Written Answers Nos. 313 - 336
313. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork outlining the options available to this person who wishes to complete an apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9570/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS. I have asked SOLAS to contact the deputy directly.
314. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in granting payment of a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied). [9575/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on the 19th December 2013. In order to commence payment of the maintenance portion of his grant the applicant needs to upload his bank details on line in order for payments to commence.
SUSI have confirmed that they issued a letter on the 22nd January 2014 requesting the applicant to forward his bank details. On the 18th February 2014, SUSI issued an email to the applicant requesting him to enter his bank details on line. SUSI confirmed that to date they have not received details from the applicant. The applicant's bank details should be submitted to technical.queries@susi.ie in order to be included in the next payment date.
315. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the application forms for the second phase of grants from the residential institutions statutory fund will be available to survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9585/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, which uses the service name Caranua, is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department. I understand from enquiries made by my officials that Caranua will begin to issue Part 2 of the Application Form to those applicants who have been verified as eligible, in March. Caranua has received over 1,500 applications since it opened for business on 6th of January 2014. Applications are being processed in the order that they were received.
316. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of children who have been granted reasonable accommodation in respect of their junior certificate examination in the past five years; the number who have been granted reasonable accommodation in respect of their leaving certificate examination in the past five years; the number who have applied and been refused reasonable accommodation; the reason it is more difficult to secure reasonable accommodation in respect of the leaving certificate examination; his views on whether the difficulty in securing a reasonable accommodation for the leaving certificate where a student may have received it for the junior certificate is likely to cause further stress to the student which may impact their performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9638/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations, including an appeals process. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.
In view of this I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to the Deputy.
317. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the academic years beginning September 2010, 2011 and 2012, the total number of students with FETAC qualifications accepted onto CAO courses; the percentage of these that subsequently continued into second year of their chosen course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9642/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Higher Education Authority have advised my Department that they cannot identify the percentage of those with FETAC qualifications progressing into second year with the data currently available. There are data available however from the CAO relating to CAO acceptances by those entering with a FETAC qualification and of those, students whose admission into their chosen programme is based on their FETAC qualification.
The most recent data show that in 2013 there were 76,949 applicants to the CAO of these 15,767 (F 8,509, M 7,257) mentioned having a FETAC qualification in their application. That equates to 20% of applicants. However those actually offered a place based on their FETAC scores was overall 7,347 (L8 3,017 and L6/7 4,330). Overall based on headcount (no double counting) 4,889 offers were made based on a FETAC score. Of these 4,889 offers there were 3,033 acceptances (L8 – 1,517 and L6/7 – 1,516). The following table gives some trend data over the last 4 years.
CAO FETAC Data 2010 - 2013
|
Year |
Number of acceptances based on an offer based on FETAC results (all levels) |
Number of overall acceptances (all levels) |
Proportion of acceptances from FETAC based offers |
|
2010 |
2,294 |
45,598 |
5.0% |
|
2011 |
2,757 |
45,767 |
6.0% |
|
2012 |
3,065 |
46,281 |
6.6% |
|
2013 |
3,033 |
46,162 |
6.6% |
318. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding allowances in respect of a person (details supplied). [9663/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on the 20th September 2013.
Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme allows for the review of eligibility during the academic year if there is a permanent change in circumstances, relating to a number of events, including a drop in reckonable income which is likely to obtain for the duration of the approved course or for the foreseeable future. Where an individual applicant considers that he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
Apart from the funding provided through the student grant schemes, my Department also provides funding to approved third level institutions to operate a Student Assistant Fund to assist students in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available from the Student Access Officer at the student's college.
319. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that schools (details supplied) will not be unfairly penalised and deprived of the €100 grant per child due to their initiative in commencing, in line with Government guidelines, a partial book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9671/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme.
I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years and I am aware of the difficulties faced by schools in relation to these schemes. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for parents.
At my request, the National Parents' Council surveyed the views of their members in relation to currently operating book rental schemes. Parents have reported that where book rental schemes operate, they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, and that the cost per child is under €40 per year in a considerable majority of schools.
Perhaps most tellingly, the survey has found that 93% of parents believe that book rental schemes help with the costs of educating a child. Ensuring that book rental schemes are available to all parents must therefore clearly be our aim. I understand that it feels unfair to those schools who have invested time and money to establish such schemes, that they now cannot benefit from the additional funding which was secured as part of the Budget. Of course it is unfair, but equally, the status quo was deeply unfair on many parents and I am not currently in a position to re-examine the scheme. The parents who had no access whatsoever to book rental schemes needed more support. With the limited funding available, I believe that targeting this funding - to make sure that every parent in Ireland has access to some level of a book rental scheme - was the greatest good that could be achieved.
The Department is contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme to advise them of the application process. The school referred to by the Deputy indicated in the Primary School Census 2013 that they currently operate a book rental/loan scheme and will not therefore qualify for funding.
320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which it is expected to match the skill requirement of industry with the skills and qualifications of those exiting education in the current year based on previous years’ experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9686/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Enterprise Engagement Forum, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, provides for bi-annual dialogue between the Department and enterprise on education policy issues. Input from enterprise is also provided for through representation on boards and agencies across the education and training sector. The development and delivery of targeted skills initiatives such as the ICT Skills Action Plan, Springboard and Momentum involve close interaction with enterprise. These initiatives have been very successful. For example, implementation of the ICT Action Plan 2012 aimed to double the number of graduates in relevant disciplines by 2018. The Higher Education system is now set to meet that target by 2015. In addition, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which is funded by my Department, plays a pivotal role in advising on the skills needs of enterprise and its research and reports inform programme development by education and training providers.
Meeting the requirements of industry is a high priority for the education system and a wide ranging programme of reform is currently being rolled out across all levels of the system to ensure the continued development of skills appropriate to enterprise. One of the core objectives under the new Performance Framework for the higher education system is meeting Ireland's human capital needs across the spectrum of skills areas through both core funding and specifically targeted initiatives. I am expecting the first annual System Performance Report from the Higher Education Authority in coming months which will set out the level of performance of the system in relation to meeting skills needs.
321. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which provision is being made directly by his Department or through the aegis of industry to provide adequate apprenticeships to meet economic requirements at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9687/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Action Plan for Jobs initiative a review of the Irish Apprenticeship system commenced in 2013 to determine whether the current model of apprenticeship should be retained, adapted or replaced, taking into account the needs of learners, employers, the economy and the need for cost effectiveness into the future.
An independent review group was established and the group's report was submitted to my Department in December 2013 and published on the Department's website in January 2014. The implementation of the report's recommendations will now be considered in the context of establishing a framework for a future expanded apprenticeship system. Initially, this will involve Departmental engagement with SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, representatives of business and trade unions and representatives of providers of further and higher education.
322. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied regarding the availability adequate special needs teachers to meet the full requirements in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9688/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra323. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which adequate numbers of special needs assistants are available throughout the educational system to meet current or expected requirements or both over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9689/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome or children with similar educational needs are likely to be facilitated in terms of their educational requirements in the current or future school years having regard to the growing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9693/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of special needs school places available throughout County Kildare; if this is in line with requirements as set out by the school authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9697/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 322, 323, 327 and 331 together.
The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs. The level of resources devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been maintained and increased for this school year.
The previous Government capped the number of SNA posts at 10,575 in December 2010. In December 2013, this Government agreed to increase the cap on SNAs by 390, increasing by 170 posts to 10,745 at the end of 2013, and by a further 220 posts to 10,965 at the end of 2014. These additional posts provided will enable the National Council for Special Education to continue to allocate support to children who need it in order that they may fully participate in and benefit from their education.
The Deputy will also be aware of my decision last June to authorise the NCSE to maintain the level of resource teaching allocations to be provided for students with special educational needs for the current school year to the 2012/13 levels. This decision resulted in the subsequent allocation of an additional 455 posts in October to maintain resource teaching provision at the same levels as last year.
Provision is therefore being made this year for up to 10,745 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), over 10,700 Learning Support and Resource Teachers. Provision is also being made for over 740 Special Classes attached to mainstream schools at reduced pupil teacher ratios, enhanced capitation for special schools and special classes, and provision for special transport arrangements and assistive technology support.
The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. All schools and all school places are therefore available for children with special educational needs to be enrolled to. Supports will continue to be allocated to schools to support pupils with special educational needs. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.
The overall level of investment being provided will ensure that provision can continue to be made to provide for the educational requirements of children with special educational needs, enrolled in all schools, to ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to have access to educational facilities in line with their requirements, for both the current school year and in future school years. Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion – was spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs in 2012/13. The provision for the 2013/14 school year is in line with expenditure last year and shows that the overall level of funding for special education has been protected, and increased, despite the ongoing severe financial position. There has been no reduction in the level of funding to support children with Special Educational needs since this Government came to office.
The level of investment being provided will ensure that provision can continue to be made to provide for the educational requirements of children with special educational needs, including those with Autism and Aspergers, enrolled in all schools and to ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to have access to educational facilities in line with their requirements.
In relation to the number of school places available for children with special educational needs throughout the country, and in County Kildare, the policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. All schools and all school places are therefore available for children with special educational needs to be enrolled to. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.
324. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the school admissions policy, at primary and second level, can be tailored to meet the needs of the community in areas where the population has increased significantly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9690/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion.
The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.
The Deputy will be aware that I have published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. These are available on my Department's website.
I have referred the draft proposals to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, to allow a full public discussion of the proposed legislative framework, including inputs from parents, education partners and other stakeholders. I will be reflecting carefully on the views expressed in the consultation process to ensure the legislation strikes the right balance between school autonomy and fairness in our education system.
325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he has studied submissions received from the school authorities of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in regard to the second level school place requirements in view of the overcrowding at Coláiste Life in Lucan and the inaccessibility from a transport point of view to Clondalkin and the obvious lack of second level Gaelscoileanna places; the extent to which he proposes to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9691/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of the submissions to which the Deputy refers.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cater for increasing pupil numbers. In June 2011, I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographic demand across a number of locations. This includes some twenty new post-primary schools, including a new post primary school for Maynooth, which will assist in servicing enrolment demand in North Kildare. The announcement included the provision of an Aonad in the Maynooth school. In addition, my Department has confirmed, that if sufficient demand for education through the medium of Irish in the Aonad is demonstrated over a four year cycle, consideration will be given by my Department to the establishment of an independent Gaelcholáiste. My Department has confirmed that the Aonad has capacity to cater for those students referred to by the Deputy. Kildare and Wicklow ETB is currently progressing the building of a new education campus through the planning process and this will provide permanent accommodation for the school.
326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken or the steps he proposes to take to assist applicants for higher education courses who are being refused higher education funding or back to education allowance on the grounds that they have previously studied or completed a course at a similar level on the NFQ despite the fact that their existing qualification is deemed to be insufficient to meet the requirements of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9692/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the student grant scheme is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place. Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. It should be noted that out of a total number of some 92,000 applications for the academic year 2013/2014 assessed by SUSI by the 18th February 2014, some 1% of students were refused on the basis that they had previously completed a course at the same level.
My Department has done considerable work focused on getting unemployed people back to work. Springboard is a specific initiative that targets funding to enable unemployed people who have lost their jobs to up skill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skill shortages or employment. The joint Government-Industry ICT Action Plan, developed as a direct response to ICT skills shortages, supports jobseekers who already hold a level 8 qualification.
328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number and location of applications for new school buildings, extensions or upgrading of existing school facilities received in his Department from primary or second level school authorities throughout County Kildare still awaiting sanction; the extent to which he anticipates being in a position to approve such applications over the next two to three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9694/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current status of all projects, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year. The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.
Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects, to meet future demand will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when individual building projects will be progressed. My Department will however consider applications by schools for funding for additional classrooms where an immediate enrolment need is arising.
329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of his continuous dialogue with the authorities of smaller, rural or urban schools including those with a religious ethos with a view to ensuring that their concerns are adequately addressed in line with previous commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9695/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by my Department in a value for money review, which I am considering in consultation with my Government colleagues. There are many aspects to be considered in regard to school provision, apart from pupil enrolment. Among them are questions such as availability of diversity of provision, ethos of schools, parental choice, language of instruction, pupil travel distances, transport costs and the impact of schools on dispersed rural communities. I am mindful of the concerns of small schools and will take them into account in considering any planning framework for future provision of schools.
330. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of incidents of school bullying including cyber bullying reported to his Department through the primary or post-primary sectors or both in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which it has been found possible to address the issue to date; his plans for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9696/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2013, my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and I published the Action Plan on Bullying. Since then, good progress has been made on implementing actions designed to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. These actions focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying, including cyber bullying, are addressed. New National Procedures on Anti-Bullying, which include a specific reference to cyberbullying, were launched last September. These are currently being adopted and implemented by all 4,000 primary and post primary schools in the country. These are available on my Department's website www.education.ie and include reporting and oversight arrangements.
The recommended approach is for schools to aim to prevent bullying in schools and, where it does happen, to take the steps required to address the issue at local level. There is no obligation on school authorities to report incidents of bullying to my Department and my Department does not collate data on individual bullying incidents. My Department has supported awareness raising initiatives in relation to tackling bullying. These include Safer Internet Day, an initiative, targeted at young people, to address internet safety issues, including cyberbullying. I was very pleased to launch Safer Internet Day 2014 in Ireland earlier this month.
Central to promoting safer use of the Internet by young people is a strong commitment to changing behaviour and raising the knowledge, skills and attitudes around preventing, responding to and reporting cyber bullying incidents. The continued implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying will increase capacity in these areas and build on my Department's current strategy to ensure that internet safety is mainstreamed throughout schools' teaching, learning and other practices. Resources are available on www.webwise.ie and include guidelines on developing Acceptable Use Policies.My Department also supported the Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying in second level schools which took place in 2013 and will again support this initiative in March 2014.
An Anti-Bullying Parent Training Programme was run jointly by the National Parents Councils (primary and post primary) in 2013. Funding of €60,000 was grant aided for this purpose and 105 anti-bullying parent training sessions were delivered to 3279 participants around the country in 2013. The sessions were designed to support parents and their children with issues of bullying and to inform them about the new Anti-bullying procedures for schools. Implementation of these and other actions identified in the Plan will continue in 2014.
332. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give consideration to the provision of the planning and building unit grant to special needs schools and primary schools with special classes for the 2014-15 school year following its reinstatement during the current calendar year; his views on whether this grant is proving very beneficial for such schools in meeting their service demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9730/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2011 on the announcement of the Medium Term Education Capital Investment Framework, I indicated that it was unlikely funding would be available in future years to allow the issue of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. In November 2013 funding was made available as a once-off payment of the Minor Works Grant in respect of the 2013/2014 school year. Future funding of the Minor Works Grant remains governed by the need to focus on the provision of additional school places and the position as I outlined in November 2011 remains in place. I know that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a Minor Works Grant that is welcomed by school communities and management bodies as a valuable contribution to the costs of maintaining school infrastructure whether in the mainstream or special school sector.
333. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the various projects in which the Office of Public Works is involved that require geological expertise, including geological assessment and slope stability risk assessment; if the work typically is carried out by employees of the OPW or by external consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8980/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works commissions external delivery of the type specified where required. The office does not have the internal capacity to undertake same.
334. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his proposals for drainage works on the Cregclare River, Ardrahan, County Galway, in view of the fact that families are marooned in their houses due to the flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9278/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cregaclare to Monksfield River flows on to Aggard Stream, which outfalls into the Dunkellin River upstream of Rahasane Turlough.
Works proposed under the Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme will include flood alleviation measures from upstream of Craughwell Road Bridge to Kilcolgan on the Dunkellin River and also include maintenance of the aforementioned channels from Cregaclare to the outfall into the Dunkellin River including culvert replacement works where existing blocked and undersized piped crossings currently exist.
Galway County Council is acting as Contracting Authority for the proposed flood relief scheme for the Dunkellin area, which is being funded by the Office of Public Works. The Council has appointed engineering and environmental consultants to design the scheme, and is progressing the project under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. I am advised that Galway County Council intends to submit the scheme to An Bord Pleanála for consideration in early Summer. It is not possible to indicate when works can be commenced until the scheme has been progressed through the planning process.
It should be noted that the Cregaclare channel and the lower Dunkellin River form part of the Dunkellin Drainage District for which Galway County Council has a statutory maintenance responsibility. Given the recurrence of flooding again at Cregaclare in 2014, OPW will be requesting Galway County Council to proceed, this summer, with maintenance of the channel from Cregaclare to its outfall into the Dunkelin River in advance of the proposed Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme works.
335. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on a flood relief scheme (details supplied); if the Office of Public Works consultants and Cork County Council investigation works have been fed into the design process; if the start date for construction is expected to be delayed in view of the latest flooding difficulties in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9285/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetailed design of the Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme is currently underway with the recent site investigations providing valuable information to the design team finalising the scheme. The tender process for the procurement of a contractor is due to be commenced very shortly by Cork County Council which is the lead body on the progression and management of the Scheme. The procurement of the contractor is a two stage process with the second stage programmed to take place in mid 2014. Appointment of the contractor is expected to take place towards the end of the year which would allow construction to commence before year end, subject to the necessary Statutory approvals being provided.
336. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which routine de-silting of rivers and waterways continues with particular reference to the removal of obstacles such as trees and debris building up in rivers and streams which are a major contributory cause to flooding in both urban and rural areas; if any evaluation has been done to compare the benefits of attenuation with de-silting and cleaning of waterways as a means of flood prevention and alleviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9348/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for approximately 11,500 km of arterial drainage channels, about 2200 km being subject to routine maintenance each year as part of an ongoing programme of arterial drainage maintenance. This leads to an average cycle of maintenance taking place just over once every 5 years. This work is carried out to ensure that the State's investment in the Arterial Drainage schemes continues to provide the intended benefits. These schemes were primarily focused on facilitating an increase in agricultural output. In doing this two criteria were considered, namely, the reduction in the frequency of flooding and the increase in drainage outfall thus reducing water logging. The former tends to be the overriding criterion on larger channels while the latter tends to dictate the depth and size of the minor channels. If maintenance is not carried out then most channels would return over a number of years to their pre-drainage state.
It should be noted that there are many other rivers and watercourses for which the OPW does not have any maintenance responsibility. Local Authorities have statutory responsibility for maintenance of rivers and watercourses which form part of Drainage Districts. For other watercourses falling outside of the OPW and Local Authority areas of responsibility it is private landowners generally that have responsibility for the maintenance of these.
The attenuation referred to relates to the reduction of the flood peak by storage of the floodwater somewhere where it will do less damage. To do this, somewhere that is not already flooded has to be flooded or somewhere that is flooded has to be flooded to a greater depth. On larger channels this option would therefore require that considerable areas of land would have to be flooded to a greater extent in a controlled fashion. For example, on the Blackwater in Fermoy, 25 square kilometres of land flooded to an extra metre would have been required. This option is examined on all of our urban flood relief schemes and is only rarely found to form part of the preferred solution, generally where the flows are relatively low and a suitable attenuation area is available. In a rural setting it is almost never beneficial to transfer the flood from one landowner to another. Another negative that arises with storage solutions is in the area of residual risk. When an event in excess of the design event is encountered there can be a step change in the effect on the benefiting area when the storage is exhausted and the integrity of the storage area also poses a risk as the excess flood water is stored upstream of the benefiting area. In contrast, if the design capacity of the drained channel is exceeded it continues to confer benefit and the increase in flood is more gradual.
It has been suggested that bogs might be used to attenuate the effects of flooding. A recent (February 2012) study "The Use of Wetlands for Flood Attenuation" carried out by the Aquatic Services Unit, UCC commissioned by An Taisce, stated in its executive summary that "The value of wetlands for flood attenuation is, however, often exaggerated and many wetlands in fact play only a very weak role, if at all, in attenuating floods". It further stated that "it (the influence of wetlands in reducing flood peaks) is least for large events, particularly following a long period of prior rainfall, when soil and wetland storage are saturated."
