Catherine Martin
Ceist:212. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of implementing the new politics and society subject for the leaving certificate. [26790/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Curriculum
Ceisteanna (212)
Freagraí scríofa
Exact expenditure figures regarding the teaching of Politics & Society in schools are not available, as funding is not allocated by my Department on a subject-by-subject basis. However, work in this area is taking place at post-primary level on full implementation of the subject.
The first Leaving Certificate examination in Politics & Society will take place on the 20 June. This will mark the completion of Phase 1 of Politics & Society for the 41 schools that took part. These schools were chosen following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject.
The process of national rollout of the subject has commenced with all schools having been asked to express their interest in providing Leaving Certificate Politics and Society as an option for their students from September 2018. Almost 60 schools are availing of Continuous Professional Development from the Professional Development Service for Teachers to assist in the implementation of Politics and Society in their schools from this September. This brings the total number of schools providing Politics and Society for Leaving Certificate to nearly 100.
Leaving Certificate Politics and Society aims to develop the student's ability to be a reflective and active citizen, in a way that is informed by the insights and skills of social and political science. The introduction of the specification was part of the Department of Education and Skills commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development.
The new subject has four main strands of study:
- Power and decision-making
- Active citizenship
- Human rights and responsibilities
- Globalisation and localisation
There are two assessment components at for Leaving Certificate Politics and Society:
1. Report on a citizenship project (20% of the total marks).
2. Written examination (80% of the total marks).
Third Level Scholarships
Ceisteanna (213)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:213. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in State-funded third level education facilities who undertook doctoral research in 2017 and to date in 2018; and the number of these who were State funded. [26791/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There were a total of 8,357 students enrolled on PhD programmes in the 2016/17 academic year. Of this figure, year one enrolments were 1,537 full-time PhD students and 269 part-time PhD students. Final figures for the 2017/18 academic year are not yet available.
PhD funded scholarships are available from a number of bodies, including the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, Health Research Board etc. The Irish Research Council, which is funded by my Department, currently funds some 838 PhD students.
Capitation Grants
Ceisteanna (214)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:214. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the increased cost of running schools; if the mainstream capitation grant will be increased in budget 2019 to the level of €200 in view of the fact there has been a reduction in the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26843/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years.
Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education.
Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and Training service the best in Europe within a decade. In 2018, the budget for the Department of Education increased by €554 million to over €10 billion. Through budget 2017 and Budget 2018, we are now investing €1 billion more in education.
The process is underway for restoring grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. 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. A similar type approach in relation to improvements in grant funding was applied, as appropriate, at post-primary level.
Special Educational Needs Staff Contracts
Ceisteanna (215)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:215. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to reduce the SNA hours at a school (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26857/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Special Educational Needs Staff
Ceisteanna (216)
Eamon Ryan
Ceist:216. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers who have availed of further training supports for special education needs and special education support services. [26898/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
From 21st March, 2017 the Special Education Support Service (SESS), National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for Children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Children who are Blind/Visually Impaired (VTHVI) transferred from my Department to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and joined with the services already being provided by NCSE’s SENOs and administrative staff to form the NCSE Support Service. This new service aims to develop schools’ capacity to include students with special educational needs and to promote a continuum of educational provision which is inclusive and responsive.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible for organising and planning education provision for children with special educational needs, including:
- providing Continual Professional Development (CPD) and support for teachers in the area of special educational needs (SEN) to enhance the quality of learning and teaching in relation to SEN provision (formerly provided through the SESS)
- providing support and expertise to partner schools on issues related to behaviour (formerly provided through the NBSS)
- supporting the introduction of the new model of resource teaching allocation to schools and to develop capacity to meet the needs of students with special educational needs
As the matter referred to by the Deputy relates to the NCSE Support Service, the matter has been referred to the NCSE for direct reply.
School Enrolments Data
Ceisteanna (217)
Eamon Ryan
Ceist:217. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school students enrolled in full-time education. [26899/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There were 558,314 pupils enrolled in primary schools during the school year 2016-17 (this figure includes both Mainstream and Special Class pupils).
Teacher Data
Ceisteanna (218)
Eamon Ryan
Ceist:218. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers in full-time employment. [26900/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The number of contracted whole-time equivalent primary school teachers on my Departments payroll at 14/6/2018 is 35,959. This figure excludes job-sharing teachers, substitute teachers, teachers on career break or on secondment.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (219)
Mary Butler
Ceist:219. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26934/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The property referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership.
In common with other buildings of its kind, where significant grant aid is provided by my Department for the development of school premises, investment is secured by way of a long-term legal agreement known as a charging lease. There is a charging lease in place on the property referred to by the Deputy dated 1981 for 99 years, which means I have a vested interest in the property.
In circumstances where a property has ceased to be used as a school, and a request is received to release the State's interest secured under a charging lease, such requests are considered in the context of the specific circumstances which pertain to the individual property. I can confirm that my Department has received a request from the property owners to release my interest in the property. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the property owner in due course.
School Enrolments
Ceisteanna (220)
Mary Butler
Ceist:220. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the enrolment crisis at a school (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26935/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places.
In relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. It is the responsibility of the Board of Management to create and operate the enrolment policy for its school. However, it may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in their school of first choice.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of the Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school.
I wish to advise the Deputy that an application for additional accommodation has been received from the patron of the school referred to in the details supplied. My Department is currently liaising with the patron in relation to the application and is awaiting receipt of additional information which the patron has undertaken to provide. The matter will be considered further following receipt of this information.
Apprenticeship Data
Ceisteanna (221)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which efforts continue to be made to create apprenticeship opportunities under various trades; the degree to which specific shortages have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26939/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers within each sector. My Department is committed to supporting the increased registration of apprentices across all sectors. New apprenticeship registrations have risen from 2,698 in 2014 to 4,843 in 2017, which represents an increase of almost 80%.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government is currently expanding the range of apprenticeships on offer to meet the identified skill needs of industry. Arising from our first call for apprenticeship proposals in 2015 eleven new apprenticeships have been developed in a wide range of sectors, including financial services, engineering, ICT and accounting. Further new apprenticeships will get underway later in 2018.
In addition, arising from last year’s second call for proposals, I recently announced 26 new programmes for further development into national apprenticeships across a wide variety of sectors including construction, engineering, horticulture and agriculture. These new programmes, once developed, will add to and complement the range of apprenticeships currently on offer in developing the skill needs of our economy.
Road Traffic Accidents Data
Ceisteanna (222)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:222. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the body recognised as expert to investigate the vehicles involved in fatal road accidents; and the qualifications of experts and engineers required in this regard. [26304/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the information sought by the Deputy and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of this report.
Adoption Legislation
Ceisteanna (223)
Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:223. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 415, 416 and 417 of 12 June 2018, the timeline or plan for the amendment of the Adoptive Leave Act 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26635/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, Section 6 of the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 provides for an entitlement to 24 weeks adoptive leave for an employed adopting mother or a sole male adopter.
Following adoption of the 34th amendment to the Constitution and its subsequent legislative changes, my Department identified a lacuna in the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 that prevents male same-sex married couples from availing of adoptive leave and benefits.
To address this lacuna, my Department has prepared draft legislative proposals that will amend the Adoptive Leave Act and will afford the same entitlements to adoptive leave and benefits to all couples who are married, co-habiting or who are in a civil partnership, irrespective of gender.
While it is not possible, at present, to provide a precise timeframe for the amending of the Act, work is underway in my Department in reviewing how best to advance these legislative proposals. One possibility is that the proposals could be included with those planned on paid parental leave as part of a general consolidation project in a Family Leave Bill.
Commencement of Legislation
Ceisteanna (224, 234)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:224. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when all parts of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 will be commenced; the reason for the delay in commencing this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26638/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra
John Curran
Ceist:234. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 will be fully enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26263/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 234 together.
The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was enacted on 6 April 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Commencement of Certain Provisions Order) 2016 (S.I. No. 12 of 2016) commenced the bulk of the Act with effect from 18 January 2016. That Commencement Order brought provisions of Parts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 of the Act into operation. The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 355 of 2017) commenced part of section 47(c) of the Act with effect from 31 July 2017 and the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 474 of 2017) commenced provisions of the Act relating to adoption by civil partners and cohabiting couples with effect from 2 November 2017.
Part 10 of the Act, which amended the Passports Act 2008, was commenced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1 July 2015.
Part 11 of the Act, which related to adoption, was not commenced and was repealed by section 2(2) of the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, which came into operation on 19 October 2017, as provided for by the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 443 of 2017). The provisions in Part 11 have been incorporated into the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, for which the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is responsible.
Section 177 of the Act which amends section 2 of the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 has not yet been commenced. Following adoption of the 34th amendment to the Constitution and its subsequent legislative changes, my Department identified a lacuna in the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 that prevents male same-sex married couples from availing of adoptive leave and benefits. To address this lacuna, my Department has prepared draft legislative proposals that will amend section 177 to will afford the same entitlements to adoptive leave and benefits to all couples who are married, co-habiting or who are in a civil partnership, irrespective of gender.
Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 provide for parentage through donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR). The issue of the recognition of parentage for same-sex couples and their children is dealt with under Part 2 of the Act. The Minister for Health has responsibility for commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Act.
Other provisions of the Act which relate to DAHR have not yet been commenced as they are linked to Parts 2 and 3. The commencement of the provisions of the Act which are related to Parts 2 and 3 will be co-ordinated with the commencement of those Parts by the Minister for Health.
In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health. That Bill will provide for the establishment of an Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority which will, among other things, undertake certain functions under Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015.
Part 9 of the Act provides for a number of amendments to the Civil Registration Act 2004. No provision of Part 9 has yet been commenced. Some sections cannot be commenced until Parts 2 and 3 are brought into operation by the Minister for Health. Other sections are dependent on provisions of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 being commenced and my Department is liaising with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in relation to scheduling the commencement of these sections.
EU Budgets
Ceisteanna (225)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:225. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has spoken to his EU counterparts regarding the plans the EU Commission has published on increasing expenditure on border controls and migration. [26551/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minister is aware of the EU Commission’s proposals and the proposed expenditure increase for migration and border management to €34.9 billion for 2021-2027, compared to €13 billion in the previous period.
As Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Area, it does not have access to this EU funding for border controls and visa matters.
However, Ireland acknowledges that significant progress has been made in border management and supports the Member States in addressing this common challenge.
State Properties
Ceisteanna (226)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:226. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the Thornton Hall site; the reason for the delay in the finalisation of the report from the working group that was established in January 2015 to examine the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26198/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A Working Group has considered options, including (in conjunction with the OPW) future uses for the Thornton site which is fully serviced and adjacent to the airport. There are no definite plans as yet for this strategic State asset but this is kept under review.
The Thornton Hall site comprising of 156 acres was purchased in 2005 for a proposed large scale prison campus to replace Mountjoy Prison which was to be sold to fund the development. Due to the downturn in the economy, the scale of the project could not be accommodated within the capital allocation available and the project did not proceed. Over the decade since the original plan, international research has tended towards smaller prisons within reach of support communities as the best option for rehabilitation. In addition, in light of the decision not to proceed with Thornton, significant capital investment has been made at the Mountjoy campus over recent years to upgrade accommodation and eliminate the practice of slopping out.
The Irish Prison Service now proposes to further develop the Mountjoy site through a Masterplan over the period 2021-2031 as referred to in the National Development Plan. The aim is to bring the remainder of the prison up to an acceptable modern standard capable of serving needs into the future, including requirements for contemporary vehicular and emergency access, prisoner reception and discharge facilities, appropriate modern visitor facilities for families, much enhanced facilities for prisoner care and rehabilitation, indoor and outdoor recreation, healthcare, education and work/training, appropriate staff facilities, and improved wider service areas such as laundry and kitchen facilities.
Therefore, while future plans for the Thornton site will be considered in the context of broader State requirements for land assets, plans in relation to the Prison estate continue to evolve and respond to changing requirements and practices in relation to detention of prisoners.
Family Reunification
Ceisteanna (227)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which family reunification can be arranged in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that Congolese nationals are required to hold an Irish visa to travel to Ireland. As with all other visa required nationals, visa applications are considered on their own merits and in accordance with the requirements for the particular visa type applied for.
Comprehensive guidelines and information on the documentation needed for each type of application can be found on the INIS website http://www.inis.gov.ie .
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.
Deportation Orders Re-examination
Ceisteanna (228)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will set aside a deportation order in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26205/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 30 May 2018, that a Deportation Order in respect of her was proposed. She was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made against her.
The 15 working day period referred to in my Department's letter of 30 May 2018 expires on 20 June 2018. It is open to the person concerned to make representations in the State within that period as the person concerned has not yet submitted written representations. In any event, the case of the person concerned will not be further processed until the 15 working day period referred to has elapsed.
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.
Visa Data
Ceisteanna (229)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:229. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average wait times for visa applications with the INIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26209/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that decisions regarding the grant or refusal of visas are made in a number of INIS Visa Offices overseas, the INIS Visa Office in Dublin, and at Embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which process certain visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department.
The processing times for visa decisions are published on the Visa pages of each Visa Office and Embassy website. The following table sets out the current processing dates (as of 13 June, 2018) up to which applications received in the Dublin Visa Office have been processed.
|
Purpose of Visa Applications |
Current Processing Date in the Dublin Visa Office |
|
Visit |
02 May |
|
Business |
16 May |
|
Conference/Event |
16 May |
|
Join Family (under national legislation) |
02 February |
|
Join Family (EU Free Movement) |
See note below |
|
Study |
18 April |
|
Employment |
16 May |
|
Other* |
16 May |
*Includes training; exam; conference/event; performance/tournament; and sundry applications.
It should be noted that target times for visa processing are established as a business target reflecting the detailed and often complex assessment required to be carried out in relation to applications, and do not constitute a legal obligation.
The processing time in each location is determined by a number of factors such as the volumes and complexity of applications, individual circumstances, peak application periods, seasonal factors, and the resources available. While every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, processing times inevitably vary as a result.
In relation to applications under the Free Movement Directive(2004/38/EC), there had been an exponential increase from the second quarter of 2015 in the number of such applications. That gave rise to a caseload of around 10,500 applications which had to be assessed very carefully to ensure that any fraudulent applications or potential abuses of the Directive are detected and dealt with appropriately. Considerable progress is being made in processing these applications. However, as legal proceedings in relation to a number of similar such applications are currently before the courts, the Deputy will appreciate that I am limited in what I can say on the matter.
The central concern, as with all visa services worldwide, in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.