Written Answers Nos. 85-104
85. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential impact of the examinership of a company (details supplied) for schools impacted by the collapse of a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16863/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe schools referred to by the Deputy form part of Schools Bundle 5, the PPP project which has been impacted by the liquidation of Carillion Construction Ltd and Carilllion AMBS Ltd.
Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL) was the sub-contractor to Carillion Construction Ltd on the Schools Bundle 5 PPP Project. This encompasses five school buildings and one further education college, across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells.
As Carillion Construction Ltd is now in liquidation, that contract has been terminated and a retendering process for completion of the school buildings is being undertaken by infrastructure fund manager DIF on behalf of the PPP Company.
As the Deputy will be aware, an examiner has been appointed to Sammon Contracting Group, including SCIL. The tender evaluation process is currently being conducted by DIF and any implications arising from the examinership will need to be considered as part of this process.
Management representatives of the relevant schools continue to be kept informed of developments by my Department.
Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd is also currently delivering three large scale non-PPP school building projects. A fourth project, which was ready for occupation in September 2017, requires completion of external works. The Department is directly engaging with the examiner in relation to these projects.
86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated amount it would cost in a full year if the ancillary grant rate increased by €5 per pupil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16870/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of ancillary grant by €5 per pupil in primary schools is circa €2.8m.
The ancillary grant at primary level is €163 per pupil. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016, €5 in 2017 and €5 in 2018, in order to enable primary schools to implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.
87. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process by which his Department will be developing and contributing draft actions to be considered as part of the action plan on Internet safety to be published in June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16889/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government will develop an Action Plan on Internet safety and my Department will work with the other Government Departments with responsibility in the area to develop those actions to be included in the new Action Plan.
The recommendations from the recent Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Cyber Security for Children and Young Adults are under consideration, and will underpin and inform the development of the draft actions in the new Action Plan on Internet safety.
My Department promotes internet safety in a number of ways including the prescription of school curriculum, provision of teacher professional development programmes, development of specialist resources for teachers and schools and provision of advice and information.
The PDST (Technology in Education) is a dedicated team established and funded by the Department to advise and support schools in the area of digital technologies, including issues of internet safety. The PDST-TiE also oversee Webwise.ie. which is a major part of the Safer Internet Ireland Project coordinated by the Office for Internet Safety. Webwise.ie has responsibility for national initiatives aimed at the promotion of the safer use of electronic media and the protection of the vulnerable, particularly children, against the downsides of the internet.
The PDST also provide information, advice, and tools to parents to support their engagement in their children’s online lives and with the help of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel they develop youth oriented awareness raising resources and campaigns that address topics such as social networking, sexting, cyber bullying.
Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 one of the key objectives is to promote responsible and ethical use of the internet and related technologies and to continue to undertake awareness-raising actions and programmes that promote responsible and ethical use of the internet.
88. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to appoint an administrative principal to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16892/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is 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 criteria for the appointment of an administrative principal to a school, which are enrolment related, are set out in Appendix B of Circular, 0010/2018. The school referred to by the Deputy does not meet this criteria. There is no scope to deviate from these arrangements.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
89. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Bus Éireann school bus service (details supplied) in County Kerry will be maintained in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement, which includes school transport services performed by contractors under the School Transport Scheme.
In this regard, Bus Éireann has advised that the school transport service referred to by the Deputy is currently out to tender.
90. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional teachers will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that it had the required number of students in September 2017 in accordance with the staffing schedule. [16915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Budget 2018 announced a one point improvement to the primary staffing schedule, which reduced the average pupil teacher ratio to 26:1. The improved staffing schedule has been implemented for the 2018/19 school year and is set out in Circular 0010/2018, available on the Department of Education website.
In establishing their staffing for the 2018/19 school year, schools may appoint the number of teachers allowed for on the staffing schedule using the school enrolment of 30th September 2017. Any teachers appointed from the staffing schedule must be engaged in teaching duties within the school. Schools are subject to the published redeployment arrangements in filling teaching vacancies.
91. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an gcuirfidh sé múinteoirí breise ar fáil do scoil (sonraí tugtha) an bhliain seo chugainn toisc go raibh go leor leanaí ar an rolla mí Mheán Fómhair seo caite. [16916/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs í an phríomh-shlat tomhais lena gcinntear leibhéal na n-acmhainní foirne a chuirtear ar fáil ag leibhéal scoile aonair ná an sceideal foirne don scoilbhliain ábhartha agus rollú na ndaltaí ar an 30 Meán Fómhair roimhe sin. Le buiséad 2018 fógraíodh go ndéanfaí feabhas pointe amháin ar an sceideal foirne bunscoile, rud a laghdaigh an meánchóimheas múinteoir dalta go 26:1. Cuireadh an sceideal foirne feabhsaithe i bhfeidhm don scoilbhliain 2018/19 agus tá sé leagtha amach i gCiorclán 0010/2018, atá ar fáil ar láithreán gréasáin na Roinne Oideachais.
Féadfaidh scoileanna líon na múinteoirí a cheadaítear a cheapadh ar an sceideal foirne ag baint úsáide as rollú na scoile ar an 30 Meán Fómhair 2017 d’fhonn a gcuid foirne don scoilbhliain 2018/19 a dhéanamh amach. Ní mór do mhúinteoirí a cheapfar ón sceideal foirne a bheith ag gabháil do dhualgais teagaisc laistigh den scoil. Tá scoileanna faoi réir na socruithe ath-imlonnaithe foilsithe chun folúntais mhúinteoireachta a líonadh.
English translation:
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide additional teachers to this school (details supplied) next year as there was a sufficient number of children on the roll last September.
Answer:
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. Budget 2018 announced a one point improvement to the primary staffing schedule, which reduced the average pupil teacher ratio to 26:1. The improved staffing schedule has been implemented for the 2018/19 school year and is set out in Circular 0010/2018, available on the Department of Education website.
In establishing their staffing for the 2018/19 school year, schools may appoint the number of teachers allowed for on the staffing schedule using the school enrolment of 30th September 2017. Any teachers appointed from the staffing schedule must be engaged in teaching duties within the school. Schools are subject to the published redeployment arrangements in filling teaching vacancies.
92. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a consultation process has been concluded with a school (details supplied); and if the DEIS status of this school will be adjusted as a result. [16917/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not been engaged in a consultation process with individual schools including the school referred to by the Deputy.
The identification of schools for receipt of additional resources under the DEIS programme is informed by a scientific data based model which assesses levels of disadvantage in individual schools based on the pupil cohort of the school. It is important to note that any adjustment to the DEIS status of a school, including the school referred to by the Deputy, will be based on the DEIS Identification process.
As the Deputy may be aware, an update of the DEIS Identification process is currently underway. This will take account of updated school data as provided by schools for the current school year combined with the Pobal HP Index of Deprivation, based on CSO Small Area Population statistics derived from the 2016 National Census. It is envisaged that this process will be completed in the coming weeks.
Should this exercise reveal that any school, including the school referred to by the Deputy, which did not qualify for DEIS in 2017 now meets the criteria, applicable to schools with the highest concentration of disadvantage based on the updated information, then additional schools may be included, subject to available resources.
93. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for works by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16926/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
94. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he last met and will next meet the CEO of the Higher Education Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16961/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI meet the CEO of the HEA on an ongoing basis at various events and meetings. The most recent meeting took place at the National Skills Council, which I chair and of which the CEO is a member, on 16 April 2018.
The Minister of State for Higher Education in my Department is next due to meet with the Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Authority on Thursday 19 April.
95. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the primary and post-primary school population nationally for the school years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16962/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the academic year 2015-16 there were 553,380 pupils in primary schools. There were 345,550 pupils enrolled in post-primary schools. Post-Leaving Certificate enrolments were 32,453.
In 2016-17, there were 558,314 primary pupils and 352,257 in post-primary schools, and 31,969 in PLC.
96. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the definition of a multidenominational ethos used by his Department; the steps he is taking to ensure the ethos of all multidenominational schools is reflective of the school community as a whole and not dominated by the majority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the patron body of a school which determines the ethos or characteristic spirit of the school, in accordance with Section 15 of the Education Act 1998, which provides that a board of management shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school. The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 seeks to introduce a new requirement for a school to set out the characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school in their admission policy.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic exercises, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. The preferences of parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned for each patron, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary School Sector recognised that there are factors affecting diversity in all primary schools. A follow-up paper to the Forum Report entitled Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector: Progress to Date and Future Directions was published in 2014. The paper outlines good practice and options for promoting diversity in all schools regardless of whether or not the school has a highly diverse student population. This was informed by a public consultation held in 2013 that asked parents, in particular, to submit their views on how primary schools can make all children feel included and involved. This included issues such as how best to accommodate students of various belief systems and traditions and how schools have developed and implemented policies on marking religious celebrations and the display of religious symbols in the school.
The paper is not prescriptive on how schools should address issues of diversity and inclusivity, but instead it encourages school authorities to engage in consultation with stakeholders and to review their policies and practices on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain suitable for the school population that they serve. It recognises that each school should arrive at solutions that suit its own particular context. It also notes that this is an evolving situation and that practices may evolve over time as circumstances change. The paper expressly welcomes feedback and views on this matter.
The paper also outlines the results of the public consultation and encourages school authorities to take time to consider their policies and practices and to review whether they are taking the steps necessary to welcome all pupils and make them feel included.
97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied); when this project will proceed to construction stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17000/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
In this regard, the proposed development is at project brief stage. The next step involves the commencement of the architectural planning process and my Department will be in further contact with the school in this context.
98. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if officials in his Department are on the interdepartmental group set up to examine third level education funding. [16805/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme for Government provided that the Cassells report would be referred to the Oireachtas Education Committee, who would review its recommendations and outline a proposed funding plan for this sector, as part of the process for building political consensus around the most appropriate means of ensuring a sustainable funding model for the future.
While I have awaited the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee in relation to a long term funding model, we have developed an employer exchequer funding mechanism and increased public funding into the sector, as well as a series of other reforms. In total, the government is investing €100m more into the higher education sector than before the publication of the Cassells report. We are also investing €200m in a PPP programme for the IOT sector and have set out an ambitious 10 year €2.2bn capital programme for the higher and further education sector.
Following publication of the Cassells report, my Department established an inter-departmental working group on future funding to consider issues relevant to the development of a long term sustainable funding model for higher education.
The Group is made up of representative from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Department of Finance, Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, the Higher Education Authority, Solas and my Department. Officials in my Department also provide secretarial support to the Group.
I received a request from the Oireachtas Education Committee in January 2018, 18 months after the publication of the Cassells report, requesting that my Department carry out a comprehensive economic evaluation of each of the recommendations put forward in the Cassells report.
My Department will now undertake an economic examination of each of the proposed policy options that are presented in the Cassells report to assist the Committee in its consideration of this matter. In carrying out this economic examination, my Department will also consider:
- How the additional funding which has been called for by the Expert Group can positively impact on learners
- What is the appropriate mix of apprenticeship programmes and upskilling programmes for those in work and how that impacts on demand and funding models
- How responsiveness to skills gaps can best be secured.
99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16866/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the applications for a certificate of naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy, is on-going. On completion of the necessary processing the applications will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most cases are now generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
100. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of each political appointment to his Department since he was appointed; the pay grade, experience and qualification of each person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16875/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMs. Sarah Kavanagh is a Special Advisor in my Office. She holds a BA degree in History and Politics, an MA degree in Politics, an MA in Political Communication, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies and a Barrister at Law Degree. Ms. Kavanagh worked in the Houses of the Oireachtas as a Parliamentary Assistant and Senior Policy Officer for nine years and as a Special Advisor in three Government Departments over the last four years.
Mr. Tom Fabozzi served as Special Advisor from my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality until earlier this month. Ms. Caroline Murphy is replacing Mr. Fabozzi and the formal process associated with the appointment is currently underway. Ms. Murphy has over 30 years’ experience in the fields of communications and media having worked with RTÉ in both TV and radio. In addition, she is qualified as an Organisational Psychologist.
Both advisors are remunerated on the Principal Officer standard pay scale (PPC).
Having regard to the significant legislative programme that I am responsible for, Robert Bourke BL is currently in the process of being appointed to the position of Legal Advisor on similar remuneration terms. Mr. Bourke has over ten years’ experience as a practising barrister and worked for nine months as a Legal Researcher for the Company Law Review Group. He holds a BA degree in Business, Politics and French, a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies and a Barrister at Law Degree.
101. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process by which his Department will be developing and contributing draft actions to be considered as part of the action plan on Internet safety to be published in June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16891/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality is primarily responsible for the criminal law aspects of online safety i.e. preparation and enforcement of the criminal law in relation to online content and behaviour that is illegal.
In considering actions for inclusion in the action plan, the Department is considering the feedback from the Open Policy Debate hosted by my colleague Minister Naughten last month together with the recent report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs on ‘Cyber Security for Children and Young Adults’. That report contains 18 recommendations, five of which fall within the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. Four of these recommendations are concerned with changes to the criminal law while the fifth one relates to the digital age of consent provisions of the Data Protection Bill which is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
All relevant Government Departments with responsibility in this area are working together to develop a whole of Government approach to the Action Plan, and this work is being taken forward under the auspices of Cabinet Committee B.
102. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of grant applications received under the community based CCTV scheme since its launch in 2017; the number of applications approved; the value of those allocations; the obstacles encountered in the roll-out which may militate against take-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16927/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department has launched a Community-based CCTV grant-aid scheme to assist groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas.
There has been an increasing level of enquiries relating to the scheme. Some 11 applications have been received to date and I understand that a number of other applications are currently being readied for submission.
4 applications under the scheme have been approved to date, with approved funding totalling almost €120,000. A further 4 applications are under active consideration. The remaining 3 applications received to date have been returned to the applicants concerned, to enable them to provide the information necessary to qualify for grant-aid.
Under the scheme, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a maximum grant of €40,000. Successful applicants receive an up-front payment of 50% of approved funding upon approval of the grant, with the balance to be paid when the CCTV system is fully operational.
It is worth pointing out that the scheme is modelled closely on the previous grant-aid scheme operated by Pobal on behalf of my Department between 2005 and 2013, under which some 45 Community-based CCTV systems were established operating in a mix of urban and rural environments.
To make take-up of the scheme as easy as possible, both the application process and documentation were updated and streamlined to make them more user-friendly. Support and guidance is also available to interested groups from my Department.
Further, and again in the interests of avoiding any obstacles, in developing the documentation, my Department consulted extensively with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner along with the Office of the Attorney General, An Garda Síochána, Pobal and the Local Government Management Association.
Full details of the grant aid package including guidelines, application forms, code of practice and other relevant documentation are all available to download from my Department's website - www.justice.ie.
I am very conscious of the value that communities, especially rural communities, place on CCTV as a means of deterring crime and assisting in the detection of offenders and I would encourage interested groups to avail of the scheme.
103. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if funding will be provided for the updating of the equipment and resources available to Garda public order units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16959/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles and resources are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I understand that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
Regarding the current position and in relation to Garda personnel, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are Gardaí with specialist training in public order policing in each Division who are available to be called upon, when required, to police events involving an increased risk of a public order incident occurring, for example protests or large-scale public events. As such, there are no Gardaí assigned to public order units on a full time basis. The number called upon in any given case is dependent on the nature of the event.
As of 16 April 2018, 12 public order vans are available to An Garda Síochána.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46million for investment in the Garda Fleet to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet and this is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015. In total, in the period 2013 to end of 2017, almost €44 million has been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a review of the equipment and resources available to the Garda Public Order Units is currently being carried out under the auspices of the Assistant Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Region. I am further informed that following completion of this review, it is intended that any deficiencies identified will be addressed within the budget available to An Garda Síochána.
104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the post of crime prevention officer for the Dublin North Garda division will be filled in view of the fact that this post has been vacant since 31 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16960/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am informed by the Commissioner that crime prevention is a core function of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí play an active role in crime prevention and reduction. In addition there are dedicated Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs) within each Garda Division. These CPOs are trained to encourage, promote and advise on crime prevention to both the private and business community. These specially trained officers are skilled at identifying risk factors and advise on what mitigating action can be taken to reduce opportunities to commit crime.
I am further informed by the Commissioner that the Divisional CPO for Dublin North retired last December and pending the holding of a competition to fill this position, the Divisional CPO for the DMR West Division is also covering the DMR North, delivering any crime prevention advice necessary for residents and businesses in the Division. I am advised that the timing of a competition to fill the position will be considered by the Divisional Officer as resources become available following the completion of the ongoing competition for promotion to the rank of sergeant within An Garda Síochána.
