Written Answers Nos. 122-141
122. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the amount expended on access to online and hard-copy media publications since May 2020 to date; and the breakdown of online and hard-copy subscriptions, including the publications to which his Department subscribes. [27638/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department spent €3,310 on access to online and hardcopy media publications since May 2020 . The breakdown of these subscriptions is outlined in the table below:
|
Publication |
Amount |
Format |
|
Data Protection Ireland |
€408.75 |
Online |
|
Industrial Relations News |
€450.50 |
Hardcopy and Online |
|
Phoenix Magazine |
€34.50 |
Hardcopy |
|
Newspapers (Irish Times, Irish Independent, Irish Sun, Irish Daily Mail, Irish Daily Star, Irish Mirror, Irish Examiner, Evening Herald, Financial Times, Leinster Leader) |
€2,416.59 |
Hardcopy Newspapers |
|
Total |
€3,310.34 |
|
123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he has engaged a third-party company in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 to conduct media monitoring and-or provide reports on media coverage of his Department; and if so, the costs of same and the companies engaged. [27656/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister engages Kantar Media for clipping and media monitoring services for the Department of Defence. The cost for each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 are outlined in the table below:
|
YEAR |
AMOUNT |
|
2017 |
16,044.12 |
|
2018 |
16,044.12 |
|
2019 |
16,044.12 |
|
2020 |
12,033.09 |
This media clipping and monitoring service is used to provide timely awareness for my officials on a broad range of matters raised through media channels.
124. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and post-primary schools with access to hot running water; and the number of schools which have gained access to hot water in recent months. [27418/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe specific information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of primary and post-primary school that have access to or have recently gained access to hot water is not readily available within my Department.
The Deputy might wish to note health guidance which states that, while warm running water is preferable for handwashing, cold water is sufficient. In schools which do not have warm running water, a soap that emulsifies easily in cold water will be provided.
It is also recognised that the existing handwashing facilities in schools are not designed for the enhanced level of handwashing envisaged in a post COVID-19 environment without significantly impacting on educational class time including the requirement for a high level of supervision by teachers to ensure pupils wash their hands properly.
The public health guidance also states that hand sanitiser can be used. Hand-sanitisers in key areas in every school in the country, as well as in every classroom, are being provided. To enable the supply of sanitiser fluid for each school, a drawdown framework for use by schools to purchase sanitiser etc. (as well as other potential PPE requirements) is in place and all schools have been advised accordingly.
125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the procedures will be clarified in cases in which a school incurs multiple losses of teaching and other staff as a result of Covid-19 infections or needing to isolate as a result of close contact with infected persons; the procedure in cases in which as a result of such losses the staff-pupil ratio falls below the legal requirement as outlined on page 9 of the HPSC's Covid pathway for schools, which quotes the legal requirement for the staff-pupil ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27445/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe level of staffing in individual schools is determined by Department circulars. In primary schools, staffing is allocated in accordance with the published staffing schedule for the 2020/21 school year. Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level.
My Department has published guidance in respect of the COVID -19 operational supports for Primary and Post Primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risk associated with COVID-19. This is available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool
The operational supports include funding of approx. €84.7 million so that schools can employ replacement teachers, SNAs and administrative staff. There is additional funding of €41.2 million, for substitution in primary schools. This will provide more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and cover substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes. The Supply Panel Scheme has being expanded nationwide and over 300 posts have been allocated to provide substitute cover through these panels. The purpose of supply panels is to support schools to manage the sick leave and other absences by having a supply of teachers to meet substitution needs when required. Schools will continue to be able to access substitute teachers through the normal process, particularly if they are not connected to a supply panel.
There is also funding of €40m for enhanced supervision for post primary schools to minimise the interaction of students from different classes, in line with public health advice. An additional 1,080 teaching posts at post-primary level at a cost of €53 million has being provided to support the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary.
My Department recognises that notwithstanding the range of measures put in place, some schools have experienced challenges and my Department has continued to engaged with and support schools where they have demonstrated particular difficulties in accordance with circulars 45/2020 and 46/2020.
126. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if clarity will be provided on the guidelines to playschools and primary schools on the prohibition of the use of plastic lunch boxes (details supplied); and if the reason for the issuing of such guidance will be provided. [27463/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of reusable plastic lunch boxes was not prohibited under guidelines issued previously by the DCCAE. It is the use of single-use plastic cups and straws and other single-use plastic items that was prohibited. These guidelines on the elimination of single-use plastics in the interest of environmental sustainability have not been changed. However, these guidelines were issued prior to the onset of Covid-19, and prior to other guidelines from the Department of Health concerning responses to the virus. In the present circumstances, guidelines in the interest of public health in the face of Covid-19 should take precedence over other guidelines. Re-usable hard surface items, such as plastic lunch boxes, can be used and should be cleaned and sanitised between uses. Disposable items, such as plastic lunch bags and disposable rubber gloves, can be used when and where it is advisable or preferable to do so in the interest of public health. The advice of the HSE should be followed at all times.
127. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education further to report No. 98 of the Comptroller and Auditor General on school transport, if she will provide the exact figures that the Bus Éireann directors and auditors determined as profit in each year for school transport that was actually credited to the statutory financial statement in the profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement in each of the years 2010 to 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27469/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements form the basis of the payment to Bus Éireann for the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In this regard, the Department reimburses Bus Éireann for a range of costs incurred in the operation and administration of the scheme. Re-imbursement to Bus Éireann is on a cost recovery basis and there is no profit. Actual expenditure is finalised in the Bus Éireann annual statement of account which is independently audited by the Bus Éireann auditors in accordance with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. Balances, where they occur, are accounted for in the following year’s projected cost.
The Bus Éireann audited accounts are available on my Department's website.
128. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of ensuring that all 2011-14 entrants into teaching will be paid on equal pay scales to their colleagues who joined the teaching profession before and after them. [27487/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. As a result of the programme of pay restoration, the starting salary of a teacher from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692.
Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.”
The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this provision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for approximately €83 million. The report also acknowledges that, during the financial crisis, there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education).
The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
The total year one cost of equalising the pay of new entrant teachers to the pre-2011 arrangements is estimated to be in the region of €59 million per annum in year one (€45 million for full resolution of pay scales and €14 million for re-instatement of the H.Dip allowance). The costs would rise in subsequent years as more new entrants join the system.
On 24 September 2018, an agreement was reached between the Government and the public services committee of ICTU in respect of new entrant pay.
This agreement is benefitting 16,000 teachers and nearly 5,000 SNAs within the education sector. The deal provides for a series of incremental jumps for new entrants.
I am fully aware that the teacher unions have outstanding issues of concern following the September 2018 agreement. These outstanding matters will be given full consideration. This will happen in the context of the next round of pay talks. The positions of each of the parties on these matters must be given due regard in endeavouring to reach a mutually agreed resolution.
The current series of restorative measures for new entrants have been achieved through continued engagement and collective bargaining between the Government and the public service unions and shows the benefits that such engagement can bring.
129. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in portacabins; the amount being spent on each school in temporary accommodation; and the length of time they been in temporary accommodation in tabular form. [27501/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOf the 3,963 schools (3,240 primary and 723 post-primary) in the State, 405 schools (280 primary and 125 post-primary) are currently using or partially using rented accommodation. The current annual rental cost is €20.6m. As the information on individual school is commercially sensitive, this information cannot not be provided. The date of individual rentals ranges from 2000 to 2020.
I wish to advise the Deputy that, within the context of a rapidly increasing school population, my Department's priority is to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place. In this regard, it is sometimes necessary to make use of rented temporary accommodation in order to meet the accommodation needs of schools.
Furthermore, it may also be necessary to make use of temporary rented accommodation when an immediate or short term need arises. For example, a school may require a temporary building in circumstances where a major school construction project is planned. Such temporary accommodation is removed when the major project concerned is completed. The length of time it is necessary to make use of temporary rented accommodation will vary from project to project.
My Department is taking an integrated approach with the Prefab Replacement Programme through the replacement of prefabricated units as part of large-scale and devolved projects, or as part of new projects approved under the Additional School Accommodation scheme.
130. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the timeline on the extension project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27502/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Board of Management of the school referred to has been recently authorised to issue a Letter of Acceptance to the preferred bidder.
Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that construction will commence in mid October with a construction period of approximately 25 months.
131. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the amount being spent to lease land for a school (details supplied) to date; the monthly cost of the lease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27503/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has provided €386,234 to date to rent lands for school use at the property referred to by the Deputy. The monthly rent is €10,833.
132. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the amount being spent leasing a property for a school (details supplied) since the school was moved onto the premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27504/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was established in September 2020 and opened in interim accommodation in the Greystones Lawn Tennis Club.
A licence agreement is in place for this interim accommodation with a commencement date of 17th August 2020, for a period of eleven weeks. My Department does not generally disclose the value of particular leasing agreements as these matters are considered commercially sensitive.
Senior Department officials met with Kildare Wicklow ETB (KWETB) and Greystones Community College on Wednesday, 23rd September to discuss the schools current arrangements and the immediate and future accommodation requirements for the school.
My Department has agreed to look at all potential options in the area in the short and medium term ahead of the schools move to its designated permanent site in Charlesland, Greystones. This will include the provision of appropriate alternative interim accommodation, including specialist rooms, as quickly as possible as the current school year progresses.
133. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the stage in the design and planning process the proposed extension for a school (details supplied) is at; the reason for the current delay in completing the tender process; the proposed timeline for the completion of the extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27506/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Educational Training Board (KWETB). I can confirm that a design team to deliver this project has been appointed by the ETB in that respect.
We understand from KWETB that the design team is preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design) and it is nearing completion.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, KWETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
134. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if the proposed works at a school (details supplied) will include mitigation works for the school entrance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27507/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a major building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme.
This project has been devolved to the school's patron, Kildare Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB) for delivery and a design team has been appointed for the project. The role of the design team includes developing proposals relating to all matters associated with the delivery of the project which would include matters such as access to the school site. I understand from KWETB that the Design Team is currently preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design).
135. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27523/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary site surveys, location suitability and initial sketch scheme.
The Stage 1 report has just been received by my Department. Upon review, my Department will then be in contact with the school and its design team with regard to the further progression of the project.
136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if there are legislative or regulatory requirements preventing education and training boards from renewing leases on lands in their ownership before the expiry of existing leases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27531/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Education and Training Boards Act 2013 sets out that the acquisition, holding and disposal of land, or any interest in land is a reserved function of an Education and Training Board. The Code of Practice for the Governance of Education and Training Boards, which my Department published in January 2019 requires ETBs to obtain formal Ministerial sanction before disposing (including long term leases) of land, buildings or other material assets.
My Department’s ETB Property Oversight Group considers applications from ETBs for Departmental approval to lease properties. Where my Department receives an application from an ETB for sanction to renew a lease on land to a third party, it considers relevant factors surrounding the proposed lease such as the rationale for renewing the lease put forward by the ETB, value for money, the intended use of the property by the tenant, any strategic considerations arising from the proposed lease relating to planning for education provision in the area, whether the ETB has received professional property advice in relation to the property and whether the ETB Board has approved the lease.
My Department considers each application on a case by case basis in line with the requirements of the Code of Governance and the provisions of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 17/2016: Policy for Property Acquisition and for Disposal of Surplus Property.
There is no specific provision, either in the Education and Training Boards Act or in the Code of Practice for the Governance of Education and Training Boards which prevents an ETB from renewing a lease on land in its ownership in advance of the expiry of an existing lease but any decision to seek either board or Department approval for such course of action must take into consideration the issues outlined above.
137. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the status of the new building for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date; the expected date for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27541/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a site has been identified to accommodate a permanent school building for the school to which he refers. My Department is working closely with officials from Monaghan County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of the site. As the site acquisition process is complex, it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition.
The patron of the school in question has been informed of the location of the site and my officials will continue to progress the acquisition of this site so that the architectural planning process for the provision of a new permanent building for the school in question can commence.
138. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend facilities at a school (details supplied); if additional accommodation will include a PE hall and library; if consideration will be given to renewing windows and doors as part of works undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27542/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was granted funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020 to provide two mainstream classroom with en-suites. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
My Department is not in a position, at this point, to consider the request from the school for a PE Hall or library. The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The second half of the NDP (from 2023 onwards) will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision.
Works to the existing doors and windows referred to are eligible to be considered for funding under future Summer Works Scheme. Alternatively, the school may use its minor works grant to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as the grant permits if the school consider the works to be a priority.
139. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education when guidelines will be provided on the practical aspects of the geography investigation such as fieldwork projects for leaving certificate students and teachers, considering that geography is the only subject that has a practical element to the coursework which was not included within the guidelines from her Department upon school reopenings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27543/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Leaving Certificate Geographical Investigation accounts for 20% of the overall marks for Leaving Certificate Geography. The purpose of the investigation is to allow students to experience the practical application of the core geographical skills that are central to all units of the syllabus including physical, regional, human and economic geography. Students are required to identify aims, objectives and hypotheses for their investigation, select and use methods of collection and gathering appropriate to the chosen investigation topic, analyse and interpret results, draw valid conclusions and prepare a report.
The topic for the investigation must be chosen from an annual list of prescribed topics issued from the State Examinations Commission. The list of prescribed topics is prepared to ensure that the range of topics relate to as many of the units of the syllabus as possible including physical, regional, human and economic geography. This broad scope also ensures that the geographical investigation is accessible to as broad a range of learners and learning environments.
Furthermore, the list of topics provides scope and flexibility for a broad range of approaches to the investigation which may include the undertaking of a field study or an investigation which may involve desk based research. The 2021 investigation topics include a study of changing land-use, impact of migration, a local environmental issue, geology in a local area, impact of economic activity and impact of erosion on the landscape. The collection and gathering of information for each of these topics may involve gathering data through outside the school vis-à-vis an field study, survey, questionnaire etc. Alternatively, data may be collected using primary and secondary data available from journals, databases, government departments, published reports etc.
Some students may have the collection and gathering of data completed at this stage and in such cases they should complete their analysis and write up their report. In cases where the collection and gathering of data has not being undertaken, the flexibility of approach provided by the range of prescribed topics should be considered when choosing a topic for the geographical investigation in order that the investigation can be completed in line with public health requirements and guidelines. Any activity undertaken as part of the investigation should be done in compliance with these requirements.
The Department has also published a series of guidance documents as part of the reopening of our schools. These are available on www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
This includes guidance regarding practical subjects in post-primary schools. While this guidance does not specifically name Geography, the guidance provided in provided in relation to Science is applicable. The guidelines outline areas that may be considered when schools are making decisions about implementing the curriculum, while acknowledging that teachers are best placed to consider how to safely manage equipment within current public health guidelines as they may account for their own local context.
For example, the guidance advises that where the sharing of equipment between students cannot be avoided, each piece of shared equipment should be cleaned/wiped between each use and that group sizes should be kept as small as resources allow.
140. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the amount spent on media monitoring services by her Department; if the role is provided by private contract operators or in-house services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27564/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department engages the services of an external media monitoring provider for the monitoring of newspaper publications. Social media is monitored internally in the Department by the communications unit.
Media Monitoring costs:
In 2019, the total spent was €30,314.21 including licensing fee for Newspaper Licensing Ireland and NLA Media Access.
In 2020, the total spent to date is €15,024.45.
141. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of the proposed extension for a school (details supplied). [27578/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Department will be devolving the delivery of the project for the school to which he refers to Le Chéile Trust.
The next step in that respect is for Le Chéile Trust to enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Department. Once this is in place, Le Chéile Trust will then proceed with the appointment of a design team to progress the project through design, planning and construction in due course.
As the project has yet to proceed through the public procurement process, its value is commercially sensitive at this time.
