Micheál Martin
Ceist:78. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken or met with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to discuss Brexit and its implications for Ireland; and if they discussed other matters. [22573/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTaoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Ceisteanna (78)
Freagraí scríofa
I last met with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on the 4 January 2018 and reported extensively on this meeting in the Dáil on the 31 January 2018. I have not met with him formally since then, although we both attended the Informal EU Summit and High Level Conference on the Sahel in Brussels in February, the March European Council and the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia last week.
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (79, 80)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:79. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach his views on the number of contracts his Department and State agencies under his aegis hold with a company (details supplied) in view of its recent announcement regarding the need to raise an emergency €700 million; and if contingency plans are in place if the company were to collapse. [21666/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMick Wallace
Ceist:80. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach if he is satisfied that all contracts a company (details supplied) holds with his Department and State agencies under his aegis have been tendered for; if his attention has been drawn to contracts awarded to the company that have not been tendered for; and if his attention has been further drawn to contracts awarded to the company that have rolled over. [21667/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.
My Department has no contracts with the company in question. The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only body under the remit of my Department, and it has no contracts with the company in question either.
Defence Forces Training
Ceisteanna (81)
Pat Casey
Ceist:81. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the safety measures that are taken in the firing ranges used by Defence Forces in west County Wicklow; the road safety issues associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22766/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have been advised by the Defence Forces that in relation to the Department's lands at the Glen of Imaal, prior to a Military shoot being conducted the following procedures take place:
- Site reconnaissance
- Document preparation which includes Safety Trace, Time specific risk assessment, Range Action Safety plan.
- OIC (Officer in Command Briefing) – Minimum rank of Captain
- RSO (Range Safety Officer briefing) – Minimum rank of Sgt
- Personnel acting as OIC and RSO will have been given a detailed 45 min Safety and Duties presentation by Glen Staff.
- On the day of a shoot there are also a minimum of 4 and up to a maximum of 8 sentries deployed in order to inform public about the live firing and to inform them that certain routes have been closed for the duration of the shoot under Section 274 of the Defence Acts.
In addition, there are also permanent warning signs in place. To supplement this on the day of a shoot, there are additional signs placed, along with signs on each access point on to the range. There are also flags placed at locations around the range, the flying of red flags indicates live fire is taking place. There is an inner cordon and outer cordon which will alert any passers-by of the fact there is live firing taking place. All of this is supplemented with patrols of the local area in order to ensure there are no encroachments on to the range.
In relation to road safety Defence Force vehicles are instructed to adhere to speed limits and also to give way to civilian traffic. Every effort is made to liaise with locals to listen to any issues they may have and to resolve them by limiting traffic on certain routes at certain times. All signage around the range boundary was replaced very recently and is in line with best international practice. These signs contain images, a legend, a map, contact details for Defence Forces duty location at the Range Information Centre which is manned during a shoot. Under the provisions of Section 274 of the Defence Act the Officer in Charge may temporarily stop all traffic by land or water in that area or the vicinity of that place so far as in his opinion may be necessary for the security of life and the proper conduct of the manoeuvers of such practices.
In addition to the measures outlined above my Department throughout the year places advertisements in the main national and local Wicklow newspapers which give a general warning around military firing ranges and advising that red flags indicate live firing. These notices are published prior to the Bank Holiday weekends from March through to August. A similar advertisement is placed in the Heritage Guide every year which relates specifically to the Glen of Imaal.
Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
Ceisteanna (82, 84)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:82. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the Houses of the Oireachtas motions calling on the British Government to allow access by an independent judicial figure to all original documents in its possession relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. [22784/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNiamh Smyth
Ceist:84. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he or his officials last raised with the British Government the Houses of the Oireachtas motions calling on the British Government to allow access by an independent judicial figure to all original documents in its possession relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22770/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 84 together.
Last week marked the 44th anniversary of the Dublin Monaghan bombings, which saw the biggest loss of life in a single day during the Troubles. The Government was represented at the wreath-laying ceremony on 17 May to mark the anniversary of these tragic events by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan T.D.
The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights the priority that the Government attaches to the implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I recently met with Justice for the Forgotten to hear their views and update them on the Government’s continuing engagement on legacy issues, including with the British Government on the Dáil motions.
The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016 has, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, been conveyed to the British Government. These motions call on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the bombing of Kay’s Tavern in Dundalk and the murder of Seamus Ludlow.
The Government is committed to actively pursuing the implementation of these all-Party Dáil motions, and has consistently raised the issue with the British Government.
I am actively engaged with the British Government on an ongoing basis on this issue, as are officials from my Department. I recently raised the issue directly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley on 16 April last and my officials are in regular contact with their British counterparts on this issue.
I have consistently underlined to the British Government that the Dáil motions represent the consensus political view in Ireland that an independent, international judicial review of all the relevant documents is required to establish the full facts of the Dublin-Monaghan atrocities. I have also advised that the absence of a response from the British Government is of deep concern to the Government and indeed this House, and I have emphasised the urgent need for such a response.
The Government will continue to engage with the British Government on the request in relation to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, and pursue all possible avenues that could achieve progress on this issue, consistent with the request made by this House.
Middle East Issues
Ceisteanna (83)
Pat Casey
Ceist:83. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights violations that have taken place in Gaza, Palestine, in recent weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 31 on 15 May on this topic, and also to my address to a Topical Issues debate on 9 May and my more detailed statement during Statements on Palestine on 15 May, all dealing specifically with this issue. A central element of my response in those contributions was to call for an independent and transparent investigation of the events in Gaza.
Further to those remarks, at my instruction Ireland co-sponsored a motion at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling for a Special Session of the Council to discuss these events. At that Special Session on 18 May Ireland supported a resolution which inter-alia provided for the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry into what happened and why. Ireland does not currently sit on the Council and so did not have a vote. The resolution was adopted and the Commission will now be established.
Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 82.
Brexit Negotiations
Ceisteanna (85)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:85. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his EU counterparts regarding the possible EU-UK framework for the future discussions published by the European Commission task force on 15 May 2018. [22570/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I continue to engage intensively with my EU counterparts and with the EU Taskforce on Brexit on the ongoing Brexit negotiations, including the framework for the future EU-UK relationship. This included my attendance on 14 May at the General Affairs Council (Article 50), at which Michel Barnier updated the EU27 Member States on the current state of play in the negotiations. The document to which the Deputy refers is a slide used by Mr Barnier during the course of his presentation, providing a visual representation of how key elements of the future EU-UK relationship identified in the EU Guidelines might be advanced and the governance frameworks that would underpin them.
Ireland has always been clear that we want the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK and so I welcome the confirmation in the March European Council Guidelines of the EU’s determination to have as close as possible a partnership with the UK in the future.
These Guidelines also confirmed the EU’s readiness to start work towards a balanced, ambitious and wide-ranging free trade agreement (FTA). While an FTA is not Ireland’s preferred end goal, we recognise that the European Council has to take into account the repeatedly stated positions of the UK, including its wish to leave the Single Market and Customs Union, which limit the depth of the future partnership.
Nevertheless, the EU will enter negotiations on the future relationship with an open, positive and constructive mind, which will be important should the UK’s position evolve during the negotiations.
Ireland also shares the EU view that any future agreement must have the correct balance of rights and obligations, and that the integrity of the Single Market must be preserved. This is in Ireland’s fundamental interests as membership of the Single Market is a core element of our economic strategy. Furthermore, the Government will continue to be firm in arguing that any agreement must protect key sectors of the Irish economy given the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland and importance of our economic relationship with the UK.
The European Council guidelines also confirm that the EU’s future partnership with the UK will cover not just trade and economic cooperation but also other important areas, in particular the fight against terrorism and international crime, as well as security, defence and foreign policy.
The aim of the current negotiations is to agree alongside the EU-UK withdrawal agreement a framework for the future relations. This is because the actual agreement on a future relationship can only be finalised and concluded once the UK has become a third country, after it leaves the EU on 29 March 2019. The framework will set the objectives and scope of the detailed negotiations leading to legally binding future relationship agreement or agreements. This is why a status quo transitional arrangement is so important and so I welcome the conditional agreement reached in March on an orderly transition period. Of course, it is in the interest of everyone that a future relationship agreement is concluded as quickly as possible after the UK leaves the EU to provide certainty sooner rather than later.
Tax Credits
Ceisteanna (86)
Pat Casey
Ceist:86. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Finance the impact of the section 481 tax break on the film industry and job promotion here by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22764/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Section 481 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides that companies which make films in Ireland can avail of a refundable tax credit in respect of eligible expenditure incurred on the making of that film.
Eligible expenditure includes amounts incurred on employing individuals and on acquiring goods and services from Irish businesses. Both aspects must relate to work done in the State, i.e. employees must perform their duties in the State and goods and services must be used up in the State.
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht must approve the film as relating either to Irish culture, or acting as a stimulus to film making in the State through, amongst other things, the provision of quality employment and training opportunities (Regulation 7(a) and (b) Film Regulations 2015). The Minister can require that the film company engage a certain number of trainees for the making of the film.
It is not possible to track the impact of the credit by regions as, for example, the company claiming the credit may be based in Dublin but the filming may take place in Cork. It is also not possible to separate s.481 supported projects from other projects undertaken by the same film companies (e.g. smaller projects, advertising, etc.). Howevery the Deputy may wish to note that details of the companies who have received the film tax credit are published on the Revenue website at: http://www.revenue.ie/en/companies-and-charities/reliefs-and-exemptions/film-relief/beneficiaries-of-film-relief.aspx, and this includes reference to the Revenue territorial unit relevant to the claimant.
Tax Data
Ceisteanna (87)
Peter Burke
Ceist:87. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount of tax that would be due on the import of vehicles (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22788/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by Revenue that tractors imported from outside the EU are liable to the standard rate of VAT of 23%, and Customs Duty, which can vary from 0% to 16%, depending on the type of tractor being imported. The amount of tax and duty payable at importation will depend on the value of the vehicles.
Flood Prevention Measures
Ceisteanna (88, 89)
Pat Casey
Ceist:88. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being taken to reinforce the Arklow coastal flood defences in view of the recent and ongoing damage to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22780/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPat Casey
Ceist:89. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being taken to enhance the coastal protection works at the Murrough, Wicklow town, in view of the potential for severe flooding and erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22781/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.
In relation to coastal protection/erosion generally, it is a matter in the first instance for local authorities to identify and prioritise problems along their coastlines and, if a viable solution is available, they may undertake works using their own resources or, if necessary, apply for funding under the OPW Minor Works Scheme.
The OPW operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications for funding from local authorities are considered for measures costing up to €750,000 in each instance. Funding for coastal erosion risk management studies may also be applied for under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for projects which meet the eligibility criteria including a requirement that the proposed measures are cost beneficial.
The OPW has published guidelines for coastal erosion risk management measures and funding applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, available on the OPW website at https://www.opw.ie.
The OPW has already provided considerable funding support to Wicklow County Council in relation to protecting the North and South beaches at Arklow and the Murrough, Wicklow town.
Funding of €70,000 was approved in 2010 under the Minor Works scheme for proposed capital works to strengthen the existing revetment structure at Arklow north beach. Funding of €42,600 was approved under the Minor Works scheme in 2015 to undertake strengthening work on a coastal embankment at Arklow south beach. Wicklow County Council also submitted an application for funding under the Minor Works scheme for proposed works at Arklow north beach originally in 2016 and then with 2 revised versions of this application in 2017. The application was for proposed maintenance works to an existing revetment (rock armour structure). The OPW advised the Council that the application could not be approved because the proposal did not meet certain criteria of the scheme including the cost benefit criteria of the scheme. The Council was also advised that it may be more appropriate for it to seek funding for a detailed coastal erosion and flood risk management study to better understand the coastal processes involved in the wider region and to inform any further applications for funding for works. No further application has been received to date.
In March 2016 the OPW approved funding of €450,000 to Wicklow County Council to carry out emergency coastal protection works at the Murrough in Wicklow town. Works have been completed and all funding has been drawn down. No further application has been submitted for works at this location.
I visited the areas myself earlier this year and I am familiar with the issues. The OPW will continue to work constructively with Wicklow County Council on this matter and to provide advice and assistance to the Council as required.
Community Employment Schemes Supervisors
Ceisteanna (90)
Peter Burke
Ceist:90. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times the community sector high level forum or working group has met; if it has considered the issue of pensions for community employment scheme supervisors in recent months; if it has identified a pathway to an appropriate solution regarding pensions for supervisors; if there is a timeline in place for the review group to finish its deliberation or to come to a decision on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22787/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 262 of 16 January 2018.
Office of Public Works Projects
Ceisteanna (91)
Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:91. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will carry out works (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22845/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Office of Public Works (OPW) does undertake vegetation management of the river referred to by the Deputy where the flow is obstructed thereby affecting the conveyance capacity of the channel. Where the OPW is aware of rubbish in this River it liaises with the Local Authority or other relevant statutory authorities in relation to its removal.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (92)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:92. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for an additional classroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22729/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application for the provision of additional accommodation at the school referred to in respect of both classroom and ancillary accommodation. The application is currently under consideration and my Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities when the assessment process has concluded.
School Services Staff
Ceisteanna (93)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:93. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department does not employ school secretaries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22817/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To answer the Deputy, the majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Capitation related grants are issued to the majority of primary and post-primary schools to employ such staff. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs.
Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department has no plans to develop an alternative scheme for schools to employ secretaries separate to the current system of capitation grant assistance.
Notwithstanding that, in 2015 my Department agreed to engage with the union side in relation to the pay of school secretaries and caretakers who are employed using grant funding and to enter an arbitration process. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for school secretaries and caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019. Grant funding used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff is also being improved on a phased basis between 2016 and 2019 following the arbitration process. These increases are in order to enable schools implement the arbitration outcome for grant funded secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.
In December 2017, my Department published circular letter 0078/2017 for primary schools and circular letter 0079/2017 for voluntary secondary schools, setting out the application of the third phase increases of the Arbitrator’s recommendations. The circulars are available at:
Circular 0078/2017: https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0078_2017.pdf
Circular 0079/2017: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0079_2017.pdf
The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrator's recommendation applies.
Teachers' Remuneration
Ceisteanna (94)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:94. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the estimated full year cost of restoring all allowances to new entrant teachers which were abolished in 2012 and 2013 has been collated; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22838/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As a consequence of the economic crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilize the country's public finances.
The Government approved a number of measures relating to public service allowances following a public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments conducted by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the Government decision, certain allowances were withdrawn for new beneficiaries with effect from 1 February 2012. The details are set out in my Department's Circular 08/2013.
Any person who was in receipt of the relevant allowances on 31 January 2012 will continue to be paid that allowance except where the teacher ceases that job role or changes school or employer on or after 1 February 2012. Where a teacher is redeployed under the agreed redeployment scheme, this will not be regarded as a cessation.
As part of the public service-wide review of allowances, the Government withdrew qualification allowances for new teachers altogether. As a result of the September 2016 Agreement with Unions, revised salary scales which include the Honours Primary Degree allowance have been applied from 1 January 2018 to teachers recruited since 1 January 2011. A registered teacher now commences on an annual salary of over €35,950 under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 - 2020. The starting salary for a registered teacher commencing teaching for the first time in October 2020 will be €37,600.
The annual cost of restoring the H.Dip allowance is estimated at €7 million.
The annual cost of restoring allowances to new entry teachers in Primary, Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive schools would be in the region of €1.07m, comprised of €0.43m to restore the Gaeltacht Allowance, €0.62m to restore the Teaching through Irish allowance and €0.02m to restore the Island Allowance (Primary only).
The annual cost of restoring the Secretary to the Board of Management allowance is estimated at €1m. However, this allowance is not payable to new entrants on the commencement of their teaching career, it is payable to Principals who act as Secretary to the Board of Management. There is a minimum service requirement before teachers are appointed to the post of Principal and accordingly it would be a number of years before the full cost of that allowance would be payable.
These costs relate only to teachers paid on payrolls operated by my Department and do not include the cost applicable to teachers employed by Education and Training Boards.
Junior Cycle Reform
Ceisteanna (95)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:95. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements for the provision of extra hours allocated to schools for junior cycle implementation for the school year 2018-19, in view of the fact that not all schools had permanent leadership posts restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22839/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In recognition of the fact that the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 has implications for school leaders, extra hours were allocated to schools with effect from 2016 on an interim basis pending the restoration of leadership posts in schools to help with the facilitation of this additional work.
The position in relation to the school year 2018/19 will be considered in the context of Circular 3/2018.
Teachers' Remuneration
Ceisteanna (96)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:96. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding the new entrant pay issue and related commitments of September 2016 to resolve or address the issue of the payment of the higher diploma allowance to second level teachers in view of the fact that it is a two year course, the costs of the course and that teachers cannot teach without it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22840/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The withdrawal of the Higher Diploma in Education allowance in 2012 following the public service-wide allowances review was one of a number of measures taken by the Government to stabilise the public finances.
The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, negotiated a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. The agreements to date have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver convergence of the pay scales at later points in the scale.
As a result of these changes, the current starting salary of a new teacher is €35,958 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692.
To have gone further than the pay increases that have been negotiated for 2018 would mean I would have had less money available to hire over 1,000 extra SNAs and over 1,000 extra teachers.
Differential pay scales were introduced by the then Government in 2010. It must be borne in mind that the pay reduction for post-2011 entrants 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.
In accordance with the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform recently laid before the Oireachtas a report on the matter of the pay of new entrants to the public service. The report assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that during the financial crisis there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education). Addressing any issues arising from changes which are not specifically detailed in the report would give rise to additional costs over and above the foregoing figures.
Any further negotiation on new entrant pay is a cross sectoral 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.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform’s report will inform discussion on remaining salary scale issues with the parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 in accordance with the commitment in the Agreement to consider the issue of newly qualified pay. That process commenced with a first meeting on 12 October 2017. The three teacher unions attended that first meeting. Further talks began on the 27th of April with all public service unions in relation to new entrant pay. I understand that further engagement is being arranged for early June as the parties continue to work through the various aspects of this issue.
The issue of the allowance is also on the agenda of the Teachers Conciliation Council, which is the recognised forum for dealing with claims relating to pay and terms of employment of teachers.
Schools Refurbishment
Ceisteanna (97)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:97. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school refurbishment (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22867/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is progressing and the research and design stages are substantially complete as is the tender documentation. Currently pre-tender cost estimates are being finalised in compliance with my Departments Design Team Procedures and public procurement requirements.
The Pre-Qualification stage has also been completed and suitably qualified contractors have been selected. On this basis, my Department expects the project to be able to proceed to tender this coming July.