Written Answers Nos. 115-125
115. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the second level Irish language Aonad planned for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22536/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second level Irish language Aonad planned for the school to which the Deputy refers has been approved to commence in September 2018.
116. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next round of DEIS schools will be announced; the assessment criteria which will be used; if schools that have an existing application will need to reapply; and if the existing assessment is adequate. [22545/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Identification Process under DEIS Plan 2017, which is applied uniformly for all schools in the country across both the Primary and post Primary sectors, assesses the socio-economic background of the pupil cohort in each school using centrally held data. The Key Data Sources are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases and the CSO Small Area of Population Statistics (SAPs) from the National Census of Population 2011 as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index (HP Index). This determines the level of concentrated disadvantage across the school system in order to identify those schools which require the greatest level of support.
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 applied uniformly to all schools in a fair and objective way, to identify the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in each school.
Schools are not required to apply for inclusion as all schools across the country are included in the assessment.
A communication is currently 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.
A key feature of the new DEIS identification process is its use of independent data which can be regularly updated to ensure a currency of the information on which resource allocation is based. Small Area Statistics, based on the 2016 National Census will be available later this year following which the HP Index will be updated. It is planned that the next update of the DEIS Identification Process will take place later this year when the updated Census and pupil data become available.
It is important to note that the fact that a school has not been included in the DEIS programme on this occasion does not preclude its inclusion at a later date, should its level of disadvantage warrant the allocation of additional resources.
Work will be carried out to consider designing a more tailored system of resource allocation, within which there are more grades of disadvantage identified and resources are allocated accordingly in response to the needs of individual schools;
A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework will be implemented, to improve transparency and to determine which interventions are having the greatest impact in terms of delivering better outcomes for learners;
A review will be carried out at the end of the 2017/2018 academic year to examine how the new model of allocating resources has operated;
The aim will be that, following this work, in 2018 the new model of resource allocation will be finalised, the objective of which will be to more closely match resources with identified needs in individual schools.
117. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department's white paper will be published. [22546/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy’s question relates to School Admissions. In this regard, I can advise that the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published in July 2016. The Bill passed second stage on 17 November 2016 and will shortly progress to Committee Stage.
The Bill provides an over-arching framework to ensure that how schools decide on who is enrolled and who is refused a place in schools is more structured, fair and transparent. The following is an outline of some of the Bill's key provisions:
- The Bill will oblige all schools to admit pupils where there are available places. It is important to note that 80% of schools are not oversubscribed.
- The Bill provides for schools to explicitly state in the school's admission policy that it will not discriminate against an applicant for admission on the grounds of disability, special educational needs, sexual orientation, family status, membership of the traveller community, race, civil status, gender or religion while including provision for single sex schools and denominational schools to reflect, in their admission policy, the exemptions applicable to such schools under equality legislation.
- The Bill includes a specific requirement that school enrolment policies must include details of the school's arrangements for any students who do not wish to attend religious instruction.
- The Bill contains a provision prohibiting the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for an application for admission to a school or for the enrolment or continued enrolment of a student in a school.
- The Bill also provides for the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) to designate a school for a child with no school place and 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.
The Deputy may be aware that I ran a public consultation process from 24 January to 20 March 2017 on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes.
The 8 week phase of receiving written submissions formed part of a broader consultation process which will include additional steps, including any follow-up consultation that is required, collation of responses and development of next steps.
My Department has begun the process of examining the submissions and formulating next steps. I will not make any decisions around next steps until such time as all of the submissions have been examined and considered.
118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the implementation of the school enrolment policy will take place; and if he will take into account the submissions made by minority faith schools. [22547/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware I ran a public consultation process from 24 January to 20 March 2017 on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes.
A number of submissions were received from Protestant and other minority faith schools. In this regard, as I have said throughout, I am mindful of the need to avoid possible pitfalls and unintended consequences such as possible impacts on these minority religions and on the wishes of Protestant, Jewish, Islamic and other communities to be able to run schools in accordance with their ethos and admit children from their communities to attend those schools.
The 8 week phase of receiving written submissions formed part of a broader consultation process which will include additional steps, including any follow-up consultation that is required, collation of responses and development of next steps.
My Department has begun the process of examining the submissions and formulating next steps. Clearly I will not make any decisions around next steps until such time as all of the submissions have been examined and considered.
120. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Cork can register a vehicle and retain the existing vehicle registration plate. [22548/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegistration of vehicles is a matter for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
Prior to the establishment of the central vehicle register in 1993, registration numbers were issued by the local licensing authority. My Department issued a Circular to licensing authorities in 2013, setting out procedures for record searches for vintage vehicles. Accordingly, I would advise that contact be made with Limerick City and County Council in the first instance to establish if there is a record of the vehicle. If a record of the vehicle cannot be located, the person should then contact the Office of the Revenue Commissioners in relation to registration of the vehicle.
121. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the role his Department has in discussions within Government on the possible roll-out of a mortgage to rent scheme on a large scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22647/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI published a Review of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme on 8 February 2017 representing the completion of an early action in the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The review is available from the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/changes-in-mortgage-to-rent-scheme/.
The recent amendments to the MTR scheme arising from the Review have meant that more borrowers in mortgage arrears have access to the scheme. Similarly, there have been a number of improvements to the way in which the scheme is administered which mean that it is more straightforward and should take a shorter timeframe to complete.
In parallel, the Review concluded that the current financial model of the scheme, which relies on Approved Housing Bodies purchasing from lenders properties that have been voluntarily surrendered by eligible borrowers, may not be capable of delivering the scale of successful cases that could benefit from the scheme over time. One of the outcomes of the Review is that in order to test the operability of alternative funding models for the scheme, the Housing Agency will work with a number of financial entities who have come forward with an interest in working with the MTR scheme to progress a number of pilot alternative lease arrangements.
In advance of these pilots, a targeted marketing exercise is currently underway by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), on behalf of my Department, to test the suitability of the proposed enhanced leasing arrangements to ascertain if they would be viable for a mortgage to rent cohort. The objective is to explore what is available within the current market and to determine if this alternative model will benefit a greater number of households.
A call for Expressions of Interest from bodies interested in pursuing the pilot arrangements will shortly be undertaken by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. Once concluded, the Agency will make recommendations to my Department.
In all scenarios, the focus is on meeting the long-term housing needs of the greatest number of households in unsustainable mortgage arrears.
122. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if local authorities can impose commercial rates in cases of unauthorised commercial developments; if he is considering changes to the law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22408/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. My Department is informed by the Valuation Office that a development which has not been authorised from a planning perspective can be entered onto the valuation list and as such would be liable for rates.
The Commissioner for Valuation has responsibility for valuation matters, including determination under those Acts of relevant property for the purposes of rates. The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 come under the remit of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission, subject to the restrictions specified in Article 9 of the Regulations and the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Any development that is carried out without planning permission or that does not comply with the terms of a planning permission is unauthorised development and may be subject to enforcement action by a planning authority.
123. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to each local authority in each of the years 2014 to 2016 for Traveller housing; and the amount that was recouped by each local authority. [22438/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The first three TAPs covered the periods 2000-2004, 2005-2008 and 2009-2013. Local authorities adopted the fourth and current round of TAPs in April 2014, with the five-year rolling programmes running from 2014 to 2018. These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period. They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for Traveller accommodation. Local authorities submit proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments which are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department, in advance of allocations being made.
The allocations and recoupment profiles for capital Traveller accommodation projects can vary across local authorities given the local priorities, circumstances and project timelines as set out in the TAPs. Funding is recouped to local authorities on eligible expenditure incurred and, where it is likely that an allocation to a local authority may be unspent or under-spent, my Department engages with local authorities to re-allocate the funding in order to try to ensure that drawdown is maximised. The allocations and recoupment in relation to local authority traveller accommodation programmes for the years 2014-2016 are set out in tabular form in the table.
|
County Council |
Allocation 2014 |
Recouped 2014 |
Allocation 2015 |
Recouped 2015 |
Allocation 2016 |
Recouped 2016 |
|
Carlow |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
130,000 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8,600 |
9,398 |
|
Clare |
181,976 |
250,613 |
37,000 |
0 |
200,000 |
0 |
|
Cork |
0 |
15,322 |
149,000 |
0 |
30,000 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
0 |
3,175 |
0 |
4,750 |
82,000 |
74,532 |
|
South Dublin |
24,750 |
46,978 |
0 |
0 |
63,000 |
26,397 |
|
Fingal |
222,575 |
424,754 |
645,000 |
1,113,425 |
26,842 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
8,793 |
23,986 |
0 |
1,592,429 |
419,095 |
129,552 |
|
Galway |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
117,000 |
123,816 |
|
Kerry |
99,571 |
144,415 |
4,550 |
3,810 |
57,000 |
255,730 |
|
Kildare |
300,000 |
0 |
200,000 |
0 |
200,000 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
450,000 |
287,239 |
551,626 |
397,577 |
377,500 |
431,714 |
|
Laois |
0 |
60,262 |
0 |
30,600 |
0 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
0 |
65,975 |
18,800 |
12,794 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
0 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Longford |
0 |
25,000 |
78,000 |
88,966 |
2,900 |
0 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7,620 |
0 |
444,484 |
|
Mayo |
0 |
3,810 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
120,000 |
76,877 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
North Tipperary |
353,656 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Offaly |
70,000 |
73,760 |
3,069 |
85,000 |
73,000 |
37,775 |
|
Roscommon |
54,000 |
96,126 |
19,622 |
0 |
50,000 |
10,808 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
South Tipperary |
0* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Tipperary |
n/a |
291,874 |
800,000 |
23,142 |
900,000 |
1,399,370 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
0 |
95,000 |
0 |
208,000 |
48,000 |
|
Wexford |
105,901 |
328,733 |
0 |
30,906 |
96,000 |
87,695 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
67,038 |
63,097 |
27,891 |
46,000 |
0 |
|
City Council |
||||||
|
Cork |
256,687 |
206,913 |
800,000 |
427,304 |
400,000 |
301,796 |
|
Dublin |
407,500 |
481,693 |
366,299 |
99,162 |
1,405,198 |
762,342 |
|
Galway |
75,127 |
72,241 |
0 |
62,150 |
40,000 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
350,000 |
249,987 |
7,500 |
68,923 |
81,000 |
21,209 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
9,769 |
413,347 |
0 |
263,000 |
13,545 |
|
Reserve |
39,464 |
66,890 |
85,065 |
|||
|
TOTAL |
3,000,000 |
3,163,688 |
4,300,000 |
4,129,630 |
5,500,000 |
4,267,831 |
*These local authorities merged in June 2014 (i.e. Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford).
124. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason alleged claims of improper influence by named persons in a planning appeal are not being examined as part of an ongoing investigation regarding planning irregularities in the administration of planning in Donegal County Council. [22479/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is an ongoing independent scoping review being conducted by Senior Counsel in relation to certain allegations made regarding past planning matters in Donegal.
The terms of reference for this scoping review relate to allegations furnished by a complainant to a previous Minister in respect of planning matters in Donegal. While the complainant concerned did request that a number of additional allegations raised at later points and in relation to organisations other than Donegal County Council also be included, following full consideration of that request, including legal advice, a determination was made that the review should be conducted on the basis of the original terms of reference which was focused on planning in Donegal County Council and which already involves a large volume of matters raised by the complainant. Counsel is expected to submit a report in mid-June 2017.
125. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the revenue generated by Roscommon, Galway, Westmeath, Leitrim, Longford and Sligo county councils in relation to the non-principal private residence charge for each of the years 2009 to 2013, in tabular form; the overall amounts still outstanding; the compliance rates for each of the years 2009 to 2013 in each respective local authority, in tabular form; his views on whether this was a cost-effective exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22483/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provided the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. It is a matter for an owner, whether resident in Ireland or elsewhere, to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the Charge and any late payment fees applicable. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect Non-Principal Private Residence Charges, and late payment fees due to it and all Charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned.
Proceeds from the charge are retained by local authorities and are used for the provision of local services. In the absence of a comprehensive register of properties liable to the charge, it is not possible to determine the overall amounts of the charge still outstanding.
Details of NPPR revenue to Roscommon, Galway, Westmeath, Leitrim, Longford and Sligo County Councils per liability date 2009 to 2013 are set out in the table.
|
2009 € |
2010 € |
2011 € |
2012 € |
2013 € |
|
|
Roscommon |
1,561,245 |
1,504,905 |
1,414,815 |
1,365,910 |
1,236,870 |
|
Galway (City and County combined) |
8,030,705 |
7,828,785 |
7,225,572 |
6,798,635 |
6,059,895 |
|
Westmeath |
2,269,110 |
2,222,000 |
2,081,560 |
1,973,404 |
1,771,076 |
|
Leitrim |
1,292,875 |
1,227,055 |
1,120,055 |
1,055,615 |
925,815 |
|
Longford |
1,192,000 |
1,138,520 |
1,011,890 |
990,070 |
880,380 |
|
Sligo |
2,397,435 |
2,293,165 |
2,145,705 |
2,002,805 |
1,759,635 |
