I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Dental Services
I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter. It is a most important issue in south Kildare and, indeed, right around the country. I thank the Minister of State for attending today's debate. I have been contacted frequently by people in south Kildare who are entitled to dental services under the terms of the medical card scheme, but who cannot avail of the services due to a lack of provision in the area. I understand the people in south Kildare are not on their own. It is happening right across the country. We all know the pain and difficulty that a dental problem causes, whether it is a toothache, a broken tooth or an issue with dental braces. I have a dental problem at the moment. I must say that my dentist has been very patient with me making appointments and changing them because of commitments in Leinster House. Generally, dental problems are very time sensitive. When something needs to be done, it needs to be done very quickly to help alleviate the pain that a person is experiencing. That is simply not happening in my area. Last month, we heard reports of dentists flooding out of the State's medical card scheme, leaving older people and those in low-income households without access to basic oral healthcare.
The figures from the start of the year show that only 660 dentists across the country have been actively treating medical card patients. There is a particular problem with dentists retiring. New dentists are coming in to take over the practices and many of them decide not to support their patients who have medical cards. It is a real problem. The number of contracted dentists is down significantly from 1,660 in 2017. We have lost 1,000 contracted dentists since then. We should bear in mind that during the two years of Covid, people suffered in silence, in many cases. Now they are trying to get the treatment they need. The demand for dental services is the same as it was in 2017, if not increased. At the same time, there has been a reduction in provision. This is leading to unacceptable waiting times. Indeed, the waiting times have no end for the patients who cannot access a dentist. When dentists drop out of the scheme, the HSE is trying to squeeze patients back into an already-overcrowded system, leading to even longer delays. I know that in response to a parliamentary question the Department of Health stated that the situation is regrettable and has led to difficulties. I ask the Minister of State whether she has any insight into why dentist are leaving the scheme. What can be done in the intervening months to see the situation improved? I understand that in April €26 million was put into the scheme. That is certainly very welcome, but it does not seem to have alleviated the problem.
Dental organisations have called for the current medical card scheme to be replaced with a voucher scheme. I understand that the Irish Dental Association has highlighted that dentists want a new scheme that reflects modern dental practice. We have to listen to them and negotiate with them. We must ensure that a plan is put in place to allow vulnerable groups to access routine dental care in their community. The announcement of increases in the fees of contracted dentists and the reintroduction of cleaning services under the scheme were both welcome and positive steps.
I wish to highlight the case of a young man with autism who I know. His dentist has opted out of the scheme. His mum has contacted 20 different dental practices and cannot get him into any of them. It is wrong. The young man has complex additional needs and relies heavily on his parents. He is in absolute agony and his mum feels helpless in supporting him. I ask the Minister of State to outline the plans in place to support the people in south Kildare with medical cards and an entitlement to dental care, but who cannot access that service at present.
I thank the Cathaoirleach. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for the opportunity to address the issue of dental services for medical card holders in south Kildare. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.
Dental treatment for medical card holders aged 16 and over is provided under the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. Services available annually have included an examination, two fillings and emergency extractions. More complex care and a broader range of treatments for patients with special needs and high-risk patients is also provided, some of which requires prior approval.
Both the Minister and the Government have been concerned for some time that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services. In local health office 6, which covers Kildare and west Wicklow, the numbers of private dentists who held a contract with the HSE to provide services to medical card holders stood at 58 in December 2019. This fell to 41 in December 2021 and the current figure is 38 dentists.
To address this issue, the Minister secured an additional €10 million in budget 2022 to provide for expanded dental healthcare for medical card holders, including the reintroduction of scale and polish, and the expansion of the oral health examination to emphasise preventative measures in line with the Healthy Ireland policy approach.
To address the concerns of contractors about the scheme, the Minister is using an estimated €16 million of an underspend in this year’s Estimate allocation of €56 million to award fee increases across a number of items, including fillings. The combination of these two measures represents an estimated additional investment of €26 million in the scheme this year over and above what was spent on the scheme in 2021, which was €40 million. Following consultation with the Irish Dental Association, these new measures came into effect on 1 May. The Minister hopes that this significant additional investment in the scheme will attract more dentists to treat medical card patients, including in south Kildare. In the longer term, the retention of dentists within the scheme will be examined. The Minister has been assured by the HSE that their local services on the ground will assist any persons who are still experiencing problems in accessing a service.
The Minister is aware that contractors are looking for more substantive reform of the dental treatment services scheme in the longer term. This concern is recognised and it is the Minister’s intention that this is addressed in the context of the implementation of the national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, which sets out a body of substantial reform of dental services. Work is under way within the Department of Health to design a governance framework to oversee and facilitate root and branch reform of the provision of dental services in Ireland, including the dental treatment services scheme. The chief dental officer in the Department is already engaging with stakeholders on this issue and I understand that she will meet representatives of the Irish Dental Association shortly.
It is very important also to recognise the point the Senator mentioned at the end of her contribution in respect of people with additional needs and the story of that lady having to ring 20 dentists in her area. While I would like to state she is alone and unique, she is not. Unfortunately, the number of calls which are coming into my office replicate exactly what the Senator is saying. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is putting added investment into the sector but it does not seem to be replicated down to the delivery of service, which is a quite disappointing point.
Any of us who have had dental pain will equate it to labour, as there is nothing quite like it, to be honest. It is not right in this day and age that we should leave people to suffer. The funding is there and goodwill is being extended from the Department of Health and from the Minister. It is time now for the Irish Dental Association to engage and to reciprocate that.
I thank the Minister of State for her response and for her assurance that the HSE has stated that local services on the ground will assist in this regard. I will be contacting my local HSE office this afternoon and I will return with to the House with its response on this.
I acknowledge that the Department has pledged a root and branch review of the dental treatment services and to align the scheme with the national oral health policy. This must be expedited and we need to get a timeline and to see a new approach to the provision of dental services in this country. The Minister of State has acknowledged the concerns that exist and that this will be addressed in the context of the implementation of the national oral health policy but what does that implementation mean on the ground? When are we going to see a difference?
I also note the Minister of State has talked about a governance framework to oversee and facilitate this. All of this is very good, as is the fact that the chief dental officer is meeting the stakeholders but we need timelines in this regard because people simply cannot wait. People on low incomes who are having problems cannot wait.
In a final point, one dentist with whom I spoke and who has patients on the medical card scheme is now being inundated with new patients. He told me he cannot take the new patients although he is completely happy to support those patients he already has. He said, however, that if there is pressure on somebody like him, he will have to opt out of this scheme too. That is where the problems are in respect of the existing 38 dentists the Minister of State was talking about, which is that they cannot take new patients on.
I will continue here with the script on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The Minister has listened to colleagues across the Chamber and I can assure them that the Minister appreciates the difficulties experienced by people accessing healthcare and is providing solutions. As I have mentioned, additional funding has been provided to resolve the current problems of access to the dental treatment services scheme. However, the Minister and the Government recognise that the current model of provision of oral healthcare is in need of fundamental reform and that has been acknowledged.
Smile agus Sláinte, the national oral health policy provides the guiding principles aligned with Sláintecare to transform our current oral healthcare services over the next eight years. This, however, is far too long a time frame. We need the here and now, that is: the short-term, medium-term and long-term measures. With the meeting of the dental officer from the Department of Health, the HSE, in conjunction with the representative bodies, perhaps we can address the timelines the Senator has spoken to because when a person is in pain, one needs immediate action and not to be wondering about reform.
Educational Disadvantage
I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Minister of State, Deputy English, is very welcome. I wish to raise today the issue of the lack of home school community liaison co-ordinators in County Longford, and in particular, in the various towns in that county. The scheme was set up to improve the educational outcomes of children through supporting both their parents and their guardians.
I will give a brief outline here of the number of schools and of the number of co-ordinators in County Longford, namely, St. Joseph's National School, Longford town, St. Michael's National School, Templemichael College, a post-primary school, Scoil Eimear, a primary school, Gaelscoil an Longfoirt, Ballymahon Vocational School, Lanesboro Community College, The Sacred Heart Primary School, Granard and Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard. In total, our allocation for the 2022-23 year is six positions. Some of those are actually shared positions with other schools and in the case of two schools, one is shared with a school in Cavan and the other with a school in Roscommon. There is a total of 2,600 pupils in those schools at present. On foot of the recent announcements on and review of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, programme earlier this year, a number of other schools have come in under this scheme, namely, St. Mel's College Longford, Meán Scoil Mhuire, Longford, St. Mary's National School, Edgeworthstown and St. John's National School, Longford town. This is an addition of another nearly 1,600 pupils into the system.
Based on the existing figures and those numbers in the secondary and primary schools on the old list, Longford should have a total of ten full-time positions to be able to cater for those schools. One of the schools has 534 pupils and just one such position. Moreover, 60% of the school population is non-Irish and it has 30 different nationalities. Among the schools in the county which are covered under DEIS, there is an absenteeism rate of between 18% and 20%. The six home school liaison co-ordinators in place are working extremely hard. I know them all personally. I know the individual schools and I have met these co-ordinators but they are at a crisis point and need support. The reality is that we need to increase the numbers we have. We have 407 pupils in Ballymahon Vocational School, which is sharing a position with Roscommon Community College.
If we do not get the necessary intervention that is needed in education and get our kids to school, what will we pay in the long run? Education is key. I gave the figures of 18% to 20%, which, if the Department looks at them, are probably the highest in the country. The only way we are going to address them is by increasing the staff we have in place.
I ask the Minister of State to please consider increasing the numbers for September 2022 and giving support to the home school liaison co-ordinators who are working extremely hard in the schools in County Longford to make sure we increase the number of children we have in our schools.
I thank the Senator. The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. He has four minutes to respond.
I thank the Acting Chairperson. As ever, it is great to be here.
I thank Senator Carrigy for tabling this important matter for discussion today. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, who is not here because she is at a Cabinet meeting. She asked me to take this matter on her behalf. I will certainly make sure she gets the message and also the figures and statistics the Senator presented.
As Senator Carrigy will be aware, DEIS is the main policy instrument of the Department of Education to tackle educational disadvantage at school level, which is done through the DEIS programme. On March 9 last, the Minister for Education announced a major expansion of the DEIS programme. This will add an additional €32 million to the Department’s expenditure on the programme from 2023, bringing the total 2023 allocation to approximately €180 million.
One of the supports available under DEIS is access to the home school community liaison, HSCL, scheme. The HSCL scheme seeks to establish partnership and collaboration between parents, teachers and the community in the interests of education. The HSCL scheme aims to help parents to engage in their children’s education and build parents' capacity so that they are enabled to support and contribute to their children’s successful experience in the education system.
Currently, all DEIS urban primary and DEIS post-primary schools are included in the HSCL scheme. Under the DEIS programme, the HSCL scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL co-ordinators who are teachers in these schools and assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or clusters of schools. The HSCL co-ordinator posts are full-time posts. Some of the posts are allocated on a shared basis between a number of DEIS schools in cluster groups and these posts can be shared across the two sectors both at primary and post-primary level. This is an arrangement that happens nationally with all HSCLs and takes into account the relative disadvantage across schools.
The Department of Education has received representations from the schools in County Longford mentioned by Senator Carrigy today and has responded accordingly. The Department is open to making modifications to the current clusters in place if it is proven to be in the best interests of the schools involved and if all the parties are in agreement. This could be done within the existing current cohort of HSCLs already allocated in County Longford. As it stands, there are no further resources at present to extend the HSCL allocations such that each school would receive a full post.
The Department is committed to supporting schools to deliver high-quality inclusive teaching and learning to students and young learners and has already indicated that it is open to engagement on the matter outlined with regard to the arrangements between individual schools. Any further expansion of the HSCL scheme to allocate additional posts could only be considered in the context of further budgetary allocations. The Senator made the point that they need to be allocated for September. That is probably part of the budget negotiations that will bring us into the end of September, however. I will certainly make that case to the Minister and the Department. In the meantime, they could work with that cohort and come up with some arrangements in that regard. The Senator made a strong case that Longford would need extra resources. I will certainly make sure that message is brought back.
I thank the Minister of State for his remarks at the end. I do not think it can be a case of reconfiguring the existing cohort of staff that we have. The reality of that would mean a reduction in the staff or the number of hours for a particular school. Those schools were allocated those positions for a reason, which is the high absenteeism rate. I ask the Minister of State to bring back to the Minister the request for a review of all counties to see where the absenteeism rate is at a high level and aim the resources there. That is what needs to happen. As I said, we have a particular difficulty with regard to getting kids into school. In the long run, it will cost us an awful lot more money. The Minister of State made a point about future budgetary allocations. If we do not deal with this now, we will be spending money in other areas, be it justice or wherever, in the future. As I said, the staff we have in place are working well and working within the resources they have to keep the figure to 18% or 20%. That can be decreased if we get in more staff. As I said, it will cost the State less in the long run.
I again thank Senator Carrigy for raising this issue. He is absolutely right to identify that it is important that we try to tackle absenteeism and focus our resources as much as we possibly can on those who are missing school days or in difficult situations. That said, it is fair to say that some areas of the whole programme need extra resource levels. The Senator made that point extremely well. I will certainly bring it back to the Minister and ask that she takes a county-by-county review of where this needs to be targeted individually. I thank the Senator for raising this Commencement matter. I will certainly make sure the Minister gets the message. She apologises that she could not be here as she is tied up at the Cabinet meeting. The Department of Education and Tusla education support services will work with the schools involved on how the shared posts are allocated across the schools. To be very clear to the Senator, the Department is open to engagement in this regard. I will make sure it follows up on the matter. The point has been well made that those extra resources are needed.
I thank the Minister of State. For what it is worth, I completely agree with Senator Carrigy. Every single school should have a home school liaison teacher assigned. It is one of the best schemes that has ever been brought into Irish education at both primary and post-primary level. It really benefits the whole school community.
Schools Building Projects
I am delighted to see the Minister of State, Deputy English, here his morning to answer this really important question. I hope I will get a very favourable answer due to the fact he is from County Meath and knows the area.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, clearly show that our population has increased by almost 13% over recent years. The development of new houses, along with the granting of planning permissions in our area and the surrounding areas, shows that another secondary school is needed. Almost 400 Ukrainians have settled in our area over the last couple of months. All this increase is leading to a demand for a new secondary school in our area.
Not only do we have a need for a new school, but we also have the land available to build it. In 2005, the then Bishop of Meath tried to rezone lands owned by the community and St. Finian's Diocesan Trust. That was the only piece of community land we had for the provision of community facilities and educational facilities. Thankfully, I tabled a motion at the time to the effect that this land would not be rezoned, Hence, we have 27 acres there ready to go. The bishop kindly said that if the Department of Education wants that land for the provision of a secondary school, it is there for the Department to negotiate with the trust. There is very good access to the site on Station Road from which cars and buses could enter. Bus access could also come in from the business park and pedestrian access could also go in from the main street.
In 2018, the Department decided it was going to build a secondary school. We thought we were going to get it in Duleek because the need was clearly there. Unfortunately, it went over to the Grange Rath-Mornington area. There was nothing we could do about it. It was an Educate Together school. We did not win the vote at that time. Clearly, however, our population has increased since then.
We have 12 feeder schools, namely, Duleek Boys National School, Duleek Girls National School, Scoil Cholmcille Mount Hanover, Bellewstown National School, Cushinstown National School, St. Patrick's National School in Ardcath, Donore National School, Knockcommon National School, Kentstown National School, Rathfeigh National School, Skryne National School and Yellow Furze National School. In addition, there is an option for children to come from Whitecross National School or even from Slane or Curragha. The options available at this time are in Drogheda, Laytown, Navan, Ashbourne and Grange Rath.
We have talk about creating a green environment. We are talking about giving kids the option to cycle or walk to school. We do not have that option in Duleek. Some of our children must leave for school and be picked up at 7.25 a.m. Indeed, one Facebook comment read as follows:
Will never forget when I was going to St. Oliver's. My bus picked me up at 7.25 and I'd be in school for 8 o'clock. School not starting 'til 9 then finished at 3.30 and didn't get off bus till 10 to 5 coming home. How I wish Duleek had a secondary school. [Hopefully we will see it] before my kids have to go to secondary [school].
Building a school within walking distance is really important if we want to cut emissions from cars and buses and give children a healthier lifestyle. I am hoping to get a favourable answer.
I spoke to the Taoiseach when he was briefing Senators in the House last year and getting a secondary school for Duleek was one of my key priorities. There is a need for it and I hope the Minister of State will give some hope this morning that the Department will consider it.
I thank Senator Keogan for the opportunity to have this conversation. I assure the Senator that I do not want to upend the Taoiseach, as he is a higher authority than I, but I will try to give the Senator as positive a reply as possible. It is important that we are discussing education when there are seven young students in the Visitors Gallery from County Meath. A lot of them like cycling bicycles to school even though they are all in primary school. It is great to have them here. We have a teacher from St. Patrick's as well, so it is an important time to talk about education in Meath. It is under pressure.
The Minister, Deputy Foley, sends her apologies that she could not be here as she is at a Cabinet meeting. She is very committed to making sure that schools are in the right place at the right time. That is the issue being raised by the Senator regarding the position in Duleek, County Meath, and the need for a new school there to cater for the number of students in Duleek and the surrounding areas. I think the Senator mentioned most of the townlands. It shows the significance of the pressure in that growing area. The census will record a greatly increased population in Meath East as well, which would be served by the school the Senator mentioned.
To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, GIS, using data from a range of sources, including 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 levels. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, the Department gathers up-to-date information on significant new residential developments in each local authority area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes. Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets also inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements. The Department’s use of GIS additionally facilitates the identification of more localised pressure points within an overall school planning area. As in the area of Duleek, it can focus on what is happening in a small area as well.
Where data indicate that additional provision is required at primary or post-primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following: utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools; extending the capacity of a school or schools, which happened back 2018 and 2019 in this area; or provision of a new school or schools.
Duleek is in the Drogheda school planning area and, as the Senator is aware, based on previous demographic analysis a new post-primary school to serve the Drogheda and Laytown school planning areas, Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School, was established in 2019 and a project to provide a new school building to accommodate 1,000 pupils and four classrooms for pupils with special educational needs is in train. The Department is also providing significant capital funding at other post-primary schools in the Drogheda school planning area, including extension projects at St. Oliver’s Community College, Sacred Heart Secondary School, St. Mary’s Diocesan School and St. Joseph’s CBS.
In respect of the Senator’s reference to the preliminary Census 2022 results, the Department has noted this information and looks forward to further elaboration from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, on these in 2023, including with regard to the age profile of the population which is of relevance in respect of children of school-going age. The Department’s most recent demographic analysis from 2021 indicates that current and planned post-primary provision in the Drogheda school planning area is sufficient to meet the projected requirement for school places. However, a refreshed process is currently under way for 2022 and will have regard to updated information concerning school enrolments, population statistics and planned additional housing, as well as enrolment of Ukrainian children and existing capacity in schools. The Senator mentioned that over 400 Ukrainian children have entered schools so it is important that this is captured in the data as well. School place requirements in the Drogheda school planning area, and specifically in the Duleek area, will continue to be kept under review, informed by this updated information.
I am familiar with the area of Duleek and the county generally, so I totally understand the pressure on the education system when it comes to numbers. In addition, there is the movement of people into Drogheda, Navan and up to Dunshaughlin and Ashbourne, so the entire area is under pressure for school places. The Senator is right to call for a review and for Duleek to be examined specifically. In my view, it would make sense and I believe the figures might support that. I am glad the Department is reviewing the figures and will have updated information on that, probably by this time next year for 2023, to inform decisions thereafter.
I look forward to that review. There is a great deal of development taking place in the south of the county towards Grangerath and Mornington. There is a 1,000-pupil school being built there currently, but that will be filled with what is coming down the line due to population increases in that area. I am specifically seeking a secondary school for my area. The need and demand are there. I am not sure if it will be a 1,000-pupil school, but certainly 500 to 600 children could use the school. It is a 27-acre site and it could be a fabulous educational facility with all the auxiliary recreational supports for a good student life to be had on that site. I will keep the Minister of State to his word with regard to the review. I probably will be back here towards the end of the year asking again and I will look forward to a more favourable response.
Again, I thank Senator Keogan for raising the matter. It is important that we constantly review these figures and track the population. Having spent time as a Minister of State in the Department of Education, I understand the system it has. It is quite good at analysing the data and the figures, but sometimes it can miss some local information as well. It is important that we constantly have these debates to feed into that.
The Senator mentioned the site being made available by the bishop. I thank Bishop Deenihan, who we all know is very focused on education, for being co-operative and working with the local authorities, the Senator and others in the area to make sure that a site is possible. That certainly makes it easier. If the Department from its analysis of the census figures and the population trends, with the number of additional pupils coming from Ukraine and so forth added in, deems it necessary to have a new school, it is great to have a site ready. It will also speed up the process to deliver the school. We will know next year if it makes sense from a population point of view. Naturally, as a local Senator, Senator Keogan makes the case that it would and naturally, as a Meath Deputy, I recognise the need for it as well. It is to be hoped that the figures will show that too and we can get resources allocated to make it happen.
I formally welcome the boys and girls of Cortown National School to the Seanad. We always love to have the opportunity to welcome boys and girls from schools. It is so important that they have the opportunity to come to Leinster House and to see democracy in action. There you saw a perfect example of something that is happening in Meath. We all hope you have a nice day and that you return having learned something about how Leinster House works.
At least some of them are from Cortown school as well because most of them are my family, so I better welcome them too.
I ask the members of the Minister of State's family to wave.
All of them are - sons, daughters, nieces and nephews.
I know there are two rugby players.
There are. The two at the end play with your family, Acting Chair.
They play with my niece, Freya O'Loughlin. We are getting very colloquial today.
Educational Disadvantage
I thank the Minister of State for stepping in on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I am here on behalf of St. Luke's National School in Tyrrelstown which was hoping that it would be awarded DEIS - Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools - status in the review of DEIS. It put a great deal of effort into the appeal. I have to say I am scratching my head to see this school not being brought into the DEIS system, and I cannot express the disappointment the school is experiencing.
DEIS supports schools and students with the highest level of concentrated educational disadvantage. Part of the problem is that Tyrrelstown is not ranked as disadvantaged or very disadvantaged in Pobal's Haase and Pratschke, HP, deprivation index, but the pockets of affluence mask extreme poverty. The experience on the ground with this school is poverty, deprivation and social challenges. I have 15 reasons that the decision to bring the school into DEIS should have been supported. It is a diverse, intercultural community. It borders on Buzzardstown, Mulhuddart and Corduff, areas that are considered disadvantaged or very disadvantaged, and some of the school's population comes from those areas. At times, the school has had over 90% of the school population requiring English as an additional language, EAL, support.
Every year, it appeals its staff allocation and the appeal is granted. The school's note states that if it did not get EAL temporary posts each year, its three permanent teachers would have to cater to a ratio of 1:146 EAL pupils, an impossible task. The school carried out a home survey of its 590 pupils and found that 7.9% were Roma, 3.6% were homeless, the families of 47.5% held medical cards and both parents of only 12.5% were employed. This year, 85% of the school population required EAL support. As for school attendance, 31 families had been referred to the educational welfare service for unexplained absences of more than 20 days, while 187 pupils missed more than 20 days this year, but the school does not have a home-school liaison officer. It does not have a good level of parental involvement; in fact, it is very poor and the school has been trying to address that through integration projects. More than 50% of the children who attend the school fail to do their homework each evening, which is essential for literacy and numeracy skills.
A home-school liaison officer would be transformational for the school. It finds it very difficult to get the parents on board, in the context of the challenges the children face, with the help that is required such as speech and language therapy from Dyslexia Ireland, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. Moreover, it is very sad that the school has a high number of referrals to the child protective services given, in the case of some of the families, corporal punishment can be the norm. This is all outlined in the school's submission. It operates a book-rental scheme and provides for children who come without lunches, and allows homeless families to use the school washing machine, tumble dryer and ovens. This school is doing all the things a DEIS school would assist pupils to do, but it is doing so out of its own pocket. I could also go on about assessments. I do not understand why this school was not brought into DEIS. It is a travesty.
I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Minister for Education sends her apologies that she cannot make it to the debate because she is in Cavan today, but she would like to have been part of the discussion.
In March, she announced a major expansion of the DEIS programme, for the first time since 2017, which means eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This is the largest ever single investment in the programme and it will extend DEIS status to schools serving the highest proportions of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage. From 2023, the Department of Education will spend in the region of €180 million on the DEIS programme, an increase of €32 million. This announcement follows extensive work by the DEIS technical group to develop the refined DEIS identification model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools.
Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model, which is an objective, statistics-based model. While I understand the model has not picked up the school the Senator raised, the model uses information from schools’ enrolment databases and 2016 national census data, as represented by the Pobal HP deprivation index. The model takes into account the student cohort and the relative disadvantage within a given school. A detailed document outlining the refined DEIS identification model has been published on gov.ie. The DEIS identification model takes into consideration the significant educational disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma learners and by students residing in direct provision or emergency homelessness accommodation, which the Senator raised in the context of this discussion.
Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. Schools were also provided with the opportunity to update their details on the Department’s enrolment databases, namely, the primary online database, POD, and the post-primary online database, P-POD, and St. Luke’s National School submitted an appeal as part of this process. There was no change, however, to the outcome of the DEIS status of the school. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly to all applicants using an objective data-based approach and the results are final.
I assure the Senator the Department of Education will continue to work to support all schools and students, including through the development of further supports for students experiencing educational disadvantage. Much of the information will have been analysed but if the school believes something was missed, I will certainly convey that to the Minister in order that it can be included in the assessment. The best option may be to engage directly with the Department in respect of additional supports that could be put in place to deal with all the other needs the Senator raised outside of the traditional DEIS model. There are resources that could be applied in that regard. I will certainly relay to the Minister that the Senator is concerned and the fact that, in light of the Senator’s data, she is scratching her head as to why the school was not included under the process. The Department spent many years developing that new model and I was a Minister of State at the Department during its early stages. A great deal of work was put into it and it should capture all schools that deserve DEIS status. In any event, I will bring the Senator's concerns to the Minister, who could not attend this debate.
I thank the Minister of State and reiterate I appreciate he is in a difficult position in standing in for the Minister, Deputy Foley. I understand the next phase will explore the allocation of resources and that there will be an updated Pobal HP deprivation index in quarter 3 of 2023, but I do not understand why that could not have been done concurrently. Missing this school means there is something wrong with the process. How could there not be, given that the national average receiving a STen score of 1 in English is 2.3%, whereas the incidence in the school is 8%? Moreover, the school absences also tell a story. This school is stepping up and the staff are doing an incredible job. They are stepping in with supports the State should provide.
I will push for additional resources but, at the same time, the school needs a liaison officer and all the supports that come with DEIS status. Anything less than that does not amount to equality of opportunity.
I fully support the Senator. I have exactly the same issue with a school in Newbridge, Scoil Na Naomh Uilig. As I mentioned earlier in the context of another Commencement matter, every school should have a home-school liaison officer, along with all the other services that exist.
Job Creation
I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber. I would like him to outline the situation regarding bars and pubs throughout the country. As background, over the past two decades before the Covid-19 pandemic, 1,500 pubs closed and hundreds more have followed during the pandemic. The vast majority of the pub industry comprises independent pubs, small businesses and family-run operations. Pubs do not merely serve their local communities but are a major factor in our tourism success, as has been reflected in all the research carried out. Survey after survey shows that up to 80% of visitors to this country indicate the Irish pub is a major factor in choosing Ireland as a travel destination. As we are aware, the Guinness Storehouse is the number one visitor attraction for tourists.
As the Minister of State and Senators will appreciate, the tourism sector is vital to Ireland's economy. Prior to the pandemic, it employed in the region of 260,000 people and was worth €9.5 billion to the economy. As I have noted consistently, the Irish pub was one of the main attractions cited by tourists who choose to holiday here and that needs to be recognised.
That is in addition to the 40,000 staff directly employed by Irish pubs, many of them in small towns and villages right across the country.
I played my part, and the Government did offer substantial supports throughout Covid. They played a significant part in ensuring the number of pubs that shut down was not even higher. The new initiative to revitalise the night-time economy is also particularly welcome. A pilot scheme to support rural pubs as community hubs, as part of Our Rural Future, is also a programme with considerable potential and it is proving very successful.
These measures are extremely welcome, but there is a major crisis and staff shortages. During the pandemic, many qualified and extremely capable workers left the trade because they could not rely on it for their income in the way it was possible in other sectors that were not subject to the same level of restrictions. Those two years of closures and restrictions had a devastating impact on staff retention. It is estimated that one third of all staff departed the sector. Before the pandemic, it was already challenging to retain and recruit quality chefs, bar managers and senior bar staff. Many operators in the sector tell me it is next to impossible now. Job offers remain open for months, with few if any applicants.
Figures from the two representative bodies of the trade, the Vintners Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners Association show that staff shortages are a major issue for 90% of pubs. Such is the scale of the problem, many pubs have been forced to close for two days in the early part of the week. This means that in some areas of the country it is now challenging to get a booking for food on those nights. That is creating a very negative image for tourists and it must be addressed urgently by the Government. We must take measures in that regard. In particular, as the Minister of State is aware, the work permit rules for non-EU workers must be examined. The process must be simplified and prioritised.
The hospitality VAT rate of 9%, which is scheduled to increase next year, is something that also needs to be reviewed before any increase should even be considered. Many pubs and all restaurants face spiralling costs for their food offerings. Raising VAT from 9% could compound the threat to pubs and restaurants that support local producers in every part of the country.
I thank Senator Crowe for raising this issue. It is important that we have this discussion given the importance of pubs and restaurants in the hospitality sector, and all they do for this country. The pub trade has been very much affected during the Covid-19 pandemic. I thank all involved in both representative bodies for their work in assisting the Government. I am conscious that Padraig Cribben has moved on as chief executive of the VFI, and John Clendennen is the new chief executive. It is great to have those associations working closely with us to help us design supports and policies at difficult times, but also to try to get policy right in the long run.
Senator Crowe is correct to raise the skills, talent and availability of staff. I will come back to the matter at a later stage in the discussion because it is very important that we focus on developing the career path and opportunities within the pub trade and the wider hospitality sector. Pubs are a vital component of the hospitality sector and there is a great opportunity for employment in every region throughout the country.
I again thank Senator Crowe for raising this issue today. I am providing a response on behalf of the Minister for Finance because he was not able to make it here due to a Cabinet meeting. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the latest data available on the number of publican licences issued across each turnover band is for the 2018-19 licensing period. The reason for this is due to one of the supports the Government provided for the sector during the pandemic, namely, the licence fee waiver. As the renewal fees were waived and no payment was required in 2020 or 2021, pub turnover data for these licensing periods is not available yet.
While I do not have a breakdown by band for the publicans' licences, the total uptake of publican licences for 2021 shows that there has not been a significant decrease over the period. Senator Crowe referred to a number of pubs. In 2021 there were just over 200 fewer publican licences issued than in 2019, which was approximately a 3% reduction over the period. I am conscious that might not capture all the changes in the system. We all know there are some difficult situations.
Details of the precise number of licences for the year can be made available to the Senator in tabular form. These licence figures show that, despite the significant difficulties the sector faced in the context of a global pandemic, Government supports assisted in the vast majority of pubs surviving. A number of supports specific to the sector were provided throughout the last two years. I thank Senator Crowe for his work in designing those schemes, and for his efforts in this House. We had the same discussions in the other House about trying to target supports at this sector.
The Government introduced a support package of measures for vintners impacted by Covid-19 restrictions in August 2020, including a provision to waive excise duty for on-trade liquor licences on renewal in 2020 until 30 September 2021, which was subsequently extended to the end of September 2022, additional support for vintners under the tourism adaptation fund and a 40% top-up to the restart grant for all pubs and bars. A Government decision in October 2021 provided for a waiver of court fees, and associated excise duty, in respect of applications for special exemption orders, which allow the sale and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises beyond normal trading hours by holders of on-licences. The waiver covered a court fee of €300, which goes to the Department of Justice and an excise duty of €110, which is collected by the courts on behalf of Revenue and applied until the end of December 2021. In January 2022, a further application of the waiver for special exemption orders for late licences was provided until 30 April 2022.
At the outset of the pandemic, Revenue also put measures in place that allowed alcohol products, on which excise tax had been paid, but which was spoiled due to the closure of premises, to be returned to a tax warehouse. The excise duty previously paid on the alcohol was refunded or remitted by agreement with the returning trader's local Revenue control officer.
As the Senator will be aware, in May this year the Government extended the 9% VAT rate that currently applies to the tourism and hospitality sector for a further six months until 28 February 2023, at an estimated cost of €250 million. In addition to these support measures, it is worth noting that there has been no increase in excise on alcohol since 2014. This means that excise as a percentage of the price of a pint as sold in the on-trade is at the lowest level in approximately 20 years.
I recognise that the sector has come through a very difficult time and it will take time to get fully back up and running. There are the added pressures of trying to deal with increased costs due to the war in Ukraine and delivery and supply chains. Most people involved in the hospitality sector raise with me the issue of attracting staff. I am willing to work with the various organisations in individual sectors - the education system, the Department of Social Protection and my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to try to bring forward solutions to the development of skills, upskilling and training but also to try to develop a long-term career to make the sector more attractive as well. It is important that we do focus on that.
The Tánaiste co-chairs the hospitality forum with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, Deputy Martin, and they are focused on issues to develop the hospitality sector, provide supports and also the development of talents and skills.
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, for his detailed response. He indicated that there are only 200 fewer licences, but as he alluded to, it is unclear as to whether that figure is accurate on the ground. I ask him if his Department could furnish me with the details when they are available later in the year.
In terms of the staff shortage crisis, could he advise if the Department will reduce the red tape associated with the visa process for non-EU citizens? That is something that could be looked at. From speaking to publicans, I know the challenges the staff shortages are causing during this crisis. Simplifying the EU process for non-EU citizens is something that could have a real impact in terms of tackling the issue. I am familiar with a case in Galway. The Minister of State will be aware of the system. All the details were provided, but even though we cannot get chefs, there was a line in the application process which stated that the job had to be advertised for a month nationally. The person had to go back to the start of the process again, even though it was impossible to get a chef. The permit situation is having an impact. The Minister of State will be aware that in Galway there are certain top class bars and restaurants that have only 50%, 60% or 70% of their tables allocated because they do not have the resources in the kitchen. That is causing an issue in a tourist city like Galway.
I thank Senator Crowe for raising this issue. I will close by reminding the House of the importance the Government has placed on supporting business, including publicans, during the pandemic. Most businesses recognise that too. We want to support businesses and jobs, but we also recognise the pressures on the SME community when its trade was restricted. We are aware of the importance of small businesses such as publicans and others in the hospitality sector right throughout the country in terms of creating jobs and helping us to keep 2.5 million people in work now and also in the future.
As referenced earlier, there are no figures available for 2021 broken down by excise band, but I will provide them to Senator Crowe when we have the updates. Unfortunately, given the nature of a pandemic such as the one we recently suffered, some closures were inevitable. It is recorded as 200, but it is possibly slightly more. I am thankful, as I am sure is the Senator, that the majority of the 7,000 plus pubs are still in operation, although some are open for fewer hours because of staffing issues.
The Senator raised the issue of permits. We have made major reforms in this regard and have trebled the number of staff available in the sector. Last week, nearly 1,100 permits were processed. In an equivalent week last year, fewer than 400 permits were processed. The time taken to process a general permit has been reduced to 13 weeks from 22 weeks. Critical skills permits take five weeks. We will continue to focus on that.
We are trying to cut away much of the red tape. We have made as many changes as we could in the Department under the existing legislation. We have new teams and streamlined methods. We engage clearly with people who submit applications. By law, the job has to be advertised. That is clear and well flagged, and I think most people now understand it. Many people come to us who have missed that for some reason. We try to deal with them too but under the legislation, the job has to be advertised. Permits are not meant to be the first step to filling a job. They are meant to be the last resort. We try to source talent within the country, then in Europe and then we go beyond that. The system responds and we have prioritised the hospitality sector at this time of year, as we did last year. Hundreds of permits for chefs have been granted. We will do more in the next couple of weeks. New legislation will soon come to the House, in which we will introduce the flexibility that the system needs for the future.
The Minister of State referred to the retirement of Padraig Cribben. He gave great service to the Vintners Federation of Ireland and I wish him well in his retirement. He played a significant role in helping publicans across the country. I wish Paul Clancy well in his new chief executive role.
I concur with that.
Passport Services
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I do not know if I will need four minutes, so Senator Crowe could have added a few more congratulations there, had he wanted to. The question is succinct in what it is trying to achieve. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response, then we could perhaps engage based on the detail of that response.
I am glad to take this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who is at a Cabinet meeting and could not be here. The Senator raises an important area because there has been a significant focus on passports in the past four or five months, with much pressure on the system. All online applications are processed in the same way. This includes all applications from throughout Ireland, North or South. Renewal applications, since citizenship has already been established, are generally processed with a turnaround time of ten working days for adult renewals and 15 working days for child or complex renewals regardless of where the application is made. Therefore, there is no difference in processing time for renewal applications between those applicants with addresses in Northern Ireland or in the State.
First-time applications are more complex regardless of where people are from due to increased complexity of documentation required to confirm the person's identity and entitlement to citizenship. First-time applicants resident within the State must have their identity and consent forms witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. A log of such applications is maintained by An Garda Síochána, which allows for a streamlined verification process. First-time passport applicants resident outside the State, including in Northern Ireland, can avail of a broad range of witnesses for this purpose. The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person who submitted the passport application form. It is of great importance that we get that right. In the case of an application for a minor, the witnessing of this form provides evidence that guardians give consent for a passport to be issued to the child. In order to protect the rights of parents or guardians and children, it is important that forms are fully verified by the Passport Service by contacting the witness directly. That is key. One might be surprised at the number of applications that are received without the consent of parents. That part of the work is taken seriously to make sure we get it right.
First-time applications from outside the State, including Northern Ireland, can also be more complex due to the variety of documentation received from other jurisdictions. Officers processing these applications must therefore be highly skilled and experienced. The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked fifth in the Henley Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first-time applicants. As a result, processing time for these applications can take a little longer.
The Passport Service continues to see an increasing demand for passports from citizens in Northern Ireland. A dedicated team has been deployed to focus solely on first-time applications from applicants resident in Northern Ireland with a view to significantly improving the turnaround times for these more complex applications. In the past four weeks, the Passport Service has issued an average of almost 6,000 passports per day and considerable improvements can be seen across the system. The Department of Foreign Affairs has made a significant investment in the Passport Service since last year to enhance customer service. The Passport Service is confident that the increased resources that have been allocated will improve the service to all of our citizens regardless of their place of residence, whether in Ireland or overseas.
I thank the Minister of State for the answer. I begin by acknowledging the dedication and diligence of staff in the Passport Service and thanking them. It has undoubtedly been a difficult and trying number of years for them. There are a couple of encouraging points in the Minister of State's answer. I welcome that a dedicated team has been set up and deployed to focus solely on first-time applications from the North. It is necessary because there is a difficult, substantial backlog which needs to be cleared. While I appreciate this is not the Minister of State's brief, he might relay this point to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Fine Gael colleagues tabled a motion in the Seanad on the Passport Service and the difficulties facing it. I said to the Minister that the dedicated Oireachtas hub and helpline should be made available to MLAs and MPs in the North who deal with the same number of applications as us. Having spoken to some of my MP colleagues last week, I understand that they still do not have access to that hub. It would be a significant help to them in their day-to-day constituency work. The Minister of State knows how problematic it can be. A dedicated resource would be welcome.
There is a different range of possible witnesses in the North, compared with members of the Garda as witnesses in the South. I am regularly called by the Passport Service to verify that I have witnessed an application, which is fine. I agree that we need to protect the robustness and security of passports. Nevertheless, if someone submitting an application from Derry instead of Donegal causes a disparity and delay because of the nature of the witnesses, perhaps we need to look at how we can streamline and improve that service. The Minister of State might take those points on board and relay them to his colleagues in Cabinet.
I certainly will. I will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy. The point the Senator raises about extra resources and access to the hub for our political colleagues is fair. I will raise that because it would make sense for when applications are processing. The arrangements in the South with members of the Garda as witnesses can cause difficulty with tracking witnesses too. That area is being examined to see if we can improve and streamline it. There has been a significant effort in the Passport Service to deal with the number of applications received over the past year. The dedicated team to deal with applications from Northern Ireland should help too. I will bring the issues the Senator raised back to the Minister.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has made an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service over the past 12 months. This investment in people and systems has had a considerable impact on the level of service being provided by the Passport Service. More than 720,000 passports have been issued to date in 2022. In comparison, a total of 634,000 passports were issued in the whole of 2021. By the middle of the year, the Passport Service had already surpassed the total number of passports issued since last year. We know the pressure it is under because all of us in both of these Houses deal with queries about passports through our offices every day and try to contact the Passport Service. There is pressure on the whole system, but it is responding. The increase in the number of people involved in the system is certainly helping.
While 2021 was an unusual year, figures from 2019, which was the previous busiest year before the pandemic, show that the Passport Service is outperforming 2019 figures by almost 20%. More than 570 staff have been assigned to the Passport Service since June 2021, with more than 200 new staff assigned since May of this year. These recruitment efforts, coupled with the targeted deployment of staff to work on applications from Northern Ireland, will significantly impact the turnaround times for complex first-time applications, including those from our citizens resident in the North. I hope that is of assistance to the Senator.
I thank the Minister of State. I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I concur with him about opening the helpline to MLAs and MPs. I know a communications campaign was run in the North. There have been calls in this House for a passport office in Belfast and the north west. That would be helpful too.
I could not have said it better myself.
Perhaps the Minister of State might bring that back to the House as well. That concludes the Commencement matters.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 11.10 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 11.30 a.m.
Sitting suspended at 11.10 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.