Written Answers Nos. 83-99
83. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of reports commissioned from firms (details supplied) in 2018; the firm which completed each report; and the cost of each report. [7183/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of reports commissioned from the companies in question by my Department in 2018 are listed in the table below:
|
Name of Company |
Number of Reports |
Amount Spent |
|
Ernst & Young (EY) |
1 |
€28,905 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
1 |
€17,958 |
|
Arthur Andersen |
0 |
- |
|
KPMG |
0 |
- |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) |
0 |
- |
84. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of consultants from firms (details supplied) contracted to perform work in 2018; and the amount spent on consultants from each firm. [7200/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe payments made by my Department in 2018 to the firms listed in the question are set out in the table below.
|
Name of Company |
Amount Spent |
|
Ernst & Young (EY) |
€28,905.00 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
€22,478.25 |
|
Arthur Andersen |
- |
|
KPMG |
€199,850.40 |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) |
- |
Details of the numbers of consultants from each firm are not available.
85. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to cost overruns on public infrastructure projects; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7289/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department monitors overall expenditure by Departments. Responsibility for the management of individual projects rests with the relevant sponsoring Department or Agency. As such, I would not be systematically informed of cost overruns at project level.
The Deputy may have in mind funding of the National Children's Hospital. My Department has been engaging with the Department of Health and with other Departments in relation to how the increased costs of the National Children's Hospital project in 2019 will be managed within the overall agreed capital allocation for 2019, in light of the multi-year management of the broad range of capital projects amounting to upwards of €7 billion this year.
The Government has approved proposals in this regard which I announced yesterday. The overall intention is to proceed with our very ambitious agenda of strategic infrastructure investment throughout the course of 2019 and subsequent years, with the minimum of disruption to the rollout and delivery of key projects.
86. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made to date in terms of appointments from the panels of competitions held for clerical officer in the Civil Service in 2018; when persons who have participated in the stage 3 of the selection process and are well placed on the panels for appointment on the counties Longford and Westmeath panels are likely to be reached in 2019; the number of persons recruited from these competitions in counties Longford or Westmeath to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7382/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent, statutory body which provides professional recruitment and selection services to the civil and public service.
The PAS advertised a regional recruitment competition for Clerical Positions in the Civil Service in June, 2018 which attracted over 14,000 applications. This competition is being held in order to create panels of qualified individuals from which departments could draw when filling sanctioned vacancies.
The number of positions available to any particular panel depends on the demand from departments/offices and that demand is subject to their pay and numbers allocation. While every effort is made to make sure that panels are not large, placement on panels is no guarantee of appointment to a position.
Clerical Officer panels for Longford and Westmeath were established in November 2018 and I understand that PAS have not yet assigned candidates from either panel.
87. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7159/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, and as I previously advised on this matter, all schools at both Primary and Post Primary are being assessed using the new identification model. The current identification model needs to be as accurate as possible and further analysis is also required to examine other variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage in the context of resource allocation. Therefore, it is not intended to change the DEIS status of this school, or of any other schools, until this work is completed. Direct correspondence has also issued to the school on this matter.
88. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a planned new primary school (details supplied) in County Cork; the patronage for the school; when he expects it to open; the location in which the permanent school building will be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7160/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022) including a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Glasheen_CorkCity/Pouladuff school planning area. 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.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education. Parental preferences were previously collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision.
The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) opened for parental preferences on the 10th December 2018 for 12 primary schools to be established in 2019, including the school referred to by the Deputy and closed on the 15th January 2019. My Department are currently preparing assessment reports for the NSEG and it is anticipated that the successful patrons will be announced in the coming weeks.
The assessment reports, including details on the number of parental preferences received for each of the areas and the NSEG recommendations, will be made available on my Department's website.
The school was announced as an 8 classroom school and will open with a single stream junior infant class in September 2019 in suitable interim accommodation. A planning application for temporary accommodation has been lodged in this regard.
In relation to the permanent school site, my Department will be examining all potential suitable site options to serve the relevant area. A decision will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to an appropriate site for the school to which the Deputy refers and will be confirmed at a later date.
89. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a matter (details supplied) regarding a school amalgamation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7161/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department.
My Department is aware of a proposal from the Patron body and has sought further information in relation to the proposed amalgamation. On receipt of this information further consideration will be given to the proposal.
90. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of reports commissioned from firms (details supplied) in 2018; the firm that completed each report; and the cost of each report. [7176/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of consultants from firms (details supplied) contracted to perform work in 2018; and the amount spent on consultants from each firm. [7193/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.
Details of consultancy payments made by my Department for the years 2011 to 2017 inclusive are available on the Department's website https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Financial-Reports/Expenditure-on-Consultancy. Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. The data in respect of 2018 is currently being collated and will be published on our website at the end of the first quarter 2019.
92. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 6 February 2019, the cost of the renovation and the rate of rent that will be paid for the temporary school. [7220/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department has received the landlord’s approval to apply for planning permission to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to use a building on Ballymoss Road, Sandyford Business Park as the interim location for a school, negotiations are not yet finalised.
The Deputy will appreciate that due to commercial sensitivities I am not in a position to provide further details at this point.
93. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuarthas iarratas le haghaidh cóiríocht scoile bhreise ó scoil (sonraí tugtha) i gContae Dhún na nGall; an aithníonn sé go bhfuil géarghá leis an tionscadal seo a thógáil ar shuíomh na scoile chun freastal ar a gcuid riachtanas; cathain a ndéanfar cinneadh ina leith; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [7235/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs féidir liom a dheimhniú don Teachta go bhfuil iarratas faighte ag mo Roinnse, i gcomhair cistiú caipitil, ón scoil atá i gceist.
Tá an t-iarratas á bhreithniú faoi láthair agus cuirfear cinneadh in iúl d’údarás na scoile chomh luath is a bheidh an próiseas measúnaithe curtha i gcrích.
94. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will end pay inequality among teachers. [7236/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. As a result of the programme of pay restoration, the starting salary of a teacher is now €36,318 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692.
Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, 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.”
The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this provision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that, during the financial crisis, there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education).
The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
On 24 September 2018, an agreement was reached between the Government and the public services committee of ICTU in respect of new entrant pay.
This agreement will benefit 16,000 teachers within the education sector. For example, a teacher hired in September 2011 will see their salary increase from €45,200 in September 2018 to €53,062 in September 2020 under the PSSA agreement and the 24 September agreement.
These restorations for new entrants have been achieved through continued engagement and collective bargaining between the Government and the public service unions and shows the benefits that such engagement can bring.
95. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a copy of a lease (details supplied) can be retrieved from the archives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7237/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department are making inquiries in respect of the Deputy's query and officials from my Department will respond directly to the Deputy in due course.
96. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential funding streams that assist young students of music to travel to the United States of America to engage in workshops and programmes in order to develop their talents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7302/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a number of music education organisations, both directly and through a number of initiatives, including Music Generation and the Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary. These initiatives are intended to be accessible to all learners. My Department does not directly fund scholarships for individuals or schools to attend workshops and programmes abroad.
Music Generation was formed by a partnership between U2, Music Network, the International Funds for Ireland and the education sector has enabled a series of Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) to be established around the country on a phased basis to provide vocal and instrumental music tuition for young people. The intention was that the philanthropic contributions would fund 50% of the initiative in the early years of development with local Music Education Partners (ETBs and local authorities) providing the other 50%, and that programmes would be continued into the future with Exchequer funding when the philanthropic donations cease.
Philanthropic funding for Phase 1 of Music Generation was phased out and the Department of Education and Skills has taken over 50% funding of Music Generation between 2014 and 2016, with the balance provided by partners in the local MEPs. In 2016 all funding for established Phase 1 Music Education Partnerships came from the DES and the local partnerships, without philanthropic support.
Agreement was given for Phase 2 of Music Generation to proceed by the Department in 2016. Funded initially by philanthropic donations (U2 and The Ireland Funds) it involves the launch of up to 9 new Music Education Partnerships. These are initially being funded by philanthropic funding, including from U2, but will move, as for Phase 1, towards exchequer funding.
On 7 December 2017, at the launch of the Creative Youth programme, An Taoiseach announced that Phase 3 of Music Generation would proceed in the coming years, funded entirely with exchequer funding. This final phase will see Music Generation reach all areas of the country.
Music Generation currently reaches over 41,000 children and young people annually. This number will increase annually as more MEPs are established and rollout.
The Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary is a DES funded initiative to provide additional funding to non-mainstream educational initiatives. The purpose of the scheme is to provide support by way of a cash grant, to established, smaller-scale, non-mainstream music education/community music initiatives with limited or no access to other forms of public funding. Grants are not intended for use on capital expenditure such as structural/building costs, but can be used for instruments. Award of the bursary is done based on published criteria. The scheme was first established in 2016 and continued in both 2017 and 2018. An announcement regarding the Bursary in 2019 will be made in the coming weeks.
97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be no changes to the structure or layout of a former military installation (details supplied) pending resolution of the terms of the British exit from the European Union and a full appraisal of the security requirements of the Army and An Garda Síochána in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7386/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2012, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), acquired the former Dún Uí Neill Army barracks with a view to centralise their further education and training service provision and create opportunities for expansion. The barracks site was also earmarked as a permanent home for Cavan College of Further Education.
As the Deputy is aware, a building project for Cavan College of Further Education is included on my Department's six-year construction programme and CMETB has recently submitted a schedule of accommodation in this regard. In the context of progressing this building project, officials from the Department’s planning and building unit will be liaise with the ETB.
I appreciate that the Deputy is clearly looking at the impact on the Border in the context of a "no deal" exit from the European Union by the United Kingdom. I take this opportunity to reiterate that the Government remains firmly of the view that the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal is to ratify the withdrawal agreement endorsed by the European Council and agreed with the British Government.
Naturally, we must monitor developments and recent events in the UK Parliament. The Government is not preparing for a hard border. There is no secret plan. Ireland and the European Union are at one on the issue. The Commission has clarified its statement, making it clear that the European Union is determined to do all it can, deal or no deal, to avoid the need for a border and protect the peace process.
98. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reports commissioned from firms (details supplied) in 2018; the firm that completed each report; and the cost of each report. [7182/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of consultants from firms (details supplied) contracted to perform work in 2018; and the amount spent on consultants from each firm. [7199/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.
My Department has not commissioned any reports from the firms detailed in the period in question.
On the matter of consultants contracted to perform work, following a competitive tender process, EY was engaged to assist in the delivery of the Annual Audit Work Programme, working with the Internal Audit Unit under the direction of the Head of Internal Audit of my Department. A total of 11 EY employees were contracted at various stages throughout 2018 with a total cost of approximately €464,000. At present there are 7 such persons working with the Internal Audit Unit.
While it is outside the parameters of the question asked, the Deputy may also wish to note that EY carried out a review of the Department's change programme in 2017, following a competitive tender process, at a cost of €76,568, with the report delivered in 2018.
Furthermore, following a competitive tender process in September/October 2018, EY was selected as the Department's Implementation Partner for its Transformation Programme. This commenced operation on 7th January 2019.
I have asked agencies under the aegis of the Department to respond to you directly on the matters raised.
