Written Answers Nos. 230 - 251
230. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of training which teachers at both primary and post-primary levels receive to enable them to recognise the symptoms associated with conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia; if additional training will be offered to teachers in this area in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36265/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to assure the Deputy of this Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs.
Pupils with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) such as ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia are supported by my Department through the allocation of additional teaching resources to schools for pupils with high incidence special educational needs. Schools may differentiate the level of learning support granted to ensure that available resources are used to support children in line with their needs.
As part of the recent Budget announcements, a new model for the allocation of teaching resources for children with special educational needs will be implemented from September 2017. Further details regarding implementation of the new model will be announced in the coming months.
Other supports provided to support pupils with SLDs include funding for schools for the purchase of specialised equipment and an information resource pack on Dyslexia, which has been made available to all primary and post-primary schools.
Supports for teachers are provided across the continuum of teacher education, from initial teacher education (ITE) to in-career teacher professional learning.
In ITE, programme providers aim to prepare their student teachers to meet the diverse needs of all their pupils.
The compulsory components of ITE are outlined in the Teaching Council’s "Initial Teacher Education: Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers (2011)" and include Inclusive Education (Special Education, Multiculturalism, Disadvantage, etc.). The learning outcomes of ITE programmes also reflect the need for the teacher to be able to conduct a systematic, holistic assessment of learner needs; to apply knowledge of the individual potential of students, their disposition towards learning and their backgrounds, identities and learning styles to their teaching; to set clear, challenging and achievable expectations for pupils; to evaluate learner progress; to act as an advocate for students, referring students for educational support as required and participating in the provision of that support, amongst other relevant outcomes.
In regard to ongoing professional learning opportunities there is provision for continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers with additional training needs through the Special Education Support Service (SESS). As well as the current broad spectrum of available courses, the SESS continues to update current CPD courses and design new CPD courses in response to the needs of teachers.
My Department’s psychological service, NEPS, provides ongoing advice, support and consultation to teaching staff in schools to build their knowledge and capacity to identify concerns, provide appropriate intervention and monitor the progress of students with a range of difficulties including, among others, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.
The Teaching Council acknowledges that teachers’ learning should be linked to teachers’ needs, students’ needs and school needs, and differentiated to suit the culture and context of teachers’ work. Cosán, the Teaching Council's framework for teachers’ learning, has an inherent flexibility to take account of all of these variables, while simultaneously enabling the needs of the students, the school and the system to be met. In this context the emerging needs of teachers with regard to pupils with special education needs can be recognised and appropriate supports developed as required.
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason teachers in designated community colleges who are not members of any trade union are not being treated the same as members of the TUI for the purposes of the Lansdowne Road agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36282/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraASTI issued a directive to its members to withdraw from the Croke Park hours with effect from 11 July 2016. ASTI's decision to withdraw from these hours means that the union has repudiated the Lansdowne Road Agreement. As a result, my Department issued Circular 0045/2016 which set out the arrangements for the application of the Lansdowne Road Agreement in respect of post-primary teachers.
The Designated Community College sector is considered as having dual union representation i.e. both ASTI and TUI have representation rights in respect of teachers in such schools.
In the case of Designated Community Colleges, those teachers who are members of TUI (which has accepted to the Lansdowne Road Agreement) were asked to identify themselves to their employer Education and Training Board so that the agreement could be applied to them. The provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts are being applied to all other teachers in the Designated Community College sector.
As is the norm with public service collective agreements, the Lansdowne Road Agreement was negotiated with trade unions which are recognised as representing staff in the public service (including teachers). It is normal industrial relations practice in the public service that the decision of the trade union recognised as holding representative rights for a particular grade or sector will determine the position for all relevant staff in that grade/sector. This context does not allow for acceptance or rejection of collective agreements by staff on an individual basis.
Accordingly, there are no proposals at this time to treat teachers separately based on the fact that they are not a member of a trade union.
234. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new ASD units that have been provided for children on the autistic spectrum in schools in County Limerick for September 2016; the plans in place for further such units in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36304/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
Almost 14,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. The Department of Education and Skills invests over €300m annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:
- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools
- 23% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and
- 14% to attend special schools.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. Special classes are part of a continuum of educational provision that enables students with more complex special educational needs to be educated, in smaller class groups, within their local mainstream schools.
They offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special class for students with ASD are staffed with a lower pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1 at primary level and 6:1.5 at post primary level, and also have Special Needs Assistant support normally amounting to 2 for a class of 6 children.
Students enrolled in special classes should be included in mainstream classes to the greatest extent possible, in line with their abilities.
Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are 1,153 special classes available, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548.
This includes a total of 889 classes, 127 are ASD early intervention classes, 525 primary ASD classes and 237 post-primary ASD classes, which represents an increase of approx. 16% on 2015/16 classes for children with autism.
There are 19 special classes for children with autism attached to mainstream schools in Co. Limerick for 2016/17 school year comprising 2 Early Intervention Classes for children who are not yet school going age, 7 primary school classes and 10 at post primary level. 8 of these classes are new classes open in September 2016, 1 Early Intervention Class, 3 at primary level and 4 at post primary level.
Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, are available on www.ncse.ie in county order, and with new classes identified.
The NCSE continues to review the special class placement requirements in County Limerick and is currently engaging with schools with regard to opening new special classes in areas where there is an identified need for special class provision.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published on 6 July 2016. The Admissions Bill provides that where a school has places available it must admit all applicants. The Bill contains a provision for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to designate a school for a child who has no school place for reasons related to the child’s special educational needs and for the Child and Family Agency to designate a school for a child who has no school place (other than a child with special educational needs).
Furthermore, it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. In addition, the Department may also provide capital funding to schools to establish special needs provision e.g. re-configure existing accommodation to provide a special class where this has been approved by the National Council for Special Education through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers. The NCSE recently launched guidelines for Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Post Primary schools which provide information on setting up and organising special classes. These guidelines are available to download from www.ncse.ie.
235. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be receiving the minor works grant 2016-17; when the grant will be processed; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36305/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17th November 2016, I announced the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017, totalling €28.5 million. Payment will issue to primary schools in the coming weeks, including to the school in question.
236. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be receiving the minor works grant 2016-17; when the grant will be processed; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36321/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17th November 2016, I announced the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017, totalling €28.5 million. Payment will issue to primary schools in the coming weeks, including to the school in question.
238. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact of the recent patronage decision made for a new secondary school for the Castleknock and Carpenterstown area for the provision of a gaelcholaiste or Aonad in the Dublin 15 area; if there has been any communication between his Department and potential patrons for such a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36362/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing completion of the patronage process for the nine new post-primary schools to be established in 2017 and 2018, I announced the Edmund Rice Schools Trust as the successful patron for the school which will open in 2017 to serve the Carpenterstown and Castleknock school planning areas.
Taking into account the level of demand for, and the provision of, Irish-medium education in the area in conjunction with the number of parental preferences for Irish-medium provision submitted as part of the patronage process for this new school, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG), the independent advisory group set up to oversee the patronage process and to make recommendations in this regard to me, has recommended that the new school would be an English-medium school, with an Aonad Lán-Gaeilge to be provided either in this new school or in an existing post-primary school in the area. I accepted the NSEG's recommendations in this regard and consideration is being given to establishing an Aonad Lán-Gaeilge in the most appropriate location within the Carpenterstown and Castleknock area.
The success of the Aonad Lán-Gaeilge will input into a decision to be taken at the appropriate time in the future as to whether the Aonad should develop into a stand-alone Gaelcholáiste.
Following the announcement of my decisions in relation to the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools, my Department has been in contact with the relevant patrons in relation to the establishment of these schools and will continue to liaise with patrons in this regard.
239. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is considering using the post office network as a facility for the sale of motor tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35868/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the motor tax system is kept under regular review.
Under existing arrangements, motor tax is payable in person or by post through motor tax offices in twenty six local authorities. It is also payable online at any time, with the level of online usage increasing from 42% of all motor tax transactions in 2010 to just under 70% to date in 2016.
I am aware that An Post is interested in providing a collection service for motor tax through the post office network. This is being considered by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in consultation with my Department, as part of the review of the recommendations contained in the Final Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group (the Kerr report). My Department will assess, as part of this process, the added value of providing an additional payment path for motor tax , in the context of maximising the efficiency of the provision of high quality services to the public. Public procurement requirements in respect of engaging service providers will also have to be considered.
240. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he plans to issue guidelines on the setback distance of 1 kilometre from family homes for windmills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35872/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra241. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the updated planning guidelines for wind farms will be published; the consultation that has taken place with local communities as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35954/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra243. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he will publish updated and significantly enhanced guidelines for wind farm development; if he will ensure that such guidelines take cognisance of the detailed submissions made by communities across rural Ireland into the evaluation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36334/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 240, 241 and 243 together.
In December 2013, my Department published proposed draft revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- the setting of a more stringent day- and night-time noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,
- a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and
- the complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
A public consultation process was also initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which ran until February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.
As outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government is committed to finalising the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines within the first six months of coming into office. The revisions to the Guidelines will be informed by the public consultation process and by best international practice. My Department is continuing to advance work on the Guidelines, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in order to bring the matter to a conclusion as early as possible.
The revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to such guidelines, issued under Section 28, in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
242. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money granted to rural resettlement each year since 2012, with regard to the Government's commitment to rural resettlement; the current uptake of the scheme; if he will reinstate funding to Rural Resettlement Ireland, funding for which was cut in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36277/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRural Resettlement Ireland were advised on receipt of their grant in 2012 that, given resource constraints, it was unlikely my Department would be in a position to provide funding to them under Grant in Aid in 2013 or beyond. That position remains unchanged.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 149 of 16 November 2016 which sets out the position more generally, including in relation to the development of a broadly-based rural development strategy, led by my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
244. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will instruct Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to grant a person (details supplied) early entry into the HAP scheme to prevent them from becoming homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35759/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present, the full HAP scheme is only available to all qualifying households in one of the four Dublin local authorities, South Dublin County Council. The full roll-out of the scheme will be completed by 1 March 2017, with the introduction of HAP to the administrative areas of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal County Councils. A multi-agency HAP Implementation Dublin Working Group has been established to advise and prepare for the introduction of the scheme to the Dublin region based on experience of the roll-out to date, and the particular pressures and characteristics of the rental market in Dublin.
The Homeless Pilot of the HAP scheme has been operational since February 2015 across the four housing authorities in the Dublin Region, i.e. Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council, and is being implemented through the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). The focus of this pilot scheme is to transition qualified households from emergency accommodation, including hotels, into private rented tenancies. To qualify for HAP under the homeless pilot scheme, a household must generally be accepted as homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 by one of the four Dublin local authorities. The Homeless HAP support has also been used to prevent households from entering homelessness and homeless services.
While eligible homeless households may source accommodation for themselves, a dedicated placement team, the Dublin Place-Finder Service, has also been established to engage directly with property-owners and support qualified households to find suitable tenancies and to ensure that any additional supports that may be needed are put in place.
The operation and allocation of social housing supports is a matter for the housing authority concerned and is one in which I, as Minister, have no role. If an applicant wishes to make an inquiry regarding social housing support or the HAP homeless pilot scheme they should contact the Housing Section of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council or the Dublin Region Homeless Executive directly.
245. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that Cork City Council can remain financially viable; if he will take steps to remedy the underfunding of same by the Government; the steps he will take to rectify the loss of funding from changes in commercial rates caused by Government policy; and the way he will assist putting Cork City Council on a sound financial footing. [35806/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra248. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he intends to take to ensure that Cork City Council can remain financially viable; his plans to take steps to remedy the underfunding of same by the Government; the steps he intends to take to rectify the loss of funding from changes in commercial rates; and the way he intends to assist putting Cork City Council on a sound financial footing. [35878/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 248 together.
It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority are responsible for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.
My Department has worked closely with the local government sector in recent months through the County and City Management Association in the preparation of a consistent and evidence based approach to the various funding pressures, on a sector wide basis. This work helped inform decisions concerning the distribution of resources within the parameters of the national and fiscal budgetary position and the competing priorities presenting themselves at Governmental level. Notwithstanding these competing priorities I ensured, in the approach to Budget 2017, that funding for the sector was secured in a number of areas, including in respect of pay costs and water related costs.
The levying of commercial rates is also a matter for local authorities. The rates income of a local authority is determined by the Annual Rate on Valuation adopted by the local authority and the valuations of commercial property as determined by the independent Commissioner of Valuation. There has been no change in Government policy in this area.
246. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with Dublin City Council, DCC, on the way the budget to deal with pyrite issues in a location (details supplied) has been used; if DCC has confirmed the budget has been well spent in addressing those issues; and if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction of residents. [35816/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that Dublin City Council is funding the pyrite remediation works at this location from its own resources. I also understand that a number of tenants have raised concerns with Dublin City Council in relation to the works and the Council has agreed to meet with each of its tenants to discuss their issues.
247. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 2 November 2016, his views on the designation of Phibsborough, as defined by the boundaries of the Phibsborough local area plan in October 2008 as a local electoral area for the purposes of the local elections scheduled to take place in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35817/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 23 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides for the division of each county, city or city and county into local electoral areas.
As set out in the reply to Question No. 183 of 2 November 2016, the most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee. The recommendations of that committee for Dublin City, including the Phibsboro area, were given legal effect in the City of Dublin Local Electoral Areas Order 2014. Any changes to be made to Dublin City local electoral areas before the 2019 local elections would be a matter for a boundary committee in the first instance. In accordance with the provisions of Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, any boundary committee established to review local electoral areas in advance of the 2019 local elections will be independent in the performance of its functions and must have regard to any submissions made to it in the course of its work.
As stated in question No. 183 of 2 November 2016 there is a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to consider reducing the size of the local electoral areas. This will be examined in the preparation of a report for Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability.
249. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for affordable lettings in the context of rebuilding Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35915/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 4.6 of Rebuilding Ireland provides for the introduction of a new pilot affordable rental scheme to enhance the capacity of the private rented sector to provide quality and affordable accommodation for households currently paying a disproportionate amount of disposable income on rent.
The objective of the scheme is to provide long-term affordable residential accommodation for low to moderate income key-worker households in urban areas of high demand and provide an economic incentive to increase supply of rental accommodation.
This pilot affordable rental scheme is being progressed within the context of the comprehensive strategy for the rental sector which is being advanced under action 4.1 of Rebuilding Ireland, and which is due for publication before the end of 2016.
250. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the delivery of the Part V requirement at the Cherrywood SDZ is front loaded in order that a minimum of 800 council managed and owned units will be delivered in the first tranche of 2,000 homes due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35916/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the phased and sequential development of the overall Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) is set out in the Planning Scheme approved by An Bord Pleanála.
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, will apply to each individual application or applications for permission for housing in the Cherrywood SDZ by a variety of landowners and housing providers relating to the relevant phases and sequencing of development permitted under the Planning Scheme, in the same way as Part V applies generally to applications for housing on land which is zoned for residential use or for a mix of residential and other use(s).
Front-loading of Part V requirements for the overall site would mean reserving all of the initial phase or phases of development for social housing which would not be in accordance with the provisions of Part V of the Act or the Planning Scheme.
251. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of plans for public private partnerships in housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35917/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Strategy 2020 provided for an investment with a capital value of €300 million in social housing through the public private partnership or PPP model. In total, the programme is expected to deliver 1,500 social housing units.
The delivery of social housing through PPP is part of the plan to accelerate the supply of social housing, which is the second pillar of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness, launched in July 2016.
To enable delivery to commence as quickly as possible, the PPP programme is being rolled-out in three bundles. The first bundle, comprising six PPP sites which are to provide over 500 units in the greater Dublin area, was announced in October 2015. Two of the sites are located in Dublin City with one each in South Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth. The second bundle, comprising eight PPP sites which are to provide over 450 units across the country, was announced in June 2016. Three of the sites are located in County Cork, with one each in the cities of Galway and Waterford. There is a further one site in each of counties Clare, Kildare and Roscommon. The social housing is being developed at all of these sites in co-operation with the local authorities in each area.
Dublin City Council has been appointed to act as the lead local authority for the delivery of the social housing PPP Programme in respect of this first project bundle, with Cork County Council appointed to act as the lead local authority in respect of the second project bundle. The identification and selection of sites for the third project bundle is currently underway and is expected to be finalised in early 2017.
The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) is acting as the procuring authority on behalf of my Department and the relevant local authorities.
