Thursday, 20 Sep 2018

Written Answers Nos. 63-87

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Ceisteanna (63)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

63. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance when he plans to amend and improve the criteria pertaining to the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38223/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

As you may be aware, the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of an adapted car for transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, payment of a fuel grant, and an exemption from Motor Tax.

To qualify for the Scheme an applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 and satisfy one of the following conditions:

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

- be without both hands or without both arms;

- be without one or both legs;

- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

The Scheme represents a significant tax expenditure. Between the Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT foregone, and the fuel grant, the scheme is estimated to have cost c€65m in each of 2016 and 2017. This figure does not include the revenue foregone in respect of the relief from Motor Tax provided to members of the Scheme.

Given scale and scope of the scheme, I have no plans to amend the qualifying medical criteria at this time.

Budget 2019

Ceisteanna (64)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

64. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a spending overrun for 2018 (details supplied); if so, the precise impact the spending overrun will have on the fiscal position for budget 2019 and the funds available for allocation in 2019; the implications on the €800 million available for allocation in budget 2019 if the overspend in the Department of Health was to persist for the entire year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38090/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister. My Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is reported on each month against expenditure profiles in the Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance. As outlined in the Fiscal Monitor, at the end of August, overall gross voted expenditure of €39.4 billion was €152 million (0.4 per cent) behind profile but up by 7.9 per cent in year-on-year terms, with a key element of the year-on-year increase being expenditure in the Health sector.

The Mid-Year Expenditure Report outlined a risk in relation to the continuation of the trend in health expenditure given that while at the end of June health expenditure was just 2 per cent above profile, the year-on-year increase was almost 9½ per cent. As expenditure in the subsequent two months has continued broadly in line with the run rate in the first half of the year, health expenditure at the end of August is €0.3 billion or 3 per cent above profile, indicating a requirement for a significant Supplementary Estimate. Work is ongoing to determine the scale of such a Supplementary Estimate and its potential impact on aggregate voted expenditure in both 2018 and 2019.

Given the priority placed on achieving the fiscal targets for 2018 and 2019 outlined in the Summer Economic Statement, a key consideration is the impact of such additional expenditure in the health sector on the overall fiscal position. Any increase in expenditure in one sector, unless offset by expenditure underspends elsewhere, either voted or non-voted, or additional revenues, would result in a deterioration in the general government deficit from a projected 0.2 per cent of GDP this year and 0.1 per cent of GDP next year. Looking to Budget 2019, the Summer Economic Statement indicated the importance of fiscal policy targeting an improvement in the headline position. As such, all voted expenditure developments will need to be considered along with a range of other revenue and expenditure moving parts across General Government in the context of the overall fiscal arithmetic to be updated for October’s budget.

Departmental Properties

Ceisteanna (65)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

65. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the land his Department or agencies under its remit own in County Meath; the location of same; the use to which the land is put; the location of the land that is vacant, not in use or being used for agricultural purposes; the land which has been made available to Meath County Council or other housing agencies for the purpose of house building; and the amount of this land that could be made available for housing. [38062/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

My Department does not own any land in County Meath. With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the case for the bodies under the aegis of my Department.

The OPW manages a diverse property portfolio, on behalf of the State, which includes office accommodation, Garda stations, heritage properties and visitors centres. In County Meath, the Commissioners of Public Works (CPW) own a number of heritage properties with associated land at Trim Castle, Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and the Oldbridge Estate, all of which are open to the public. The CPW also own land in Stirrupstown, Clonmellon. The land, consisting of approximately half an acre, is leased with eighteen years left to run on the lease.

As part of an internal system of information sharing, the OPW highlights to other State bodies all properties, including land, that it considers surplus to its requirements. Information on such surplus properties is available to Meath County Council.

As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of on the open market until other State bodies, including the local authority sector, are advised of its availability. If the Council express an interest, then there is a mechanism for the transfer of that land to Meath County Council at a value set independently by the Valuation Office.

This mechanism was introduced in 2015 and the OPW has used it to transfer land to Meath County Council.

In addition, the OPW engages with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the potential use of land in public ownership.

Flood Prevention Measures

Ceisteanna (66)

John Brassil

Ceist:

66. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the pending applications from the OPW and Kerry County Council regarding the clearing of the Glenflesk river, Glenflesk, Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38067/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised that the River Flesk does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for the maintenance of this river.

The applications submitted under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme by Kerry County Council for projects on the Flesk river are currently under consideration. A meeting has taken place with Kerry County Council and further information has been received. A decision will issue shortly to the Council.

Capital Expenditure Programme

Ceisteanna (67)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

67. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the areas it is proposed to allocate the €1.5 billion in extra capital spending set out in the summer economic statement, by Department; and the projects and areas that are being covered. [38126/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at a Departmental level.

I do not have a direct role in relation to project selection. Decisions on how Departmental allocations are invested and what projects are selected, are a matter in the first instance for my ministerial colleagues.

I can however inform the Deputy that capital expenditure allocations by Ministerial Vote Group for the years 2018-2022 were published in Annex 1 of the National Development Plan (NDP) and these allocations remain valid.

As detailed in Annex 1 of the NDP, capital expenditure will increase by €1446 million between 2018 and 2019. This is a sizeable increase of approximately 25% between 2018 and 2019. The total capital expenditure allocation for 2019 is €7.3 billion. This increase in capital expenditure is detailed in the table.

This will result in capital expenditure increases across almost every Department. For example, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government’s capital allocation will increase by approximately €400 million next year, that’s a year-on-year increase of 25%.

The Department of Health’s capital allocation will increase by approximately €174 million next year, a year-on-year increase of 35%.

Details on the projects which this funding is committed to are set out in the NDP as part of a total funding package of €116 billion over the next 10 years. Further details are available from the relevant Departments.

It is important to stress that the increase in capital expenditure which is detailed in the NDP has been structured to underpin the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and support the development of all counties and regions across Ireland, both urban and rural areas. Aligning our investments to the ten National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) detailed in the National Planning Framework will help us to ensure that we achieve long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability in the period to 2040.

The NDP includes many new projects and programmes which were not listed in the previous plan which covered the period 2016-2021. For example new projects specifically detailed in the NDP include the M20 Cork to Limerick road, the New Hospital for Cork, BusConnects Programmes for Cork, Dublin and Galway and a major investment programme across the cultural institutions, to name just a small portion of the new investments now planned. While some projects may have been signalled previously, they are now clearly included in the long-term funding framework of the NDP.

In order to increase transparency relating to the details of specific capital projects, a major update of the capital projects tracker will be published in September 2018 on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This tracker has been compiled with information supplied by Government Departments relating to their own investment plans and is intended to facilitate better coordination and more efficient planning of public infrastructure investment in order to deliver Project Ireland 2040.

The tracker will also inform citizens of the variety of projects currently in the planning and construction phase and to give greater clarity to the construction sector on investment commitments and opportunities.

Capital Envelope	2018	2019	Difference	% change
(€ million)
Agriculture, Food & the Marine	248	255	7	3%
Business, Enterprise, & Innovation	555	620	65	12%
Children & Youth Affairs	28	32	4	14%
Communications, Climate Change & Natural Resources	209	256	47	22%
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	54	75	21	39%
Defence	77	106	29	38%
Education and Skills	745	941	196	26%
Employment Affairs and Social Protection	10	14	4	40%
Finance Group	26	25	-1	-4%
Foreign Affairs and Trade Group	13	17	4	31%
Health Group	493	667	174	35%
Housing, Planning & Local Government	1,631	2,033	402	25%
Justice Group	145	241	96	66%
PER Group	174	203	29	17%
Rural and Community Development	88	141	53	60%
Transport, Tourism, & Sport	1,327	1,643	316	24%
Sum Total	5,823	7,269	1,446	25%

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (68)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

68. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full remaining cost of ensuring that all public sector workers recruited on lower salary levels since 2011 are brought to pay levels that match colleagues at the same grade; and the way in which he plans to address this inequality. [38135/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), provided that an examination of remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades would be undertaken within 12 months of the commencement of the Agreement and on conclusion of this work the parties would discuss and agree how the issues might be addressed under the terms of the PSSA.

Additionally, as the Deputy is aware, this Government accepted an amendment at Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, that within 3 months of the passing of the Act, I would prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.

In accordance with the legislation I submitted a report to the Oireachtas on the 16th of March. As detailed in the Report, the costs are annualised and an increment date of 1 January is assumed to give the full one year cost for over 60,500 staff identified as new entrants. However, increment dates across the year vary significantly by individual and sector while salary scales and the structure of such scales across the public service as they affect individuals is not consistent. The report also quantified the cost of a two point adjustment as approximately €200m and the potential benefit to the individual as €3,301 on average.

In recognition of this, since the publication of the report, my Department, in support of the discussions between the parties, has engaged in further work to assess and model the potential budgetary implications and impacts through phasing of the overall quantum. This work is currently on-going.

Discussions on the issue with public service trade unions and representative associations, commenced in October 2017, with a further plenary meeting taking place on 27th of April last following the publication of the report. Further discussions are ongoing as the parties continue to work through the various aspects of this issue.

School Transport Administration

Ceisteanna (69)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

69. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to overhaul the school transport system to ensure children have confirmation of available bus spaces well in advance of the commencement of school terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38037/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.

Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the current school year where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.

The closing date for parents to submit their payment details is generally the last Friday in July and Bus Éireann begin the process of issuing tickets in the first weeks of August each year.

Bus Éireann has been asked to examine the communication strategy to determine if it is possible to issue earlier emails to families, taking into account the application process deadlines and route design requirements.

The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (70)

Pat Casey

Ceist:

70. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the building programme for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be commenced, including a full site investigation and timetable for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38045/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that a Major Capital Project for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school in question to cater for a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed through my Department's Capital Programme.

It is envisaged that permanent accommodation for the school will be provided through a campus arrangement with a local Institute of Further Education on its current site. This project will also include the redevelopment and provision of enhanced accommodation for the Institute. In the context of initiating architectural planning for the project, my Department is liaising with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and will be in further contact with the school's Parton in this regard as soon as possible.

Departmental Properties

Ceisteanna (71)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

71. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the land his Department or agencies under its remit own in County Meath; the location of same; the use to which the land is put; the location of the land that is vacant, not in use or being used for agricultural purposes; the land which has been made available to Meath County Council or other housing agencies for the purpose of house building; and the amount of this land that could be made available for housing. [38055/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Regarding land in my ownership made available to Meath County Council for the purposes of house building, Meath County Council has been engaging with my Department in relation to the proposed acquisition of a portion of a site in my ownership in Ashbourne, County Meath under an intra-state transfer process.

Meath County Council has indicated to my Department that, subject to the relevant funding approvals being obtained, it wishes to proceed with the purchase of the portion of the land in question for the purposes of housing and a public park.

There are no other vacant lands in Co Meath in my ownership for which there are not plans for development for educational use.

Education Costs

Ceisteanna (72)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

72. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the cost of education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38065/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents.

To deliver on my ambition to be the best we have to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students, particularly in relation to costs.

I want to give parents a strong voice in ensuring costs are always kept to a minimum. My Department published Circular Letter 32/2017 which details the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. The publication of this Circular was one of the actions outlined in the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019.

Schools have to do everything possible to keep costs down for parents, including the use of generic items, sew on or iron on crests, and making sure that various elements of the uniform can be purchased in multiple stores.

In the Action Plan for Education I have committed to the restoration of capitation payments and increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce or eliminate school book costs for parents. However, I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures and prioritise where it is not possible to do everything that I would like to do in the education sector in any one year.

I believe that full transparency in relation to the use of any voluntary contributions is important information for parents to have. The Parent and Student Charter will require every school to set out a financial statement, which will include information on how any voluntary contributions are used.

This is part of a suite of measures including legislation regarding School Admissions which is intended to reform information and procedures around the process of school enrolment, and the commencement of fitness to teach, which for the first time allows a complaint to be made about a registered teacher to the Teaching Council.

My colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, has also increased the back to school allowance by €2.1m this year, bringing the total investment in the scheme to €49.5m.

I believe that these actions will significantly strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (73)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes that have taken place in the pupil teacher ratios for one, two, three and four teacher schools since 2010; the years in which these changes took place; his plans to reverse these changes in view of the improvement in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38084/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools (i.e., schools with up to four classroom teachers). Improvements to the staffing of these schools were announced for the 2015/16 school year. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for one-teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.In addition, Budget 2016 announced a 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule with this improvement implemented in the 2016/17 school year.

Budget 2017 announced two adjustments in relation to one teacher schools. Where the school is the sole primary school on an island the school will be able to appoint a second teacher. In relation to single teacher schools generally with an enrolment of 15 or more pupils the school can apply to the staffing appeal board for a second post where the single teacher has children across 6 or more class groups.

Improvements to the staffing schedule announced in Budget 2018 brings the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the most favourable ever seen at primary level and these improvements were introduced in the current school year.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including small schools that were affected by the Budget 2012 changes, to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

Any additional improvement in the pupil teacher ratio would have to be considered as part of the next annual budgetary process, alongside the many other demands from the education sector.

The enrolment thresholds required for 2, 3 and 4 teacher schools since 2010 are as follows.

Year		2 teacher school		3 teacher school		4 teacher school
	Appointment	Retention	Appointment	Retention	Appointment	Retention
2010/2011	12	12	49	49	81	81
2011/2012	12	12	49	49	81	81
2012/2013	14	14	51	51	83	83
2013/2014	17	17	54	54	85	85
2014/2015	20	20	56	56	86	86
2015/2016	20*	19*	56	53	86	83
2016/2017	19*	18*	55	52	85	82
2017/2018	19*	18*	55	52	85	82
2018/2019	18*	17*	54	51	84	81

* A threshold of 15 pupils applied for the appointment and retention of the second teacher in schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.

Special Educational Needs Data

Ceisteanna (74, 75, 76)

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

74. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in west County Dublin diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who are leaving primary school and require a secondary school place. [38123/18]

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

75. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in west County Dublin diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in receipt of home school grants; and the annual cost of same. [38124/18]

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

76. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with autism spectrum disorder who are either on reduced hours or excluded from school; and the number in west County Dublin. [38125/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 76, inclusive, together.

This government is committed to ensuring every child with special educational needs has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential.

In 2018, almost €1.8 billion will be invested in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the overall Education budget, and up 43% since 2011.

The Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.

The NCSE policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016) noted that there were almost 18,000 students diagnosed with autism in schools. This indicates a national ASD prevalence rate of 1.55% or 1 in every 65 students.

The greater proportion of children with ASD attend mainstream class, where they may access additional supports if required.

Some students with ASD, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there and placement in an ASD special class is an option for them.

Special school placements are provided for other students with ASD and very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which is a separate independent statutory body, plans and co-ordinates the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The NCSE is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.

Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 130% from 548 in 2011 to 1,456 across the country now, of which 1,192 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes. This network includes 129 ASD early intervention classes, 742 primary ASD classes and 321 post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools.

There are 37 special schools and 235 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Dublin. Of these, 17 are ASD early intervention classes, 138 are primary ASD classes and 40 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 195 in 2017/2018.

The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year in Dublin, and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need. I have arranged for the Deputy's question on emerging need to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

All children must be enrolled in the primary school system, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools in the September prior to their sixth birthday.

Where there is no placement available for a child with Special Educational Needs, my Department will consider applications under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme, where a student can receive up to 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until a placement becomes available.

Applications can be made at any point of the school year, based on when the child receives a diagnosis and recommendation for a specialised placement.

The Home Tuition Grant Scheme also makes provision for early educational intervention for children with ASD aged 3 – 5 years seeking an early intervention placement who meet the scheme’s criteria.

Over the course of the 2017/18 school year, 60 children with special education needs over the age of 6 availed of this interim provision (20 in Co. Dublin).

Over the course of the 2017/18 school year, 804 children aged 3-5 years of age availed of home tuition provision. (330 in Co. Dublin).

Statistics for the current school year are not readily available. While the scheme has commenced, Statistics have yet to emerge as the Department has only begun to receive applications under the 2018/19 scheme.

The cost of providing funding for 1 child towards the provision of 20 hours home tuition per week during the 2017/18 school year was approx. €31,000 per annum.

The NCSE also works in collaboration with the Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency which is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child or can offer assistance where a child is out of school. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at http://www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/.

Circular 11/95 and the Rules for National Schools provide that the minimum length of the normal full school day at primary level comprises of a period of not less than 5 hours and forty minutes (www.education.gov.ie).

The Rules for National Schools also provide that pupils in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day.

It is a matter for the Board of Management of a particular school to decide whether this concession should be applied in the case of its school. If pupils in infant classes are being given a shorter day, their parents should be notified accordingly and invited to collect them at time of dismissal.

Where the implementation of the shorter day for pupils in infant classes may cause issues for some parents, the Department would encourage school authorities to engage with parents locally with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable resolution.

The Department does not support the position of any school which may take a unilateral decision to shorten the school day for any pupil, irrespective of whether the pupil may have a special educational need or not. It is the position of the Department that all school children are entitled to participate fully in their school. If there are reasons why an earlier finishing time should be applied in the case of any child, any such arrangements should be agreed with the parents of the child in advance of their implementation.

As per the EWS guidelines on a code of behaviour, suspending a child for part of a school day (or reducing their hours without the parent’s agreement to do this) is considered a suspension.

If a child is suspended like this for more than 20 school days in a school year, the parent can decide to take a Section 29 appeal if they wish.

My Department does not hold information on specifics of special needs for parents taking appeals under Section 29 and accordingly the figures requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of children with Autism that may be either on reduced hours or excluded from school is not readily available.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (77)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

77. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each one point reduction in the primary school pupil-teacher ratio. [38134/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

Budget 2018 includes a further one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to the most favourable ever seen at primary level. This measure will further assist all schools at the upper end of their individual respective bands. This budget measure delivers on a commitment made in the Confidence and Supply Agreement and Programme for Government to reduce primary schools class size.

These changes have come into effect this month for the 2018/19 school year.

Each 1 point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule is estimated to cost in the region of €16.5m per annum.

Third Level Charges

Ceisteanna (78)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

78. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each €100 reduction in the student contribution charge at third level. [38137/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2016/17, and taking into account overall projected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my Department of reducing the Student Contribution by each €100 per student per annum is €6.7 million

It should be noted that the figures presented incorporate the resulting reduction to my Department's Student Grant Scheme budget, as the exchequer pays the Student Contribution (or part of it) on behalf of almost 50% of undergraduate students who are in receipt of student grant assistance.

Student Grant Scheme

Ceisteanna (79)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

79. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of changing the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of the third level grant from 45 km to 24 km. [38138/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The cost of reversing the change to the distance criterion from the existing 45kms to 24kms, is estimated to be in the region of €26m.

The above costing assumes that a change to the distance criterion would result in a similar percentage of students qualifying for the higher non-adjacent grant support, as existed pre Budget 2011.

Student Grant Scheme

Ceisteanna (80)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

80. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost for each 1% of extra funding allocated to the SUSI grant scheme. [38139/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The outturn for Student Grants and Related Costs in 2017 was €375m. Therefore, the estimated cost for each 1% of extra funding would be approximately €3.75m.

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses Fees

Ceisteanna (81)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

81. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if asylum seekers residing in direct provision centres are now being charged international student rates of €3,650 in respect of PLC courses; the basis for introducing such charges and making this change of policy; and if the decision will be reviewed in view of the exceptionally limited income profile of this cohort of students. [38144/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Access to PLC provision for eligible international protection applicants is subject to the payment of the full economic fee. This is broadly in line with arrangements in the higher education sector.

Arrangements in relation to payment of the full economic fee for international protection applicants have not changed since 2001 and it is the responsibility of each individual course provider to collect this fee.

More broadly, the Government decision to opt in to the EU (recast) Receptions Conditions Directive (2013/22/EU) has given international protection applicants, who have been waiting 9 months or more for a first instance recommendation, access to all aspects of further education and training. While this modifies some of the earlier arrangements regarding access, it does not change the situation regarding the payment of the full economic fee for PLC programmes.

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Ceisteanna (82)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

82. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each extra special needs assistant recruited in 2019. [38154/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The estimated cost of a new entrant Special Need Assistant in 2019 is €27,200. This is inclusive of employers PRSI.

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses Data

Ceisteanna (83)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

83. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of funded places in PLC courses that were not taken up or not used in ETBs; and if a policy will be enabled for the distribution of leftover or surplus courses to other ETBs. [38161/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority are responsible for the allocation of Post Leaving Cert (PLC) places to Education and Training Boards (ETBs) within the overall national provision and this is done through their annual service planning process. ETBs are then responsible for the allocation of places to PLC colleges in their areas.

The national allocation for PLC places is 30,136. The last available enrolment figure was 30,870, which is higher than the number of places allocated.

The issue of regional reallocation of PLC places is one of the recommendations arising from the PLC Review which is being examined by the PLC Programme Improvement Advisory Group.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (84)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

84. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a project (details supplied); the details of the delays to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38169/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The project to provide a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local County Council. The project is currently at stage 2 b of the architectural planning process which is the detailed design stage. This stage also involves obtaining the necessary statutory planning permission approvals. The project will proceed to tender and construction once the stage 2 b process has been satisfactorily completed.

Teacher Data

Ceisteanna (85)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

85. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching principals who have retired or left their post as a teaching principal prior to retirement age by county since 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38181/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Information on the retirement of primary teachers in each of the years 2015-2017 is outlined in Table 1. The information sets out the total number of teachers and from those teachers, the number of principal teachers who retired each year.

Table 2 shows the number of teachers and principals who retired on a per county basis.

Information distinguishing teaching principals from other category of principal teachers is not recorded on my Department databases.

Table 1 - Primary School Teacher Retirements 2015-2017

Year	Overall number of Teacher Retirements	Number of Principal Teacher Retirements
2015	654	188
2016	538	157
2017	609	181

Table 2 - Primary School Teacher Retirements per county 2015-2017

-	2017	2017	2016	2016	2015	2015
County	Overall Retirees	Principals	Overall Retirees	Principals	Overall Retirees	Principals
Carlow	13	5	3	1	12	1
Cavan	7	1	13	4	9	5
Clare	17	3	12	1	14	0
Cork	73	20	63	12	75	19
Donegal	19	4	21	8	29	8
Dublin	140	34	140	28	172	52
Galway	34	16	26	12	28	9
Kerry	32	9	24	12	17	4
Kildare	20	7	25	9	30	4
Kilkenny	16	4	14	2	12	6
Laois	6	3	13	4	10	1
Leitrim	1	0	2	2	1	0
Limerick	26	8	18	10	30	8
Longford	2	2	8	2	6	1
Louth	21	3	18	8	18	1
Mayo	16	7	14	7	29	12
Meath	30	10	19	6	29	7
Monaghan	7	4	8	2	14	8
Offaly	9	1	9	3	13	5
Roscommon	9	3	8	4	9	5
Sligo	9	3	7	3	8	6
Tipperary	23	6	15	5	18	6
Waterford	20	8	11	1	21	7
Westmeath	7	0	10	6	8	1
Wexford	29	9	21	4	23	6
Wicklow	23	11	16	1	19	6
Total	609	181	538	157	654	188

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (86)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

86. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school building projects (details supplied). [38187/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.gov.ie and this is updated monthly. A list of large scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

In addition, the following major building projects have recently been completed and these will be reflected in the next update on the Department's website at the end of September 2018:

Bremore ET, Post Primary School, Balbriggan

SN Bhride, Lackagh, Turloughmore

Dun Dealgan N.S., Dundalk

Ardee Community School, Louth.

Schools Establishment

Ceisteanna (87)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

87. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the N4 study carried out regarding a requirement for secondary school provision; his plans for the establishment of a secondary school (details supplied) in Kinnegad, County Westmeath, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38209/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's means of analysing demographic trends and data have changed considerably since the report to which the Deputy refers was completed in 2005.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

As the Deputy may be aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.

While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school in Kinnegad (which is located in the Killucan school planning area), I have highlighted that the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.