Written Answers Nos. 163-182
163. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet with the parent representatives from a school (details supplied) to update them on the progress of the completion of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29144/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy was authorised to proceed to tender in October 2016.
However, as the pre-qualification of contractors had first been conducted by the design team in April 2015 the design team, concerned about the possibility of legal challenges, asked the Office of Government Procurement for advice on this matter. The advice was that it would be prudent to run the pre-qualification again.
The Design Team has rerun the pre-qualification of suitable contractors and the project is now out to tender. Tenders are due back in mid July.
Subject to no issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2017 and the project is scheduled to take approximately 18 months to complete.
Following requests from other members of the Oireachtas, including Deputy Alan Farrell and Senator James Reilly, to arrange a meeting with representatives of the school, I have requested my staff to contact the Deputies and the school authority, Dublin-Dún Laoghaire ETB to arrange such a meeting. I have requested that the ETB, the school and all Deputies in the area will be invited to the meeting to discuss the progress of this project.
164. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29158/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. A previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale, which in the case of teachers had the effect of reducing their starting pay by a further 4-5%. Later in 2011, the Government placed a cap on the overall level of qualification allowances that could be earned by teachers.
Subsequently in 2012, following the public service-wide review of allowances, the Government withdrew qualification allowances for new teachers altogether. However, the Government partially compensated for this by deciding that new entrant teachers would henceforth commence on a new salary scale which had a starting point higher than the starting point of the old scale.
The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I have used this to negotiate substantial improvements in pay for new teachers. The agreements have, to date, restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver full equality at later points in the scale. This is substantial progress and strikes an equitable balance with other claims for funding on my Department, particularly needs such as enhanced service for children with special educational needs, for disadvantaged schools, for growing schools, for Higher Education and for apprenticeships.
As a result of these changes and taking into account the proposed pay measures under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the starting salary of a new teacher (2012 entrant) from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692. The comparable starting salary for a pre-2011 entrant post-primary teacher from 1 October 2020 (i.e. if full equalisation to pre-2011 pay rates for teachers was achieved) would be €43,879 and for a primary teacher would be €41,511.
Further to the this newly recruited teachers benefit from the terms of the Ward circular which reduced the qualifying period for a CID and the removal of the career break and secondment categories of objective grounds which had previously prevented some teachers from gaining CIDs. In addition to earlier permanency, other measures of benefit to newly recruited teachers include a revised sequence for the filling of posts to enable fixed-term and part-time teachers to gain permanent, full-time jobs more quickly and easier than before.
It must be borne in mind that the pay reduction for post-2011 entrants to the public service applied to all public servants and not just teachers, and that any restoration of these measures in respect of teachers would be expected to be applied elsewhere across the public service. While I am not in a position to provide an estimate of the total cost of restoring all post-1 January 2011 entrants in all areas of the public service to the pre-2011 pay scale arrangements, I can say that in the case of education and training sector employees, including teachers, the estimated current full year cost would be in the order of €85 million. Clearly, the cost across the entire public service would be substantially higher.
However there are other types of equality that we must also bear in mind, for example equality between public servants and people who work elsewhere or don’t work at all. It would also not be equal or fair for us to do unaffordable deals with particular groups of public servants that mean that we do not have the money left in the public purse to provide increases in social welfare payments for vulnerable groups, tax reductions for people at work, or investments in improvements in public services that people rely on.
Any further negotiation on new entrant pay is a cross sectorial issue, not just an issue for the education sector. The Government also supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
Accordingly, the recently concluded draft Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 includes a provision in relation to new entrants which states that an examination of the remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades covered by parties to the Agreement will be undertaken within 12 months of the commencement of the Agreement.
165. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29179/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run. The relationship between teachers and private providers of education is based on a private contract, and issues relating to working conditions are a matter between the two parties and do not come under the remit of my Department. If teachers working in the English language sector have a concern about their terms and conditions of employment they should contact the National Employment Rights Authority in this regard.
The regulations governing ACELS (Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services), which is operated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on a voluntary basis, and the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), which is administered by the Department of Justice and Equality in association with my Department, specify a requirement that all obligations concerning national employment legislation are complied with by education and training providers.
Going forward, Government policy for the international education sector is the International Education Mark (IEM). Legislative amendments are necessary to facilitate the introduction of the IEM. These amendments are contained in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill. The General Scheme of the Bill was approved by Government at the Cabinet meeting on 9th May 2017 and has now been referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills for pre-legislative scrutiny. It is the intention that the regulations governing the IEM will include a requirement that all obligations concerning national employment legislation are complied with by education and training providers seeking to access the Mark. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill will also provide QQI with powers to examine the bona fides of a provider in the round, including English language providers seeking to access the IEM.
166. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the methodology behind the forecasts for new registrations for craft apprentices in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the basis for same; the reason the registrations peak in 2018 at 6,975 new registrations decline in 2019 and 2020; if construction activity inputs are included in this forecasting model; and the indicators of construction activity that were used. [29187/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware apprenticeship is a demand driven alternance educational and training programme and the allocation of provision is determined by the skill demands of employers.
SOLAS, through its Skills and Labour Market and Research Unit (SLMRU) and its Apprenticeship Services Unit, regularly conducts forecasts of apprenticeship requirements. The SLMRU has developed a comprehensive methodology to generate annual five-year forecasts of apprentice intake for construction trades. The forecasts are revised annually and are due to be updated later this year. The methodology takes account of output forecasts, in money terms, for various segments of the construction industry, the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and the relationship between apprentice intake and employment trends in the sectors.
The forecasts for registrations in craft apprenticeships are set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-20. They show rising registrations up to 2020.
167. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has made a decision not to grant Educate Together schools access to school transport; when this decision was made; if Educate Together schools were informed of such a decision; the basis on which this decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29214/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures Educate Together schools are expected to implement without access to school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29215/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is refusing to recognise the ethos of a school (details supplied) for school transport purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29216/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In relation to school transport provision, ethos relates to religious ethos and is in the context of provision for minority religions.
The terms of the Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
170. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will contact a school (details supplied) and request that the number of students per class would be increased by two to three pupils which would ensure that all of the children born in 2012 will be accommodated in 2017 in view of the acute crisis of accommodation regarding junior infant uptake for a school. [29220/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the matter of enrolments is one for managerial authorities of schools who are required to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In regard to the school referred to by the Deputy, it is a matter for the Board of Management to determine the number of junior infant places available for September 2017.
Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
My Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that the existing schools in an area can, between them, cater for the demand in the area. I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is monitoring the enrolment position in the Swords area closely and is in ongoing contact with the Patrons of schools in the area.
In that regard I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been advised by two of the primary schools concerned that they have junior infant places currently available. These schools have also expressed a willingness to offer further junior infant places for September 2017, if necessary.
171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent by his Department and State agencies under his aegis on outside contract or third-party public relations advice and training in past three years to date in 2017, by year and company engaged, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29229/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought be the Deputy in respect of the amount spent by my department in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 is set out in the following table. The information in relation to 2017 has not yet been collated.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of agencies is not held centrally by the Department. If the Deputy has an interest in a particular agency then officials in my Department will request the agency concerned to provide the relevant information insofar as it is possible.
172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount spent by his Department and State agencies under his aegis on outside contract or third-party public relations advice and training in past three years to date in 2017, by year and company engaged, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not engaged outside public relations companies for the purposes of public relations advice. My Department has from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background but this has been for the provision of other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management, particularly in relation to Irish Aid public outreach activities.
The Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) has been engaged to provide training to staff from my Department’s Communications Unit on dealing with media representatives and communicating the Department’s key messages effectively. Other senior Department staff members have also received PRII training on communicating in crisis situations, which is fundamental in ensuring that the Department serves Irish citizens at home and abroad during consular emergencies overseas involving Irish citizens. The relevant payments made in the past three years and to date in 2017 are listed in the table.
Payments for Public Relations Training 2014-2017 (to date)
173. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his discussions with officials in his Department in respect of the commencement of Brexit negotiations. [28793/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, with special responsibility for Brexit, has coincided with an important milestone in the Brexit process, coming shortly before the formal launch of the Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK. The immediate focus of my discussions with the responsible officials in my Department was on preparing my attendance at the General Affairs Council (Article 50) on Tuesday 20 June, on which occasion I also undertook a number of bilateral meetings with EU partners.
At General Affairs Council (Art. 50), EU27 Ministers received a short update from Michel Barnier on the launch of the negotiations in advance of his briefing of the EU27 Heads of State and Government at the European Council (Art. 50) on Thursday 22 June.
I subsequently met with Michel Barnier on a bilateral basis, providing a timely opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s key priorities and concerns.
During this meeting, as well as my contacts with other EU counterparts, I laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
I also stressed the importance of ensuring that a positive tone is struck and that momentum in created so that progress can be made as quickly as possible on the many complex issues facing the negotiators.
The EU has set out its position clearly and in this position there is a strong acknowledgment of Ireland's unique concerns and priorities, including on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process, avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and maintaining the Common Travel Area.
It is important that in this first phase of the negotiations, sufficient progress is made on our issues , together with the issues of citizens' rights and the UK's financial liabilities, so that we can move as quickly as possible to begin discussions on the framework of the future relationship between the EU and the UK, including on trade.
Minimising the impact of Brexit on Ireland's trade and economy is also a key priority for the Irish Government and I will be working with my colleagues across Government to ensure that the Brexit negotiations can lead to the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK and that effective transitional arrangements are put in place to smooth the path to this new relationship.
During my discussions with officials in my Department, I have also indicated my desire to maintain an intensive programme of engagement with EU partners, building on the meetings I have already undertaken at the GAC (Art. 50) this week and the introductory phone calls I have had with my colleagues across Europe in recent days. I also hope to meet with Secretary of State Davis at an early stage.
174. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the dates and substance of contacts between his Department and the office of the Garda Commissioner regarding her report on the possible reopening of closed Garda stations; the process by which an interim report was requested and partial implementation of the report was agreed by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29126/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, and I as Minister have no role in the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána District and Station Rationalisation Programme gave rise to the closure of some 139 Garda stations, in 2012 and 2013, following the completion by An Garda Síochána of a comprehensive review of its district and station network. That review was undertaken with the objective of identifying opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the closures have allowed front line Garda to be managed and deployed with greater mobility, greater flexibility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to targeted police operations.
The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Government plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. Revisiting the decisions made to close Garda stations is also part of that commitment.
In this context, the Government on 24 June 2016 authorised the then Minister to request the Garda Commissioner, while fully cognisant of her statutory functions, to identify 6 stations for reopening on a pilot basis to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order. The pilot will feed into the wider review being undertaken by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, at the request of the Policing Authority, of the dispersal and use of resources available to An Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local communities.
The Commissioner submitted a first Interim Report on 6 March 2017, which set out a timeline for completion of the exercise, including the delivery of a final report in May/June 2017. On 9 June 2017 a second Interim Report was submitted, in which the Commissioner indicated that she will be submitting her Final Report at the end of this month. In the most recent Interim Report, the Commissioner, having analysed population and crime trends, and taking account of the availability of stations for reuse, recommends that Stepaside Station in Co. Dublin be reopened on a pilot basis subject to the necessary consultation with the Office of Public Works. On the same basis, the Commissioner makes a number of other recommendations including that if the Government decides to reopen two Stations in Dublin, that Rush Station in north Co. Dublin be reopened. However, the Commissioner requests that a decision on Rush be deferred until her final report is received to allow time for further analysis to be carried out. The Commissioner has also indicated that she is likely, subject to further analysis, to recommend the reopening of Leighlinbridge Station in Co. Carlow and Donard Station in Co. Wicklow, in her final report. The Commissioner has also highlighted the need to develop new stations to meet identified policing requirements at Dublin Airport and at Dublin Port. At its meeting on 13 June, the Government agreed to note the key recommendations in the Commissioner’s report and to agree, in principle, to the reopening of Stepaside Garda Station on a pilot basis as soon as any necessary preparatory works have been completed and that the decision to reopen Rush, Leighlinbridge and Donard Stations will be taken when the final report is received from the Commissioner at the end of June.
The Policing Authority has commissioned the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, on foot of a request from the former Minister, to review the dispersement of Garda Stations in the State and the boundaries of Garda Districts. This review is on-going and a report is expected later this year.
175. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 2 February 2017, if consideration is being given to a constitutional amendment pertaining to ground rents; his plans to amend the existing statutory framework regarding ground rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29218/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated in the response to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 2 February, there are no immediate plans to amend the law in relation to ground rents, either by way of constitutional amendment or amendment of the current statutory framework. However, I can assure the Deputy that operation of existing ground rents legislation is kept under review by my Department.
176. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent by his Department and State agencies under his aegis on outside contract or third-party public relations advice and training in past three years to date in 2017; by year and company engaged, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29235/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure by my Department for the period in question in respect of conference facilitation, training in communications, and related services, including the development of a Communications Strategy for the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, is set out in the table:
With regard to bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department, and in line with D/Per Circular 25/2016 and the Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies under the Aegis of Government Departments, I have requested that the information be provided directly to the Deputy.
177. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the approved projects in County Waterford which have just been approved under the CLÁR programme; the projects approved to date in County Waterford under the CLÁR programme for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29138/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of projects under the CLÁR programme for 2017 which were not approved in County Waterford; the details of these projects and the funds requested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29140/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.
The 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31st March last, with a closing date of 5th May. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.
Funding for the 2017 CLÁR programme is available this year under four separate Measures:
Measure 1: Support for School and Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas
Measure 3: Targeted Community Infrastructure
Measure 4: First Responder Supports
Over 500 applications were received across the four Measures, including 28 projects from Co. Waterford.
All projects were assessed against the published criteria and 230 successful projects were announced over the last few weeks, with a total of just under €7 million allocated across the four Measures. 11 projects from Co. Waterford were approved for total funding of €329,469.
Table 1 summarises the position with regard to Waterford for each of the Measures.
Further details of all projects approved under the CLÁR programme are available at http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/rural/rural-development/clar-2016/ .
Table 1: CLÁR programme 2017 – Applications and Approvals for Waterford
179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount spent by her Department and State agencies under her aegis on outside contract or third-party public relations advice and training in past three years to date in 2017, by year and company engaged, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29225/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the volume of information concerned it is not possible to provide these details to the Deputy in the time available. Arrangements are therefore being made for the information requested in respect of both the Department and the bodies under its aegis to be collated and forwarded to the Deputy in line with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.
180. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure public hospitals in receipt of private income shall disclose if part of such income came from elective admissions or part came from emergency admissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27912/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
181. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the funding which was allocated for the ambulance base in County Carlow; the position regarding the works programme; the status of the base accommodation issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [29127/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
