Written Answers Nos. 159-169
159. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of persons in the labour force that have basic or above basic digital skills; the corresponding EU average rate based on the latest data available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of persons in employment that have basic or above basic digital skills; the corresponding EU average rate based on the latest data available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.
Table 1. Persons (%) in the labour force (employed and unemployed) with basic or above basic digital skills in Ireland and the EU:
|
2016 |
2017 |
|
|
European Union (28) |
63 |
65 |
|
Ireland |
50 |
55 |
Source: Eurostat
Table 2. Persons (%) in employment* with basic or above basic digital skills in Ireland and the EU:
|
- |
2016 |
2017 |
|
European Union (28) |
65 |
66 |
|
Ireland |
54 |
58 |
Source: Eurostat
*In employment refers to those aged 25-64 who are employees, self-employed or family workers.
This material from Eurostat is based on the CSO ICT survey, which asks households and individuals questions on their access to ICT, e-skills and other related issues.
161. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be established; the schedule for the delivery of the building programme; when the site location will be confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17326/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country, and included provision for a new post primary school to serve Citywest/Saggart (Tallaght & Newcastle/Rathcoole school planning areas) as a Regional Solution to open in September 2020.
Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools will be determined as part of the site acquisition process.
In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximize the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.
In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas.
Taking into account all of the above, decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced including the new post-primary announced to serve Citywest/Saggart, and will be confirmed at a later date.
162. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Mayo has had its application for additional accommodation declined; if he is satisfied with the reasons provided for the refusal; the way in which the conclusion was reached regarding future enrolment trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17333/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the school referred to applied to my Department in February seeking additional accommodation in respect of the appointment of an additional mainstream teacher.
Based on the projected enrolments in the area concerned and the anticipated future enrolment trends, it is envisaged that enrolments in the school planning area have peaked and are expected to decline in the short term. In that context, my Department considers that the additional post may not be retained.
My Department is satisfied that the schools currently serving the school planning area in question can, between them, cater for the demand for school places.
In light of the above my Department is not in a position at this time to provide funding to the school in question for additional permanent accommodation.
163. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in respect of the recently announced new primary school for Dunshaughlin, County Meath; if a preferred site has been selected; and when the tendering process is likely to commence. [17344/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country.
Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools, including the new primary school to serve Dunshaughlin, will be determined during the site acquisition process. As part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas. Decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.
164. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to proceed with the patronage of the recently announced new primary school for Dunshaughlin, County Meath; and if a local survey of prospective parents will be undertaken by his Department. [17345/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process. It is expected that patronage processes for primary schools due to open in September 2019 will be run in the latter part of 2018.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are available on my Department's website. An announcement will be made at a later stage as to when the patronage process will commence for the new primary school in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) is currently being developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education. Parental preferences are currently collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies.
165. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills where the new regional secondary school between Drogheda and Laytown school catchment areas is to be located, in the context of the recent new school announcements. [17346/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country.
Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools, including the new post-primary announced to serve Laytown and Drogheda, will be determined during the site acquisition process. As part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas. Decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.
166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to expand parental leave to further strengthen support for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to increase paid parental leave during the first year of a child’s life, as research shows that parental care is of particular importance in the first year of life.
To further this commitment, the Government has established an interdepartmental working group to develop proposals to give effect to the programme commitments. The key objectives of this group are to:
- Develop options as to the duration of the leave, the age of the eligible child, and the level of payment to be offered;
- Determine the usefulness of adopting a phased approach;
- Estimate the likely costs arising; and
- Align any proposals as much as possible with a European Commission Proposal for a Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers which is currently under discussion at working group level under the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU.
The interdepartmental group is currently working on a policy approach and I expect it to report with its proposals towards the end of this month. In this light, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be premature to give any details in relation to the expansion of parental leave.
167. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application by persons (details supplied) for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17130/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that processing of the applications for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the persons referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and 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.
168. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on An Garda Síochána's Operation Chain; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions obtained to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17138/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources and the conduct of Operations.
I have asked the Commissioner for a report on Operation Chain and will revert to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
169. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on An Garda Síochána's Operation Tugboat; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions obtained to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17139/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources and the conduct of operations.
I have asked the Commissioner for a report on Operation Tugboat and will revert to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
