Written Answers Nos. 265-284
267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which she expects to be in a position to provide minor improvement works to primary schools throughout County Kildare by way of the summer works scheme or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35737/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works.
The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and the Department are currently addressing category 2 and 6 projects (toilets and roofs).
268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which she expects to be in a position to provide minor improvement works to second-level schools throughout County Kildare by way of the summer works scheme or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35738/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works.
The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and the Department are currently addressing category 2 and 6 projects (toilets and roofs).
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the number and location of primary schools throughout County Kildare with a requirement for improvement and upgrade works of a major or minor nature; the extent to which such works are in hand or currently scheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35739/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the relevant school authority in the first instance.
The main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works.
The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and the Department are currently addressing category 2 and 6 projects (toilets and roofs). There are currently 8 Schools in Kildare who have SWS projects under these Categories details of which can be found on my Departments Website.
The Emergency Works Scheme is available to all recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools to provide funding in an Emergency Situation. An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. There are currently 17 approved Emergency Works Scheme projects ongoing in Kildare.
270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she and her Department have agreed to provide new second-level schools at precise locations throughout County Kildare; the extent to which such works are in hand or ongoing; the schedule for the projects concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current NDP, as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework, provides for €8.8bn investment in schools during the period 2018 to 2027. The increased investment under the NDP has positioned the State to focus on adding capacity to cater for increased enrolments and demographic needs.
During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, including permanent accommodation for 229 special classes; and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country. 17 of these projects delivered were in County Kildare.
The Department has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large Scale Capital Programme and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. 51 of these projects are in County Kildare. 30 of these projects are on the Large Scale Capital Programme, of which 12 are Post Primary projects. There are 21 projects on the Additional Accommodation Programme of which 7 are Post Primary projects.
The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department of Education and Skill’s website at www.education.ie and updated regularly. It should be noted that at individual project level, Design teams are required to provide a delivery programme to school authorities and to keep them updated on progress of their projects including through the provision of monthly progress reports.
Large Scale Capital Programme
Status of Current Projects – Post Primary
|
Roll No. |
School Name |
Address |
Project Brief |
Project Type |
Current Stage |
|
61702D |
St Pauls Secondary School |
Monasterevin |
The development will consist of the construction of a post primary school ( Saint Paul’s Secondary School ), which will accommodate c.850 pupils, |
New School Building |
Stage 4 |
|
70700A |
Maynooth Post Primary School |
Maynooth |
1,000 pupil school plus 2 Classroom SEN Base |
New School Building |
Stage 4 |
|
76193Q |
Maynooth Community College |
Maynooth |
1000 pupil plus 2 SEN Base |
New School Building |
Stage 4 |
|
76194S |
Naas Community College |
Naas |
1,000 pupil school plus 2 SEN Base |
New School Building |
Stage 4 |
|
70650L |
Athy Community College |
Athy |
Extension to increase capacity to LTPE 1000 |
Extension & Refurbishment |
Stage 2b |
|
61681V |
Patrician Secondary School |
Newbridge |
Extension to provide an LTPE of 900 |
Extension & Refurbishment |
Stage 1 |
|
61690W |
Cross And Passion College |
Kilcullen |
an extension to increase capacity to LTPE 1000 |
Extension & Refurbishment |
Stage 1 |
|
61730I |
Coláiste Naomh Mhuire |
Naas |
Extension to increase capacity to LTPE 900 |
Extension & Refurbishment |
Stage 1 |
|
70720G |
St Farnan's Post Primary School |
Prosperous |
a new school building to increase capacity to LTPE 1000, existing PE hall to be refurbished |
New School Building |
Stage 1 |
|
76554W |
Maynooth Post Primary School |
Maynooth |
Brief to be confirmed |
New School Building |
Stage 1 |
|
70660O |
Curragh Post-Primary School |
Curragh |
Proposed 1,000 pupil school - to be confirmed |
New School Building |
Project Brief |
|
91614B |
Celbridge Community School |
Celbridge |
Proposed 1,000 pupil + 4 SEN Base |
New School Building |
Project Brief |
Additional Accommodation Programme
Status of Current Projects – Post Primary
|
Roll_No. |
School Name |
Address |
Project Brief |
Project Type |
Current Stage |
|
61691B |
Scoil Dara |
Kilcock |
Purchase of 3 x 49m2 prefabs |
Temporary Accommodation |
Stage 4 |
|
91614B |
Celbridge Community School |
Celbridge |
Provide Classrooms |
Extension |
Stage 4 |
|
61661P |
Salesian College |
Celbridge |
2 Classroom Base SNU + 4 resource rooms |
Extension |
Stage 3 |
|
61691B |
Scoil Dara |
Kilcock |
5x Mainstream classrooms & 5 x WC for assisted users, 2xScience labs &1xPrep area, 1xArt/craft room--- 4xMainstream classroom 4xWC for assisted users (Prefab replacement) |
Extension |
Stage 1 |
|
70691C |
Confey Community College |
Leixlip |
1 classroom SEN base |
Extension |
Stage 1 |
|
70730J |
Ardscoil Rath Iomgháin |
Rathangan |
3 Science Laboratories + prep. area, 3 mainstream classrooms (prefab replacement), 1 mainstream classroom, 4 SET rooms, 1 Art room, 1 Music Room, 1 Multi-media room, 2 SENB |
Extension |
Stage 1 |
|
91372D |
Scoil Mhuire Community School |
Clane |
2xScience labs, 5x General classrooms |
Extension |
Stage 1 |
271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which special needs placements remain available at primary and post-primary schools throughout County Kildare; the adequacy of such provision at the present time; the extent to which she anticipates an increase in the level of such places in the course of the next twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35741/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing. Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis.
Planning for future needs takes into consideration the current availability of such places and focuses on those locations where additional provision is required. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.
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.
In establishing new special classes, the NCSE is required to satisfy itself that the class is both sustainable and available to all of the students who may need special class placements in a particular area.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This year, just under 25% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
For the coming school year there will be over 13,600 Special Education Teachers allocated to mainstream schools, who will support class teachers to address the special educational needs and learning needs of pupils who attend mainstream schools.
This year we are also providing for two new special schools and 269 new special classes. We will have a total of 2,118 special classes in 2021/22, which is the largest number of special classes that we have ever had, and compares to 548 classes available in 2011.
18,000 Special Needs Assistants will be available to support the care needs of pupils with special educational needs in our schools.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to prioritise investment in special education.
The local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which the enrolment process at primary-school level remains amenable to most families throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35744/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 strives to create a new more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools in this country.
The provisions of the Act aim to make it easier for parents to more easily access local schools and to enrol their children in a school that meets their needs. The Act requires schools to be fair and transparent in deciding how to prioritise children for admission to the school. Schools must accept all applicants where they have places and if there are more applicants than places available, selection criteria will be required.
All schools have drafted admissions policies, which have been approved by the Patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website.
All schools must publish an admissions notice annually, outlining the timelines of the admissions process. This must be published a minimum of one week prior to the admissions process taking place. Schools cannot start this process until 1 October at the earliest in the year preceding the school year applied for, the advantage of having a clear starting date is that parents will know with certainty that schools will not start accepting applications before this key date.
My Department has published on its website a FAQ document to assist schools and parents in relation to any queries they might have regarding the admission process. The FAQ document is available here.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which the school transport system is being monitored with a view to ensuring resolution of most argumentative issues that have arisen in respect of primary and post-primary school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35745/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and are offered seats where capacity exists after all eligible children have been catered for.
My Department recently commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme. Following commencement of this review in February 2021 and a detailed analysis and report conducted by the Technical Working Group in the interim period, the Steering Group recently presented me with its initial interim report, a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school.
Following consideration of this report, I have approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures which allow for students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time. This will result in transport being provided for an estimated additional 1,800 post-primary pupils in the 2021/2022 school year, who otherwise would not be accommodated under the scheme. This arrangement will be in place for the coming school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme.
Wider considerations relating to the objectives of the scheme and the criteria for eligibility will take place in the next phase of the review which is now underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which provision continues to be made to ensure the viability of smaller and denominational rural or urban schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35746/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware small schools are defined for statistical purposes as schools with 4 mainstream teachers or less. Small schools are highly valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to local heritage and history, help sustain rural populations and often act as a link for sports and social activity.
There is a commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to recognise the importance of small schools. There is a further commitment not to close any small school without the consent of parents. The decision making authority for a school closure belongs to the Patron of a school. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level. Proposals must be agreed with the Department.
Budget 2020 provided for improved teacher staffing levels for small schools. This measure saw a more favourable pupil teacher ratio in small schools from September 2020. This improved schedule will apply in two, three and four teacher schools and ensure one less pupil is required to retain/recruit a teacher. This builds on measures in previous budgets which has seen improvements in the appointment and retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and more favourable enrolment thresholds for one teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.
Small schools have also benefitted from the 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule for all schools implemented in 2016 and again in 2018. The staffing schedule at primary level currently operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher and will reduce to 25 pupils to every 1 teacher from September 2021 which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.
The work now underway in relation to small schools seeks to build on this and is being advanced through the Primary Education Forum.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which progress continues to be made towards permanent accommodation for a Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35747/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has given approval to the Patron of the school referred to by the Deputy to appoint a Consultant to undertake an Options Study of the property in question. This Study, when available, will be used as a basis for determining the necessary refurbishment works required to the property. This process is ongoing at present.
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the time schedule for the provision of new second-level facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35748/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
I can confirm that a design team to deliver this project has been appointed by the ETB. My Department has been informed by 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.
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress and expected date for the completion of replacement facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35749/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the Board of Management of the school.
The Service Level Agreement (SLA) has been issued to the Board of Management. The Board is currently in the process of procuring a Design Team for the project. Thereafter, it will ensure that the project progresses to design stage, obtains the necessary statutory planning permission, and moves the project onward to tender and construction in due course.
As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.
280. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if a behaviour therapist will be provided from its commencement for a school (details supplied). [35418/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial schools generally cater for children with the most complex needs. Accordingly, these schools have enhanced staffing levels with greatly reduced pupil:teacher and SNA staffing allocations. The provision of training and support for these schools is prioritised including access to training and post graduate programmes tailored to meeting the needs of children with complex needs. On an ongoing basis, these schools have access to the NCSE advisory support service which advises on children with the most complex needs including behavioural needs.
Special schools in a start-up situation are targeted for specific support. Care is taken in the planning of these schools and the provision of specialist training and support. A bespoke package of CPD and professional learning for the staff of this new school is in place and is currently being updated with inputs from my Department, NEPS and the relevant agencies including the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). This School will also receive support from the National Educational Psychological Service.
The Deputy may also be aware of the School Inclusion Model (SIM) which has been developed in collaboration with the Departments of Health; Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the NCSE and the HSE.
The NCSE is currently piloting this new model in CHO 7. As part of this new model NCSE teams have been enhanced to include Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Behaviour Practitioners to support schools build capacity to include children with special educational needs.
The school referred to by the Deputy is located in CHO7 and will be supported by the enhanced NCSE regional team.
281. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education her plans to look at mainstream and autism classes to expand the pilot scheme for speech and language therapists and occupational therapists for autistic children. [35419/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Inclusion Model (SIM) is based on the principle of providing the right educational, care and therapeutic supports at the right time for children with special education needs. Its purpose is to help these students achieve better education and life outcomes. The policy is based on evidence based advice provided by the National Council for Special Education. Independent evaluation is critical to the development of this new model of service and its extension to other schools.
SIM includes the following elements:
- Provision of in-school therapies (speech and language, occupational)
- Allocation of Special Needs Assistants on a frontloaded basis thereby removing the need for a diagnosis in order to access care support
- Additional professional supports for schools including psychology, behavioural and professional development
- Training of SNAs
SIM has been developed in collaboration with the Departments of Health; Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the NCSE and the HSE.
In February 2019, the Government approved the trialling of the Model for the 2019/20 school year. Initially designed as a one year pilot involving up to 75 participating schools in the CHO 7 region, it was interrupted by Covid-19 with the closure of schools and the diversion of HSE therapists from the project to Covid related work. It was then extended to the 2020/21 school year which has also been interrupted by Covid.
Progress has been made on aspects of the Model but much remains to be done in terms of in-school implementation and evaluation.
As part of the 2021 Budget measures, funding was provided for the expansion of the School Inclusion Model during the 2021/22 school year.
Planning is underway on the arrangements for the continuation and expansion of the SIM pilot. This involves the development of a detailed plan which I will bring to Government in September. In the absence of this plan and the completion of the underlying consideration, it is not possible to say which new areas will be selected.
The plan will address some very important matters including:
- Resumption of SIM in the CH07 area
- the criteria for the selection of the new areas
- supply of therapists
- evaluation arrangements
- consultation with stakeholders
At present, there is ongoing engagement with other Government Departments and their agencies on the plan.
I expect to be in a position to make an announcement on the matter in the autumn.
282. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is working on plans to combat youth unemployment with specific focus on those not in education, employment or training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30180/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the experience of past recessions indicates that youth employment tends to be significantly impacted by any labour market shock. This is because many employers operate a "last in-first out" approach when reducing their labour force. Moreover, in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on our youth is driven by the tendency for many younger people to work in some of the sectors most severely impacted by the pandemic: namely, the hospitality (accommodation & food) and retail sectors.
Prior to the pandemic, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate (15-24 year olds) stood at just under 12% in December 2019. Latest estimates from the CSO, however, indicate that the traditional unemployment rate for young persons stood at 20.1 percent for young people in May. This estimate excludes those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). When all those in receipt of the PUP are included, this gives a COVID-19 adjusted unemployment rate estimate of 58.8 percent for young people at the end of May.
A significant number of PUP recipients are students. As of last week (June 22nd 2021), it is estimated that just under 27,000 PUP recipients are students, with the vast majority under the age of 25. Using international measures of unemployment, set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), students are generally not counted as unemployed, as they are not considered part of the labour force. Therefore, the inclusion of PUP recipients, including students, in the COVID-19 adjusted measure of youth unemployment serves to inflate this measure.
While the employment of young people has been significantly affected by the pandemic, we also know from past recessions that they are also the most resilient, with youth unemployment levels typically falling quite quickly once economic activity resumes. Many have already returned to work, and others will continue to return to their previous employment, as public health restrictions continue to ease.
However, others will require assistance and support to return to employment, reskill and to find new jobs. As a consequence, my Department is supporting a range of initiatives to assist people, including young people, back to work.
As outlined under the Government’s ‘Economic Recovery Plan’, which was launched on June 1st 2021, a central focus of the recovery process will be on helping people get back to work, training or education by extending labour market supports, and through intense activation and skills opportunities. Pathways to Work 2021-2025 will be a key delivery mechanism of the Economic Recovery Plan’s second Pillar on ‘Helping People Back into Work’.
In supporting people back into employment – including young people – the Pathways to Work 2021–2025 strategy will seek to minimise any long-term scarring effects of the pandemic on the labour force for those whose jobs are permanently lost while providing support to those unemployed pre-pandemic. The strategy will also set out how an expanded Public Employment Service will utilise its existing and expanded capacity to deliver effective services in a post-COVID labour market with an overall target of increasing the caseload capacity by 100,000 per annum.
Some of the key supports for young people that will form part of Pathways to Work and the Economic Recovery Plan include:
- Expanding the JobsPlus scheme to 8,000 places and enhancing the incentive to recruit young jobseekers in particular, by increasing the youth age limit from 25 to 30 years.
- Accelerating rollout of an additional 50,000 education and training places to support jobseekers to upskill and reskill for the labour market.
- A new Government Youth Employment Charter for intensive engagement with young jobseeker which will build on the new EU Reinforced Youth Guarantee.
- A new work placement scheme which is open to all regardless of age, but should be particularly attractive to and beneficial for young people, not in education, requiring work experience.
My Department works closely with the Further Education and Training sector to provide access to training, upskilling and reskilling opportunities. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science also last week announced the extension of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme until the end of December 2021. This scheme provides financial supports for employers who register apprentices to a national apprenticeship.
In addition, the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was launched in April by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It sets out a five-year strategy to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment of reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per year by 2025. The plan provides a roadmap to a single apprenticeship system and new supports for employers and apprentices, which will prove attractive for young people.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
283. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase expenditure on the pandemic unemployment payment if further Covid-19 restrictions are required. [32281/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or PUP, was introduced as an emergency measure to support qualifying employees and the self-employed who lost employment due to Government mandated public health restrictions.
To date expenditure on the scheme is over €8 billion and just under 900,000 people have benefitted from the scheme. This demonstrates the Government's clear commitment to support workers and businesses who have been severely impacted by Covid-19.
As an exceptional measure it would be neither feasible nor equitable to continue the PUP payment as the labour market and economy re-open. As public health restrictions are relaxed thousands of jobs are resuming each week and the requirement for emergency measures is diminishing.
To allow as much time as possible for the economy to re-open and for employment to recover, the Government decided to taper the payment and withdraw it slowly over a prolonged period. Accordingly the rates of payment will remain unchanged until September when they will commence a gradual reduction over 6 months back to the standard jobseekers rate for a single adult of €203. While this is being implemented, the Department will be focusing on the provision of employment and training services.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the position with regard to the PUP will be kept under review if the public health position changes.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
284. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if it will be ensured that all same-sex parents are facilitated in being recognised as the parents of their children, including being permitted to have both their names on birth certificates. [28648/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions in relation to parentage of a child born as a result of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedure for same sex couples are contained in Part 2 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (CFRA 2015). The parentage provisions became operational on 4 May 2020
Under the current legislation it is possible for both parties in a same-sex female relationship to be declared parents and, also, to have both of their particulars entered in the register of births as parents of the child.
Existing birth registrations can be re-registered to include both same sex parents as the parents of the child with a court order under S21 of S22 of the CFRA 2015.
S19A of the Civil Registration Act 2004 (CRA 2004) allows both female same sex parents to be registered as the parents of their child at the initial registration stage of the child's birth.
The changes affected by the CFRA 2015 do not apply to male same sex couples or to same sex female couples where a DAHR procedure has been performed outside the State after 4 May 2020, or where the procedure has not been performed in a recognised DAHR facility .
The legislation in this area is a matter for the Minister for Health. The specific issue of legislating for parentage for all same sex couples should be raised with his Department.
From my perspective, civil registration legislation governing registration of births will be kept in line with legislation covering determination of parentage that is set out in the relevant legislation.
