Finian McGrath
Ceist:230. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding newly allocated resource hours (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13821/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraServices for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (230)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that all children who have been assessed as having a Mild General Learning Difficulty are entitled to receive additional teaching support in schools under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports at primary level, or through a general allocation of High Incidence (HI) disability support at post primary school level. All schools have therefore been provided with resource teaching hours to allocate to pupils with Mild General Learning Difficulty. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) recommended the introduction of a new resource allocation model for schools. I recently announced that I am not proposing to change the way teachers are allocated to schools for children with Special Educational Needs for the coming school year. In taking this decision, I have been guided by the advice of the NCSE Working Group report, which recommended sufficient time be allowed for consultation before the new model is implemented. Through consultations, there was a broad welcome for the proposed new model from Parents, disability groups, schools and stakeholders. However, there has not been sufficient time to address all of the concerns which have been raised in advance of the 2015 school year. In the context of the recent announcement that the proposed new model for allocating resource teachers to schools will not now be introduced from September 2015, I agreed to review the particular position in relation to educational provision for children with Down syndrome in mainstream schools. On 24th of March, I announced that the Government has agreed that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the National Council for Special Education's (NCSE) annual allocation process. I advised that this measure was being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher model and the fact that children with Down syndrome experience a cluster of difficulties relating to this syndrome, in addition to general learning difficulties, including speech and language developmental delays. As my Department is continuing to develop the new allocation model for schools, and is currently working to devise a pilot of the new model, I do not propose to amend the existing allocation process further, pending the introduction of a new allocation model.
Third Level Funding
Ceisteanna (231)
Jerry Buttimer
Ceist:231. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are funding, grant and scholarship options available to assist an Irish student in meeting the cost of studying in the United States of America for one year, as part of an undergraduate degree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13850/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the terms of the student grant scheme, my Department provides maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses, in the State or in other E.U. Member States, to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. Under the student grant scheme an approved undergraduate course, in the State or in a Member State, is defined as a full-time course of at least two years duration pursued in an approved institution.
As the student grant scheme does not extend to courses pursued outside of the EU there is no provision to provide funding to the student referred to by the Deputy.
Redundancy Payments
Ceisteanna (232)
Michael Ring
Ceist:232. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding enhanced redundancy for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo. [13607/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage.
In relation to the details supplied, discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are on-going. There is also on-going engagement with the Attorney General's Office in relation to the legal issues arising. Consideration of the matter will be finalised in light of the outcome of these consultations.
Commencement of Legislation
Ceisteanna (233)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:233. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a commencement date for sections 2 and 3 of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2014 has been arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13612/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Work is continuing to meet the commitment in the Government's Social Housing Strategy 2020 to commence major provisions under Part 2 (Termination of Local Authority Tenancies, etc.) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, and it is expected that Statutory Instruments in this regard will be made shortly.
With regard to Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, which provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses, the Strategy includes a commitment to introduce the new tenant purchase scheme in the second quarter of 2015. Full details of the new scheme will be set out in Regulations that will be made in advance of its introduction.
Housing Adaptation Grant
Ceisteanna (234)
Anthony Lawlor
Ceist:234. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the housing adaptation grant scheme and the mobility aids grant scheme, if he is aware of the difficulty experienced by some contractors in getting paid for their work, in cases where local authorities make the relevant payments directly to the tenant, and the tenant subsequently keeps the money and withholds payment from the contractor; the steps he will take to ensure that there is adequate oversight of these schemes across all local authorities, in order that the system is not abused by tenants who withhold money for work completed; if he will ensure that contractors who participate in the schemes are protected, receiving their due payment in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13623/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability although 80% funded by my Department, is administered by the Local Authorities.
The matter of payment to contractors is between the applicant and the contractor. The Local Authority will pay eligible grants where copies of all relevant invoices are received from the applicant and the works have been inspected by a Local Authority building inspector.
Private Rented Accommodation Standards
Ceisteanna (235)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:235. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the latest figures, by county, on the compliance rate of properties, where tenants are on rent supplement, with regulations on minimum physical standards for rented accommodation; and on the compliance rent of all rented properties with minimum physical standards for rented accommodation. [13640/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Minimum standards for rented accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 as amended, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations.
Responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations rests with each local authority. Information on enforcement on a local authority basis is compiled and made available as part of my Department's housing statistics publications. Data in respect of the years 2005 to 2013 can be accessed via the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15293,en.xls.
The returns from local authorities in respect of 2014 are currently being compiled and validated prior to publication.
The regulations, with some exceptions, apply to all rented dwellings. My Department does not hold information on the compliance rate of dwellings where tenants are on rent supplement.
Building Regulations Amendments
Ceisteanna (236)
Noel Harrington
Ceist:236. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce amendments to the building regulations regarding building your own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13668/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has given preliminary consideration to the arrangements in place for oversight of new single dwellings and extensions to existing dwellings in advance of the anticipated full formal review of the broader operation of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 9 of 2014).
While costs are determined by market forces and are therefore outside of the scope of my regulatory powers, I recognise the importance of ensuring that the regulations do not impact unduly on one-off housing and extensions to dwellings, particularly in relation to cost. I announced the commencement of the review today.
Departmental Policy Reviews
Ceisteanna (237)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:237. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Keeping Communities Safe policy; if he will take on board the concerns expressed by front-line firefighters in relation to a number of its elements; the way he plans to proceed from here on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13669/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The policy document Keeping Communities Safe, (KCS) was published in February 2013, as national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland and embeds the internationally accepted Risk Management Approach to safety.
KCS was developed through a collaborative process which included consultation with stakeholders. The KCS development process had the benefit of oversight and international expertise from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the overall approach is aligned with international best practice in this field. KCS is the first time national standards were set to aid consistency in fire services provision by local authorities and fire services can now be benchmarked against these national standards, using an Area Risk Categorisation process set out in KCS.
While I am aware that certain parties have been active in raising concerns about KCS, I am not aware of any specific negative consequences that have been identified for either crewing or staffing levels in the fire services. Assurances have and continue to be given to fire services personnel and the public that KCS is about quality and consistency in fire services in Ireland and is neither about cost-cutting nor diminishing public safety or fire-fighter health and safety.
The reality on the ground is that fire-fighters, almost uniquely among public servants, have been protected from the economic difficulties of recent years. Fire-fighter numbers in Ireland have been maintained at a constant level since the introduction of the moratorium on recruitment in local authorities in 2009. Likewise, local authority funding for fire services has been prioritised and maintained for the past four years, at a time when general local authority spending has declined very considerably.
I have indicated previously that the door for discussions with the recognised Trade Union bodies remains open. I would urge them to identify any specific issues of concern to them and engage in constructive dialogue on any such matters with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), the body representing local fire authorities.
Commercial Rates
Ceisteanna (238)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:238. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recommendations contained in the inter-agency working group report on job creation and new enterprise opportunities on the Gaoth Dobhair business park in County Donegal, in which a new scheme to reduce the burden of commercial rates payable by enterprise was advocated, his plans to introduce such a scheme; when he expects the scheme to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13708/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
The Local Government (Rates) Act 1970 provides for the operation of rates waiver schemes. Under the provisions, a rating authority may make and carry out a scheme providing for a waiver of all or a portion of commercial rates due by ratepayers in respect of a specified class or classes of property. The formulation of such a scheme is a matter reserved for the members of the relevant local authority and is subject to my consent as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
I would consider carefully any application received for a rate waiver scheme. In considering any such application, it has to be borne in mind that a waiver of rates for one class of ratepayer could unfairly impact on other businesses in the area by giving a competitive advantage to a certain group through a reduction in costs. As such, it would be necessary to consider State Aid rules in relation to the provision of any such relief. In addition, the introduction of a waiver scheme could further increase costs on the part of businesses that are not part of the scheme, as it is likely that they would be required to make up the cost of the waiver scheme through the payment of additional rates. This could impose an additional burden on such ratepayers.
Recent developments have seen some local authorities introduce locally designed business incentive schemes which promote the use of vacant commercial property. Such schemes rely upon Part 9 of the Local Government Act 2001 which provides that the functions of local authorities include providing grants, loans guarantees or other financial aid to promote the interests of the local community, including economic interests. Unlike rates waiver schemes, no Ministerial sanction is required for the setting up of these schemes.
I understand that Donegal County Council has already introduced, for 2015, a Small Business Grant Scheme under which businesses can avail of a 5% reduction on their rates bill (subject to a maximum reduction of €250) if their rates are paid in full before the end of the year and there are no arrears on their account.