Written Answers Nos. 600-619
600. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [35140/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details of all legislative proposals published by my Department including those in respect of which a regulatory impact assessment was completed and those for which such an assessment was not completed are listed in the following table.
|
- |
Title of legislation proposal Published |
Regulatory impact assessment |
|
2011 |
The Residential Institutions Redress (Amendment) Bill 2011 |
No |
|
Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 |
Yes |
|
|
2012 |
Education and Training Boards Bill |
Yes |
|
The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012 |
No |
|
|
2013 |
Further Education & Training Bill 2013 |
No |
|
2014 |
Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill |
Yes |
|
Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
No |
|
|
2015 |
Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015 |
Yes |
|
Technological Universities Bill 2015 |
Yes |
|
|
2016 |
General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill |
Yes |
|
Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2016 |
Yes |
|
|
2017 |
The General Scheme for the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) |
No |
|
2018 |
N/A |
N/A |
601. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants provided to schools in counties Sligo and Leitrim in the school year 2017-18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35176/18]
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 support 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.
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 in May 2018 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 SNA allocation for Counties Sligo and Leitrim for the 2017/2018 school year at May 2018 is, as published on the NCSE website, 156.11 and 67.14 respectively.
602. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants who will be provided to schools in counties Sligo and Leitrim for the school year 2018-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35177/18]
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 support 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.
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 in May 2018 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 SNA allocation for Counties Sligo and Leitrim for the start of the 2018/2019 school year, as published on the NCSE website, is 162.09 and 67.89 respectively.
603. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be moved to Roslyn Park; and if he will identify a liaison in his Department with whom parents can discuss ongoing concerns. [35208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building project to provide the permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has commenced architectural planning under the Department's “Rapid” - Design and Build Programme. The school has been informed of its permanent location.
A planning permission to provide temporary accommodation for the school on the permanent site is currently under third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the decision date for which has been extended from the 27th June 2018 to the 22nd August 2018.
The school has been informed that until the temporary accommodation can be provided it will remain at its current temporary location from the start of the 2018/19 school year.
The design process for the permanent accommodation is being progressed in preparation for the planning application which will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project.
Department officials recently contacted the school Principal to advise on the status of the planning permission for the temporary accommodation and also to request contact details for the school over the summer months.
The Schools Board of Management will be invited to view the plans for the new school in advance of the planning application being submitted to the local authority.
Since the start of this year, Department officials have also been meeting on a monthly basis with the schools Patron Body. My Department has through its communications with the schools Patron Body endeavoured to keep the schools management informed of all developments. It is appropriate that parents who wish to make enquiries about the school would contact the school authorities in the first instance.
604. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools with either a secretary or caretaker directly employed by his Department; the criteria that apply to the allocation of these posts; the number of staff employed in schools under the ancillary services grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35225/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Boards of Management of schools are responsible for the employment of school secretaries and caretakers and it is a matter for each school to determine the level of secretarial and caretaking needs required for the school. Funding to cater for these needs is made available from my Department under two separate schemes.
One is the 1978/79 scheme under which the school secretaries and caretakers are paid directly through the payroll operated by my Department. The 1978/79 scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. There are currently 179 schools with secretaries and caretakers employed under this scheme.
The 1978/79 scheme has been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme towards the funding of ancillary services in schools. Within the grant programme, the level and extent of services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded by the scheme, apply their own arrangements for secretarial services as resources permit. My Department does not have any direct role in the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. Given that employment of school secretaries and caretakers is dealt with at local school level, my Department does not have a central record of the number of school secretaries and caretakers funded by the ancillary services grant.
605. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown by project for the capital allocation of €745 million in 2018 to the education and skills Vote group; the breakdown by project for the proposed allocation of €941 million in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35226/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's capital allocation for 2018 is €745.350m. The allocation is distributed across the education sectors as follows:
Schools Sector - €569.600m (including €30m for the Schools ICT Programme)
PPPs - €93.230m
Higher Education - €70.6m (including €40.6m for Research)
Further Education - €6m
Public Sector Reform - €3.4m
Administrative Budget, ESF Technical Assistance, Special Memorial (Abuse Victims) and Educational Disadvantage - €2.520m
The 2019 capital allocation for my Department amounts to €941m which is an increase of almost €200m. The 2019 allocation will be distributed across the same sectors as in 2018 but with significant increases for the Schools sector, Higher Education and Further Education sectors.
606. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the programmes and payments or hiring of staff to which the additional €49 million allocated to his Department in 2019 to meet demographic costs will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35227/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mid-Year Expenditure Report 2018, which was published on 19th July by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, sets out the pre-Budget Ministerial Gross Current Expenditure Ceilings for all Departments. These ceilings are set out on a technical pre-Budget basis, with the budgetary decisions for 2019 to be incorporated into Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings to be published on Budget day. The starting current expenditure baseline for all Departments is the allocation for this year as set out in REV 2018, with an additional provision for demographics in the allocation of the Department of Education and Skills and certain other Departments.
The ceiling for 2019 as set out in the Report for my Department is €9,392 million, compared to a REV 2018 allocation of €9,343 million. The additional €49 million provides for certain demographic costs including additional mainstream teachers and capitation in schools and higher education demographics.
The expenditure allocation for mainstream school teachers and capitation in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report does not take account of the revised demographic forecasts and updated methodology for calculation of costs which are set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Spending Review Paper “Pay Expenditure Drivers at Primary and Second Level” which was published alongside the 2018 Mid-Year Expenditure Report. The Department will be engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the Estimates process regarding the overall demographic requirements in 2019.
607. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers employed in primary and secondary schools; the additional number who will be employed in September 2018; the projected additional hires in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35228/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall number of primary teachers (both contracted and casual) who were paid on my Departments' payroll on the 2th July 2018 was 43,819.
The overall number of secondary, community and comprehensive teachers (both contracted and casual) who were paid on my Departments payroll on the 5th July 2018 was 20,392.
Budget 2018 provided for an additional 1,280 teaching posts at Primary and Post Primary levels in the 2018/19 school year.
Decisions in relation to the 2019/20 school year will be taken as part of the estimates process and will be announced on Budget day in October of this year.
608. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed in the 2017-18 school year; the additional number who will be hired in September 2018; the projected additional hires in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35229/18]
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 support 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.
Schools are responsible for the recruitment of SNAs.
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 in May 2018 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.
Future allocations are determined based on assessed need, where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for September 2018, 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 for the 2018/2019 school 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 total number of SNA posts allocated at the end of the 2017/2018 school year was 14,063.
609. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of financial support provided to third level institutions in 2017-18; the projected level of support in 2018-19 under current expenditure plans by current and capital spending and by programme and scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35230/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher education is a central part of our plan as a Government to support a strong economy and deliver a fair society.
My Department has allocated funding to third level institutions in 2017 and in 2018 as outlined in the following table.
Allocated funding to third level institutions
|
- |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Recurrent Core Funding |
€1.028 billion |
€1.058 billion |
|
Capital Funding |
€22 million |
€30 million |
I wish to advise the Deputy that the figures presented above is Exchequer funding only and does not include funding from other sources. For example it does not include Apprenticeship costs and other Higher education skills based courses which were funded through the National Training Fund in 2018.
It should also be noted that in addition my Department has also provided over €400m in Student Support funding in both years.
Officials in my department would be happy to provide further details in relation to a specific programme or scheme if the Deputy requires.
610. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the considerable inconvenience caused by the fact that SUSI grants cannot be paid into bank accounts that are based outside Ireland within the European Union despite the considerable number of SUSI grant recipients who study outside Ireland in the European Union. [35295/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe establishment of SUSI as a single national awarding authority in 2012 has enabled significant process and efficiency improvements in grant administration, resulting in positive outcomes for students in terms of streamlined grant application processing and the payment of awarded grants.
These improvements include the payment of maintenance grants directly into students' personal bank accounts by electronic funds transfer (EFT) in monthly instalments throughout the academic year. Students can also provide and update their bank account details quickly and securely, together with other important information, on a self-service basis through their online SUSI accounts.
The payment processing service that is used by SUSI currently facilitates EFT payments to Irish bank accounts only. However, students can access their funds from anywhere in the EU.
611. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an audit of all external workplace investigations conducted by companies (details supplied) will be provided; the outcome regarding complaints against his Department; when the investigation will commence in regard to an allegation against an employee, that is, the number of occasions on which a complaint was upheld against his Department by the investigators; and the number of occasions on which an investigation against an employee found grounds for disciplinary action. [35370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not had external workplace investigations conducted by any of the companies listed by the Deputy.
612. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [35382/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the Deputy's convenience, details of external consultancy expenditure by my Department for the years 2012- 2017 are available on the Department's website at the following link: http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Financial-Reports/Expenditure-on-Consultancy/.
613. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount paid for external legal 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. [35396/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details of payments for external legal services made by my Department in each of the years 2012 to 2017 are set out in the following table.
Payments for external legal services
|
Year |
Company Name |
Total Amount received by Company |
Hourly Rate (where applicable) |
|
2012 |
McDowall Purcell, Solicitors |
€4,674.00 |
n/a |
|
Total |
€4,674.00 |
||
|
2013 |
Arthur Cox Solicitors |
€12,341.94 |
n/a |
|
Goodbody Solicitors |
€8,364.00 |
n/a |
|
|
JD Scanlon & Co Solicitors |
€258.30 |
n/a |
|
|
Total |
€20,964.24 |
||
|
2014 |
Paul Lynch & Partners, Solicitors |
€738.00 |
n/a |
|
Patrick Donaghy and CO. |
€13,313 |
n/a |
|
|
Arthur Cox Solicitors |
€475.00 |
n/a |
|
|
Total |
€14,526.00 |
||
|
2015 |
Conor Feeney BL |
€984 |
n/a |
|
James Kavanagh BL |
€2,853.60 |
€80 |
|
|
Donnchadh Woulfe BL |
€2,656.80 |
€80 |
|
|
Daniel Keleher BL |
€2,853.60 |
€80 |
|
|
David Broughton BL |
€2,755.20 |
€80 |
|
|
Michael McCormack BL |
€2,214.00 |
€80 |
|
|
Katie Mann BL |
€2,140.20 |
€80 |
|
|
Martin Egan and Co. |
€36.90 |
n/a |
|
|
JD Scanlon & Co Solicitors |
€369.00 |
n/a |
|
|
Total |
€16,863.30 |
||
|
2016 |
Conor Feeney BL |
€4,858.50 |
n/a |
|
Mason Hayes & Curran |
€14,776.00 |
n/a |
|
|
Martin Egan and Co |
€73.80 |
n/a |
|
|
Arthur Cox Solicitors |
€9,840.00 |
n/a |
|
|
Doyle Company Solicitors |
€30,812.69 |
n/a |
|
|
Holmes O'Malley Sexton Solicitors |
€303.26 |
n/a |
|
|
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitor |
€1,476.00 |
n/a |
|
|
Total |
€62,140.25 |
||
|
2017 |
Mason Hayes & Curran |
€35,550.12 |
n/a |
|
Conor Feeney Law Library |
€293.50 |
n/a |
|
|
JD Scanlon & Co Solicitors |
€393.60 |
n/a |
|
|
Mulcahy McDonagh & Partners |
€10,553.40 |
n/a |
|
|
Total |
€46,790.62 |
614. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the Vote and costs allocated to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32745/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Commission was established on 1 November 2014 and 2015 was the first year that the IHREC was a separate vote.
In 2014 the Department of Justice Subhead D.3. provided grant-in-aid funding of all core pay and non-pay administrative costs involved in the operation of the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission up to 31 October 2014, and of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) from 1 November 2014 to 31 December 2014.
The 2015 financial allocation under the Commission's vote (Vote 25) was €6.33 million, of which €3.24m was allocated for pay related expenditure, and €3.09m of which was allocated towards non-pay expenditure. The surplus surrendered to the Exchequer in respect of 2015 was circa €2.45m.
The 2016 financial allocation under Vote 25 was €6.31m of which €3.21m was allocated for pay related expenditure, and €3.1m of which was allocated to non-pay expenditure. At year end, a surplus of €0.14m was liable for surrender to the Exchequer.
The 2017 gross estimate provision for Vote 25 Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was €6.631m of which €3.538 was allocated for pay related expenditure, and €3.093m of which was allocated to non-pay expenditure. The provisional (prior to audit) expenditure outturn was €5.314m of which €2.254m was pay and €3.060m was non-pay. At year end, a surplus of €1.291m was liable for surrender to the Exchequer
615. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have been provided with ASIST training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including by arranging for the training of the members and civilian staff of An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I have requested the specific information sought by the Deputy from the Commissioner and I will write to him directly on receipt of same.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
616. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the regulations in place in regard to counselling services for sexual offenders in respect of location of treatment facility, hours of treatment required, co-location of services with other services and other requirements in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33377/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is assumed that the question refers to the treatment of convicted sex offenders while in prison and under the supervision of the Probation Service when in the community.
While in prison, a convicted sex offender can avail of relevant treatment to address their offending behaviour. The treatment of sex offenders is centred in Arbour Hill Prison and Midlands Prison where the Building Better Lives (BBL) programme is undertaken. This programme comprises group interventions in three modules and allows responsive and flexible delivery of rehabilitation services that take account of individual risk, needs and capacity. The programme is delivered by the Irish Prison Service Psychology Service in conjunction with the Probation Service.
Not all sex offenders are suited to group programmes and other prison-based therapeutic interventions include one-to-one interventions. Other services are also available to sex offenders in order to address other related needs, for example mental health issues. Therapeutic interventions with sex offenders in the prison setting are primarily delivered through the Irish Prison Services' Psychology Service.
The Probation Service engages with sex offenders throughout the course of their sentence. This work primarily focuses on reducing the risk posed by the individual following release and also on any child protection issues that may arise. The Probation Service is also responsible for the Post Release Supervision Orders for sex offenders where the court has sanctioned supervision of offenders after their custodial sentence.
The Probation Service is the lead agency for sex offender treatment programmes in the community. For example, in conjunction with a community based non-governmental organisation, it delivers the Safer Lives group treatment programme. Three programmes are delivered, two in Dublin and one in Cork. Each group can accommodate eight sex offenders. The programme runs on an inter-disciplinary, co-facilitated model, which includes psychologists, Probation Officers and Safer Lives staff members. The groups have a rolling intake and are of 14 months duration.
The Deputy may also be aware that in managing convicted sex offender cases there is a high level of contact between agencies to support sex offender management as appropriate in the interests of community safety. SORAM (Sex Offender Risk Assessment and Management) is the joint management of certain types of sex offenders between the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, Local Authorities and Tulsa where there are child protection concerns. There are now 28 local SORAM teams throughout the country based on the An Garda Síochána regional divisions.
617. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding assistive technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33583/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the matter of assistive technologies to aid people with disabilities is a single element which forms part of the Government's wider policy to provide the necessary supports to enable people with disabilities to access education, and to enter and remain in employment.
To assist in achieving these aims, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2021 is a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities both in a practical sense, and also in creating the best possible opportunities for people with disabilities to fulfil their potential. It is intended that the Strategy will make a significant difference over its lifetime to the position of people with disabilities in Irish society.
The Strategy is envisaged as a 'living document,' and includes over 100 measurable and time specific actions based around the following eight themes:
- Equality and Choice;
- Joined up policies and public services;
- Education;
- Employment;
- Health and Wellbeing;
- Person centred disability services;
- Living in the Community; and
- Transport and Accessible Places
As part of the Strategy, the Government will develop proposals to address access to, or affordability of necessary aids, appliances or assistive technologies required for everyday living, for those people with disabilities whose entry, retention or return to work could be jeopardised due to being unable to afford these items. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to developing plans to implement the most viable of these proposals.
In addition to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Government also has a dedicated, specific initiative underway to assist people with disabilities to enter into and remain in meaningful employment.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy 2015 - 2024 is a ten-year cross-government approach that brings together actions by different Departments and State agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities.
The primary purpose of the Strategy is to ensure that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to, work are supported and enabled to do so. In tandem with that, it seeks to ensure there will be joined-up services and supports at local level to support individuals on their journey into and in employment. The Strategy's six strategic priorities are:
- Build skills, capacity and independence
- Provide bridges and supports into work
- Make work pay (the Make Work Pay Report was launched in April 2016 and many of its recommendations are already being implemented).
- Promote job retention and re-entry to work
- Provide coordinated and seamless support
- Engage employers
The Comprehensive Employment Strategy includes a range of practical measures to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For example, a national employer helpline was launched in January 2016 to provide expert guidance and peer support to employers in relation to the employment of staff with disabilities. Also, there will be an increase in the public sector employment quota from 3% to 6% on a phased basis to 2024, and arrangements are also being put in place for dedicated recruitment channels for people with disabilities.
Implementation of the Strategy is monitored by a working group under the direction of an independent chairperson. This group is tasked with monitoring the progress of the six strategic priorities of the strategy, and with the assistance with representatives and stakeholders from the disability sector, ensures that each Government Department is fulfilling its obligations and meeting its targets.
The Deputy will also note that the implementation of both of these Strategies is supported by the allocation of funding of some €1.772bn in 2018, for health and personal social services to address the wide and complex range of services and supports for people with disabilities. This is an increase of some €92 million than was available last year.
Taking the measures I have outlined above into consideration, and while recognising the Deputy's request for a specific tool in the form of an AT Passport, it is the Government's policy to ensure that the optimal and sustainable supports for people with disabilities under both Strategies are identified and are put in place, before committing to specific individual actions in isolation.
618. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the avenues open to a project (details supplied) to access public funding when it has no permanent income stream of its own to be matched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34090/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to many organisations across the Justice and Equality sector, particularly where the organisations are working directly to support the work of the Department and to address policies and strategies of the Department. The funding mechanisms that are applied vary from direct funding of organisations that hold a unique position and who support the Department's objectives, to calls for proposals whereby specific strategy objectives are being addressed. Any organisation may apply for funding through an open call process. Details of potential funding opportunities are advertised on the Department of Justice and Equality's website. Such funding opportunities are available for organisations of varying sizes and capabilities.
The funding of grants to organisations may take several forms such as:
1. grants being fully funded from the Exchequer, including Dormant Account funds;
2. grants funded from the Exchequer with some requirement for matched funding;
3. grants made utilising EU funding sources that involve some matched funding either from the Exchequer or from the end beneficiary themselves depending on the conditions of the EU fund concerned.
In general, the Department of Justice and Equality has moved towards open and transparent call processes for funding local projects. These calls are publicised when funding streams become available and are advertised on the Department's website. All organisations providing services that match the objectives of these open calls are welcome to and indeed are invited to apply for these funds.
619. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to establish a fund for text alert schemes for rural areas in 2018 and 2019. [34390/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government underlines the need for close engagement between An Garda Síochána and local communities. This is an essential feature of the strong community policing ethos which has long been central to policing in this jurisdiction. The Deputy will also be aware that, as part of the overall strategy to oppose criminality, the Garda authorities pursue a range of partnerships with community stakeholders, including the farming organisations. These include the well established Community Alert Programme, which receives annual funding from my Department, as well as the work of the Metal Theft Forum, the Crimestoppers campaign highlighting the Theft of Livestock, the Theftstop initiative in relation to farm equipment, and the highly successful Garda Text Alert Scheme.
On 02 January 2018 I was pleased to announce that my Department will be providing an additional €50,000 in financial support to Community Text Alert Groups as a further measure in this Government's support to crime prevention. This is in addition to the €100,000 which I announced at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2017. The Rebate Scheme, which also ran in 2016, allows Text Alert Groups registered with An Garda Síochána to apply for funding to contribute towards their yearly running costs. The Text Alert Rebate Scheme is administered by Muintir na Tíre and more information can be found at www.muintir.ie.
Other policing initiatives include Theft Stop which was launched by the Gardaí and the Irish Farmers Association. Theft Stop is designed to deter criminals from taking and selling farm equipment by ensuring it is clearly marked with a unique ID (such as an EirCode) and then registered on a nationwide database.
An Garda Síochána's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 places a strong emphasis on developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation and enhancing the current delivery model so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. It will result in the introduction of multi-skilled Community Policing Teams in every District. Community Policing Teams will be made-up of Gardaí from a number of different units who will work with the local community to prevent and detect crime. Undoubtedly, the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities and will enhance the provision of effective Community Policing throughout the country.
The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. Budget 2018 will support the continuation of this high level of investment in the Garda workforce and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track.
I can assure the Deputy that funding for crime prevention initiatives remains a priority for me.
