Written Answers Nos. 99-103
99. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding recommendation 26 and action point 58 in the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance; if moves have been made to enhance co-operation between the insurance sector and An Garda Síochána on insurance fraud investigation; the details on such moves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recommendations in the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance are being progressed in accordance with the Action Plan contained in the Report. The first quarterly progress update in respect of the implementation of the recommendations is now available on the Insurance Policy section of the Department of Finance’s website.
This update shows the progress to date on the overall implementation of the Report, with a particular focus on action points which were due for completion in the first quarter of 2017.
The implementation of Recommendation 26 requires An Garda Síochána to determine before the end of Q2 2017 whether there is a mechanism for further co-operation with the insurance industry in relation to fraud investigation. With the agreement of the Garda Commissioner, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) within An Garda Síochána has engaged with Insurance Ireland with a view to examining a proposal that the Insurance industry would provide funding to set up a dedicated investigation unit within the GNECB, to focus exclusively on the investigation of insurance fraud. The GNECB has visited a similar unit in the UK to assess whether it is a viable option for An Garda Síochána. If it is deemed possible from an operational perspective to establish such a unit, the proposal will be submitted to the Garda Commissioner for consideration. The Department of Justice and Equality will then be consulted and will consider the broader issues arising before making a decision on the matter.
100. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding recommendation 32 and action point 69 in the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance; if a protocol has been put in place for the insurance industry to promote compliance with road safety legislation; the details of such protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21381/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recommendations in the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance are being progressed in accordance with the Action Plan contained in the Report. The first quarterly progress update in respect of the implementation of the recommendations is now available on the Insurance Policy section of the Department of Finance’s website.
This update shows the progress to date on the overall implementation of the Report, with a particular focus on action points which were due for completion in the first quarter of 2017.
Recommendation 32 (Require the Insurance industry to promote compliance with Road Safety Legislation) and Action Point 69 (Develop a protocol for the Insurance industry to promote compliance with Road Safety Legislation) is being progressed by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) and the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA has been tasked with considering the appropriate mechanism for insurance companies to promote compliance and for developing the wording to be included in policy documents.
The wording of the draft protocol is currently being considered by the RSA and it is expected that the DTTAS will receive the final proposals shortly. Engagement between the relevant parties and the insurance industry will then commence in order to finalise the protocol.
101. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a staffing appeal in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be re-examined in view of the enrolment in excess of the required threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21141/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts are published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The staffing arrangements at primary level also include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its April meeting. In the case of Naomh Padraig Measc the required enrolment on the previous 30 September was 203 pupils for the appointment and retention of a mainstream teaching post. Naomh Padraig Measc had an enrolment of 201 pupils on that date. The Appeals Board determined that the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post for the 2017/18 school year.
The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
102. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a post-qualification and practice inspection in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be included in their probational period in employment at a school in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21142/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy most recently made an application for a probationary visit by the Inspectorate on 30 March 2017. The Inspectorate makes every reasonable effort to schedule probationary inspection visits to eligible teachers who have applied for these visits. Probationary inspection visits are unannounced and the Inspectorate does not comment on the timing of upcoming visits.
103. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the verification process with which DEIS schools can engage to ensure accuracy of the new education disadvantage identification process (details supplied); and if no verification process is in place, the reason for same. [21170/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key data sources used in the DEIS identification process are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases, and CSO data from the National Census of Population as represented in the Pobal HP Index for Small Areas which is a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area. Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, dependency ratios, education levels, single parent rate, overcrowding, social class, occupation and unemployment rates. This data is combined with pupil data, anonymised and aggregated to small area, to provide information on the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in the pupil cohort of individual schools.
Full details of the process involved in the assessment of schools are available on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/.
In relation to schools which have concerns about their non-inclusion in the most recent round of DEIS, a verification process is currently ongoing in relation to all schools who contacted the Department requesting that their data be validated. This is aimed at ensuring that the model was run correctly and the data supplied by the schools through the POD/PPOD systems was correctly used. This process is expected to be concluded shortly and schools will be informed of the results.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a communication is being prepared for issue to all schools. This will provide further information on the identification model, including details of how the datasets are used to determine a school's level of disadvantage; the importance of data quality to the process and the need for schools to provide detailed and up to date information to my Department's online pupil databases.
