Written Answers Nos. 165-189
165. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of pre-committed expenditure, that is, demographics, the public service stability agreement, carryover from budget 2019, capital/NDP and carryover from budget 2020 in each year from 2020 to 2025, including the carryover costs from budget 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43537/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year, certain items of expenditure are classified as pre-committed and are included in the pre-Budget position. This includes allocations to cover demographic costs, public service pay agreements, full year costs of budget measures from previous years and capital expenditure set out in the National Development Plan. As outlined in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report 2019, pre-committed expenditure for these items in Budget 2020 amounted to €2.1 billion.
Expenditure Report 2020 sets out estimates of certain demographic pressures in the areas of Health, Social Protection and Education as pre-committed elements of the current expenditure baseline for the period to 2022. These are primary areas of current expenditure which are particularly impacted by demographic changes. An amount of under €0.5 billion has been allocated each year to 2022 across these areas. This is presented at Departmental level in the following table.
Demographic Allocations 2021 – 2022 (€m)
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
|
Health |
148 |
148 |
|
Education |
47 |
47 |
|
Social Protection |
260 |
260 |
|
Total |
455 |
455 |
These allocations are informed by the paper ‘Budgetary Impacts of Changing Demographics 2017 – 2027’, published by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), which can be found on the IGEES website here: https://igees.gov.ie/budgetary-impact-of-changing-demographics-2017-to-2027/. An update of this paper was published alongside Budget 2020, which can be found here: http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2020/Documents/Budget/Budgetary%20Impact%20of%20Changing%20Demographics%20from%202020%20-%202030.pdf. In future years, demographic allocations may be re-stated to reflect this more up-to-date analysis.
There are carryover costs in 2021 relating to certain current expenditure measures introduced in Budget 2020. This amounts to an estimated €0.2 billion in 2021 and is set out in table 7 on page 46 of Expenditure Report 2020 as well as in the following table.
Carryover Impact of Certain Budget 2020 Measures in 2021 (€m)
|
|
Additional Impact in 2021 |
|
Education |
50 |
|
Justice |
50 |
|
Health |
80 |
|
Housing |
50 |
|
Total |
230 |
This allocation relates to measures to be implemented during 2020 and as such the cost in 2021 will depend on factors such as timing and take-up of initiatives. As is usual, these costs will be re-examined during the course of the year and may be re-stated in the 2020 Mid-Year Expenditure Report. In addition, there is a carryover impact of €0.3 billion in 2021 relating to elements of the Public Service Stability Agreement that come into effect in 2020.
Expenditure Report 2020 also set out gross voted capital expenditure allocations over the period to 2022. An overview of pre-committed expenditure for the period is set out in the following table. Estimates beyond this will be considered in the medium-term.
Pre-Committed Expenditure 2020 – 2022 (€bn)
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
|
Demographics |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
PSSA |
0.3 |
|
|
Budget 2020 Carryover |
0.2 |
|
|
Capital Expenditure |
1.0 |
0.3 |
|
Total |
2.0 |
0.7 |
166. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of buildings owned by the Office of Public Works in County Louth; the number of these buildings not currently in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43016/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commissioners of Public Works, on behalf of the State, manage a large and diverse property portfolio, which ranges from office accommodation to heritage properties, visitor centres, Garda stations, among others. As is typical of such large portfolios, there will always be a number of properties, at any given time, that are vacant. In some cases, such properties may be retained because of their future strategic development value.
The Commissioners manage 37 State owned buildings in Co. Louth ranging from Garda Stations to heritage properties.
Three of these properties are deemed to be surplus to requirements. The policy relating to properties that are surplus to requirements is firstly to identify alternative State use and, where State use isn't feasible, to consider disposal of the properties on the open market or the potential for community use under certain criteria. Two of the properties are currently being considered for intra-State transfer and the future use of the third is under consideration, in line with the Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State property Assets and the OPW's stated policy.
167. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of environmental assessments carried out for the Glanmire flood relief scheme; and the number of reports received in this regard in the past seven years. [43082/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, has submitted the proposal for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation.
All environmental assessments associated with the development of the proposed scheme have been prepared, and these accompanied the submission to the Minister for formal confirmation, including an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (and a non-technical summary), a Natura Impact Statement, and the additional updates arising from the EIA Directive 014/52/EU. The Minister will undertake an environmental assessment of the proposed scheme in line with required legislative requirements, and this will involve public consultation.
The procurement and appointment of a Contractor will be progressed for this scheme following formal Ministerial Confirmation. The flood relief scheme will be funded from within the allocated €1 billion for flood risk management over the period 2018-2027.
168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Percent for Art budget amount that was included in the overall capital budget estimate for Miesian Plaza, Dublin; if art works were commissioned in respect of the site; the way in which the OPW selected the arts medium that was chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43256/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Per Cent for Art budget amount included in the overall capital budget estimate for Miesian Plaza was €64,000.
Artworks have not been commissioned for the site. The Per Cent for Art funding was pooled as allowable under Public Art: Per Cent for Art Scheme General National Guidelines-2004. Artworks from the State Art Collection have been placed on display by the OPW throughout the building in collaboration with the Departments located there.
169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Percent for Art budget amount that was included in the overall capital budget estimate for the new Kevin Street Garda station; if art works were commissioned in respect of the site; the way in which the OPW selected the arts medium that was chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43257/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Per Cent for Art budget allocated for the new Kevin Street Garda Station was €75,000.
A large-scale contemporary glass artwork was commissioned under the Per Cent for Art Scheme for the main window in the entrance area.
The way in which the OPW selected the arts medium was as follows: The project design team decided that a large-scale glass artwork, that could be seen by the passing public and building users, most suited the architectural design and historical location of the new garda station. Following research undertaken by the design team and the Art Management Office, artist Elke Westen was commissioned to create the glass artwork.
170. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the consultancy service providers engaged by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the costs associated with each (details supplied); the reason for each service engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43319/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that all of the consultancy costs of my Department since its establishment in 2011 up to the end of August 2019 can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/8b97d6-consultancy-costs/
171. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the cost of each exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43336/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department did not conduct any Value for Money and Policy Reviews between 1 January 2018 and 1 January 2019.
My Department has conducted a large amount of analytical work including through the Spending Review process. A total of 81 papers, completed by staff in my Department and within other Departments, have been published over the last three years covering a range of policy and expenditure areas. 27 of these papers were published between 1 January 2018 and 1 January 2019. These papers can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/f516ff-spending-review-papers-from-2017-and-2018/
172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Clane, County Kildare, is classed on OPW maps as a flood risk; the position regarding OPW flood risk maps; if they are made available to companies that sell house insurance products; if they have permission to use OPW maps in the context of assessing risk associated with insurance products; his plans to provide insurers with maps compiled by the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43395/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW Flood Maps were developed by the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme which involved the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State. This study examined 300 communities identified as potentially being at significant risk of flooding from rivers and sea. The Flood Maps show the likelihood or probability of flooding for areas within each of these 300 communities and are ‘predictive’, showing areas predicted to be inundated during a theoretical or ‘design’ flood event with an estimated probability of occurrence.
While these maps are community based and cannot be used to designate individual properties that could be at risk from flooding, it is important to note that the OPW does not apply a risk rating or map each town as a whole in all cases. The maps are available to view along with information on their production and guidance on their use on www.floodinfo.ie. The Disclaimer and Conditions for Use of OPW Flood Maps on the website includes a provision that users must not use the Flood Maps, or any other content of the website, for commercial purposes.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has a role to assist insurance companies to take into account the protection provided by completed OPW flood defence schemes. In this regard, the OPW agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Insurance Ireland, the representative body of the insurance industry. This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on these completed schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. Insurance Ireland members have committed to take into account all information provided by OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these protected areas.
The insurance industry has its own flood modelling tools for assessing the level of risk that it is willing to underwrite in relation to individual properties. It has highlighted to the OPW that it does not use the OPW Flood Maps to inform its flood modelling. The decision on whether to offer insurance, level of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they would be accepting on a case-by-case basis.
Should you have any insurance related complaints or queries, you may wish to contact Insurance Ireland's Insurance Information Service (01 676 1914 or feedback@insuranceireland.eu). In addition, the Financial Services Ombudsman (1890 88 20 90) deals independently with unresolved complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial service providers.
173. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of public health expenditure as a share of public expenditure, GDP, GNI modified gross national income in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will provide an estimate of same for 2020, in tabular form. [43442/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is set out in tabular form.
|
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 (f) |
|
Voted Health Expenditure (€ 000's) |
13,340,748 |
14,107,220 |
14,798,316 |
15,976,091 |
17,107,000 |
18,272,781 |
|
% of Public Expenditure |
24.4% |
25.2% |
25.2% |
25.4% |
26.2% |
26.0% |
|
% of GDP |
5.1% |
5.2% |
5.0% |
4.9% |
5.0% |
5.2% |
|
% of GNI* |
8.2% |
8.0% |
8.0% |
8.1% |
8.4% |
9.0% |
Source: 2015 - 2018 CSO, 2019 - 2020 DoF Economic and Fiscal Outlook
174. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the remit of the National Convention Centre in terms of decisions as to which events it hosts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43465/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra175. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a group (details supplied) is being refused permission to perform at the National Convention Centre, Dublin; if his attention has been further drawn to the reason they are being refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43466/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.
The Conference Centre Dublin (CCD) is a PPP project developed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) model. Construction was completed in 2010 when it opened for business. In return for a monthly unitary charge, an independent company operates the CCD under the provisions of a Project Agreement that will remain in effect until its expiry in 2035. The OPW does not have a role in commercial matters relating to bookings, or in the day to day operation of the CCD. All decisions on events hosted are made by the operators of the CCD, and the OPW as the contracting authority have no influence over bookings as long as the CCD is being operated in compliance with the Project Agreement.
This issue has been raised on numerous occasions in the recent past with public representatives and officials in the OPW. It was the subject of an oral PQ 39474/19 Dáil Question 71, answered by Mr Kevin Moran T.D., Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, on 1st October. Minister of State Moran has undertaken to request further details on this matter from the chairman of the CCD and will be updating relevant parties on receipt.
176. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide table 3.1 on page 19 of the National Development Plan 2018-2027 in millions rather than billions of euro; if the capital figure included in pre-committed expenditure in table 6 of the Summer Economic Statement is the difference between the NDP allocation in that year and the allocation in the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43538/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy can find the equivalent Exchequer expenditure figures in millions contained in Annex 1, on page 104 of the National Development Plan (NDP), out to 2022.
Government has made a €91 billion Exchequer allocation to deliver the NDP priorities over the full duration of the plan, as explained by Table 3.1. As I have not yet finalised individual Department allocations beyond 2022, it would not be meaningful to provide a higher degree of granularity than that already published for the post 2022 period.
I can confirm that the pre-committed figures contained in Table 6 of the Summer Economic Statement represent a combination of current and capital expenditure and that the capital element shown is the NDP increases.
177. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost per year in accelerating pay equalisation by 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43645/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018 – 2020, it was agreed to examine the remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 entry grades. The report in the following link, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in March 2018, estimates the point in time cost of advancing new entrants to the public service two points along their incremental scales.
https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/4035/071218124404-860d0916d18542c1baa10ffa7dc482d5.pdf#page=1
The report estimated a cost of €199.8m in respect of 60,513 new entrants, an average cost of €3,300 per FTE.
Following this report, lengthy and intensive negotiations with the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions took place over 2018 resulting in an agreement on new entrant salary scales being reached in September 2018.
The main components of the agreement are:
- where two additional scale points were applied to pay scales under the Haddington Road Agreement, it was agreed that there will be two separate interventions in the pay scales as they apply to new entrant public servants recruited since January 2011.
- the two separate interventions will take place at point 4 and point 8 of the pay scales. The practical effect of this is that for new entrants the relevant points on the scale will be bypassed, thereby reducing the time spent on the scale for progression to the maximum point.
- this measure will apply from 1 March 2019 and will be applied to each new entrant as they reach the relevant scale points (point 4 and point 8) on their current increment date.
This is an agreement of considerable scale and complexity, each element of which was the product of negotiation with ICTU.
There are risks associated with altering the agreed model primarily associated with 1) likely inequitable outcomes between different cohorts of new entrants and 2) the applicability of the acceleration to subsequent cohorts of new entrants recruited after 2017.
Assuming such problems could be overcome, the indicative costs of bringing forward any remaining benefits under the ICTU agreement to 2022, for new entrants hired between 2011 and end 2017, would increase the estimated cost in that year from €22.9m to €65.4m.
However, it is important to note that, as with the current deal, further costs will arise from accelerating benefits to new entrants hired post 2017, on an ongoing basis, in line with continued recruitment to new entrant grades.
Furthermore, these costs exclude nurses and midwives as per Labour Court recommendation 21900.
178. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of fully removing the public service pension reduction ahead of schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43647/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (FEMPI) 2010.
A three-stage partial reversal of PSPR was provided for in the FEMPI Act 2015, with rate reductions (via revised PSPR tables) occurring on 1 January in each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The cost of these FEMPI 2015 changes is estimated at about €90 million on a full-year basis from 2018, or €30 million in each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provided for the substantial further lessening of the impact of PSPR by way of rate and/or threshold in each of the years 2019 and 2020. The significant further lessening of PSPR occurring under the 2017 Act means that:
- as of 1 January 2019 all pensions up to €39,000 per annum are exempt from PSPR, and
- from 1 January 2020, all pensions up to €54,000 per annum will be exempt from PSPR.
When fully in place from the beginning of 2020, these changes will mean that the vast majority of public service retirees - approximately 97% - will be entirely free from PSPR. For those who retired since end-February 2012 that threshold is even higher at €60,000. Additionally, pensions awarded in respect of retirements after the FEMPI 2013 grace period, which expired on 1 April 2019, are not subject to PSPR. The cost to the Exchequer of these changes is estimated at €24 million in 2019 and €12 million in 2020.
Section 27 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 Act states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will, no later than 31 December 2020, make an order which will specify a date for the full removal of PSPR from that residual group of PSPR-affected pensions. The date specified in the order will effectively be the date for the complete abolition of the PSPR. The cost of fully removing this residual PSPR from pensions which remain affected from 1 January 2020 is estimated at €12 million.
179. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital allocation for flooding projects in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the expected allocation in 2019; the capital allocation for flooding projects from 2020 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43649/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital expenditure and investment on flooding projects and associated flood risk management measures and programmes for the years 2016 – 2018 are set out in Table 1. The figures exclude expenditure on Plant and Machinery.
Table 1
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Expenditure |
€51.86m |
€45.37m |
€64.64m |
The allocation for flood risk management investment included under Vote 13 (Office of Public Works) in the Revised Estimates for Public Services for 2019 excluding Plant and Machinery and after adjustment for the National Childrens Hospital cost overrun is €73.127m.
Table 2 sets out the allocations for the Flood Risk Management area between 2020 and 2025 as set out in the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027.
Table 2
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Allocation |
€90m |
€100m |
€100m |
€100m |
€100m |
€100m |
The above allocations will allow the OPW in collaboration with Local Authorities to continue implementation of its comprehensive programme of investment in flood relief schemes nationally as I announced in May 2018 at the launch of the Flood Risk Management Plans under the CFRAM Programme. This programme amounts to €1 billion approximately and includes over 150 individual flood relief projects which I and the Government are committed to implementing within the timeframe of the National Development Plan.
In addition to these projects the OPW will continue to fund Local Authorities to undertake local flood relief projects up to a limit of €750,000 under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
180. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SNAs appointed to both primary and post-primary schools in County Kerry for the school year 2019-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42924/19]
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 my 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.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support because the requirements outlined in Circular 0030/2014 were not complied with. Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2019/20, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.
The NCSE publish the allocations for individual schools and counties for each school year and this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie
181. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be granted for a school (details supplied) for the upgrading of its boundary fence under the summer works programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42944/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that an application for External Works (Category 10) has been received from the school authority in question, under my Department's previous multi-annual Summer Works Scheme.
Schools that previously applied for category 10 works (External Works, e.g. upgrade and resurfacing of yards and car parking, etc.) were exempt from applying for category 10 under the current Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards and could apply for an alternative category if they considered it necessary. It is intended to undertake an analysis of these outstanding applications. This analysis, together with funding availability and priorities for the SWS in 2020 will determine the pathway forward in respect of these remaining applications for category 10 external works.
It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in Q4, 2019 for works to be carried out in summer 2020.
182. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with special needs in receipt of home tuition due to the fact that a suitable school place cannot be found; the number in June 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42945/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.
Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
Special Educational Needs Home Tuition Scheme
This strand of the Home Tuition Scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school.
Funding towards home tuition is available as a short term measure until a suitable place is available.
In such circumstances the NCSE will actively engage at local level with schools, Patron Bodies and the families to ensure that suitable places are provided as soon as possible.
If, following completion of that work, the NCSE has not been able to establish the required school placements it can activate the provisions contained in section 37A of the Education Act 1998 are needed, it can be activated.
The legislation was formally for the first time on April 18th in respect insufficient special class and school places in Dublin 15. To date this has resulted in the opening 7 new special classes and a new Special School that will provide 88 places for children with special needs. These children are currently accessing Home Tuition until the transition into their new placements.
The scheme also provides Home Tuition for pre-school/early educational intervention for children with autism aged 2.5 to 6 years of age who meet the schemes eligibility criteria.
No of children in receipt Home Tuition Funding 19/20 and 18/19
|
|
2019/20 School Year (Current) |
End 2018/19 School Year (June 2019) |
|
Special Educational Needs |
|
|
|
Age 2.5yrs – 6yrs |
440 |
584 |
|
Age 6yrs+ |
46 |
49 |
183. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessary supports will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of my Department’s Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013, is to provide grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase the type of specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for students who have been diagnosed as having a serious physical disability and/or sensory or communicative disability to the extent that their ability to communicate through the medium of speech or writing is materially curtailed.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including assistive technology. SENOs make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making such recommendations, as set out in Circular 0010/2013.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
Although equipment is sanctioned under the Assistive Technology scheme for use by particular students, it is the property of the school, and the school’s management authority is responsible for maintenance, repair, and insurance of the equipment.
I can confirm that an application for assistive technology for the pupil named by the deputy was received in my Department on 26 February and funding was not sanctioned to the school, on the basis that the SENO did not recommend that the application met the criteria for provision of equipment.
It is open to the school to appeal this decision. The appeals process is outlined on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/Grants-and-Additional-Support/Assistive-Technology-Grant/
Separately, where an appeal has been unsuccessful, but new information becomes available, it is open to the school to submit a new application to the SENO for consideration.
It is also open to parents to contact SENOs directly to discuss their child’s special educational needs, using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/seno-contact-list
184. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 2 July 2019, if the costing relating to the island teaching allowance and persons employed in education and training boards has been collated. [42953/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the information which I provided in July 2019 relating to the island allowance the Deputy will be aware of the background to this situation which arose in 2012 following the need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure including a review of public service-wide allowances and premium payments.
At that time any person who was in receipt of the relevant allowances on the 31 January 2012 continued to be paid that allowance except where that teacher ceased that job role or changed school or employer on or after 1 February 2012. Where a teacher is redeployed under the agreed redeployment scheme this will not be regarded as a cessation.
Officials in my Department have collated the number of teaching posts in schools under the patronage of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) where the post holders concerned do not currently hold the island allowance. This information has been provided to my Department directly from the ETBs concerned.
The annual cost of restoring the island allowance to teachers in ETB schools who do not currently hold this allowance, would be approximately €43,000 annually, including employers PRSI.
185. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an increase in special education teachers, SET, hours to a school (details supplied) following an appeal by the school for an increase in SET hours; the number of additional SET hours that will be made available; when the additional hours will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42963/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDES Circulars 0007/2019 for primary schools and 0008/2019 for post primary schools provide details of how the allocations of Special Education Teachers have been updated for schools from September 2019, based on updated profile data.
All schools have now received revised allocations for September 2019.
As the re profiling occurred, some schools gained additional allocations, where the profile indicator data indicates these schools have additional needs. Some schools received slightly reduced allocations, where the data indicates less need, and some schools maintained their existing allocations.
No school has lost a full special education teaching post as a result of the re profiling process.
There has also been be no reduction to the overall number of special education teaching posts within the school system. There are currently over 13,400 special education teachers in schools, an increase of 37% since 2011.
Under the allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.
The school referred to by the Deputy has 10 special education teaching hours, or 0.4 of a special education teacher post, for an enrolment of 41 pupils at the time the profile was developed.
Both this Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which their school profiles have been calculated.
Accordingly, a number of review processes have been put in place to support schools.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published details of an appeal process for the 2019 allocation process for schools on their website www.ncse.ie.
Schools were advised that the appeal would consider circumstances where schools considered that their school profile was calculated incorrectly, using the data set out in DES Circulars 007 and 008 2019. An appeal could be submitted for a review of the information used and of the calculation of the allocation.
The NCSE wrote to schools on 31st May, 2019 to advise them of the outcome of the appeals.
A second process is in place to address circumstances where the school profile significantly changed following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increased.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2019/20 school year.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts, in accordance with these criteria, will also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.
Finally, it is acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the appeals process, or allocations for developing school status.
These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.
A process is in place where schools can seek a review of their allocations, including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
This appeal process is available at the following link: https://ncse.ie/review-of-special-education-teacher-supports-where-there-are-exceptional-circumstances-or-needs-arising-in-a-school-2
Should the school referred to in this question which to submit an appeal in relation to its curent allocation, it should do so via this process.
186. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for construction of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42965/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) (Detailed Design) which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents.
The Design Team is currently working on completing a revised Stage 2(b) report for submission to the Department for review.
Upon receipt, review and approval of the revised Stage 2(b) submission the Department will be in contact with the school in regard to the further progression of the project.
187. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43001/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has recently completed Stage 2(b) of architectural planning and has been progressed to tender stage.
A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
188. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a school place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43014/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
The National council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the health Service Executive (HSE). Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified needs. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that needs.
The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and then a matter for the school/ Board of Management having regard to their own enrolment/admissions policy. The Department and the NCSE has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances is a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish it's enrolment policy.
Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Educational Training Board or to the Secretary General of the Department.
Parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.
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/.
Under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme, Tadhg receives 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until a placement becomes available. The availability of a school placement is assessed by the NCSE having regard to, although not limited to, the relevant diagnosis and relevant professional report.
Accordingly, the NCSE advises parents, to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to the school/s of their choice as early as possible. Where parents have been unsuccessful in enrolling their child in a school, they should update their local SENO to inform the planning process.
As the matter raised by the Deputy refers to a particular child, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the National Council for Special Education for their attention and direct reply.
189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if urgently required additional temporary facilities will be provided to a school (details supplied) while it awaits a new school building. [43019/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question was approved significant capital funding, in January 2019, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme which includes prefab replacement. In assessing the application for interim accommodation, my Department considered that existing accommodation could be utilised, as an interim measure, pending delivery of the permanent accommodation. The school authority has been informed of this decision.
