Written Answers Nos. 68-87
68. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to expand the embassy network in Africa in the context of the Global Ireland Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5268/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Global Ireland initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of doubling Ireland's impact, including the expansion of Ireland's global footprint. An early step in taking forward the ambition of the Global Ireland Initiative, was the upgrading in 2018 of the Irish Aid office in Monrovia, Liberia, to Embassy status.
Building on Ireland’s longstanding engagement with Africa, and as part of the Global Ireland initiative, a new Government of Ireland Africa Strategy was launched in November 2019. The Strategy covers all countries on the African continent in a single strategic approach engaging political, economic, cultural, and development relations.
The Africa Strategy also sets out the framework for Ireland’s expanded presence in Africa, including a number of new Embassies in North and West Africa by 2025, in parallel with a deepening of existing strong relationships across the continent. As part of the Strategy a new Embassy was opened in Rabat, Morocco, during 2021, bringing the current total number of Ireland’s Embassies across the African continent up to thirteen, and providing an opportunity for Ireland to build our visibility in Morocco and the wider region including through the Embassy’s secondary accreditations.
Also in 2021, the Government announced its intention to open a new Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, if possible by the end of 2022. Ireland’s new Embassy in Dakar will enhance Ireland’s bilateral relations with Senegal and significantly contribute towards the advancing of Ireland’s strategic interests in francophone West Africa and the Sahel. In particular, the new Embassy will support accessing the significant potential that the region holds for Irish trade in goods and services and will act as a platform for a deepening of the Irish Aid programme in the Central Sahel, including through secondary accreditations.
The question of the further enhancement of Ireland's footprint in Africa, will be determined in the context of delivering on the next elements of the Global Ireland Initiative and the needs of a growing international development programme.
69. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the new Ireland House Irish Embassy to open in Tokyo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5269/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Government's Global Ireland 2025 initiative, Ireland is investing in a new, state-of-the-art Ireland House in Tokyo. Construction is expected to take two years and is scheduled to commence within the next twelve months.
Japan is an important and like minded partner for Ireland. As the third largest economy in the world, Japan is a vital market for Irish goods and services and an important source of foreign direct investment. The new Ireland House will be a symbol of Ireland’s commitment to its relationship with Japan and our ambition to develop this further.
The vision for this new ‘Ireland House’ building is to provide an exceptional platform for Ireland to deepen our engagement in Japan in future years. In addition, the new building will help raise Ireland’s profile in Japan and showcase our cultural heritage, creativity and innovation through excellence in design. The building will meet the highest sustainability standards.
Located in Yotsuya district in central Tokyo, Ireland House will be home to offices for the Embassy and the State Agencies and the official accommodation of the Ambassador. The building will also house a multi-use event and exhibition space for culture, promotion and business and will be a meeting place for the Irish community in Japan.
An international Design Competition was held to identify a design for the architects for the building, with Dublin based architects firm Henry J Lyons announced as the winning team in September 2020.
70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue in the case of persons (details supplied) whose applications were submitted via post a number of months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5367/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe processing of Foreign Birth Registration has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of Foreign Birth Registration applications at this time. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of Foreign Birth Registration staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
The applications referenced were registered on 26 February 2020, and will be processed in the near future. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicants shortly in this regard.
My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.
71. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if a passport submitted in July 2021 with the application can be used as supporting evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5372/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service does not currently have the documentation required to process this application to passport issue as these documents were returned to the applicant's parents in error.
The Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parents to apologise for this error and the inconvenience it has caused. They have been advised to resubmit the required documents to the Passport Service. Once these documents are received, the application will be prioritised for immediate passport entitlement checking.
72. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times the online passport service has gone down in each of the past 12 months; the number of complaints that have been received as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5373/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. 90% of all passport applications are received through Passport Online.
All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world. Passport Online can also be accessed by first time applicants, irrespective of age in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.
The Passport Online service was temporarily offline due to technical difficulties on four dates over the past year.
The Passport Service regrets that Passport Online experienced technical issues last week. Despite these issues, over 32,000 applications were submitted via Passport Online last week.
A scheduled system upgrade that will improve the responsiveness and efficiency of the system was completed on Friday, January 28th. This upgrade has addressed the issues experienced by some customers. Since the upgrade was completed, Passport Online has been fully functional and operating smoothly.
The Passport Service ensures that customers are fully informed of any scheduled downtime or technical issues with Passport Online via its social media accounts and on the Passport Online website.
The Passport Service has no record of any official complaints regarding Passport Online downtime over the past 12 months. The Customer Service Hub did experience an increase in calls and webchat enquiries as a result of the intermittent downtime last week and the Customer Service team advised all enquirers of the temporary nature of the issue.
73. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be provided for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5478/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parent and advised them on the status of their application.
74. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5214/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra75. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5215/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
The table below shows the establishment and current strength of the Defence Forces, by service, as at 31st December 2021, the latest date for which such data is available:
|
Service |
Establishment |
Current Strength (WTE) |
|
Army |
7,520 |
6,841 |
|
Air Corps |
886 |
751 |
|
Naval Service |
1,094 |
876 |
|
Total |
9,500 |
8,468 |
The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining, the agreed strength of each branch of the Defence Forces and, in that context, a number of initiatives are being implemented to counter current staffing challenges and these will play a role in restoring and retaining capacity.
Additionally, the Commission on the Defence Forces is finalising its work with a view to completing their report as soon as possible. The Commission’s Report, when submitted, will be fully considered at that point.
76. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current total strength of Air Corps personnel; and the breakdown of the number of qualified military pilots, cadet pilots in training, qualified military aircraft maintenance technicians, qualified military avionics technicians and military apprentices in training of both disciplines. [5216/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Air Corps, as at 31st December 2021 (latest date for which such data is available) is 751 wholetime equivalent personnel.
The table below shows the strength by requested stream:
|
Personnel Stream |
Strength as at 31/12/2021 |
|
Qualified pilots |
89 |
|
Cadets currently completing military training* |
15 |
|
Young officers in pilot training |
16 |
|
Qualified Military Aircraft Technicians |
171 |
|
Apprentice Military Aircraft Technicians |
67 |
|
Direct Entry Military Aircraft Technicians undergoing basic military training |
2 |
*Cadets are scheduled to commence their Pilot Wings course once they graduate as Officers.
Of the 171 qualified Military Aircraft Technicians, 33 are currently employed in avionics and 138 in maintenance. A Military Aircraft technician is an individual who has qualified from the Air Corps Apprenticeship, or Direct Entrants deemed to have the suitable qualifications, to work on aircraft in the various maintenance roles. The phrase 'aircraft technician' is an umbrella term which covers the broad range of disciplines within the Air Corps across a range of ranks and across a range of disciplines, from avionics technician to aircraft mechanic, from crew leader to aircraft inspector.
As outlined above, there is a strong training pipeline for Military Aircraft Technicians consisting of 67 apprentices. Of these apprentices, 23 are undergoing basic military training along with 2 Direct Entry Aircraft Technicians. The remaining 44 apprentices are undergoing their qualification process and will be streamed into Rotary, Fixed Wing or avionics technician categories during that process.
My focus remains on retaining/restoring all branches of the Defence Forces to their full capacity. Additionally, the Commission on the Defence Forces is finalising its work with a view to completing their report as soon as possible. The Commission’s Report, when submitted, will be fully considered at that point.
77. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service operations and patrols which have been cancelled to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In terms of fishery protection the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary.
Scheduled patrol days can be impacted by a range of factors including adverse weather conditions and unscheduled maintenance, as well as staffing issues.
A total of 10 scheduled Naval Service patrol days have been cancelled to date in 2022. All of the cancelled patrol days are due to members of a ship's crew contacting Covid 19.
Notwithstanding some mechanical and staffing issues being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime security operations.
78. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5218/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5219/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra80. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who have left in the past year by month and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5220/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79 and 80 together.
The number of women who discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in 2021, by month, up to 31st December 2021 (the latest date for which such information is available) is as follows:
|
Month |
Departures |
|
January |
3 |
|
February |
2 |
|
March |
2 |
|
April |
3 |
|
May |
6 |
|
June |
4 |
|
July |
6 |
|
August |
2 |
|
September |
6 |
|
October |
8 |
|
November |
2 |
|
December |
3 |
|
Total |
47 |
Personnel discharge for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges. Discharges also include trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.
The table below shows the number of women, by rank, in the Permanent Defence Force, as of 31st December 2021. Of these 36 (8 Officers, 28 Other Ranks) were serving overseas.
|
Rank |
Strength (WTE) |
|
Lieutenant General |
0 |
|
Major General |
0 |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
|
Colonel |
1 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
2 |
|
Commandant |
62 |
|
Captain |
50 |
|
Lieutenant |
49 |
|
Total Officers |
165 |
|
Sergeant Major |
0 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
0 |
|
Company Sergeant |
5 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
9 |
|
Sergeant |
67 |
|
Corporal |
101 |
|
Private |
242 |
|
Cadets |
9 |
|
Total Other Ranks |
433 |
It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, in order to enhance capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve, and a number of initiatives have been, and continue to be, implemented in this regard.
Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, an Independent Review Group has been established to examine issues relating to unacceptable behavior in the workplace. Additionally, the Commission on Defence Forces is due to report in the coming weeks and their views will be an important aid to the Independent Review.
81. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the terms of reference of the independent review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5224/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, following Cabinet approval, an Independent Review Group has been established, under the Chair of Ms. Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon, to examine issues relating to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces.
The overall aims of the Independent Review are to:
- Advise on whether the current legislative frameworks, policies, procedures and practices for addressing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are effective.
- Independently assess whether the pervading culture in the workplace is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces.
- Provide recommendations and guidance on measures and strategies required to underpin a workplace based on dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces.
This Independent Review is seen as a critical and vital next step to ensure that the workplace for serving members of the Defence Forces is safe, where there is zero tolerance of unacceptable behaviour and where we learn from historical experiences.
My Department and I have engaged extensively in recent months on the Terms of Reference, with the Women of Honour Group and with other stakeholders, including both serving and former members of the Defence Forces, the Representative Associations, PDFORRA, RACO and RDFRA and with a second group representing former members. The Terms of Reference, approved by Cabinet last week, were published yesterday on Gov.ie www.gov.ie/en/publication/d978a-dignity-and-equality-in-the-workplace-the-defence-forces-an-independent-review/
Current and former members of the Defence Forces have welcomed the Review and whilst I acknowledge the disappointment expressed by the Women of Honour group who have been seeking a Tribunal of Inquiry, I am strongly aware of the need for immediacy of action to ensure the safety of serving Defence Forces members.
I want to be clear that this does not preclude Government from considering further bodies of work that may be necessary. The Review Group have been specifically asked to advise on whether further work is required to examine issues of an historical nature and to make any recommendations regarding how this might be pursued.
The Review Group will provide me with an interim report after six months. A final report is expected within 9 months. I will bring the Final Review Report to Government, who may consider any further bodies of work that might be necessary, taking into account the findings of the Independent Review Group. Thereafter, I intend to make the Final Review Report public.
I wish to reiterate my commitment and that of the Secretary General and Chief of Staff, to ensure that every member of the Defence Forces, can carry out their duties in a safe and respectful workplace based on dignity, equality and zero-tolerance for any kind of unacceptable behaviour.
82. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Defence if he will review correspondence and address the concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5274/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Defence Forces occupational pension scheme applicable to Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Privates enlisting in the Defence Forces before April 2004, 21 years is the minimum service required for an immediate retirement pension and gratuity, regardless of age. Under this ‘fast accrual’ pension scheme, maximum retirement benefits accrue after 31 years and the pension is payable for the person’s lifetime.
Where qualifying service is more than 21 years, an ‘additional increment’ is payable at a flat rate (generally €9.21 a week currently) for each year of service in excess of 21 years up to a maximum of 31 years’ service. This gives a maximum additional increment of €92.10 weekly. However, under the ‘pre-April 2004’ pension scheme rules, this additional increment ceases to be payable if and when the pensioner reaches the prescribed age for the State Pension (Contributory), that is, currently at age 66.
These arrangements are in accordance with the long established principle of integrating occupational pensions with Social Insurance benefits of employees who are in full PRSI class. This includes NCOs and Privates who are fully insured for the range of social insurance benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, such as the State Pension (Contributory).
Integration means that a person’s entitlement to social insurance benefits is taken into account when calculating the rate of their occupational pension payable. In an integrated pension scheme, the State Pension or similar contributory Social Welfare benefit is regarded as part of the overall pension package payable to the individual. The integration principle applies right across the public service and, indeed, in many areas of the private sector as well as in other countries.
The person in question (details supplied) qualified for maximum pension and retirement benefits immediately upon his retirement in 2013 at age 52, having completed more than 31 years service. The integration process will only begin when his state pension becomes payable, currently at age 66.
Furthermore, the maximum personal rate of State Pension payable (€253.30 a week currently if under age 80) is considerably more than any reduction that will happen under the Defence Forces pension schemes by virtue of the loss of the additional increment on qualification for the State Pension.
It might be noted that the method of integration for ‘pre-April 2004’ military pensioners is in fact more favourable than in other areas of the public service. In the public service generally, integration begins from the time the occupational pension commences payment, for example from age 60/65 where ‘standard accrual’ pensions apply in pre-2013 public service schemes
83. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education when she will provide guidance on the expected broadening of DEIS status for primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5203/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools.
This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined DEIS ID model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. It is important to note that there is no application process for the DEIS programme and all schools will be considered under the refined DEIS model when it is applied.
In advance of the implementation of the refined DEIS identification model, there will be further engagement with relevant stakeholders. The purpose is to ensure that, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and also to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application.
84. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when work on the DEIS refined resource allocation model will be complete and consideration given to extending the DEIS programme to further schools. [5205/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools.
This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined DEIS ID model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. It is important to note that there is no application process for the DEIS programme and all schools will be considered under the refined DEIS model when it is applied.
In advance of the implementation of the refined DEIS identification model, there will be further engagement with relevant stakeholders. The purpose is to ensure that, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and also to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application.
85. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if an additional accommodation scheme application by a school (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of the application; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the application is linked to another major project for the school that has already received approval; if approval for the second application will be expedited given the delay being caused to works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5250/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
Officials in my Department have had recent engagement with the school authorities and confirmation of the approval of temporary accommodation has issued to the school. In respect of the application for permanent accommodation, formal confirmation of the decision on the application will issue shortly to the school authority.
86. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding leaving certificate options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5259/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent weeks, I have attended a meeting with the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a bilateral basis and also had further engagement with each of them thereafter. I have listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders has had to say and examined each of their points. A number of other proposals submitted to my Department were also considered.
Following consideration of this matter by Government yesterday, I announced the decision: to operate an examinations approach for Leaving Certificate in 2022, with significant further adjustments to the examinations; and to provide students with a commitment that the overall results of Leaving Certificate 2022 will not be lower than in 2021. As the Deputy may be aware, it would not have been possible to run Accredited Grades in the same manner as last year, as Junior Cycle data was unavailable for 25% of our students.
The further extensive changes I have announced to the examination papers, over and above those announced in August 2021, mean that candidates: have greater choice in the papers; have less questions to answer; and still have the same amount of time as in a normal year to complete the examination. For example, in mathematics on each paper, instead of having to answer all ten questions, candidates will only have to answer six.
This is in addition to previously announced changes, such as the running of the Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations and Music Practical over the first week of the Easter Break.
Timeframes for certain assessment elements of the Leaving Certificate Applied examinations have also been pushed out. Schools were also reminded of the flexibilities regarding the dates for completion and authentication of examination Coursework.
I have also confirmed that Junior Cycle examinations will take place this summer. Adjustments to the assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle were published in August 2021 and provide for more teaching time in schools. They include a reduction in the number of Classroom Based Assessments to be completed, the removal of the requirement to complete Assessment Tasks, and adjustments to the requirements in coursework and practical performance tests.
I believe that the decision announced will provide Leaving Certificate students of 2022 with an opportunity for their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education to be assessed, and will enable them to progress to the next stage of their lives. It also provides the certainty and clarity in this matter that had been requested by schools and parents.
87. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for home tuition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5260/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.
Over 1,400 families were supported by Home Tuition grant funding under the various Department Scheme in the 2020/21 school year with an allocation of approximately €17million.
The criteria for eligibility of the scheme are;
- Students enrolled in a school, with a significant medical condition which has, and is likely to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school on a continuing basis.
- Children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement
- For early educational intervention for children with autism.
Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
Under the Home Tuition Scheme all references to “schools” or “school placements” refer to State schools which are recognised under Section 10 (3) of the Education Act 1998.
This requirement is set out in Section 9 of the Home Tuition Circular 0038/2021 which is available at www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/
As the child referred to by the Deputy is not enrolled in a state school, i.e. a school recognised under Section 10 (3) of the Education Act 1998, the application is not eligible to be considered under terms of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme.
