Wednesday, 1 Feb 2017

Written Answers Nos. 169-79

Commissions of Investigation

Ceisteanna (169)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

169. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the final costs to the Exchequer of each commission of investigation that has been completed to date in his Department in addition to the estimated costs to date of ongoing commissions of investigations. [5306/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

There has been one Commission of Investigation for which my Department has been responsible. The Commission of Investigation into the Banking Sector was established on 21 September 2010 by the Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010 (S.I. 454 of 2010) pursuant to s. 3(1) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.

Mr Peter Nyberg was appointed as the sole Member of the Commission. His Final Report was completed and submitted to me on 22 March 2011. In accordance with the terms of s. 44(3) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, the Commission was dissolved on that date. I published the Report of the Commission on 19 April 2011.

The cost of the Commission of Investigation into the Banking Sector was approximately €1.2 million.

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (170, 171, 172, 180, 181, 182, 197, 198, 199)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

170. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions allocated to the Limerick City constituency in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4706/17]

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

171. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that was allocated to the Limerick City constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4766/17]

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4768/17]

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

180. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions allocated to the Roscommon-Galway constituency in 2015 and 2016 in view of the fact that the sector is facing a crisis shortage of skilled staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4729/17]

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

181. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that was allocated to the Roscommon-Galway constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4730/17]

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

182. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/17]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions that were allocated to Dublin North-West in 2015 and 2016. [4823/17]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that was allocated to the Dublin North-West constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2105 and 2016 by his Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. [4824/17]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agency or Government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here. [4825/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy John Halligan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, 180 to 182, inclusive, and 197 to 199, inclusive, together.

My Department has overall responsibility for policy development for education and training provision across the economy including the hospitality and tourism sector. There are no plans to re-establish a dedicated training organisation for the sector, but rather to deliver the required education and training through the mainstream higher and further education and training sectors, in line with provision for other sectors.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGSFN) carried out a study on the future skills needs of the sector and the report of the study was published in November 2015. The objective was to assess demand arising within the sector in Ireland including hotels, restaurants, bars, canteens and catering over the period to 2020. The aim was to ensure that there will be the right supply of skills to help drive domestic hospitality sector business and employment growth. The report provides a clear and coherent framework for the development of talent in the hospitality sector in the years ahead to help drive both hospitality business and employment growth which is one the key goals of the Government’s Tourism Policy Statement – People, Place and Policy-Growing Tourism to 2025.

The Study assesses skills demand at all NFQ levels, with a particular focus on career progression opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings. The report provides a set of recommendations designed to address the skills requirements of the sector over the period to 2020. A key recommendation in the report was the need to set up a National Oversight and Advisory Group comprising all the key hospitality stakeholders.

Following on this recommendation, the Hospitality Skills Oversight Group was established early last year, chaired by SOLAS for the first year. To date the group has held seven meetings.

Membership of the Group includes the Restaurant Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotel Federation, the Irish Hospitality Institute, the Licenced Vintners Association, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Social Protection, the Higher Education Authority, Skillnets, SOLAS, ETBs, IoTs, DIT and Quality and Qualifications Ireland.

The role of the Group is to monitor progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the EGFSN and to provide a forum for ongoing collaboration in addressing the skills needs of the sector and to identify and progress actions to overcome barriers on its implementation.

The Group plans to publish a progress report later this year. To date work has been undertaken on careers promotion via a range of fora, the launch of the Tourism Insight online programme –aimed at promoting careers in tourism and hospitality with particular reference to transition year and Youthreach participants. Audits of both higher and further education facilities and courses are underway as well as the establishment of a Restaurant and Hospitality Skillnet which aims to address key skills requirements of restaurants and catering companies to help drive the domestic hospitality sector, employment growth, talent attraction and retention.

Funded through the National Training Fund by my Department, the network plans to design tailored programmes covering all aspects of the restaurant, food and beverage industry to SMEs nationally, with a particular focus on career progression for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings and increase retention levels within the sector and is well placed to address key recommendations of the EGFSN 2015 Report on the Future Skills.

Last week, I launched the 2016-2020 Action Plan to expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland, setting out how State agencies, education and training providers and employers will work together to deliver on the Programme for Government commitments on the expansion of apprenticeship and traineeship in the period to 2020. The Plan sets out how we will manage the pipeline of new apprenticeships already established through the first call for proposals in 2015 and also commits to a new call for apprenticeship proposals later this year to provide for the needs of all sectors, including hospitality and tourism. Over the lifetime of the Action Plan, 50,000 people will be registered on apprenticeship and traineeship programmes representing a doubling of current activity.

Work is progressing on the development of a new Commis Chef Apprenticeship led by the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland working with Kerry Education and Training Board. It is planned that this programme will commence later this year. The Apprenticeship Council also recently approved development funding for a separate proposal to develop a Chef de Partie Apprenticeship. The Apprenticeship Council will continue to work with the proposers of these new programmes to develop them into sustainable apprenticeships that can be delivered on a nationwide basis. The funding for planned and forecast expansion in 2017 will see an additional €20 million provided.

In 2015 a new Career Traineeship initiative was begun by SOLAS in collaboration with ETBs and enterprise to develop a more effective model of work-based learning, primarily at NFQ levels 4 and 5, incorporating best national and international research and practice. Networks of Employers have been created to facilitate partnerships between ETBs and employers in identifying training needs, designing the training programmes, recruitment of learners and delivery of the training on and off the job. The Career Traineeship model of work-based learning is currently being piloted with the Hospitality and Engineering sectors, with the involvement of seven ETBs.

Given the breadth and range of programmes within the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, it is not possible to provide details of funding and places on a county by county basis across specific sectoral provision. However, one way in which Solas classify FET provision is by the career areas which it serves. The following table on provision in the FET sector, shows the total number of beneficiaries in the career areas of Food and Beverage and Tourism in each of the sixteen Education and Training Boards for 2015 along with that planned for 2016. As yet, final 2016 figures are not available.

While it is not possible to give details of expenditure at the level of career areas, the scale of total investment in FET and the numbers who served on both a full and part-time basis are also included in the table.

In relation to the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions within the higher education sector in 2015 and 2016 and the amount of funding allocated for tourism and hospitality skills training in the same years, it is not possible to give a breakdown by county as students can apply for courses throughout the country, through the CAO application process. However the following table on provision in the higher education sector gives a breakdown outlining the number of training positions and the total estimated funding allocated which is categorised by each individual Institute.

In 2015 the total number of students in higher education courses in this sector was 8,220 with estimated funding allocated of approx. €47.4million and in 2016 the total number of students for the sector was 8,033 with estimated funding allocated of approx. €48.4m. The funding detailed in this response includes an estimation of grants allocated to these courses, student contribution and free fees. The student numbers are calculated as full-time equivalents (FTE) which includes part-time and full-time student counts.

This analysis of the higher education sector includes all courses within the following categories:

- Tourism/Hotel/Leisure/Event

- Hospitality & Culinary

- Heritage & Cultural

I also understand that a limited amount of complementary tourism-related business development and training supports are provided by Fáilte Ireland, the agency responsible for encouraging, promoting and supporting tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy. However, I have no role or responsibility in relation to Fáilte Ireland. Matters relating to that agency and its training and business supports are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Summary of 2015-2016 - Tourism and Hospitality Courses Higher Education Sector

Institute	2015		2016			Total
	Student Nos	Amount €	Student Nos	Amount €	Student Nos	Total Amount €
AIT	427	2,538,000	384	2,477,000	811	5,015,000
ITB	231	1,541,000	223	1,541,000	454	3,082,000
ITC	109	730,000	143	910,000	252	1,640,000
CIT	896	5,161,000	885	5,261,000	1781	10,422,000
DKIT	450	2,272,000	462	2,521,000	912	4,793,000
DIT	2482	14,143,000	2471	14,085,000	4953	28,228,000
DLIADT	21	10,000	56	21,000	77	31,000
GMIT	1130	6,051,000	1065	5,934,000	2195	11,985,000
LYIT	219	1,475,000	203	1,455,000	422	2,930,000
LIT (incl LIT Tipp)	447	2,657,000	438	3,015,000	885	5,672,000
ITS	331	1,746,000	301	1,696,000	632	3,442,000
ITTD	241	1,573,000	270	1,861,000	511	3,434,000
ITTR	649	3,844,000	596	4,129,000	1245	7,973,000
WIT	587	3,667,000	536	3,560,000	1123	7,227,000
Total	8220	47,408,000	8033	48,468,000	16,253	95,874,000

Summary of 2015-2016 - Tourism and Hospitality Courses - FET Sector

			2015	2016
				Inputs
ETB	Skill Cluster	Provision type	Total Actuals	Total Projected
CAVAN AND MONAGHAN ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	94	114
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	222	162
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	33	0
		Total   PROVISION	349	276
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	90	127
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	9	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	99	127
CITY OF DUBLIN ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	244	368
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	47	50
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	291	418
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	1269	685
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	3
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	1269	688
CORK ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	366	422
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	43	36
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	24	0
		Total   PROVISION	433	458
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	763	524
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	40
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	763	564
DONEGAL ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	32	8
		Total   PROVISION	32	8
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	95	0
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	95	0
DUBLIN AND DUNLAOGHAIRE ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	3	46
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	56	28
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	59	74
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	119	269
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	65
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	22	0
		Total   PROVISION	141	334
GALWAY AND ROSCOMMON ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	0	21
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	65	176
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	65	197
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	0	74
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	30	73
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0
		Total   PROVISION	30	147
KERRY ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	56	94
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	20	20
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	76	114
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	31	164
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	80
		Total   PROVISION	31	244
KILDARE AND WICKLOW ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	27	144
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	42	105
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	10	8
		Total   PROVISION	79	257
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	93	122
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	29	54
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	122	176
KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION		0
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	42	54
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	192	111
		Total   PROVISION	234	165
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	0	47
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	9	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	9	47
LAOIS AND OFFALY ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION		23
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	17	121
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	182	25
		Total   PROVISION	199	169
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	13	36
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	13	36
LIMERICK AND CLARE ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	127	186
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	178	158
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	305	344
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	151	147
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	151	147
LONGFORD AND WESTMEATH ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	18	44
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	45	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	63	44
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	40	147
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	40	147
LOUTH AND MEATH ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	58	155
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	58	155
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	93	40
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	48
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	93	88
MAYO, SLIGO AND LEITRIM ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	110	127
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	76	172
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	86	0
		Total   PROVISION	272	299
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	168	197
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	15
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	168	212
TIPPERARY ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	10	13
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	56	50
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	66	63
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	67	49
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	0	0
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	67	49
WATERFORD AND WEXFORD ETB	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	55	70
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	55	94
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	75	64
		Total   PROVISION	185	228
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	160	286
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	16	75
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	0	0
		Total   PROVISION	176	361
Total ETB Provision	Food and Beverage	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	1168	1827
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	964	1226
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	634	216
		Total   PROVISION	2766	3269
	Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	3139	2878
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	106	409
		Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	22	80
		Total  ETB  PROVISION	3267	3367
		Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	4307	4705
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	1070	1635
Total ETB Provision	Food and Beverage & Tourism	Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	656	296
		Total  ETB  PROVISION	6033	6636
Momentum	Food and Beverage & Tourism	Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	1144	134
		Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	5451	4839
		Total  PART TIME PROVISION	1070	1635
Total FET Provision	Food and Beverage & Tourism	Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	656	296
		Total  FET  PROVISION	7177	6770
				Inputs
ETB	Skill Cluster	Provision type	Total Actuals	Total Projected
			2015	2016

Table continuing

		2015
	Beneficiaries Actual	Actual Expenditure
Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	126,567	€405,919,922
Total  PART TIME PROVISION	152,212	€65,033,976
Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	66,616	€10,914,066

	2016
	Beneficiaries Planned	Planned Expenditure
Total  FULL TIME PROVISION	126,153	€400,622,733
Total  PART TIME PROVISION	134,839	€65,373,528
Total  COMMUNITY EDUCATION	51,999	€10,727,731

Road Openings

Ceisteanna (173)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

173. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the negotiations between his Department and a company (details supplied) for the taking in charge of the road from Tyrrelstown village to the primary school and community centre campus; and the timeline for the completion of such negotiations. [4703/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The process of taking in charge of a roadway generally commences with an application by the landowner to the relevant local authority to have the road taken in charge.

My Department has been informed that a receiver has been appointed over the lands in question where the roadway is situated. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the receiver to request that the receiver make an application to have the road taken in charge and will be following up with the receiver in this regard.

Summer Works Scheme

Ceisteanna (174)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

174. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that safety works at a school (details supplied) committed to by his Department under the 2015 summer works scheme have not been carried out; when are they scheduled to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4705/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application, (new traffic management plan) under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) from the school referred to by the Deputy.

Nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April last and are published on my Department’s website www.education.ie. Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being undertaken by my Department, subject to the overall availability of funding, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015), which may be accessed on my Department's website. The application from the school referred to is available to be considered in this context.

Weight of Schoolbags

Ceisteanna (175)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

175. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the survey conducted by the National Parents' Council Primary regarding the implications for children's back health of carrying heavy loads to and from school; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4719/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I am aware of the recent survey carried out by the National Parents Council on the weight of school bags. The matter was discussed by the Oireachtas Committee for Children and Youth Affairs on 25th January 2017. My Department will of course consider any findings or recommendations the Committee may make on this matter.

My Department issued circulars to all primary and post-primary schools in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem.

The report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags, commissioned by then Minister Micheál Martin, recognised that many of the solutions to this issue belong at local school level and made various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling.

My Department is aware that positive action has been taken by many schools on these issues. Actions consist of a range of measures, including the provision of lockers and in the case of second level school the arrangement of the timetable into double class periods, active liaison with parents and the co-ordination of homework by subject teachers.

Ultimately it is a matter for each individual school to determine which particular measures are most suited to its individual circumstances and to how the school concerned organises teaching and learning.

The use of digital resources by teachers and students in schools is increasing. While conventional textbooks are still widely used, a number of schools have introduced or are considering introducing e-books and other digital resources to enhance students' work in school and at home. Schools can use the book grant scheme to purchase a range of digital resources relevant to the curriculum.

It should be also be noted that Scoilnet.ie, the Department funded website, supports Primary and Post-Primary teachers in sharing and finding useful resources for the classroom, including the Britannica School website, and other valuable online content and resources to assist in teaching and learning.

On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and operate a Parent and Student Charter.

The publication of this draft legislation will fulfil a key commitment in the Action Plan for Education to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students relating schools.

The draft legislation defines the principles that will guide how schools will engage with students and parents. Some of the issues which schools will be required to deal with under the charter include:

- Inviting feedback from students and parents and

- Providing better information about School Management and School Policies

Following consultation with our education partners, including the National Parents Council (Primary), National Parents Council (Post Primary) and the Irish Second-level Students Union, I will finalise national guidelines on a Parent and Student Charter.

 The draft Bill will now go to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Psychological Assessments

Ceisteanna (176)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

176. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names and addresses of the 57 schools in County Louth which do not currently have access to a NEPS psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment. [4723/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases through by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by the NEPS, and the NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly. The SCPA is utilised, in the main, where as yet unfilled vacancies exist in the NEPS staffing provision locally or where staffing resource is lost through extended leave (maternity, sick or carer’s leave).

I provide for the Deputy’s information a list of schools in Co. Louth which do not currently have access to a NEPS Psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an assessment in Co. Louth and which derive this service through the abovementioned SCPA scheme.

Co. Louth is part of the NEPS North-East region comprising three offices (Navan, Cavan and Drogheda) providing service to schools in Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. The Region currently has four vacancies. The Drogheda office providing service in the main to Co. Louth schools has a staffing complement of 7 psychologists (6.2 whole-time equivalents). Currently 4 of these staff (3.4 w.t.e) are on extended leave and three of these who are on maternity leave are not scheduled to return much before the end of the current academic year.

A new national recruitment competition has been put in place by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to fill vacancies within all the NEPS Regions. The resulting interview process associated with this competition will be completed in the current week immediately following which recruitment panels for each NEPS region will be formed. The PAS will then finalise the processing of the candidates, including Garda vetting, and propose each candidate in series to my Department's Human Resources Section for contract negotiations and formal job offer.

It is envisaged that the process will produce the four new NEPS psychologists required by the North East Region during this academic year which will improve the coverage of schools including those in Co. Louth. The return of Drogheda Office staff from maternity leave will have further effect in this regard from the start of the next academic year.

However it is important to point out that in cases where the NEPS service is not available through a staffing vacancy or temporary absence of staff, as described above, the schools affected continue to have access to a psychologist through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments to undertake pupil assessment work.

I would also confirm that all schools continue to be able to  access full NEP supports in the event of a critical incident irrespective of whether they have ongoing access to an assigned a NEPS psychologist.

List of Co. Louth Schools which do not currently have access to a NEPS Psychologist to undertake pupils assessment but who have instead access to the SCPA Scheme for this purpose.

31/01/2017

Roll No.	Region	County	School	Address 1	Address 2	Address 3	Address 4
00851C	North-East	Louth	PRESENTATION CONVENT	BALLYMAKENNY ROAD	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
01434O	North-East	Louth	S N COLUMCILLE	TULLYDONNELL	TOGHER	DROGHEDA CO LOUTH
01553W	North-East	Louth	St. Mochta’s National School	LOUTH	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
01554B	North-East	Louth	BAILE AN PHUSTA N S	SMARMORE	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
02745N	North-East	Louth	TALLONSTOWN N S	TALLONSTOWN	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
02793B	North-East	Louth	S N MULLACH BUI	MULLACH BUI	RIVERSTOWN DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
03787L	North-East	Louth	WALSHESTOWN N S	WALSHESTOWN	CLOGHERHEAD DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
06576N	North-East	Louth	DROMIN N S	DROMIN	DUNLEER	CO LOUTH
11072M	North-East	Louth	S N NAOMH PEADAR	BOLTON STREET	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
14069P	North-East	Louth	DUN DEALGAN N S	JOCELYN STREET	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
14207B	North-East	Louth	SN CHILL SARAIN	CHILL SARAIN	BAILE AN GHEARLANAIGH	CO LU
14252G	North-East	Louth	CALLYSTOWN MIXED N S	CALLYSTOWN	CLOGHERHEAD DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
14578N	North-East	Louth	SCOIL NAOMH FAINCHE	COLLAN	CO LOUTH
15101N	North-East	Louth	KNOCKBRIDGE MIXED N S	KNOCKBRIDGE	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
15285D	North-East	Louth	SC NA GCREAGACHA DUBHA	BLACKROCK	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
16208N	North-East	Louth	Scoil Náisíunta Naomh Feichín	TERMONFECKIN	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
16431Q	North-East	Louth	S N OILIBEAR BEANNAITHE	STONETOWN LUBHADH	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
16749B	North-East	Louth	KILCURLEY MIXED N S	KILCURLEY	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
16760M	North-East	Louth	DROMISKIN MIXED N S	DROMISKIN	CO LOUTH
17059E	North-East	Louth	SCOIL NA MBRAITHRE SN	GEATA AN DOMHNAIGH	DROICHEAD ATHA	CO LUI
17124M	North-East	Louth	ARDEE MONASTERY	ARDEE	CO LOUTH
17315T	North-East	Louth	SCOIL DAIRBHRE MIXED	READYPENNY	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
17949O	North-East	Louth	S N PADRAIG NAOFA B	BOTHAR BRUGHA	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
17952D	North-East	Louth	S N NAOMH FHIONAIN	DILLONSTOWN	DUNLEER	CO LOUTH
17965M	North-East	Louth	S N BHRIDE	ARD ACHAIDH	OMEATH	DUNDALK	CO. LOUTH
18001B	North-East	Louth	S N NAOMH LORCAN	OMEATH	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
18034Q	North-East	Louth	S N MHUIRE	MUCHGRANGE	GRIANPHORT DUN DEALGAN	CO LOUTH
18045V	North-East	Louth	S N MUIRE GAN SMAL	CARTOWN	TERMONFECKIN DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
18069M	North-East	Louth	NAOMH SEOSAMH	MELL	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
18098T	North-East	Louth	S N BHRIDE C	BOTHAR BRUGHA	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
18099V	North-East	Louth	S N MUIRE NA TROCAIRE	ARDEE	CO LOUTH
18126V	North-East	Louth	S N SAN NIOCLAS	TIGH BANAN	CASTLEBELLINGHAM	CO LOUTH
18148I	North-East	Louth	SCOIL BHRIDE MIXED N S	LANN LEIRE	CO LOUTH
18382Q	North-East	Louth	SCOIL BHRIDE	SIOLACH	HACKBALSCROSS DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
18772G	North-East	Louth	St Brighids Special Sch	Ard Easmuinn	Dundalk	Co Louth
18936K	North-East	Louth	St Itas Special School	Crushrod Avenue	Drogheda	Co Louth
19215C	North-East	Louth	S N ARD MHUIRE C	BALLSGROVE	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
19223B	North-East	Louth	S N PADRAIG	BAILE UI IR	MAINISTIR BHUITHE	DROGHEDA CO LOUTH
19598V	North-East	Louth	MUIRE NA NGAEL NS	BAY ESTATE	DUNDALK	CO LOUTH
19740V	North-East	Louth	S N AONGHUSA	GEATA AN DOMHNAIGH	DROICHEAD ATHA	CO LU
19892V	North-East	Louth	GAELSCOIL DHUN DEALGAN	MUIRTHEIMHNE MOR	DUN DEALGAN	CO LU
20171P	North-East	Louth	ARDEE EDUCATE TOGETHER N.S	DUNDALK ROAD	ARDEE	CO LOUTH
20205G	North-East	Louth	ST MARYS PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL	DUBLIN ROAD	DROGHEDA	CO LOUTH
20259G	North-East	Louth	St. Francis National School	Rock Road	Blackrock	Dundalk
20294I	North-East	Louth	Aston Village Educate Together N.S.	Dunlin Street	Aston Village	Drogheda	Co. Louth
20339E	North-East	Louth	RÉALT NA MARA SCHOOL	MILL STREET	DUNDALK	CO. LOUTH
20374G	North-East	Louth	Drogheda ABACAS School	Drogheda	Co. Louth
63840C	North-East	Louth	St. Joseph's C.B.S.	Newfoundwell Rd	Drogheda	Co Louth
63841E	North-East	Louth	St Mary's Diocesan School	Beamore Road	Drogheda	Co. Louth
63850F	North-East	Louth	Our Ladys College	Greenhills	Drogheda	Co Louth
63860I	North-East	Louth	Sacred Heart Secondary School	Sunnyside	Drogheda	Co Louth
63891T	North-East	Louth	De La Salle College	Castleblaney Road	Dundalk	Co. Louth
63900R	North-East	Louth	St Vincent's Secondary School	Seatown Place	Dundalk	Co. Louth
63910U	North-East	Louth	St Louis Secondary School	Dun Lughaidh	Dundalk	Co Louth
63920A	North-East	Louth	Dundalk Grammar School	The Crescent	Dundalk	Co Louth
71761C	North-East	Louth	St Oliver's Community College	Rathmullen Road	Drogheda	Co. Louth
76195U	North-East	Louth	Coláiste Chú Chulainn	Dundalk	Dundalk

National Educational Psychological Service Expenditure

Ceisteanna (177)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

177. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to NEPS in County Louth under the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments each year for the past five years for private educational assessments by psychologists. [4724/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I set out for the Deputy's information the detail of the cost, borne by my Department, of assessments commissioned by Co. Louth schools for the past five year under the NEPS Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments.

Cost by Year of Educational Psychological Assessments paid for by NEPS under the SCPA scheme for Schools in Co. Louth.

-	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Cost	€39,216	€16,416	€14,896	€43,168	€28,576

Psychological Assessments Waiting Times

Ceisteanna (178)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

178. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils in County Louth who are currently awaiting an educational assessment under the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments; the length of time each child currently on the waiting list has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4725/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases through by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly. SCPA is utilised, in the main, where as yet unfilled vacancies exist in NEPS staffing provision locally or where staffing resource is lost through extended leave (maternity, sick or carer’s leave).

By way of information to the Deputy, schools are advised as to the access path contact details and the level of access to the SCPA panel in the course of the academic year. It is the school that makes the appropriate arrangements in relation to those pupils for whom assessment is indicated and schedules the assessment directly with the panel psychologist. My Department’s NEPS service receives, post hoc, confirmation that the assessment has taken place, certification that it has been satisfactorily delivered and shared with parents and a copy of the assessment report produced. On this basis an agreed payment is made by NEPS to the SCPA psychologist involved.

National Educational Psychological Service Staff

Ceisteanna (179)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

179. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of whole-time equivalent NEPS positions that will be recruited in County Louth under the recruitment competition put in place by the Public Appointments Service; and the current whole-time equivalent NEPS staff complement in County Louth. [4726/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases through by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly. SCPA is utilised, in the main, where, as yet unfilled, vacancies exist in NEPS staffing provision locally or where staffing resource is lost through extended leave (maternity, sick or carer’s leave).

Co. Louth is part of the NEPS North-East region comprising three offices (Navan, Cavan and Drogheda) providing service to schools in Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. The Region currently has four vacancies. The Drogheda office providing service in the main to Co. Louth schools has a staffing complement of seven psychologists (6.2 whole-time equivalents). Currently four of these staff (3.4 w.t.e) are on extended leave and three of these who are on maternity leave are not expected to return before the end of the current academic year.

The Deputy will be aware that a new national recruitment competition has been put in place by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to fill vacancies within all NEPS Regions. The resulting interview process associated with this competition will be completed in the current week immediately following which recruitment panels for each NEPS region will be formed. PAS will then finalise the processing of the candidates, including Garda vetting, and propose each candidate in series to my Department Human Resources Section for contract negotiations and formal job offer.

It is envisaged that the process will produce the four new NEPS psychologists required by the North East Region during this academic year which will improve the coverage of schools in the region, including those in Co. Louth. The return of Drogheda Office staff from maternity leave will have further effect in this regard from the start of the next academic year.

However it is important to point out that in cases where NEPS service is not available through staffing vacancy or temporary absence of staff, as described above, the schools affected continue to have access to a psychologist through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments to undertake pupil assessment work.

I would also confirm that all schools continue to be able to  access full NEP supports in the event of a critical incident irrespective of their having ongoing access to an assigned NEPS psychologist or not.