Tuesday, 24 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 440-459

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (443)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

443. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of unfilled vacancies in his Department; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; the number of unfilled vacancies in each agency under his remit; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34687/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The details of the unfilled positions in my Department and the bodies under its aegis are set out in the following table.

--	Post	Open from:
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform	Administrative Officer	Request sent to PAS 16th April
	Assistant Principal Higher	Request sent to PAS 11th May
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 31st May
	Higher Executive Officer	Request sent to PAS 31st May
	Principal Officer Higher	Request sent to PAS 31st May
	HR Manager / Assistant Principal Officer x 2	6th June
	Higher Executive Officer	Request sent to PAS 11th June
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 26th June
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 28th June
	Head of CSEAS / Assistant Principal Higher	Open competition advertised by PAS 28th June
	Executive Officer	Request sent to PAS 18th July
Office of Government Procurement	Executive Officer	Request sent to PAS 22nd August 2017 – skills match required as no ICT panel in place
	Category Specialist (Executive Officer)	19th February (location of position to be decided)
	Higher Executive Officer (ICT)	24th March (location of position to be decided)
	Category Specialist (Executive Officer)	Request sent to PAS 10th April
	Category Specialist Higher (Higher Executive Officer)	27th April (CSH panel exhausted)
	Category Specialist Higher (Higher Executive Officer)	30th  April (CSH panel exhausted)
	Category Specialist (Executive Officer)	14th May (location of position to be decided)
	Category Specialist (Executive Officer)	Request sent to PAS 23rd May
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 25th May
	Assistant Principal	Request sent to PAS 28th May
	Clerical Officer	28th May (location of position to be decided)
	Category Specialist (Executive Officer)	4th June (location of position to be decided
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 6th June
	Executive Officer (ICT)	16th June (location of position to be decided)
	Category Specialist Higher (Higher Executive Officer)	18th June (CSH panel exhausted)
	Category Specialist Higher (Higher Executive Officer)	2nd July (CSH panel exhausted)
	Category Specialist Higher (Higher Executive Officer)	5th July (CSH panel exhausted)
	Assistant Principal	Request sent to PAS 11th July
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 18th July
	Clerical Officer	Request sent to PAS 19th July
Bodies Under the Aegis:	--	--
Public Appointments Service	Executive Officer X 2	29th May
	Executive Officer	20th June
	Clerical Officer	17th July
State Laboratory	Laboratory Analyst x 5	Advertised by PAS 18th  January. Currently in process of clearing candidates.
Office of the Ombudsman	Executive Officer (ICT)	21st August 2017
	Executive Officer (Irish)	18th December 2017 – due to   be filled by 13th August
	Assistant Principal (Legal)	January 2018 – due to be filled by 2nd October
	Clerical Officer	9th March 2018 – due to be filled by 7th August
	Executive Officer	11th May 2018 – due to be filled by 13th August 2018
	Clerical Officer	16th May 2018
	Clerical Officer	21st May 2018
National Lottery Regulator	Compliance Manager	Advertised 16th April
	Finance and Administrative Officer (0.5 WTE)	Pending appointment of recruitment company through tender process
	Communications Officer (0.5 WTE)	Pending appointment of recruitment company through tender process
Institute of Public Administration	Quality Assurance Officer/Lecturing   Assistant	Opened March 2018 – advertised June
	Administration Manager	Opened May 2018 – advertised June
	Librarian	Opened June 2018 – advertised July
	Director of Finance & Corporate   Services	Currently role filled on an acting   basis - advertised July
	Director of Human Resources	Opened June 2018 – advertised July
Special EU Programmes Body	Programme Manager (Programme Delivery)	Advertised 22nd June
National Shared Services Office	Clerical Officer (Tullamore)	7th December 2017
	Clerical Officer	9th February 2018
	Clerical Officer	23rd February 2018
	Assistant Principal	6th April 2018
	Clerical Officer	12th April 2018
	Executive Officer x 2	1st May 2018
	Clerical Officer x 2	3rd May 2018
	Clerical Officer	9th May 2018
	Clerical Officer x 2	22nd May 2018
	Clerical Officer (Tullamore)	22nd May 2018
	Clerical Officer	5th June 2018
	Higher Executive Officer	5th June 2018
	Higher Executive Officer	7th July 2018
	Principal Officer	20th July 2018
Office of Public Works	Information for the OPW will be sent directly to the Deputy

EU Directives

Ceisteanna (444)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

444. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the EU directives that fall under his remit not yet transposed into law; the deadline imposed by the EU for the transposition of same; and the estimated date for the transposition of those directives into law. [34715/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has one EU Directive due for transposition during 2018.

This is Directive 2014/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on electronic invoicing in public procurement.  The deadline for transposition by Member States is 27 November 2018.

Ireland intends to complete the transposition by the requisite date.

Flood Prevention Measures

Ceisteanna (445)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

445. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of assigning responsibility for funding and management of rivers not identified under the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act 1995 as being under the remit of the OPW to ensure an agency is made responsible for their management, in view of the damage to many waterways in Inishowen, County Donegal, as a result of floods in August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34728/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and catchment drainage schemes designated under the Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995. Local authorities have responsibility for the maintenance of Drainage Districts designated under the same Arterial Drainage Acts.

Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. Local Authorities may carry out flood mitigation works using their own resources or with financial assistance from the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme provides 90% funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing less than €0.75 million each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

In line with Government policy, the OPW has just completed the largest ever study of flood risk undertaken by the State. The Flood Risk Management Plans are the output from the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme. I recently launched these Plans and €1 billion investment in flood relief measures over the next 10 years.

Details of the works proposed for Donegal are available on the OPW website, www.floodinfo.ie. On 7 June, I met Donegal County Council and agreed mechanisms for the progression of flood relief schemes as a priority for Lifford, Burnfoot, Castlefin, Carrowkeel, Downings and Glenties.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (446)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

446. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full-year cost of repealing the FEMPI legislation. [35053/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The unwinding of the emergency FEMPI legislation commenced with the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018 and will be completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 -2020 (PSSA).

In relation to the PSSA, the measures agreed were given legal effect through the enactment of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The PSSA also makes provision for pay increases to be made to those public servants for whom FEMPI pay measures have already been unwound.

The cost of the pay measures under the PSSA Agreement in the years 2018-2020 is €887m. Carry-over costs of €227m associated with the final 2% pay increase in October 2020 fall in 2021.

In addition, a further €78m is required to complete FEMPI pay restoration for those public servants whose salary will not be fully restored (those on annualised remuneration greater than €70,000) through the PSSA increases. Under section 19 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act for those covered by the Agreement, these remaining amounts will be paid no later than July 2022.

Separately, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act provides for the continued unwinding of the Public Service Pension Reduction, PSPR, at an estimated cost of €24 million in 2019 and €12 million in 2020. When fully in place from the beginning of 2020, these changes will mean that the vast majority of public service retirees, comprising everyone with occupational pension values up to at least €54,000, will be entirely free of PSPR.  For those who retired since end-February 2012 that threshold will be even higher, at €60,000. Under section 27(3) of the Act, an order for the complete unwinding of PSPR, at an estimated additional cost of €12m, must be made by 31st December 2020. 

In total therefore the costs associated with the agreed unwinding of the remaining FEMPI pay and pensions measures is estimated at €1.24 billion. However, I should point out that the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 also made provision for the conversion, with effect from 1 January 2019, of the existing Pension Related Deduction FEMPI measure applied to public servants, to a permanent Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) which will, when fully implemented, yield some €550 million in 2020.  This will form a significant additional contribution from public servants towards the sustainability of public service pensions.

Public Sector Pay

Ceisteanna (447)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

447. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full-year cost of paying all employed public sector staff on the pre-2011 pay scale. [35054/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 216 of 29 May last.

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Ceisteanna (448)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

448. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of proposals (details supplied) over the 2011 to 2018 period on an annual basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35147/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The following table outlines the Bills published by my Department since 2011 and the regulatory impact assessments conducted:

No.	Description	Regulatory Impact Assessment
1	Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011	No
2	Appropriation Act 2011	No
3	Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2011	No
4	Statute Law Revision Act 2012	Yes
5	Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012	No
6	Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012	No
7	Appropriation Act 2012	No
8	Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2012	No
9	Houses of the Oireachtas Commission   (Amendment) Act 2013	No
10	National Lottery Act 2013	No
11	Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013	No
12	Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2013	No
13	Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privilege and Procedures) Act 2013	No
14	Construction Contracts Act 2013	Yes
15	Appropriation Act 2013	No
16	Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013	No
17	Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014	No
18	Protected Disclosures Act 2014	Yes
19	Freedom of Information Act 2014	Yes
20	Appropriation Act 2014	No
21	Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015	Yes
22	Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015	No
23	Statute Law Revision Act 2015	Yes
24	Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Act 2015	No
25	Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act 2015	Yes
26	Public Sector Standards Bill 2015	Yes
27	Appropriation Act 2015	No
28	Houses of the Oireachtas Commission   (Amendment) Act 2015	No
29	Statute Law Revision Act (No.2) 2015	No
30	Appropriation Act 2016	No
31	National Shared Services Office Act 2017	Yes
32	Appropriation Act 2017	No
33	Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017	No
34	Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018	Yes

Details of the regulatory impact assessments published by my Department are outlined in the following table:

Name of Bill/Act	Website Address
Construction Contracts Act 2013	https://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Regulatory-Impact-Analysis-of-the-Construction-Contract-Bill.pdf
Protected Disclosures Act 2014	http://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Protected-Disclosures-Bill-2013-Regulatory-Impact-Assessment.pdf
Freedom of Information Act 2014	http://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/RIA-FOI.pdf
Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015	http://www.per.gov.ie/en/regulation-of-lobbying/
Public Sector Standards Bill 2015	http://www.per.gov.ie/en/public-sector-standards-bill/
Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018	https://www.per.gov.ie/en/datasharing/

Capital Expenditure Programme

Ceisteanna (449)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

449. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown by project for the capital allocation of €174 million in 2018 to his Vote group; the breakdown by project for the proposed allocation of €203 million in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35281/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I wish to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of the capital allocation of €174 million in 2018 and €203 million in 2019 to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Vote Group and they are as follows:

The Office of Public Works (OPW) capital allocation for 2018 is €155 million as published in the Revised Estimates 2018 with the bulk of this allocation being afforded to key programmes of Flood Risk Management and New Works, Alterations and Additions. The Government has given a commitment to delivering further capital works / flood relief schemes to reduce and minimise the impacts of river and coastal flooding on society through the roll-out of the Flood Risk Management Plans.

The OPW capital allocation for 2019 provides for a baseline allocation of €183 million.  This represents a €28 million increase on the OPW capital allocation for 2018 of €155 million.  The OPW capital allocation comprises of two key programmes namely Flood Risk Management and Estate Management portfolio.  The Government is committed to the policy objective of delivering further capital works / flood relief schemes to minimise the impacts of river and coastal flooding on society through the continuance of the Flood Risk Management Plans.  It is a matter for the OPW to prioritise and implement flood risk management programmes as appropriate.  I am advised that the OPW will advance a number of projects within the Estate Portfolio Management programme including investment in a number of state owned properties, an acquisition and disposals programme, a retrofit programme and increased infrastructure investment at heritage sites.  Again, it is a matter for the OPW to prioritise specific projects and expenditure in this area.

The position in relation to the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) is over €10 million of their capital allocation for 2018 is allocated to the development and roll-out of the Financial Management Shared Services Project, the single financial management system to serve Government Departments and public service bodies. Similarly, the Capital baseline allocation for 2019 for the NSSO is €11 million.  The key programme for which this capital allocation will be utilised in 2019 is also the Financial Management Shared Services Project.

The Public Appointments Service received a capital allocation of €1.5m for 2018. €750,000 was allocated towards a programme of upgrades to their premises in Chapter House with the remaining €750,000 allocated for the replacement and upgrade of the Public Appointments Service IT recruitment platform.

The Public Appointments Service were allocated €3.5 million for the upgrade / replacement of the ICT systems, in particular, the IT online recruitment platform over the period 2019 -2021.  This was provided following an independent review of their current system in 2017 and the core recommendation was that the current system should be replaced. It is intended that €1 million of this allocation will be spent on ICT systems development in 2019.  The Public Appointments Service has also been allocated €1 million to carry out necessary capital upgrade works to Chapter House in 2019.

My own Department was given a capital allocation of €5.2 million in 2018 with over €3 million of this allocation provided for a number of projects being carried out in the Office of the Chief Government Information Officer.

The Office of Government Procurement's (OGP) allocation for 2018 is €960k as published in the Revised Estimates Volume. This bulk of this capital investment is primarily being invested Procurement Consultancy.

The capital allocation for my Department in 2019 will be €5 million and for the Office of Government Procurement will be €1 million.  The purpose of the capital investment undertaken by my Department and the OGP is to deliver greater effectiveness and efficiency across the Civil and Public Service through reform initiatives set out in ambitious reform plans, such as Our Public Service 2020 and the Public Service ICT Strategy.  This capital expenditure is primarily invested in ICT systems.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Ceisteanna (450)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

450. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35386/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The information requested will be forwarded directly to the Deputy in tabular format in the coming days.

Departmental Legal Services

Ceisteanna (451)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

451. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount paid for external legal services in each of the years from 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35401/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table that follows this reply.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department had no external legal costs in 2012 or 2013.

The Deputy will note that I have provided the total annual payments under the relevant contracts.  The hourly rate applied is considered commercially sensitive and disclosure of same could prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of the contractor or fair competition between economic operators.

Year	Legal Services Provider	Purpose	Amount Paid
2014	Eversheds	Escrow issue	€1,200
	Peter Bacon and Associates	Affidavits response	€25,030.50
	Total 2014		€26,230.50
2015	Byrne Wallace	Employment Law legal services	€92,471
	Philip Lee Solicitors	Office of Government Procurement Framework advice	€5,535
	Total 2015		€98,006
2016	Byrne Wallace	Employment Law legal services	€205,247
	Eversheds	Engagement of legal support services for the delivery of Office of Government Procurement national framework arrangements	€394,068
	Total 2016		€599,315
2017	Byrne Wallace	Employment Law legal services	€127,680
	Eversheds	Engagement of legal support services for the delivery of Office of Government Procurement national framework arrangements	€94,620
	James Wall Solicitors	Office of Government Procurement Bill of Costs for ongoing legal case	€111,164
	Total 2017		€333,464

Superannuation Schemes

Ceisteanna (452)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

452. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an Irish person working as a teacher in South Korea and who pays towards an occupational pension there for a period will receive credit for such contributions on return here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32688/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Teachers' pensions are governed by statutory superannuation schemes which specify the categories of service which may be reckoned for pension purposes.  There is no provision under which teaching service given in the Republic of Korea may be reckoned for occupational pension purposes under these schemes nor are there any reciprocal arrangements between the State and South Korea for the mutual recognition of such service for pension purposes.

The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 governs the superannuation of public servants, including teachers, whose first public service pensionable employment commenced on or after 1 January 2013. The Act also applies to those who resume on or after that date following a break of more than 26 weeks in their pubic service pensionable employment.  There are no provisions in place under the Act which would enable credit for pension purposes for periods worked in South Korea.

Youthreach Programme Staff

Ceisteanna (453, 463, 469)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

453. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a Youthreach co-ordinator resource person can assume the role of designated liaison person and deputy designated liaison person when he or she is not required to be registered with the Teaching Council and is not deemed to be a teacher by his or her respective employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32708/18]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

463. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Youthreach centres of education are bound by the terms of circular letter 0081/2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32493/18]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

469. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a Youthreach co-ordinator resource person can assume the role of designated liaison person and deputy designated liaison person when the person is not required to be registered with the Teaching Council and is not deemed to be a teacher by the person's respective employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32544/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 453, 463 and 469 together.

Youthreach is an education and training programme delivered in out of school settings to young people aged 16 – 20 who have left the mainstream school system early.  It is a further education programme operated by Education and Training Boards. The programme aims to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate fully in society and progress to further education, training and employment. 

Department of Education and Skills circular 81 of 2017 advised school authorities on the new "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017" which came into effect on 11 December 2017. These procedures apply to all schools and centres of education as defined under the Education Act 1998 and Youthreach centres come under this definition.

The staff in Youthreach is made up of Youthreach Co-ordinators, Youthreach Resource Persons and teachers. Youthreach Co-ordinators and Resource Persons have their own terms and conditions and are a separate grade to teachers.  Accordingly, they do not require to be registered with the Teaching Council, which is the body with statutory authority under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 for the professional regulation, including registration, of teachers in the State. 

It has been a longstanding practice for Youthreach Co-ordinators to fulfill the role of the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) in Youthreach centres. This is an important function given the often complex needs of participating learners.  In the centres for education where staffing and governance arrangements differ to those of recognised schools there is a need to modify arrangements as necessary to take account of the requirement to have a DLP in place at a suitably senior level.

A Resource Person in a Youthreach centre is required to deputise for the co-ordinator when necessary as part of their terms and conditions and they take on the role of the Deputy DLP for this reason.

Third Level Admissions Assistance

Ceisteanna (454)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

454. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the eligibility criteria for applicants for the higher education access route programme in cases in which where there are neighbouring students with identical criteria, one of them is eligible and the other is not; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the poverty deprivation index assessment compiled by POBAL can demonstrate a false impression of an applicant's background; if a mechanism in which applicants can appeal such decisions and provide the necessary information will be examined; his views on whether this programme is an essential part of providing greater access for students from rural and deprived areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32890/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

HEAR is a college and university admissions scheme offering places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantages backgrounds.

The HEAR scheme has been operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher education institutions themselves and not by my Department. The operational management of HEAR has transferred from the Shared Services Unit in the IUA to the CAO.

All information required in relation to admission through HEAR scheme should contact the CAO.

National Educational Psychological Service Staff

Ceisteanna (455)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

455. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the number of National Educational Psychological Service psychologists by 20 to progressively achieve a target of 238; the estimated cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33541/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments.

I can inform the Deputy that, following on from an increase allowed in the 2017 Budget, the sanctioned number for NEPS psychologist stands at 184 whole-time equivalents of which some 179 whole-time equivalent posts are currently filled.  Five posts are currently vacant due to ongoing retirements and resignations, etc. within the service.  Even at this current level this represents the highest number of psychologists to be employed within NEPS since the inception of the service in 2000.

Additionally the Deputy may be aware that under the provisions of Budget 2018, I was pleased to announce that NEPS psychologist numbers will expand by a further 10 posts from the start of the new academic year.

I can inform the Deputy that a national recruitment competition is currently in operation by the Public Appointments Service in conjunction with my Department to replenish NEPS Regional Recruitment Panels to allow for both the filling of the above mentioned five vacancies and the expansion of NEPS number by a further ten posts.

National Training Fund

Ceisteanna (456)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

456. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the yield to date in 2018 from the increase in the National Training Fund levy in budget 2018; the projected end of year yield; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34861/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The impact of a 0.1% increase in the National Training Fund, NTF, levy from 0.7% to 0.8% was estimated in Budget 2018 as yielding €58 million in 2018, with €47.5 million available for increased expenditure.

In monitoring NTF income, the Department does not separately identify the yield resulting from the 0.1% increase.  Overall NTF receipts from the levy for the period January to the end of June 2018, which are the latest available figures, amounted to €279 million.  Income from the levy for the full year was estimated at €553 million in the Revised Estimates Volume 2018.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (457)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

457. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32401/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application for funding from the school in question.  Any application received will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority subsequently.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (458)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

458. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32404/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme.

My Department is currently completing the project brief with the aim of progressing the project into the architectural planning process. My Department will be in direct contact with the school when this process has been finalised.

Schools Establishment

Ceisteanna (459)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

459. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 12 June 2018, the location of sites that have been identified for new schools (details supplied); the dates on which these schools will be enrolling pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32412/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As 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 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 and will be confirmed at a later date.