are primarily a matter for An Post, who make every effort to promote the purchasing of a TV licence and thereby ensure compliance. This includes issuing of reminders and undertaking household visits to confirm possession of a TV licence or otherwise. While it is an offence not to possess a TV licence, prosecution through the courts is a last resort.
Details of prosecutions are not under my remit and my Department does not hold the requested figures. Timing of court hearings and details of prosecutions and sentencing are a matter for the Courts Service. However, I can provide details on the number of summons issued by An Post and the number of cases brought to court in the past four years, which are as follows:
|
Year |
Number of Summons Issued |
Cases Brought to Court |
|
2020 |
9,555 |
4,581 |
|
2021 |
7,7507 |
4,328 |
|
2022 |
14,915 |
9,610 |
|
2023 (to 30th November) |
13,137 |
8,612 |
* 2023 figures up to 30th November inclusive, final figures for 2023 are not yet available.
The figures provided for 2020 and 2021 reflect reduced operational activities due to the impact of necessary public health restrictions.
It is to be noted that not all summonses sought in any given year are brought to court in the same calendar year and may not be heard until the following year.
Possession of a valid TV licence is not only a legal obligation, it also provides vital funding to enable the provision of high quality public service content to Irish audiences. It is important to note that in addition to providing funding to RTÉ, TV licences receipts also enable funding to a wider range of broadcasters including local commercial radio through the Sound and Vision scheme, as well as providing significant support for the independent production sector.
Swimming Pools
Questions (217)
Bernard Durkan
Question:217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which the swimming pool development programme is expected to continue, and on what basis over the next two years; the extent of the programme to date in dealing with the needs as represented by local communities throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7318/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Both of these capital programmes are demand-driven.
Eight of 33 projects awarded funding under the first round of the LSSIF are swimming pool projects. Minister Martin and I have also 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 confirmed in due course. While the LSSIF programme is aimed primarily at the National Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply. However, such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or a Governing Body.
Separately, applications for improvements or renovations to existing, publicly accessible swimming pools were accepted under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) which closed for applications in September 2023.
Both the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and the Sports Action Plan 2021-2023 commit to the development of a National Swimming Strategy. A Working Group chaired by my Department was established in 2022 and tasked with developing the Strategy, which is based on a vision to ‘provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’. The working group comprises representatives from relevant National Governing Bodies for sport and stakeholders, specifically Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland (formerly CARA), Ireland Active and the Local Authorities. Extensive stakeholder and public engagement has allowed for a wide range of viewpoints to be considered in shaping this Strategy. Work on its development is nearing completion and I hope to be in a position to publish it in the coming period.
Sports Organisations
Questions (218)
Bernard Durkan
Question:218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department continues to reach out to those involved in sporting activities with a view to continuation of sporting activities in the future in line with the needs as presented by local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7319/24]
View answerWritten answers
I recognise the importance of sport and physical activity for our society and the need to ensure that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport. Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the promotion of sports participation.
Sport Ireland provides funding to the network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs). In 2023, Sport Ireland invested core funding of €10.3 million in the LSPs. The network of 29 LSPs undertakes a wide range of actions with the aim of increasing sport and physical activity participation levels in their local communities. The design, delivery and evaluation of targeted initiatives by LSPs directly increases the level of sports participation locally, particularly amongst the harder to reach social groups such as people with a disability, people from areas of socio-economic disadvantage, ethnic minorities, older adults and women. Through their expertise and local connections with the sports communities, LSPs are able to identify specific needs and deliver effective initiatives accordingly.
Local authorities are key stakeholders in the context of public spaces for sport and physical activity as well as providing opportunities for participation initiatives. Recognising that pivotal role, Sport Ireland is currently assisting Local Authorities to develop Local Sports Plans that will review needs by taking a strategic look at the provision of sports and recreation facilities, infrastructure, programmes and services, with the aim of increasing participation locally. These plans are being developed and implemented in cooperation with Local Sports Partnerships, clubs, communities, and partners within and beyond sport. It is envisaged that all Local Authorities will develop and adopt their own individual Local Sports Plan in 2024.
With regard to capital support, the 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 the 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 last (2020) round.
The "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. 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 to be announced later.