Written Answers Nos. 176-193
176. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will investigate the continuing coastal erosion at Rosses Point, County Sligo, and facilitate works to stop the damage being caused to this beach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26626/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter in the first instance, for each local authority to identify, investigate and address priority areas of their coastlines considered to be under significant threat from erosion. It is open to Sligo County Council to undertake coastal erosion remedial works using its own resources. If necessary, it may also put forward proposals to the relevant central Government Departments for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat. The Office of Public Works (OPW) operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications from local authorities are considered for measures costing not more than €750,000 in each instance. 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. Full details are available on the OPW's website at: http://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworkscoastalprotectionscheme/.
Sligo County Council applied for and was approved funding of €40,500 and €57,055 under this scheme in 2009 and 2015 respectively to carry out Coastal Erosion Risk Management Studies of Rosses Point,Co. Sligo. All funding was drawn down following completion of the studies.
Sligo County Council has written to the OPW recently in relation to possible protection works or studies at a number of coastal locations including Rosses Point. The OPW will be responding to the Council indicating that it will need to prioritise the proposed works and, if appropriate, to submit specific applications for funding under the Minor Works scheme in relation to each one demonstrating that they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme. OPW staff are available to discuss the proposed works with the Council. There are currently no applications on hand under the Minor Works scheme for works at Rosses Point.
177. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the public service superannuation (miscellaneous provisions) (amendment) Bill will be published; if a date for pre-legislative scrutiny has been decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26694/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my answer to PQ 24451/18 on the 12 June 2018.
When I wrote to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform about pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill earlier this year, the Committee responded indicating that, while it did not intend to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, it would engage fully on the draft legislation in the context of the formal legislative process.
This approach is likely to facilitate the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas and I welcome the support of the Committee in this regard.
178. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated full-year running cost of the Office of the DPP. [26774/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs voted by the Houses of the Oireachtas and published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018, the estimate of the amount required for the operation of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for 2018 is €43,502,000 (net).
179. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a matter (details supplied) can be expedited. [26801/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has engaged the services of a third party service provider in relation to the operation and management of the existing mast sites within the OPW’s portfolio. This includes the potential development of other suitable sites within the portfolio for use in the telecommunications sector by mobile network and other operators.
My officials will be in direct contact with the Deputy shortly in relation to the relevant contact details.
180. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on recent reports regarding the possible merger of the NCAD and IADT to form a creative arts university; if there have been meetings with the HEA on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26311/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received a copy of a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority on higher education in the creative arts in Dublin on 18 June 2018, together with a request for my Department's views on the report. My Department will now consider the report prior to making any comment.
There have been no meetings to date between the Department and the HEA in relation to this matter.
181. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an investigation will be undertaken into a situation in which a child (details supplied) who has very complicated health needs has been denied the 16 hours SNA support the child had previously in primary school when the child moved to secondary school in September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26599/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support. In line with this policy, I announced last month that 800 additional SNAs will be allocated for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE. The closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.
As this question relates to a particular school, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.
182. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans for the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA project for the school to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department’s 6 Year Capital Programme and a new site is required to facilitate this project.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites, my officials are working closely with officials in the relevant local authority towards acquiring a permanent site to meet the needs of the school in question. A preferred site option for the school has been identified and this is currently being progressed.
Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time. I can, however, assure you that all parties are working to advance the proposed acquisition and the patron body will be informed of the location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive the funding it needs to carry out essential works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26213/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the school referred to by the Deputy was granted funding under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2009 for a general toilet upgrade as per their application in that regard.
The school submitted a further application under SWS 2016-2017 for additional toilets plus a staff room and office. The SWS is designed to address small scale improvement works and not to provide additional accommodation.
In that regard, it is open to the school in question to apply to my Department for additional accommodation. The application form ASA (Additional School Accommodation) is available on the Departments website at www.education.ie.
184. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the schools PPP bundle 5. [26232/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Output Specifications, Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) and Tender Evaluation, including Value for Money comparison, were prepared for the Schools Bundle 5 PPP Project in accordance with the PPP Guidelines.
It has been the practice for some time of the Department of Education and Skills to publish PSB information on education PPP projects once five years have elapsed after contract close.
Five years is considered to be an appropriate period of time after which concerns around commercial sensitivity will generally have receded. In relation to contracts closed within the previous five years, there is a risk that sharing information relating to the PSB and wider procurement process could have negative repercussions for the State, both in terms of managing the construction phase of the contract and in potentially influencing the price that future bidders for education projects might seek. The contract for Schools Bundle 5 was signed in July 2016 and it is therefore considered premature to disclose the documentation requested by the Deputy.
In relation to costs, I can confirm that the only payment which has been made by the Department to the PPP company InspiredSpaces was for €4.4 million. This was for off-site works and related costs, which have already been completed.
Unitary Charge (UC) payments will not commence until service commencement is reached on the school buildings. Projected commitments for all PPP projects are available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at: http://ppp.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Contract-value-and-financial-commitment-to-end-2017.xlsx. This includes the most recent projections submitted for Schools Bundle 5. This information will be updated once the arrangements for completion of the schools are confirmed and there is clarity on when UC payments will fall due.
185. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new special needs unit at a school (details supplied) will be opened. [26253/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism, in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need in Dublin, from year to year, and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.
A Special Needs Unit (SNU) was provided as part of the new school build for the school referred to by the Deputy and the school have taken occupancy of their new premises.
Further to this, the NCSE have advised my officials that the school is preparing to open an ASD special class in the coming school year.
186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funds to facilitate an extension to a school (details supplied) will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26281/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide 4 mainstream classrooms.
When the school authority has completed the tender process for the project and construction has commenced on site, the school will draw down 70% of the grant approved. The school will draw down the remaining 30% when the project is completed.
187. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction of a new school building for a school (details supplied) is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
In this regard, my Department is currently engaging with the Education Training Board in the context of progressing a building project for the school and will keep the school patron informed of progress.
188. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount paid per project to a company (details supplied) since 1 January 2016 to date by year, amount and project name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26388/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department engages Mediavest for public advertisements in connection with a wide range of educational programmes and schemes including, staff appointments in the education sector; invitations to forward submissions on education related-schemes/projects and invitations to tender for school building projects. Mediavest are part of an Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework which commenced on 2 December, 2016 until 1 December, 2020.
The amount paid to Mediavest by my Department for public advertisements from 1st January 2016 to date is as follows:
|
YEAR |
AMOUNT PAID TO MEDIAVEST |
|
2018 |
€35,948 |
|
2017 |
€67,224 |
|
2016 |
€67,792 |
189. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills when permission to tender for construction works will issue to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26445/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School to which the Deputy refers was allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide a two-classroom Special Needs Unit, 6 mainstream classrooms and ancillary accommodation.
The letter of approval to proceed to tender for the project was issued to the school authority on 15th June 2018.
190. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of public consultations held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department; the number of replies received per consultation; and the cost of each consultation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [26459/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details sought by the Deputy are not readily available. Officials in my Department are collating the information and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
191. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a planning application has been made for a primary school in the Mooretown area of Swords in view of the fact that the shortage of school places is in the River Valley-Swords-west area of County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26477/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. For school planning purposes Mooretown is located in the Swords school planning area.
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including an 8-classroom primary school to be established in Swords North in 2019 and an 8-classroom primary school to be established in Swords South in 2019. 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.
The school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is progressing through architectural planning. The Planning Application was submitted to Fingal County Council on 29 March 2018. A decision to Grant Planning was made on 21 May 2018 with the Final Grant of Planning currently awaited from Fingal County Council.
192. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and the timeline for its refurbishment. [26479/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy includes an extension to the Junior and Senior schools, a new build General Purpose Hall and a Special Needs Unit. Refurbishment works will form part of the overall project.
The Junior School will be provided with a new two storey building providing nine classrooms and support spaces with floor area of 531sqm, new double height general purpose hall and support spaces with a floor area of 272 sqm and reconfiguration and refurbishment of seven classrooms and associated spaces in the existing school building.
The project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning. Planning Permission has been received and the Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate have been granted.
The Stage 2B report has been received and the Department's comments have been provided to the Design Team for follow up. Providing no other issues arise, the Department expects to be in a position to authorise the project to proceed to pre-qualification of contractors shortly.
The Department has written to the school outlining the timeframe for progression of the project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.
193. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and the timeline for its refurbishment [26480/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy includes an extension to the Junior and Senior Schools, a new build General Purpose Hall and a Special Needs Unit. Refurbishment works will form part of the overall project.
The Senior school will be provided with a new two storey building providing nine classrooms and support spaces with floor area of 686sqm and a reconfiguration and refurbishment of five existing classrooms and associated support spaces in the existing school building.
The project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning. Planning Permission has been received and the Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate have been granted.
The Stage 2B report has been received and the Department's comments have been provided to the Design Team for action. Providing no other issues arise, the Department expects to be in a position to authorise the project to proceed to pre-qualification of contractors shortly.
The Department has written to the school outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.
