Written Answers Nos. 108-132
108. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the urgent nature of the need to address issues at a school (details supplied); if the acquisition of a piece of land adjacent to the school will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43697/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThese issues are being dealt with under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. In that context, approval was given recently for works to take place under the scheme.
At the same time, the school is progressing with its application for works under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Officals from my Department have been in contact with the school recently in that respect.
Once the presence of pyrite in the school referred to by the Deputy was established, my Department's Planning and Building Unit sought legal advice as to how to proceed. The matter has been referred to the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.
The Deputy will appreciate that as this matter is still being dealt with by the Chief State Solicitors Office. it is not possible for me to comment further at present.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is also currently exploring the feasibility of acquiring the piece of land adjacent to the school.
109. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps necessary in order to make an appeal to an application refusal for the HEAR scheme; the timeline associated with making an appeal to HEAR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43709/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) offers places at reduced points to school leavers from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Admissions under the HEAR scheme are regulated by the institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admissions policy in relation to the schemes, the number of places they reserve and the allocation of those places. The HEAR scheme is administrated by the CAO on behalf of the higher education institutions that participate in the scheme. The number of places vary year to year and are offered on a course-by-course and HEI-by-HEI basis.
The HEAR scheme has been operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher education institutions themselves and not by my Department. The operational management of HEAR has transferred from the Shared Services Unit in the IUA to the CAO.
110. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed extension for a school (details supplied); when it is expected that the building will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43713/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design which includes the application for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
At a recent meeting with the schools, their design team and officials from my Department, the consultant Quantity Surveyor advised the Boards of Management and my Department that the firm is withdrawing from the project.
In the past fortnight, the consultant Architect has advised that they are also withdrawing from the project as the firm has gone into liquidation.
A tender process to replace both the design team Architect and Quantity Surveyor will commence shortly.
111. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be extra special needs assistant allocations to a school (details supplied) from the increased number announced in view of the specific needs of children in this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43714/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2019 provided for 950 additional SNA posts. To date over 900 of these posts have been allocated with the remainder expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011.
Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts which will bring the total number of SNA posts in schools to over 17,000 in 2020, an increase of over 60% since 2011.
The 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.
As this question relates to a particular school, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply. I do not have a role in making determinations in individual cases.
112. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of children with additional care needs in each of the years 2020 to 2025 who will require the support of a special needs assistant in tabular form. [43716/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, we spend almost 20% of the total Education Vote of €1.9bn on supporting children with special needs.
The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels and so too is the number of children receiving support across the continuum that includes mainstream classes, special classes and schools. Our commitment is provide each child with an education in accordance with his/her need.
Budget 2019 provided for 950 additional SNA posts. To date over 900 of these posts have been allocated with the remainder expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools and increase of over 51% since 2011, supporting in the region of 37,500 pupils.
Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts which will bring the total number of SNA posts in schools to over 17,000 in 2020.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs.
113. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding summer works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the deputy that an application for External Environmental Projects under my Department's multi annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards was submitted by the school authority in question.
I wish to advise that commensurate with the level of funding available for Summer Works in 2020, applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0027/2019) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in Q4 2019 for works to be carried out in summer 2020.
114. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the examination fee alleviation scheme for full medical card holders to leaving certificate and junior certificate appeal fees. [43730/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
115. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration is being given by the Teaching Council to review the new requirements to become a primary school teacher and to consider flexibility in primary school training requirements in order that a candidate that would like to train to become a primary school teacher would be able to do so with a level 8 degree as a qualification in view of the shortage of primary school teachers nationally. [43732/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers. At primary level this relates mainly to the recruitment of substitute teachers and at post-primary level to the recruitment of teachers of particular subjects (STEM, modern foreign languages, Irish and Home Economics, in particular).
In response to the Deputy’s question, I refer to the current entry requirements to programmes of primary initial teacher education (ITE); the process and requirements for accreditation of programmes, across both the undergraduate and postgraduate entry routes to primary teaching and the actions being taken in relation to supply of teachers at primary under the Teacher Supply Action Plan.
Entry Requirements for ITE
Minimum Entry Requirements for primary ITE are set by the Minister for Education and Skills. The Minimum Entry Requirements (MERs) for English, Mathematics and Gaeilge were announced in October 2017 and require achieving Leaving Certificate grades of O4/H7, O4/H7 and H4 respectively and apply for all students wishing to undertake a Primary ITE programme. These higher grades apply from September 2019 for those entering the Bachelor of Education and from September 2021 for those wishing to enter the Primary Professional Master of Education.
Accreditation of programmes
The Teaching Council has a central role in setting the standards for ITE, through accreditation of the programmes and setting the standards for teachers to gain entry to the Register of Teachers. All primary ITE programmes must be accredited in accordance with the Teaching Council’s Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers (2011, updated in 2017). The Criteria and Guidelines provide for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of initial teacher education, as a means to be registered as a primary teacher:
- Undergraduate programmes (often referred to as concurrent programmes or the Bachelor of Education) must be of at least four years’ duration. These programmes are awarded at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Most entrants come via the CAO; however some entrants may be mature students, including those who may already have a Level 8 qualification.
- Post-graduate programmes (often referred to as consecutive programmes, or the Professional Master of Education) must be at least two years’ duration. These programmes are awarded at Level 9 on the NFQ. All entrants to the post-graduate programme must have an honours degree, before being accepted onto the programme.
These entry routes continue to allow for a diversity of ways to enter into the teaching profession.
Teacher Supply
The Steering Group on Teacher Supply, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department, is overseeing the implementation of the Teacher Supply Action Plan, which I launched in November 2018.
A number of actions following from the plan support the supply of substitute teachers in primary schools, including:
- The creation of new substitute teacher supply panels on a pilot basis in 6 locations that have been identified as having the greatest challenge in terms of sourcing substitute teachers (two panels in Dublin and one each in Kildare, Meath, Cork and Galway);
- The development of an online substitute teacher recruitment portal, to match available teachers with short term substitute teacher vacancies in schools.
116. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a fund available that schools can apply to in order to finance the repair and upgrade of a sports hall including roof repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43760/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools, on a devolved funding basis, to carry out necessary improvement and refurbishment works that will upgrade existing school facilities. Works such as refurbishment projects and roof repairs are funded under this scheme.
As the Deputy is aware, I announced the application process for a new multi-annual Summer Works Scheme in March 2019 and it was open to school authorities to apply for works. The closing date for these applications was 30th June 2019.
It is open to the schools to apply for funding to address these works under future Summer Works Schemes. Alternatively, if primary school authorities consider the works a priority, they may use the minor works grant which all primary schools receive to carry out the works in full, or on a phased basis as the grant permits.
117. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a dissertation by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be independently reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43761/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that Universities and Institutes of Technology are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, Technological Universities Act 2018 and the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under the terms of these Acts, the governance and day-to-day management of these institutions are matters for which the Governing Bodies and the management of the relevant institutions are responsible. Neither I nor my Department has a function in relation to such matters.
118. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a schools building project request by a school (details supplied) to go to tender for special classes for ASD; the timeline for a decision to be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43768/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved the construction of a two classroom SEN Base under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019 for this school.
The preliminary design submitted to my Department by the school’s design team included unapproved works. The school also obtained planning permission without first getting authorisation to proceed to planning stage, which is a condition of the Additional Accommodation scheme, and included the unapproved works in this planning application.
My Department wrote to the school authority on 17 September 2019 requesting clarification on these issues and details regarding the planning permission obtained. This information was received in the Department on 04 October 2019.
This information is currently being reviewed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process is completed.
119. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider an additional school accommodation appeal lodged by a school (details supplied) due to lack of space for students, teachers, special needs students and the very obvious health and safety risks set to be endured by students and staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43774/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that an appeal, received by my Department, from the school in question was reviewed. In order to assist the school with an interim accommodation solution, which was agreed with the school authority, funding was provided to reconfigure an existing space and the project was devolved to the school authority. On this basis, my Department considers that the school has adequate accommodation, for its existing cohort, pending delivery of the schools permanent accommodation and this decision has been relayed directly to the school authority.
I understand that the project for permanent accommodation is at an advanced stage of design (Planning Permission) and will likely proceed to tender and construction in the near future.
120. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to ensure there is adequate second-level school capacity in Rush, County Dublin to meet demand for places in August/September 2020. [43780/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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. For school planning purposes, Rush is located in the Rush&Lusk school planning area.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
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 will be aware, in April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for the Rush&Lusk school planning area, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
There are currently two post-primary schools in the Rush&Lusk school planning area:
- Lusk Community College, a 1,000 pupil post-primary school established in 2013 with an enrolment of some 650 pupils in 2018/19; and
- St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush - a building project for the school is included in my Department’s capital programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). A site is being acquired by my Department for this purpose. In the meantime, my Department recently approved temporary accommodation for the school to meet its interim accommodation needs.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
121. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to ensure that there is adequate second-level school capacity in Skerries, County Dublin to meet demand for places in August/September 2020. [43781/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
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 will be aware, in April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for the Skerries school planning area, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a registration number will be provided as a matter of urgency to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43782/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in this State.
Under section 30 of the Teaching Council Acts, a teacher in a recognised school is required to be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from Oireachtas-voted funds.
Where a registered teacher is not available SI 32/2014 enables a school managerial authority to employ a person who is not registered as a teacher for up to five consecutive days.
Teachers whose applications meet all the necessary requirements are registered by the Teaching Council under Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.
The Teaching Council advise that for teachers who qualified within Ireland, the registration process may take up to 6-8 weeks from receipt of complete application and depending on the time of year (taking into account peak summer processing periods). If all the requirements are met, including fit and proper person requirements, including Garda vetting and overseas police clearances, the registration process may be completed in less than the 6-8 week timeframe outlined. Full information on the application process and timeframes involved is available on the Teaching Council website.
The person referred to by the Deputy should continue to liaise with the Teaching Council regarding their application for registration as a teacher.
123. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure there is an adequate number of replacement teachers trained to teach in schools for deaf and blind children as teachers in these schools retire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43790/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter for school Boards of Management to recruit appropriately qualified teachers, including teachers of children who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or blind/visually impaired.
Management bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers.
In response to these difficulties, the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established in March 2018.
The Steering Group is considering the issues that relate to teacher supply under four policy headings:
- initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support;
- data/research requirements;
- policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and
- promotion of the teaching profession.
The Steering Group is supported in its work by the Teacher Supply Implementation Group and a number of working groups that are looking at specific policy areas.
In undertaking its task, the Steering Group is cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching profession.
The Steering Group is overseeing the Action Plan for Teacher Supply, which I published in November 2018 with twenty-two actions in the four policy areas.
The Steering Group and the various working groups reporting to it continue to meet on a regular basis and I hope to be in a position to announce further developments in this area over the coming months.
A number of other actions were taken in recent years also, including the suspension on limit on the number of days teachers on career break can work as substitutes and schools were reminded that, in considering career break applications, the needs of pupils should take precedence and they must take account of the availability of appropriate qualified replacement teachers.
With regard to continued professional development for teachers in the education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Regional Support Service, which has incorporated the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behavioural Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for the Visually Impaired and Hearing Impaired since 2017, provides advice and support to schools on the education and inclusion of students with special educational needs, providing in-school support for teachers and continuing professional development for teachers.
The NCSE Support Service has a role to enhance the quality of learning and teaching of students with special educational needs through the provision of CPD and support for teachers in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special classes and special schools.
It is also enhancing the multi-disciplinary capacity of the education system through providing access to expert knowledge including the education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or blind/visually impaired.
Visiting teachers are teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss and/or visual impairment. They offer longitudinal support to children, their families and school staff from the time of referral through to the end of post-primary education.
Through applications to NCSE’s Supports Service, schools and individual teachers can access support in all areas of special education, including support in relation to students who are deaf and/or blind. Current training available to teaching staff in the area of deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired include:
- School Based Seminars including NCSE designed and delivered Seminars
- On-line and elearning
- College and university post graduate courses in Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Visual Impairment
The Support Service also provides funding for individual teachers and whole school staff in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special classes and special schools to undertake courses in Irish Sign Language, which are available throughout the country through a variety of providers.
On 24 January 2019, I launched a new undergraduate programme in DCU that enables deaf and hard of hearing people who use Irish Sign Language (ISL) to enter primary teaching.
124. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the new standards for direct provision centres; when these standards will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43671/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the inspection process that will be implemented to ensure compliance with the new standards for direct provision centres and the consequences direct provision centres will face for failure to meet those standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43672/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
On 15 August, I published the National Standards for accommodation offered to people in the international protection process.
The Standards were prepared by a Standards Advisory Group, established in 2017 and comprising officials from my Department, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the HSE National Office for Social Inclusion as well as representatives from AkiDwA, Children's Rights Alliance, the Core Group of Asylum Seekers and Refugees, the Jesuit Refugee Service, SPIRASI, and the UNHCR.
The standards address a range of themes including accommodation provided for those people seeking the protection of the State, food and catering, individual, community and family life, health and well-being, governance and meeting the special reception needs of applicants. They therefore build on the work done in the 2015 McMahon Report and meet the requirements of the Recast Reception Directive.
The Standards will be legally binding and subject to monitoring by January 2021. In the interim, contractors will be expected to carry out any mobilisation works required to meet the Standards.
The policy on how the new inspection process will operate has yet to be finalised. My Department will bring forward proposals in this regard following appropriate consultations and the inspection regime will be put in place prior to the implementation of the Standards in January 2021. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcome of these proposals, I understand that the consequences of non-compliance by contractors or staff may be addressed through contractual obligation penalties.
Since April 2017, residents in direct provision accommodation centres can make complaints to the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children in relation to the services and facilities provided in their accommodation centre. A record of all complaints received from the Ombudsman is kept by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department.
126. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has carried out or commissioned research on the optimum number of sworn gardaí needed to effectively police the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43719/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for carrying on, managing and generally controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including issues relating to personnel and the distribution of personnel. Garda management keeps staffing and deployment requirements under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The Government decided in July 2016 to increase the number of Gardaí to 15,000 and Garda staff to a total of 4,000 by 2021 and very significant progress has already been made towards that goal. As part of that plan, there is ongoing and increased recruitment of new Gardaí and Garda staff, allowing for redeployment of Gardaí to operational duties at the front-line. There are now over 14,200 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 2,800 civilian staff.
In fact, since the re-opening of the Garda Training College in 2014, approximately 2,800 new Garda members have attested and been assigned to front-line policing duties in communities throughout the country. Another 200 probationer Gardaí are due to attest by the end of this year.
In line with the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, it is for the Commissioner to decide and balance the organisation's needs within the resources allocated to him. For example, in addition to recruiting 600 Gardaí the Commissioner decided this year to recruit an additional 600 Garda staff in 2019. This will in turn allow for the redeployment of approximately 500 experienced Gardaí to front-line policing duties by the end of this year.
In addition, as recommended in the Commission's report, An Garda Síochána is currently conducting a strategic review of the Garda Reserve to inform future decisions around its use. The strategy is expected to inform the development and preparation for a new Reserve recruitment drive by the end of 2019. I understand that a class of 100 reserves commenced training in March and, as of 31 August, there are 473 reserves across the organisation.
Finally, it may be noted that unprecedented resources are currently being provided to An Garda Síochána. €1.76 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019, as well as capital investment amounting to € 92 million this year. I am pleased to have secured an overall increase of €122 million to increase An Garda Síochána’s budget for 2020 to an unprecedented €1.882 billion for next year in addition to €116million in capital investment. This level of funding will allow the Garda Commissioner to recruit up to 700 new Gardaí next year and additional Garda staff.
This ongoing investment is intended to support growth in the organisation as well as the ambitious Garda reform plan, with the overall goal of ensuring a visible, professional and effective policing service to all our communities, urban and rural, now and into the future.
127. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a naturalisation application by a person (details supplied); when the application will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43744/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Immigration Service of my Department that processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. On completion of the necessary processing, the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. Should further documentation be required it will be requested from the applicant in due course.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most straightforward cases are now processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the Immigration Service of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the Immigration Service is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
128. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps taken to carry out the necessary assessment required under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. [43749/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that in February 2018, a working group was established in my Department to assess and implement the Department's obligations under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
The Group has also completed a human rights and equality assessment covering multiple divisions within the Department. A copy of the completed assessments can be found on the Department of Justice and Equality website as follows:
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Our_Public_Sector_Equality_and_Human_Rights_Duty.
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Public_Sector_Equality_and_Human_Rights_Duty.pdf/Files/Public_Sector_Equality_and_Human_Rights_Duty.pdf.
In addition to the assessment documents, the actions progressed by the group to date include:
- The implementation of a variety of public sector duty pilot projects across several key areas of the Department, including the Probation Service, INIS, Civil Governance, the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration and Human Resources.
- From 2019 onwards, governance agreements made by the Department outline the obligation for all public bodies to include the public sector duty in their strategic planning process and to report on a regular basis on their progress.
The Department will continue to take steps to embed the public sector duty values in all aspects of its functions.
129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the location and date the additional information was sought as referenced in Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 19 June 2019 further to his email correspondence dated 20 September 2019 (details supplied) in response to representations by this Deputy; the location it was received from; the date it was received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43753/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department made enquiries with the Garda authorities and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the issue raised and the Deputy has received substantive responses from my Department on the matter. The position as set out in my Department's responses dated 13 June 2018 and 20 September 2019, remains unchanged.
If the Deputy has any concerns in relation to the scheme, I would encourage him to contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which is best placed to advise on such matters.
As I hope the Deputy will appreciate, it is outside the scope of my official functions to provide advice on such matters.
130. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda mountain bikes in the Cork city Garda division by station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43756/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not yet available. I will contact him directly once the information is to hand.
131. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to attract investment into Athenry, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43794/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if IDA Ireland has been renting out its 92 hectare strategic site (details supplied) in Athenry, County Galway; the amount of rent it has collected at the site in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; if the IDA is seeking investment at the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43795/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.
IDA Ireland owns a strategic site in Athenry consisting of 92 hectares. Approximately 80 of these hectares are leased to Teagasc who were the original owners of the site. The agreed rental consideration in the lease agreement with Teagasc is €18,005.80 per annum for the period 2014 to 2017 and €15,732.42 per annum for the period 2018 to 2019.
The Athenry Strategic Site remains a key asset in the IDA's property portfolio and forms part of the Strategic Economic Corridor in the Galway County Development Plan. The site has been master planned by the Agency and all available lands, including those leased to Teagasc, are marketed to prospective investors through the IDA's network of offices in Ireland and overseas.
County Galway has traditionally been a strong performer in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the IDA continues to draw the attention of clients looking to invest or expand in the County, including Athenry. Galway has seen an increase in employment numbers with almost 1,500 net new jobs created by IDA Ireland client companies in 2018. The enterprise agencies under my remit will continue to engage with their clients and with one another to secure further investment and job creation for Galway and the West region.
