Written Answers Nos. 448-467
448. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial commitments signed up to by the Irish Government in the Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41809/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra449. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Narrow Water Bridge in the Fresh Start Agreement; the future plans for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41810/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra450. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Ulster Canal Project in the Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41811/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial commitments entered into for the A5 motorway in the Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the level of funding available to the Northern Ireland Executive through the Block Grant from the British Government is the same as was available when the Stormont House Agreement Talks were concluded in December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41842/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra455. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if additional funding has been committed by the British Government through the Block Grant to the Northern Ireland Executive to deal with welfare issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41843/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the provision in the recent A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan, to return the legislative powers to deal with welfare issues to the British Government, that this decision sends out the wrong message in relation to the value of Devolution and indeed the potential for further responsibilities being devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and to the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41844/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra457. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on concerns outlined by some political parties in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the way talks were concluded and proposals finalised prior to the publication of A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan; if this is an appropriate way to secure all-party agreement. [41845/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra458. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding to be provided for projects referred to in A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan, by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41846/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 to 451, inclusive, and 454 to 458, inclusive, together.
Following ten weeks of intensive discussions involving the five main Northern Ireland parties and the British and Irish Governments, an agreement entitled ‘A Fresh Start: The Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan’ was reached on Tuesday 17 November.
I believe that this agreement provides a credible road map for the implementation of many aspects of the Stormont House Agreement as well as ending paramilitarism and tackling associated organized crime and criminality.
With regard to paramilitarism, significantly the parties to the Agreement have made a firm commitment to achieving a society free of paramilitarism, to working for the disbandment of all paramilitary organisations and their structures and to challenging paramilitary attempts to control communities. A strategy to achieve this will be put in place by the Northern Ireland Executive and an international body will be established to report on progress towards ending continuing paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.
The Irish and British Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive have also committed to reinforce our efforts to tackle organised crime associated with the legacy of paramilitarism. We have agreed to establish a Joint Agency Task Force to identify strategic priorities for combatting cross-border organised crime and to oversee operational co-ordination. This work will be supported by additional resources. In addition, a tri-lateral cross-border Ministerial meeting will take place next month between Minister Fitzgerald and her counterparts from the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to agree new measures to further enhance law enforcement cooperation.
The Fresh Start Agreement is also about financial stability and reform. Pursuing economic prosperity and job creation is critical to building a peaceful society in Northern Ireland. In recognition of this, the Irish Government has committed to providing support and funding for important infrastructure projects as well as for investment in the North West Region.
In the Agreement, the Irish Government restated its commitment under the St Andrews Agreement to co-fund the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry, which will improve access to Derry and North Donegal. Under the Fresh Start Agreement, the Government specifically reaffirms its existing commitment to providing funding of £50 million for this project and commits to providing an additional £25 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project can commence as soon as the necessary planning issues have been resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. In accordance with the revised project timeline, this funding will be provided in three tranches of £25 million in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively and therefore it has been agreed that the first section of the A5 will commence in 2017 and this will be the route between Newbuildings (outside Derry) to north of Strabane.
Under the Agreement, the Government is committed to continue exploring the development of cross-border Greenways and Blueway cycling-walking-water leisure routes, including the Ulster Canal. In February 2015, the Government announced €2 million for the restoration of the 2.5 km Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson section. This is due to be completed in 2017. We have also agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive to undertake a review to identify options for jointly developing future phases of the Ulster Canal restoration project, which will be considered by the North South Ministerial Council in June 2016.
In the Agreement, the Government has also reiterated our commitment to the concept of the Narrow Water Bridge. We have agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive to undertake a review of the project to identify options for future development which will also be considered at the North South Ministerial Council in June 2016.
In addition the Government has decided to provide funding of €2.5 million to support the North West Gateway Initiative, which will be complemented by matching funding from the Northern Ireland Executive. This is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to support the regional development work of the North West Gateway Initiative which will be of real benefit to Donegal as well as Derry.
In order to drive these projects forward, a group of senior officials from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government will meet regularly to maintain a strategic overview of economic and infrastructural investment. Regular progress reports will be provided to the North South Ministerial Council. This group will also consider opportunities for sourcing further investment for all-island infrastructure projects for mutual benefit, including through PPPs, EU funding and other non-Exchequer sources.
I believe that the funding committed by the Irish Government under the Fresh Start Agreement, which amounts to €110 million in total, represents a good investment for the people of Ireland. This investment is aimed at unlocking the full potential of the all island economy. Such targeted investment in cross border economic infrastructure will be key to continued growth of the island’s indigenous enterprise base, boosting tourism and to driving and sustaining overseas investment levels. This is crucial for job creation and all-island prosperity and to ensure that the socio-economic dividend made possible by the Good Friday and subsequent Agreements is fully realised. This funding will therefore benefit all citizens on the island of Ireland. I would add that this financial commitment is predicated on a stable political environment in Northern Ireland, with all the institutions and North South bodies operating to full effect. It is therefore important that the Fresh Start Agreement is fully implemented.
In this Agreement, the British Government has also recognised the importance of underpinning the implementation of its provisions by way of financial support so that Northern Ireland’s public finances can be placed on a sound footing, which is so important for economic stability and development, and to assist with the transition of Northern Ireland from a society emerging from decades of conflict. The Fresh Start Agreement paves the way for the implementation of the financial package committed to the British Government under the Stormont House Agreement which gives the Northern Ireland Executive £2 billion in additional spending. The British Government has now agreed to provide further financial support of around £500 million which is aimed at assisting the Northern Ireland Executive in tackling issues unique to Northern Ireland such as support for programmes to remove peace walls.
The Fresh Start Agreement also agrees a way forward on Welfare reform. While the necessary legislation will be passed at Westminster, the Welfare Bill was, in accordance with the Agreement, debated and approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly by way of a Legislative Consent Motion on 18 November. This approval also covered the draft Order in Council which gives effect in Northern Ireland to the 2012 welfare changes in Britain, the welfare clauses of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill as initially introduced at Westminster and the Northern Ireland Executive’s proposals to enhance payments flowing from the Fresh Start Agreement.
This was agreed by the two main parties in Northern Ireland, working through the power sharing devolved Executive, and endorsed by the Northern Ireland Assembly. The explicit consent given by the Assembly protects the principle of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Under the Fresh Start Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to allocate a total of £585 million from Executive funds over four years to ‘top-up’ welfare arrangements in Northern Ireland through welfare enhancements and tax credits. The Executive has agreed to establish a small working group under the leadership of Professor Eileen Evason to bring forward proposals within this financial envelope to maximise the use of these additional resources. The Executive has agreed to implement the findings of the working group.
While important progress was made on taking forward aspects of the Stormont House Agreement dealing with the legacy of the past, it did not prove possible to resolve all of the key issues within the timescale of this negotiation. Nevertheless, the two Governments will persist in our efforts to secure an agreed basis for the establishment of the institutions dealing with the past envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement.
I believe that the Fresh Start Agreement presents a very positive result at the end of 10 weeks of intensive and often challenging negotiations. I regret the fact that some of the parties were not in a position to fully sign up to this Agreement. This was not due to a lack of effort by the Government. I consistently urged all participants to work towards an outcome which would be as comprehensive and inclusive as possible throughout the talks process. It was, however, inevitable that the two largest parties needed to take a leading role as without their shared support there would be no agreement. I believe that this demonstrates a maturity in the politics of Northern Ireland and that power-sharing can in fact work as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement.
That said, I believe that the agreement reflects positive contributions made to the talks process by all of the parties involved, especially when it comes to the measures agreed on ending paramilitarism and tackling criminality. I absolutely accept that each party needs to make their own decision about the content of this agreement and to have the necessary time to do this. Careful consideration will, I hope, enable some of the other parties to get behind elements of the agreement many of which are clearly of great importance to them and to the people they represent.
The Fresh Start Agreement is about protecting the gains delivered by the Good Friday Agreement and placing devolved power-sharing government on a sustainable footing. It is now important that government in Northern Ireland delivers for the people of Northern Ireland. It is for the parties to this agreement, with the support of the two Governments, to ensure that this new opportunity is fully embraced.
460. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the future of the MOMENTUM programme; what will happen to its unused budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41564/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expectation is that the current round of the Momentum programme will spend the full allocated budget for the programme.
In terms of a further round of Momentum officials in my Department are working with their colleagues in the Department of Social Protection to determine the overall requirement for education and training programmes for 2016. The arrangements for and the timing of any potential third round of Momentum will be considered in that context and in the light of the evaluation of the current round of Momentum.
461. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on making an exemption from compulsory Irish examinations for higher diplomas in education in the case of foreign language teachers. [41216/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no compulsory Irish exams for post primary teachers of foreign languages. Post Primary teachers of Irish are required to meet the Subject Specific Criteria as set down by the Teaching Council.
A person who has completed a programme of primary initial teacher education outside of the Republic of Ireland, and who is successful in his/her application for registration with the Teaching Council, is required to demonstrate his/her competence in teaching the Irish language and the primary curriculum through the medium of Irish. Conditional registration is granted by the Teaching Council to those in the process of completing this requirement.
My Department specifies the minimum academic requirements for entry to primary initial teacher education programmes in the State. As part of these requirements, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a Grade C in Higher Level in Irish in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent.
This requirement embodies both the written and oral element of a student's proficiency in Irish and my Department considers it to be the minimum standard in Irish necessary for students entering a programme of primary initial teacher education which will equip them to teach Irish to pupils at all levels of a primary school.
462. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of arrangement that allowed her to take ownership of the Office of Public Works site on Harcourt Terrace in Dublin 2. [41218/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe property referred to by the Deputy at Harcourt Terrace is currently in the ownership of the Commissioners of Public Works. The Commissioners of Public Works have agreed to make the property available for the purposes of the provision of a school, subject to planning permission being obtained and the development of the school proceeding within an acceptable timeframe.
463. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider the decision of the National Council for Special Education to reduce the number of special need assistant posts by two at a special school (details supplied) in County Longford; the reason for the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41226/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014. It is important to note that each school's allocation of SNA support can change from year to year and may be increased or decreased as students who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. New students with care needs may, or may not, enrol to replace students who have left, for example, or SNA allocations may be decreased where a child's care needs have diminished over time. The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2015/16 school year by 18th March 2015. The NCSE also continued to accept applications after this date in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE has published details of SNA allocations for schools for September 2015 on its website www.ncse.ie. The website indicates that the school in question had an allocation of 12 whole-time equivalent (WTE) SNA posts in the 2014/15 school year and has retained the same allocation of SNA posts for the 2015/16 school year. I understand that the NCSE recently visited the school on foot of an enquiry received from the school authorities in relation to its SNA allocation and, having considered all available information, has determined that the SNA allocation for the school for 2015/16 is a sufficient level of support to cater for the care needs of all qualifying children enrolled in the school. I understand also that the SENO has met with parents of pupils attending the school to discuss the allocation process and has informed the school of the appeal process which applies in relation to SNA allocations. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
464. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will expedite an application for a Student Universal Support Ireland Grant for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41227/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. = This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/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 the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.
465. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if much-needed additional accommodation will be provided for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41262/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved funding to the school in question for additional accommodation. This decision has been conveyed to the school.
466. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction on a new school building project (details supplied) in County Donegal will commence, and will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41280/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I announced details on Tuesday, 17th November last, of the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to construction over the next six years, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion capital investment programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a project for the school to which he refers was included in this announcement. The project is listed in the Programme to proceed to construction in the period 2019-21. Information in respect of all schools included in the Six Year Programme is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie
467. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence regarding a child (details supplied) in Dublin 13 with an intellectual disability, and the provision of speech and language therapy and a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41309/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education. The range of supports and services which are made available include additional learning and resource teaching support, Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, special transport arrangements, enhanced capitation, funding for the purchase of specialised equipment, services of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes and additional teacher training. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014. All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2015/16 school year by 18th March 2015. The NCSE also continued to accept applications after this date in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE has now published details of SNA allocations for schools for the 2015/16 school year on its website at www.ncse.ie. Once allocated, the deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. Parents who have concerns regarding the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school should, in the first instance, raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school. Details of the manner in which a school or parent may appeal the level of SNA or resource teaching allocation which has been made to support a child in school, to the NCSE, is set out on the NCSE website. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available the NCSE website. I also wish to advise the Deputy that the availability and provision of health-related therapy services, including speech and language therapy supports, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, and matters in relation to the provision of health-related services should therefore be directed to that body or to the Department of Health.
