Written Answers Nos. 280-292
280. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her Department's work on developing plans for a parents' and students' charter; the date on which they expect a consultation process to begin; the date on which the charter will be in force. [39271/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware from my recent reply that a set of principles will be required to act as a charter to strengthen the relationship between parents, students and schools, and the position of parents and students generally within the school system.
The Deputy will also be aware that my Department is currently examining the legislative changes to Section 28 of the Education Act, 1998 that will be necessary to provide for and support the introduction of such a Charter, and after which consultation with the education partners will take place.
It remains my intention to publish my plans during the remainder of this school year.
282. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a list of all State board appointments since general election 2011; the person who recommended each appointment; the credentials of those appointed; if the vacancy was publicly advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39279/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the Deputy's information, comprehensive information on all appointments to the Boards of non-commercial bodies under the aegis of my Department can be viewed on the Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/. In accordance with Government policy, expressions of interest are sought through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) from suitably qualified and experienced personnel for consideration when making appointments to the Boards of bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.
It should be noted that Board appointments are not in all cases made at the sole discretion of the Minister. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned.
Since 2011, 77 positions have been advertised on the PAS for which direct Ministerial appointments could be made.
283. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will have its deteriorating accommodation situation addressed; the applications in process in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39301/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, 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 cope with increasing pupil numbers. This can sometimes necessitate the use of temporary accommodation, as in the case of this school, until my Department is in a position to provide a permanent building. My Department will continue to liaise with the school authorities regarding their long term accommodation needs. The school opened in 2010 and is currently accommodated in temporary accommodation which is relatively new. It would be expected that with standard maintenance, the accommodation would remain in good condition for a considerable period of time.
Following an application from the school management, my Department, under its Emergency Works Scheme, recently approved funding for repairs to the temporary accommodation some of which was damaged during the storms earlier this year. It is expected that this funding will address the matters raised by the school management in its application. The School Authority was also sanctioned funding for two additional prefabricated units to cater for increased enrolments.
284. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way the expected surge in numbers of children seeking admittance to schools in the Leixlip area of County Kildare due to ongoing recruitment by large employers in the area will be accommodated; if her Department maintains links with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to better anticipate where and when spikes in numbers seeking school admittance will occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39303/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently liaising directly with the largest employer in the Leixlip area in relation to its plans for additions to its workforce over the coming months and the potential impact that this might have for school places.
While my Department does not directly link with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to this matter, it does link with the Department of Social Protection to obtain child benefit data. Child benefit data provides a great degree of certainty as to the numbers and location of children living in an area at any given time and for whom school accommodation will be required.
285. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact process by which population and changing demographics are factored into her Department's forward planning in respect of achieving an even standard in all areas of school buildings and teacher numbers; if she will concede that measures now have fallen short of achieving this even spread; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39304/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Forward Planning Section of my Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to analyse demographic data in order to determine the areas where additional school accommodation may be required. A variety of data sources are used in this analysis, including census data, school enrolment data, and child benefit data obtained from the Department of Social Protection.
The delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Five Year Plan is focused on meeting those demographic needs and sets out the school projects that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan. My Department will also consider applications from schools for funding for additional classrooms where an immediate enrolment need is arising.
My Department continues to analyse demographic trends and to monitor enrolments in all areas to determine the level of additional school provision which will be required into the future and to ensure that this is provided in a timely manner. An analysis of the relevant data is currently ongoing on a nationwide basis.
Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils. Teachers are allocated at post-primary level on the basis of 1 teacher for every 19 pupils (23 pupils in the case of fee-charging schools). More favourable ratios operate in DEIS schools.
Normally, the staffing of schools is determined by the enrolments of the previous September. However, the staffing arrangements also include provision for schools that are projecting significant increases in their enrolments for the start of the school year to be allocated additional posts. At post primary level, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e., curricular concession.
The allocation processes at both primary and post primary level also include an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The Appeal Boards operate independently of the Department and their decisions are final.
I have already stated publicly that because of increasing demographics my Department requires additional resources to simply maintain existing levels of service. Between this year and last year this has involved an increase of around 2,300 teachers in our primary and post-primary schools. This is a very significant investment at a time of scarce resources.
The main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system.
286. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average class size in each local authority area at present and in each year for the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39305/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics in relation to teacher numbers and pupil enrolment are published annually by my Department on its website. The most recent published statistics relate to the 2013/2014 school year.
287. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who are on public or Civil Service pensions who have been recruited for work on any basis, permanent or temporary, under the remit of her Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39547/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department collates information in relation to individuals who retired from the civil service and are re-engaged to undertake specific tasks. It also collates information in relation to retired teachers who are re-engaged by schools. It does not collate information in relation to individuals engaged who retired from positions in the wider public service.
My Department engages the services of retired civil servants from time to time to perform various defined tasks that require their particular expertise and experience. Payments made to retired civil servants in respect of such work are determined in accordance with the abatement principle whereby total earnings in any year, inclusive of pension, cannot exceed the retirement salary of the retired individual. The number of civil servants re-engaged in the year 2012 was twenty four and in the year 2013 was thirty one. As data in relation to the re-engagement of retired civil servants is compiled retrospectively at the commencement of each new year, details in relation to 2014 will not be available until early 2015.
In relation to teachers, retired teachers are employed in a substitute capacity for casual/non casual absences in primary and post primary schools. Because of the casual nature of the employment figures are compiled for specific periods. In December 2012 there were 174 primary and 91 post primary retired teachers who had worked for some period of time in the 2012/13 school year and in December 2013, 113 primary and 82 post primary retired teachers had been employed in the 2013/2014 school year. Figures for 14/15 school year are not available at this time.
Circular 31/2011 issued in May of 2011 and set out a cascading set of measures for appointment of teachers with effect from September 2011. These required that schools prioritise unemployed teachers over those in receipt of a pension where possible. Only where a school cannot source an appropriately qualified and registered teacher may they move to the recruitment of a retired appropriately qualified teacher.
288. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the rate of road tax for pre-2008 motor cars; his further views that it is fair and reasonable that identical family cars with same engine size and emission rating are rated up to 500% more if registered in 2007 as opposed to 2008; his views on allowing owners of vehicles of all ages the opportunity to tax their car based on a recognised certificate of emissions, national car test standard or similar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38902/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to change the basis of charging motor tax from engine capacity to carbon emissions (CO2) for cars registered prior to 2008. The question of applying the CO2 based system to all cars was the subject of detailed discussion at the time of introduction of the new basis of taxation in 2008. Any retrospective application would not have been possible as the CO2 data available for the existing fleet had not been authenticated for this purpose.
For cars registered since 2008, tax is based on the CO2 emissions level as provided on the Certificate of Conformity for the vehicle. The level of CO2 is determined at manufacturing stage as part of the type approval process for the vehicle. It is the level emitted in terms of grams per kilometre driven and is also affected by factors such as engine size, body type and weight, aerodynamics, type of transmission, etc. I understand that determining the level of CO2 emitted by a vehicle is expensive and that it is generally only carried out in respect of new vehicles at manufacturing stage.
Further, it is my understanding that a test for CO2 does not form part of the NCT test.
In recognition of the lower average motor tax paid in respect of vehicles taxed on the basis of CO2 emissions compared to pre-2008 vehicles, differential increases have been applied in recent Budgets with a view to re-balancing the tax base while retaining the environmental incentive to purchase more environmentally friendly vehicles. The percentage increase in motor tax for passenger vehicles taxed on engine capacity was 7.5% in Budgets 2012 and 2013, compared with increases averaging 25.5% in Budget 2012 and 19.8% in Budget 2013 for vehicles taxed on CO2.
289. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the source of State funding for Irish Water; if he will confirm that 5% of car tax and 2% of VAT now goes towards water production via Irish Water; if he will further confirm the amount of local property tax that has gone to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39021/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Water's costs in the coming years will be funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending and capital markets facilities) and State support which may be in the form of both equity and subvention. In order to provide for free allowances and give greater visibility on the expected level of water charges, the Government have decided to provide the following subvention to Irish Water in 2015 and 2016:
- An average subvention of €537m in each of the two years, and
- Provision of just over €400m in 2015 and 2016 to support increased investment in public water services, including the provision of a “first fix scheme” by Irish Water.
This funding package for 2015 and 2016 builds on the Exchequer funding being provided to Irish Water in 2014, which includes €239m that will be used to primarily fund the core capital expenditure programme of Irish Water. In addition, Irish Water will receive a subvention of some € 440 million from the Local Government Fund in 2014, which will fund water- related expenditures incurred heretofore by local authorities and which would, historically, have been met by local authorities from their own resources, non-domestic water charge revenues and general purpose grants from the Fund. It is anticipated that Irish Water will finance other costs from non-domestic water charge revenues of some €190m and from borrowing, which will be the subject of appropriate Ministerial consents in due course. The local government funding model has changed considerably in 2014 and, in particular, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector has a considerable impact on local authority financing. The Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2014 estimates total expenditure from the Local Government Fund of €1.779 billion in 2014, with income from, primarily, estimated Local Property Tax proceeds of €550m and revenue from motor tax of €1.16 billion.
290. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will advise the Health Service Executive to carry out tests on the lead content in the water supply in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact that independent tests carried out in another area of County Kerry produced results in which the lead content was well above the EU safe limit of 10 micrograms per litre as advised in the HSE-EPA link. [39110/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra291. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the water quality in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39127/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra292. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the results of water testing by an independent company for lead content in the water of houses in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry, constitute that the water is unsafe to drink as advised in the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health Service Executive pamphlet and in view of the fact that the tests produced results in which the lead content was well above the EU safe limit of ten micrograms per litre; if the HSE will declare the water unfit for drinking purposes in the area and notify the energy regulator of such a decision in order that the regulator may declare that the residents of the area are not liable for water charges until the issue is resolved. [39142/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 292, inclusive, together.
With effect from 1st January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water, including Irish Water, are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. Under the Regulations, the maximum allowable value for lead is 10 micrograms per litre. At this concentration, there is a risk of exceeding the limits where lead piping is in use for water supply and in particular where the water has been sitting in the pipe overnight.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water’s compliance with these Regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the Regulations, the water supplier is required to investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to ensure that the appropriate remedial action is taken. This may include the prohibition or the restriction of the supply by the water supplier. The procedures to be followed where there is non-compliance with the parameter values set out in the Drinking Water Regulations are clearly laid out in the Regulations. In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it is recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and private ownership should be replaced over time. The EPA and HSE also recommend that persons in premises that have lead piping should flush the supply at the kitchen tap first thing in the morning, before using for drinking.
Irish Water has informed my Department that of its estimated 58,000 kilometres of distribution system, there is a very small proportion of lead piping, consisting of approximately 190 short lengths across 14 local authorities. Irish Water is working to achieve the replacement of these pipes as quickly as possible.
However, there are a significant number of lead public service pipes between the water mains and the customer stopcock or water meter. Irish Water is identifying the location of such lead service connections during the meter installation programme. The numbers currently being identified represent about 5% of houses, but this is expected to be higher in town centre areas. Irish Water also estimates that there may be a further 30,000 to 40,000 houses with shared backyard lead service connections. Irish Water has informed my Department that it intends to invest in public lead pipe replacement schemes, primarily communications pipes, with a view to eliminating lead mains, including shared backyard service connections over the next ten years. Irish Water is also reviewing its water treatment processes to ensure that they can mitigate the risk in the short term.
The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance of the internal water distribution system and should ensure that it is kept in good order and repair, so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment and that the water meets prescribed quality standards.
The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER recently published its determination on the water charges plan submitted to it by Irish Water. In its determination the CER has decided that where a water restriction is in place for more than 24 hours, domestic customers should receive a 100% discount on the water supply charge.
The EPA publishes an annual report on the quality of drinking water supplies in Ireland, which sets out details on the numbers of water restrictions that are in place. Copies of these reports are available in the Oireachtas library or from the EPA website (http://www.epa.ie). Irish Water also publishes the results of drinking water quality sampling on its website (www.water.ie).
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
