Parliamentary questions

School Services Staff

Thomas Byrne

121. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of permitting schools with enrolments of 500 to 650 to fill secretary vacancies provided they have fewer than 1.5 posts and schools with enrolments of 626 to 699 provided they have fewer than two posts filled under budget 2020. [42751/19]

School Transport Provision

Thomas Byrne

130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to participate in the school transport scheme for a pupil who becomes homeless during the school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42822/19]

School Starting Age

Thomas Byrne

131. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his responsibilities with regard to the mandatory school age. [42823/19]

School Attendance Data

Thomas Byrne

295. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her responsibilities with regard to the mandatory school age. [42824/19]

Agriculture Schemes

Thomas Byrne

69. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase funding for suckler cow farmers, the existing BDGP and BEEP schemes and the ANC. [41976/19]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Thomas Byrne

84. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase TAMS funding. [41975/19]

Online Safety

Thomas Byrne

178. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address cyberbullying in schools; if new measures will be brought forward in the context of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41629/19]

Online Safety

Thomas Byrne

179. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the use of Internet enabled devices in schools; if new measures will be brought forward in the context of the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41630/19]

Departmental Functions

Thomas Byrne

180. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a new department of higher education and research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41631/19]

Technological Universities Status

Thomas Byrne

181. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mechanism by which a Cork Institute of Technology will not take on the debts of IT Tralee in the event that they merge to form a new university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41632/19]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

182. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions which will be taken to ensure that the junior certificate results are released in line with previous years from 2020 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41633/19]

National Training Fund

Thomas Byrne

183. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be no replacement of Exchequer funding with funding from the National Training Fund in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41634/19]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Byrne

184. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary teachers, secondary teachers, special needs assistants and other staff required to maintain current pupil-teacher and-or staff ratios in the 2019-20 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41635/19]

Site Acquisitions

Thomas Byrne

216. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a permanent site will be purchased for a college (details supplied). [41895/19]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

414. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons reimbursed under the cross-border scheme in 2019; the timeframe for turning around applications; the waiting time for persons to be reimbursed; the number of persons awaiting reimbursement having received their treatment; and the number of applications for authorisation outstanding [42010/19]

Health Strategies

Thomas Byrne

21. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the strategies in place for developing health services on third level campuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41215/19]

School Enrolments Data

Thomas Byrne

124. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the numbers of pupils enrolled in each new school in September 2019. [41440/19]

North-South Interconnector

Thomas Byrne

231. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the north-south interconnector. [41505/19]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Thomas Byrne

232. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when broadband availability and quality will increase in rural County Meath. [41506/19]

School Enrolments

Thomas Byrne

58. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an area (details supplied) in County Meath which is not located in a secondary school catchment area; and the school children from the area should attend. [41235/19]

Third Level Fees

Thomas Byrne

66. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a non-EEA citizen who is resident here for more than a decade and married to an Irish citizen is not eligible for EU status for third level fees and free fees in view of the fact a similar non-EEA citizen married to a non-Irish EU citizen and resident here for a similar period and therefore having EU treaty rights is eligible for EU status for third level fees and free fees. [41329/19]

Third Level Institutions

Thomas Byrne

68. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the third level institutions which have informed his Department of plans to reduce enrolment in the coming years; the institute and planned enrolment reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41362/19]

Home Building Finance Ireland

Thomas Byrne

42. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of expressions of interest received by county for the home building finance Ireland lending scheme; the number of completed applications; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications; the amount of funding offered in loans; the number of units that will be built with funding that has been committed to by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40853/19]

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Thomas Byrne

85. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the clerical officer transfer of a person (details supplied) under the mobility scheme will be possible; and if there is a timeline for same. [40687/19]

Departmental Schemes

Thomas Byrne

99. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of payments made under an ex-gratia scheme instituted on foot of a judgment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40806/19]

Departmental Schemes

Thomas Byrne

100. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if payments have been made to13 applicants whose application for a payment from the ex-gratia scheme was previously refused by the SCA on the sole ground that they failed to furnish evidence of a prior complaint. [40807/19]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

101. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the meaning of special core status for history; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40822/19]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

102. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for pupils that are at school or that started school in 2018 in the context of history becoming a core subject. [40823/19]

School Curriculum

Thomas Byrne

103. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the meaning of special core status changed for history before his announcement in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40824/19]

Departmental Reviews

Thomas Byrne

112. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the implementation task force on guidance counsellors; and the reason no guidance counsellors are members of the task force. [40995/19]

Departmental Reviews

Thomas Byrne

128. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to a review of options for standardised testing in order that clear information is provided to teachers and parents. [41138/19]

Commencement of Legislation

Thomas Byrne

129. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to the commencement of fitness to teach provisions of the Teaching Council Act. [41139/19]

Teacher Training Provision

Thomas Byrne

130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to additional funding provided for continuous professional development for teachers since February 2016. [41140/19]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Byrne

131. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to the development of a mechanism to recognise a person’s practical work experience and expertise in order to enable the person to take on an apprenticeship. [41141/19]

School Accommodation

Thomas Byrne

132. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of works at schools (details supplied); if these works are consistent with those announced under the prefab replacement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41142/19]

Institutes of Technology

Thomas Byrne

133. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of refurbishment works at Dundalk IT. [41143/19]

Institutes of Technology

Thomas Byrne

134. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of fitting out the building works at a college (details supplied). [41144/19]

Institutes of Technology

Thomas Byrne

135. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of refurbishment works at a campus (details supplied). [41145/19]

Third Level Facilities

Thomas Byrne

136. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a building (details supplied). [41146/19]

Third Level Facilities

Thomas Byrne

137. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the expansion of a campus (details supplied). [41147/19]

Technological Universities

Thomas Byrne

138. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a recreation department (details supplied). [41148/19]

Education Welfare Service

Thomas Byrne

412. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position with regard to increasing the mandatory school going age to 17 years. [41136/19]

School Completion Programme

Thomas Byrne

413. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the provision of a new school completion strategy. [41137/19]

Garda Transport Data

Thomas Byrne

24. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda marked and unmarked cars and vehicles assigned to each Garda station in the Meath division. [40168/19]

Road Network

Thomas Byrne

55. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to enhance road transportation in County Meath. [39692/19]

Public Transport

Thomas Byrne

62. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to enhance public transport in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39691/19]

School Placement

Thomas Byrne

133. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the pressure for second-level school places in Gorey, County Wexford and the concerns of local schools and parents that there may not be a sufficient number of places available within two years; his plans to provide for the construction of a new second-level school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40113/19]

Home Care Packages

Thomas Byrne

153. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a home care support package for a person (details supplied) will be put into place. [40002/19]

National Monuments

Thomas Byrne

84. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the restoration plans for properties under his ownership in Kells, County Meath; his further plans to carry out enhancement or conservation works at the monastic site; and if there are plans to enhance the tourism signage in Kells. [39620/19]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

92. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to increase the stipend given to keyholders of OPW sites nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39621/19]

State Examinations

Thomas Byrne

222. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding payments to examiners under the SEC; if there are delays; and when outstanding payments will issue. [39775/19]

Health Services Provision

Thomas Byrne

347. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when a home support package will be put in place for a person (details supplied). [39421/19]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Byrne

415. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if the HPV vaccination which is already available for girls born in 2004 will become available for boys born in 2004. [39816/19]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Thomas Byrne

581. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the inability of those on Tús, RSS or gateway schemes to have their fuel allowance payment paid in two lump sum payments rather than receiving the payment weekly during the fuel season; and if she plans to make changes to the system to allow two lump sum payments be made to the recipients that are on Tús, RSS or gateway schemes. [39279/19]

Departmental Budgets

Thomas Byrne

39. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance if more funding will be made available to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39041/19]

Tax Code

Thomas Byrne

54. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to make changes to flat rate expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39040/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

88. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the net capital expenditure on primary and post-primary infrastructure to include expenditure on primary and secondary school replacement and new builds for each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39170/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Thomas Byrne

89. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total spend per year on lands purchased for schools in each of the years 2010 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39171/19]

Home Tuition Scheme

Thomas Byrne

90. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of home tuition grants which were not processed within two weeks of receipt; the number of applications received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39172/19]

Public Services Card

Thomas Byrne

16. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the recent report by the Data Protection Commission into the use of the public services card. [38845/19]

Gender Equality

Thomas Byrne

34. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the recent report by the ESRI in which the extent of pension gender pay gap was highlighted; the measures she plans to undertake to remedy the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38844/19]

Tourism Promotion

Thomas Byrne

142. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to enhance tourism experiences in County Meath. [38921/19]

National Monuments

Thomas Byrne

178. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of works to enhance the Hill of Tara complex. [38920/19]

School Accommodation Provision

Thomas Byrne

154. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for ASD accommodation; and if these works will be sanctioned. [38260/19]

Teachers' Remuneration

Thomas Byrne

172. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for further delays to the payment of teachers in September 2019; the nature of the delays; the actions being taken to address this issue; if the problem that has occurred is the same problem that arose in January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38645/19]

Teachers' Remuneration

Thomas Byrne

173. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that his Department and the Revenue Commissioners have resolved technical issues that led to the non-payment of teachers in January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38646/19]

State Examinations Appeals

Thomas Byrne

179. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that appealed their leaving certificate results and attained a higher mark in 2017, 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38747/19]

State Examinations Appeals

Thomas Byrne

180. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that appealed their leaving certificate results in 2017, 2018 and 2019. [38748/19]

School Management

Thomas Byrne

98. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the cost of audits for schools will be reviewed with a view to reducing the burden of costs for small schools with a low number of transactions. [38119/19]

School Management

Thomas Byrne

99. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of an audit for a school can absorb a large portion of capitation for a small school; if his Department monitors the cost of financial audits for small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38120/19]

Home Tuition Scheme

Thomas Byrne

99. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications outstanding for home tuition grants as at 13 September 2019. [37773/19]

Home Tuition Scheme

Thomas Byrne

100. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received to date for the 2019/2020 school term for home tuition grants. [37774/19]

Schools Building Contractors

Thomas Byrne

101. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent in 2018 on a company (details supplied) by legal fees, other professional and consultancy fees and other costs including construction and renovations in tabular form. [37776/19]

Homelessness Strategy

Thomas Byrne

103. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not provided guidelines to schools in the way in which to deal with and be of help to school pupils and their families who are homeless. [37790/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

104. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not provided the needed number of school places for children with special needs at the beginning of this academic year. [37791/19]

Student Grant Scheme Applications Data

Thomas Byrne

105. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who qualified for a category of support from SUSI in each of the academic years 2010 to 2018; and the projected number for academic year beginning 2019. [37792/19]

Home Tuition Scheme

Thomas Byrne

119. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which home tuition will commence in September 2019; the number of children who will receive home tuition in September 2019; the number of teachers who are in place to provide same; the number of vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37885/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Thomas Byrne

124. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which a school (details supplied) was told that a proposed temporary move would not go ahead; and the reason this major project has been delayed. [37949/19]

School Transport Administration

Thomas Byrne

125. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the new bus routes established further to his changing or reinterpretation of the rules in summer 2019. [37950/19]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Byrne

197. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure there are sufficient school places at both primary and secondary level in Ratoath, County Meath. [37202/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

202. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of 42 new schools announced in April 2018; the cost incurred to date; the estimated cost of buildings which have not been delivered to date for these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37266/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

203. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019 on consultants for school building projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37267/19]

School Placement

Thomas Byrne

204. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost of delivery of a permanent school place in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, at primary and secondary level, respectively and in DEIS schools in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37268/19]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

205. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the value of payments made to consultants working on schools built under the rapid build programme which were subsequently found to have structural issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37269/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

206. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of remedial works for schools constructed by a company (details supplied) at which structural issues were identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37270/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

207. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of construction inflation in 2018 for major projects under construction by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37271/19]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Thomas Byrne

208. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether value for money is being achieved within the school building programme; the actions taken to monitor value for money within the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37272/19]

Schools Data

Thomas Byrne

209. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the permanent school places built under the major projects heading in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37273/19]

Special Educational Needs Data

Thomas Byrne

225. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in Dublin 15 which have been requested to provide additional places for children with special needs in tabular form; the number of spaces provided to date by each school following a request; the number of children still awaiting a school place in Dublin 15 with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37439/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

228. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the waiting times for SNA allocation appeals to be heard and concluded by the NCSE; and if he is satisfied with turnaround times. [37509/19]

School Management

Thomas Byrne

230. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will issue guidance to schools on the appropriate use of reduced timetables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37526/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Thomas Byrne

231. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who are seeking but cannot secure a place within an ASD unit by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37527/19]

Schools Inspections

Thomas Byrne

250. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of times the inspectorate of his Department has challenged the use of reduced timetables in the context of the school inspection process since 2011; if so, the year in which a challenge was made; the county in which it was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37695/19]

Home Care Packages Provision

Thomas Byrne

435. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health when an approved homecare package will be put in place for a person (details supplied). [37535/19]

Better Energy Homes Scheme Data

Thomas Byrne

529. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the processing time for new applications under the SEAI warmer homes scheme in counties Meath and Louth. [37233/19]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Byrne

536. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to fines being issued by Inland Fisheries Ireland to anglers fishing without possession of a midlands regional fishing permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37213/19]

Salmon Management Report

Thomas Byrne

537. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to a recent article (details supplied); if his Department is committed to the salmon conservation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37216/19]

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Thomas Byrne

656. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding offices occupied by Intreo or social welfare branches being exempt from commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37218/19]

School Patronage

Thomas Byrne

348. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will request a short review of an application made alongside certain proposals with a view to allowing a school (details supplied) to continue to operate under new patronage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35310/19]

Teacher Data

Thomas Byrne

380. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount paid to teachers on part-time and full-time contracts, respectively, in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to the end of June 2019, in tabular form. [35724/19]