Robert Troy
Ceist:163. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the minor works flood scheme review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3382/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinor Works Scheme
Ceisteanna (163)
Freagraí scríofa
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. All Local Authorities may carry out flood mitigation works, using either their own resources, or by applying for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
The OPW introduced the ‘Minor Works’ Scheme in 2009 on an administrative, non-statutory basis. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The works to be funded are carried out under Local Authority powers and ongoing maintenance of the completed works is the responsibility of the Council.
In 2016-2017, the OPW undertook a review of the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, and the final report was completed in mid-2017. This introduced a number of updates, including:
- Revised ‘benefit’ allowances for: Homes at risk from flooding; Homes and commercial premises that have been flooded; Agricultural land flooded; Road Diversions/Road Closure Costs, etc;
- New ‘benefit’ allowances for commercial premises and farm yards/buildings at risk of flooding;
- Revised Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) criteria (Minimum of 1.35:1 for works costing up to €250,000; and a Minimum of 1.5:1 for works from € 250,000 - €750,000);
- A revised application threshold/funding limit of EUR750,000 (increased from EUR500,000) with a 10% contribution by local authority.
Under this scheme, therefore, applications are now considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.opw.ie
To the end of 2019, over 580 Minor Works projects have been completed, providing local flooding solutions to over 7,100 properties with expenditure amounting to over €39m since the scheme began in 2009. In 2019, €4.75m has been approved for 49 projects, with €4.4m having been drawn down by Local Authorities by the end of the year.
The allocation of funding for the Minor Works scheme is included in the overall allocation for flood risk management investment included under Vote 13 (Office of Public Works) in the Estimates for Public Services for 2020.
Full information on the scheme is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0e3b3d-minor-flood-mitigation-works-and-coastal-protection-scheme/.
Land Issues
Ceisteanna (164)
Robert Troy
Ceist:164. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of work by the Office of Public Works on riparian rights and the legal obligations of landowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3385/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An online guidance document providing some practical advice and assistance to riparian landowners for the management of watercourses is available on flooding.ie.
Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme
Ceisteanna (165)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:165. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a person (details supplied) did not satisfy the criteria for the voluntary homeowners relocation scheme in 2016 in view of the circumstances; the actions that will be taken to assist them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3389/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy very shortly.
Flood Relief Schemes Status
Ceisteanna (166)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:166. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the timeline for flood relief in Mountmellick, County Laois will be accelerated in view of the recent flooding and the increased risk to homes and businesses. [3568/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following the flooding in the town in November 2017, the flood relief scheme for Mountmellick was expedited by taking it out of the main CFRAM study and accelerating its progression separate to and in advance of the overall CFRAM programme.
Due to the complexity of developing a robust scheme and the statutory processes that must be adhered to, schemes can have a significant lead in time. Ensuring that the design, environmental and planning elements are correct now limits the risk to critical delays or challenges later in the project cycle. Since the commencement of the project the consultants have undertaken survey work, data collection and analysis in preparation for the first public information day which took place in November 2019.
The consultants are currently carrying out more detailed surveys in order to calibrate the flood model, this will inform the selection of a preferred option. Additionally, the consultants, along with the Council, have been collecting data from the most recent flood event to assist in ascertaining the flow paths and velocities of the river in a flood event. This will aid further in the design of the proposed solution.
I can assure you that the OPW and Laois County Council are working with the consultants in order to ensure that the scheme is progressed as efficiently as possible.
Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (167)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:167. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in relation to an application by Cork County Council to the OPW for funding for a project (details supplied) in County Cork; the timeline for the adjudication on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3707/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have been advised by the Office of Public Works (OPW) that an application has been submitted by Cork County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for a project at the location mentioned in the Deputy’s question.
Assessment of the application is ongoing and the Council will be advised of the outcome when this is completed.
Flooding Data
Ceisteanna (168)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:168. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of instances of flooding as a result of recent storms; the estimated value of damage; the immediate plans to address these floods; the medium and long-term plans to mitigate the risk of future flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3748/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In line with the statutory framework for emergency response, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has lead responsibility for co-ordinating the national response to flood events and can provide the Deputy with information on flood instances and estimated value of damage as a result of recent storms.
Most of the flood affected areas were on certain stretches of the river Shannon.
The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established by the Government in 2016 to support existing plans in place and planned to address flooding and to enhance the ongoing co-operation of all state agencies involved with the River Shannon.
The Group publishes an Annual Work Programme that demonstrates the extensive range of activities and co-ordination by all State Agencies underway to jointly and proactively address flood risk along the Shannon. These Work Programmes are available at www.opw.ie.
The Group has taken a number of significant decisions since its establishment, including targeted maintenance activities at a number of locations, trialling the lowering of the levels on Lough Allen, studies to explore managing flood risk at the Callows and a study on the cause, degree and rate of restriction downstream of Parteen Weir.
In January 2020, Mr. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, announced that he has secured government support for €7 million investment to advance a planned programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ on the bed of the River Shannon at the Callows Region between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve the conveyancing of the River Shannon. This investment, following full environmental assessment and planning, as well as helping to mitigate Summer, low level, flooding to support the tourism, navigation and agricultural sectors for this region.
In relation to plans to address flood risk nationally, in May 2018 the Government launched a €1billion investment programme in flood relief measures and schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2018-2027, to protect properties and communities assessed by the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme to be at significant risk from flooding, that is , from the 100 year flood event.
CFRAM was the largest study of flood risk management undertaken in Ireland and followed best international practice. It assessed the flood risk for those 300 communities most likely to be impacted from flooding in the future, and included 90 coastal communities.
The flood risk in these communities represents 80% of the risk from our primary cause of flooding - and they are home to almost two thirds of our population.
For these communities CFRAM assessed both the flood risk and its impact for today and in the future from climate change using two internationally recognised climate change scenarios.
CFRAM also provided the evidence to recommend 118 flood relief schemes in addition to the 33 already underway at that time; and other solutions that can manage that risk. The details of these were published in May 2018 in 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs). The details of the flood risk and the FRMP by location are available on the OPW website www.floodinfo.ie.
45 flood relief schemes, costing over €400m have been completed protecting approximately 10,000 properties and avoiding damages and losses estimated at €2billion approximately.
Since the launch of the FRMPs in May 2018, the OPW and Local Authorities have been pro-actively engaged to advance the implementation of schemes and have almost tripled from 33 to 92, the number of major flood relief schemes at design and construction. Project Steering Groups have been established and are working to oversee the implementation of the projects. This collaboration and NDP allocated funding will allow the OPW and Local Authorities to complete these 92 schemes currently in the pipeline and bring the balance of 59 schemes, identified by the FRMPs through design and construction.
In addition to advancing with major schemes, the OPW also works closely with Local Authorities to support local flood relief projects up to a maximum of €750,000 per project under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The total amount of funding drawn down to date by Local Authorities under this Scheme since 2009 is €39 million in respect of over 580 completed projects. These are providing local flood relief to some 7,000 properties. Approximately two thirds of these are outside of those areas to be protected by major flood relief schemes.
Flooding Data
Ceisteanna (169)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:169. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood instances as a result of the recent storms by county and location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3749/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In line with the statutory framework for emergency response, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has lead responsibility for co-ordinating the national response to flood events and can provide the Deputy with information on flood instances and estimated value of damage as a result of recent storms.
Public Service Stability Agreement
Ceisteanna (170)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:170. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in relation to the linkage between the pay of serving teachers and the pensions of retired teachers in the context of the Public Service Stability Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3757/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would advise the Deputy that the pension increase policy that is currently in place in respect of the pre-existing public service pension schemes (i.e. not including the Single Pension Scheme) represents a time-limited, conditions-bound return to the non-statutory, pay-linked method of pension adjustment which prevailed until the onset of the financial emergency.
Under that policy, increases applied to serving staff over the course of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), are passed on to those pensions awarded under pre-existing public service schemes where the salary on which the pension is based does not exceed the salary of serving staff with the same grade and scale point, after the pay increase has been applied. If it qualifies, the pension is eligible for an increase to the extent that this will ensure alignment with the pay of serving staff.
The current pension increase policy was agreed by the Government in the context of its commitments made under the PSSA, which runs until the end of 2020.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Single Pension Scheme introduced for new entrants to the public service from 1 January 2013 onwards is a career average pension scheme which provides that both the referable amounts that are accrued by serving staff while in employment, as well as pensions in payment, are uprated in line with changes in the consumer price index.
Office of Public Works Projects
Ceisteanna (171)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW, on foot of a draft strategic plan, is proposing to provide a roadway across the polo grounds in the Phoenix Park which has an historic association with the sport since 1873; if an alternative will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3818/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Office of Public Works has no plans to provide a roadway across the Polo grounds in the Phoenix Park.
The Polo grounds date from 1873 and are the oldest Polo grounds in Europe. They form part of the historic fabric of the Phoenix Park and are an important part of its rich sporting heritage.
The Phoenix Park Visitor Experience Strategic Review made no reference to a roadway across the Polo grounds and it should be noted that this review is not a formal development plan or strategy for the Phoenix Park.
Public Appointments Service
Ceisteanna (172, 173)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:172. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons recruited in 2019 from the dedicated Civil Service panels for those with a competence in both the English and Irish languages; the Departments they were assigned to; if these recruits were assigned to positions that had an Irish language requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3865/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraÉamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:173. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of positions notified by Departments to the Public Appointments Service that require staff to be competent in both official languages by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3866/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent recruiter of people into the civil service.
I understand from PAS that they recruited and assigned 25 people from dedicated Civil Service panels for those with a competence in both the English and Irish languages in 2019 to various departments/offices.
The receiving Departments and Officers are outlined in the table below.
The specific nature of the roles to which these individuals were appointed is a matter, not for PAS, but the Head of Human Resources in each receiving Department and office and location.
An EO Irish competition is currently underway and approximately 130 candidates are due to attend for interview and Irish test from Monday 10 March 2020. A panel will then be formed of qualified candidates from which assignments to Irish posts can be made.
PAS will fill any EO vacancies once the EO competition mentioned above is finished.
PAS also intend to run a bilingual CO competition shortly as the current CO panel is exhausted.
|
Grade |
Department/Office |
Location |
No. |
|
Clerical Officer |
Revenue |
Galway |
4 |
|
|
|
Donegal |
3 |
|
|
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
|
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
|
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
|
Taoiseach |
Dublin |
1 |
|
|
Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht |
Galway |
1 |
|
|
Central Statistics Office |
Cork |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
Central Statistics Office |
Dublin |
1 |
|
Aistritheoir Grade 3 |
Public Appointments Service |
Dublin |
1 |
|
|
Houses of the Oireachtas Service |
Dublin |
6 |
|
Parliamentary Reporter (Irish) |
Houses of the Oireachtas Service |
Dublin |
1 |
|
|
Houses of the Oireachtas Service |
Dublin |
2 |
|
Aistritheoir Grád I |
Houses of the Oireachtas Service |
Dublin |
1 |
|
Total |
|
|
25 |
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (174)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:174. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the SNA provision for a child (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2730/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
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.
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.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (175, 241)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when appropriate medical facilities will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); if immediate and urgent steps can be taken to address the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3056/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when appropriate educational facilities will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); if immediate and urgent steps can be taken to address the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3057/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 241 together.
Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.
167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 will be new autism special classes, comprising 6 Early Intervention, 100 primary, and 50 post-primary autism classes.
A list of special classes for September 2019 is available on the NCSE website at:
https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NCSE-List-of-Special-Classes-for-September-2019.pdf
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
Normally, special class and school places are established with the full cooperation of the schools in areas where they are required. However there are some parts of the country where the NCSE has faced challenges in getting schools and their patrons to voluntarily agree to provide special class or school places.
I know that this can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.
Last year, the NCSE indicated that parents in Dublin 15, South Dublin, Kildare and Cork were experiencing difficulty securing school places for their children.
As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.
The legislation has been used twice in Dublin to address shortages of special class and school places.
The legislation contains a procedure through which the NCSE can test the capacity of schools in an area to provide more special education places and through which ultimately a Ministerial direction can be made requiring a school to make additional special education places available. The Act prescribes a set of steps to follow which includes extensive consultation with schools and their patron bodies.
The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The NCSE will only activate the legislation after it has taken all reasonable efforts to get schools and their Patrons to voluntarily agree to provide additional special class or school places.
I would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from me. It is the right thing for the children in a community.
The NCSE's Local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs in relation to special class provision.
As the Deputy's query relates to a school placement for an individual pupil, it has been referred to the NCSE for direct reply.
The provision of therapeutic supports is a matter for the HSE.
School Transport Administration
Ceisteanna (176)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:176. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the decision to have a limit of 70 years of age for taxi and bus drivers transporting special needs children to school under the school transport scheme was arrived at; his plans to review the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2567/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However Bus Éireann part-time School Bus Drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite licence and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.
This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.
As the policy has already been reviewed to extend the retirement age from 66 to 70, there are no plans to have this age limit extended at present.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (177)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:177. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a full-time SNA for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
At the end of 2019 there were approximately 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011.
As this query relates to an application for SNA support for a particular pupil, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply. As Minister, I do not have a role in making determinations in individual cases.
School Transport Eligibility
Ceisteanna (178)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:178. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the transport options available for a child (details supplied) in County Tipperary attending an ASD unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2599/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
Parent(s) of the child referred to by the Deputy should contact School Transport Section of my Department or their school principal who will advise in regard to an application for school transport.
Further information regarding the School Transport Schemes are available on the Department’s website at www.education.ie.
Teachers' Panel Rights
Ceisteanna (179)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding teachers moving panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2610/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers, to other schools that have vacancies.
At primary level, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from the Main Redeployment Panel in the first instance and thereafter from Supplementary Redeployment Panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
Primary teachers are placed on redeployment panels in line with the patronage of the school from which they are redeployed and are available to schools with teaching vacancies that are within a 45km distance of the teacher’s base school.
At post primary level, teachers may be redeployed to schools within a 50 km distance of the teacher’s existing school or, where the teacher so requests, from his/her place of residence.
The redeployment arrangements are published annually on the Department of Education website.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (180)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:180. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that defects to a primary school building (details supplied) in County Cork built less than a decade ago that have been brought to his attention are attended to; if the issues are covered by the original bond entered into at the time of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2625/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has requested the Project Manager who administered this project to submit detailed proposals dealing with various issues raised with the building. Upon receipt of these proposals my Department will be in contact with the school authorities.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (181)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:181. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a building project (details supplied); the timescale for the commencement of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2627/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A new building project for the school to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council (LCC).
The project has now progressed through Stage 2(b) which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification, and the preparation of tender documents. I am pleased to advise that the project has very recently been approved to go to tender in that respect. Once the tender process has been completed, and a contractor appointed, construction can be expected to begin on site.
Emergency Works Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (182)
James Browne
Ceist:182. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a recently submitted emergency works grant application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2630/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The school in question has submitted an application for Emergency Works in regards to Disability Access and has been asked to submit additional information. The application cannot be properly assessed until this information has been returned.