Written Answers Nos. 204-218
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which she expects to be in a position to address the issues of class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios in County Kildare and nationally in the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30586/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes. Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
Previous budgets of 2016 and 2018 improved the staffing schedule by one point on both occasions to its historically lowest level ever of 1 teacher to 26 pupils. 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.
I am delighted to build further on this progress by announcing a further 1 point reduction in Budget 2021.
The staffing schedule for the 2021/22 academic year now stands at 1 teacher for every 25 pupils. This measure will help ensure better teacher retention in primary schools while also ensuring that less pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher.
Teacher numbers at primary level have increased by almost 3,500 when comparing the 2015/16 school year with the 2019/20 school year and this has led to a steady improvement in the pupil teacher ratio and average class size statistics during this period.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio show an improved ratio of teachers to students from 16:1 to 15:1 at primary level when comparing the 2015/16 school year to the 2019/20 school year. Average class sizes improved from 24.9 to 24.1 in the same period. The most recent budget announcement will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes.
205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a review of the school transport system can be undertaken in an effort to bring about a resolution of the issues that have arisen in each area in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30587/20]
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 purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
In October 2019, my predecessor announced a review of the school transport scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme. Terms of reference and the scope of the review have been drafted and a Steering Group has been established.
Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 and the continued restrictions the work of the Steering Group has been delayed. It is intended to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government.
The Review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport, including examining the options to reduce car journeys and assessing how the School Transport Scheme can work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; examining the options for providing a better value and a better service for students, including and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.
206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which school patronage options have been taken up by the various primary and post-primary schools nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30588/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which school patronage options have been taken up by the various primary and post-primary schools throughout County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30589/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.
Since the arrangements for the establishment of new schools came into effect in 2011, a significant number of new schools have been established under the New Schools Establishment process. When it has been decided that a new school is required to meet a demographic need, a separate process is conducted to establish who will run (i.e. be the patron of) the school. In this regard, it is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a new school under the patronage process. Parental preferences for each patron, together with the extent of diversity currently available in the area, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
Separately, 12 new multi-denominational schools have been established under the patronage divesting process. In addition, a number of transfers of patronage, including from denominational patrons, to multi-denominational patrons have recently taken place increasing the number of multi-denominational Community National Schools.
The attached table provides details of schools established or having transferred patronage since 2011.
208. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education her plans to resolve the imbalance in pay scales for principals in primary level compared to secondary level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30614/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current in-school management structures were agreed and implemented in the late 1990s as a result of the PCW national pay agreement.
The allowance payable to principal teachers employed by the managerial authorities of primary schools is an eleven point scale. The allowance for Post Primary Principals is a seventeen point scale. This allowance is paid in addition to the teachers' basic salary. A basis for the difference in the length of the scales is the fact that primary schools in general are smaller than post primary schools. At this time there are no plans to review theses pay scales.
209. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer of an increase of €2.50 per week or €20 to the household benefits package to allay the cost of broadband for persons over 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30428/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €264 million this year on HHB for over 465,000 customers. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Based on an average of 330,637 persons aged 70 years or over,receiving the HHB package in 2021, the estimated full year cost of increasing the HHB package by €2.50 a week for those aged 70 or over to offset the cost of broadband would be in the region of €43 million in 2021. An additional €20 a month increase to the HHB package for the same cohort of recipients would cost in the region of €80 million in 2021. The estimate is based on the increase being implemented from January 2021. Further increased costs would obviously also arise in future years, related to the numbers then receiving HHB.
Any decision to enhance the HHB package by the introduction of a broadband element to the package would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
210. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to lift the moratorium on redundancy following temporary periods of lay-off and short-time work due to Covid-19, which has been extended until 30 November 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30491/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to extend the emergency measure relating to an employee's entitlement to claim redundancy from their employer following temporary lay-off or short-time work which arose as a result of Covid-19 was a difficult one. I know many employees who have been laid off are experiencing great uncertainty but, in making this decision, the Government had to consider the need to ensure businesses survive, which in turn ensures further permanent job losses are avoided as much as possible.
This emergency provision, Section 12A of the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, was enacted in order to ensure the future viability of businesses and help prevent permanent job losses. As a result of Covid-19 there have been immediate and unprecedented volumes of temporary lay-off and short time work situations. Under the existing provisions these lay-off and short-time situations could result in significant redundancy claims on employers in a very short period of time. Employers are obliged to pay redundancy entitlements to employees who have been temporarily laid off or placed on short-time work after a period of time. In light of the on-going emergency situation, the Government decided to extend the temporary suspension until 30th November 2020 in order to support businesses in continuing to recover and re-open and plan their future staffing requirements.
A decision has not been made yet on whether this emergency provision will continue after the 30th November and it will require discussion at Government level. In its deliberations the Government will have regard to the criteria and principles underpinning the emergency provision and the public health and labour market situations.
211. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to take up an available place on a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30371/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for participating on the Community Employment Programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various qualifying social welfare payments.
To participate on a Community Employment Scheme, a person must be unemployed and in receipt of certain Social Welfare payments for a period of at least 12 months. This is in keeping with commitments in Pathways to Work to target initiatives at those who are long-term unemployed. Also, in determining eligibility, a person must not have in excess of 30 days in cumulative employment in the previous 12 months. If they exceed 30 worked days in that time, then they fall outside the definition of long-term unemployed for the programme eligibility purposes, as they have proved themselves to be capable of finding and retaining employment. As the person concerned has been working casually and has in excess of the 30 days allowable during the last 12 months, he is not currently eligible for Community Employment. He is currently fully unemployed and if he continues to be fully unemployed and in receipt of a qualifying payment he will be eligible to apply for a CE vacancy and if successful to take up a placement from Monday 1st March 2021 for a period of one year.
There are however a number of options open to those who do not qualify for CE. In this context, the Department’s Intreo Office staff will be happy to advise Mr Millar of the activation interventions that might best suit his needs.
212. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if employees at a company (details supplied) who were delayed in applying for the short-time work support can apply for the back to school grant in view that the application deadline date has passed and the applications are still being processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30373/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each August/September. The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child increase is being paid. It is also payable to those between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
The allowance paid for each eligible child aged from 4 to 11 years on or before 30 September 2020 is €150 while an allowance of €275 is paid for each eligible child aged over 12 on or before 30 September 2020. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
This year, the eligibility criteria for back to school clothing and footwear allowance was extended to include the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment as a qualifying payment for the allowance. Recipients of this payment were also required to satisfy all the other qualifying conditions in order to qualify.
The back to school clothing and footwear allowance opened to new applications on 6 July 2020 and closed on 30 September in connection with the return to school. There is no change to the closing date.
Applications which are outside the terms of the back to school clothing and allowance scheme will not qualify for payment under the scheme. However, individuals who are refused a back to school clothing and footwear payment may be considered for exceptional needs payments (ENP) under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an exceptional needs payment should contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
213. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter relating to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30379/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
For the purposes of the means-test, it is necessary at the outset for applicants to provide full details of any income(s), assets, savings and investments they hold. Following the award of pension, a reporting obligation continues to apply whereby the pension recipient (and, where relevant, their qualified adult dependant, personal representative or agent) must notify the Department in a timely manner of any change in their circumstances that may impact on their pension entitlement.
An application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 6 July 2020. The case was referred to an Inspector of my Department to investigate the means of the person concerned. As the additional information requested by the Inspector on 8 September 2020 was not provided, the Inspector was unable to complete the means assessment.
As the means of the person was not known, the Deciding Officer was unable to establish if an entitlement to state pension (non-contributory) existed and the person's claim was disallowed. On 30 September 2020, the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision, the reason for the decision and their right if dissatisfied with the decision to request a review, or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
To date, there is no record of an appeal received from the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30381/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 22 July 2020. Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts.
I am advised that on 4 September 2020 the person concerned submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
215. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if pandemic unemployment payments will be made to persons over the age of 66; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30393/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pandemic unemployment payment is payable to people between the ages of 18 up to 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment. People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means tested pension.
A person in receipt of the State contributory pension can retain their entire State pension and employment income. If a person does not have the required number of contributions to receive the maximum rate of State pension contributory they may qualify for an increased rate of State non-contributory pension, depending on their circumstances. People receiving the non-contributory State pension who also have employment income may have their pension payment increased if they lose their employment income due to the pandemic or if it is reduced
People aged 66 and over may also be entitled to ancillary supports which include free travel, fuel allowance, household benefits package for gas or electricity costs and living alone allowance.
A person of any age who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie.
I hope that this clarifies the position for you.
216. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if lone parents will retain their income supports (details supplied) and claim the pandemic unemployment payment; if same will continue for the length of time that the pandemic unemployment payment is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30396/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in line with the overall Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moved swiftly at the outset of the pandemic to put in place enhanced and new supports for existing customers and new customers who, as a result of COVID-19, are working reduced hours or who have lost their employment entirely – even if on a temporary basis. A decision was taken in March to allow for the payment of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) concurrently with key supports for low income and lone parent families such as the Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.
217. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish operational guidelines for employers ensuring that flexibility is shown to parents with childcare difficulties to ensure that they can continue to receive the pandemic unemployment payment despite being unable to meet the conditions to be available and seeking work, especially for lone parents who are raising children without the support of another parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30397/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment Scheme is available to employees and self- employed people who have lost their employment and the income from that employment due to the pandemic, and who satisfy the other qualifying conditions of the scheme.
From the outset of Covid-19, many employers will have taken the initiative, in line with requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in giving staff time off and working patterns that enable them to look after their children who are not attending school or crèche. Employers have a general duty of care towards their workers and that care is often expressed in the form of negotiation, compromise and flexibility. Some of the options to be considered for workers with caring responsibilities that preclude them from working their normal hours or patterns include allowing employees to work from home, altering shifts or allowing employees to rearrange holidays or parental leave.
While employers cannot in principle be forced to keep paying or to keep in their employment workers who are not available to work for them, Government as well as Trade Unions and employer associations, has been encouraging all employers to be as flexible and supportive as possible in the circumstances with a view to maintaining good employment relationships over the long term. Any employees affected by the lack of childcare are strongly encouraged to engage with their employer in the first instance with a view to exploring all options available to enable them to return to, or continue with, work where possible.
Where a person in these circumstances is not able to avail of another leave or benefit, is not being paid by their employer and they are experiencing financial hardship may be able to access short term support available under the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the position.
218. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some parents have lost their working family payment due to their hours being cut due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact this is having on families, in particular lone parents with children over the age of 14 and who cannot access jobseeker's transition payment or one parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30398/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in line with the overall Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moved swiftly at the outset of the pandemic to put in place enhanced and new supports for existing customers and new customers who, as a result of COVID-19, are working reduced hours or who have lost their employment entirely – even if on a temporary basis. A decision was taken in March to allow for the payment of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) concurrently with key supports for low income and lone parent families including the Working Family Payment.
Working Family Payment is an in-work support which, once awarded, is payable for fifty-two weeks from date of award, this has not changed. If a customer does not meet the hours requirement due to a reduction in hours worked as a result of COVID-19 they may notify the Department and request a review of their entitlement. Confirmation from their employer, that the reduction in hours is as a result of COVID-19 is required.
My officials have analysed the instances of disallowances both pre and post COVID and there has been no increase in the number of claims being disallowed since the onset of the COVD-19 pandemic.
