Written Answers Nos. 109-128
109. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is prepared to send election observers to Hungary to observe its upcoming elections in April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has requested Member States to nominate candidates for the position of Observers for the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Hungary for the Parliamentary elections and referendum which are scheduled to take place on 3 April 2022.
This followed the OSCE ODIHR Assessment Mission visit to Budapest at the end of January 2022 and the publication of its report on 4 February 2022 which recommended a full Election Observation Mission with 18 Long-Term Observers and 200 Short-Term Observers.
My Department has approved the nomination of up to three Short-Term Observers from the Department’s Election Observation Roster, subject to receiving an anticipated OSCE ODIHR call for STOs.
This is in line with commitments made by fellow EU Member States in supporting this mission. As a member of the likeminded group of EU Member States on the rule of law, Ireland supports the democratic process in Hungary and joins other likeminded EU Member States in supporting the OSCE ODIHR mission.
The final selection of nominated candidates will be made by the OSCE ODIHR.
110. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the passport office will fully reopen in line with operations pre-March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11812/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince late January, all Passport Service sites in Dublin and Cork have been operating at full capacity following the ending of many Covid-19 public health restrictions, and all services have fully resumed as they were in place before the pandemic.
The Passport Offices in Mount St, Dublin 2 and in Cork offer an Urgent Appointment Service for the renewal of passports. This service was launched in Dublin on 27 September 2021 and in Cork on 26 October 2021. The Passport Office in London launched its Urgent Appointment Service on 1 March.
The Urgent Appointment Service replaced the Rapid Renewal Service and customers availing of this service can renew their passport within 1 or 4 days in Dublin, within 4 days in Cork and within 5 days in London. In February, the Passport Service increased the number of appointments at its public offices by 100%, providing an extra 170 appointments per week.
The 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. Over 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.
There are currently over 160,000 applications in the Passport Service system. While there is a very high volume of applications in the system, this does not represent a backlog. These applications are all being processed in the usual way, with a continuous stream of new applications and a continuous dispatch of completed passports happening every day.
Figures show that of the total number of applications in the system, 57% are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. The other 43% of applications in the system are incomplete, which means the Passport Service is waiting for the applicant to submit the necessary documentation required. While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact applicants in such circumstances, their experience is that many applicants take weeks and sometimes months to send in the necessary documents.
Currently, 45% of adult online renewal applications are processed in one working day, while 99% of online child renewal passports are issued within the advertised processing time of 15 working days.
My Department has been pro-actively planning to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet the current and expected level of demand in 2022 and is making an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.
I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time.
111. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine and expedite the passport application by a person (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has sent a resubmission link to the applicant's parent and has contacted the applicant's parent directly to provide an update on the status of the passport application.
112. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a first-time baby passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11902/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra113. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be examined and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants.
114. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their Irish citizenship application which was submitted in April 2020. [11940/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The 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 application of the father in this case was registered on 8 April 2020, and is due to be processed in the near future. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant shortly in this regard. The applications of the children were received on 29 September 2020, and are being stored in a secure environment.
The FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt. FBR staff continue to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
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.
115. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha an bhfuil sé chun iarraidh a dhéanamh ar údaráis na Breataine fiosrúchán oifigiúil a dhéanamh faoi chrochadh Phádraig Uí Dhomhnaill as Gaoth Dobhair i Londain sa bhliain 1883 i bhfianaise an eolais úir atá tagtha chun cinn anois sa leabhar The Queen v Patrick O’Donnell agus sa scannán den teideal céanna atá le craoladh ar TG4 ar 16 Márta gur go héagórach a daoradh chun báis é; an n-iarrfaidh sé ar na húdaráis thall leithscéal a ghabháil ó tharla go bhfuil sé soiléir anois gur choinnigh an Breitheamh George Denman ceist thábhachtach de chuid an ghiúiré faoi cheilt ón fhoireann cosanta, ón phreas agus ón chúirt i gcoitinne, rud a d’fhág gur gearradh pionóis an bháis nach raibh tuillte aige ar fhear Ghaoth Dobhair; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [12019/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Dála as an gceist seo maidir le cás stairiúil Phádraig Uí Dhómhnall a crochadh i 1883 i leith dhúnmharú James Carey. Tugaim faoi deara gur foilsíodh leabhair a bhaineann leis an gcás seo, The Queen vs Patrick O’Donnell, le Seán Ó Cuirreáin, agus go ndearnadh scannán arna bhunú ar an scéal seo. Dar ndóigh, is féidir le hobair stairithe, a thugann eolas nua chun solais trí scaoileadh cháipéisí stairiúla, léargas luachmhar a thabhairt dúinn ar an gcaoi a d’fhorbair ócáidí suntasacha inár gcuid staire chomhroinnte, agus cuireann siad le díospóireacht agus tuiscint níos leithne. Tabhairfaidh an Rialtas agus an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha breithniú cuí ar aon eolas nua atá tagtha chun solais mar thoradh na hoibre seo.
116. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will provide practical assistance to Ukrainian citizens who are physically trying to travel to Ireland to live with family members here due to the current hostilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12146/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased that my colleague the Minister for Justice announced on 25 February the lifting of visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals travelling to Ireland. This is effective immediately, and Ukrainian nationals who are considering leaving Ukraine to travel to Ireland can do so without a visa, if they judge it safe to travel.
My Department provides updated travel advice at www.dfa.ie/travel for Ukraine, as well as for neighbouring countries that people may be planning to travel to, or through. Ireland is continuing to co-ordinate with our EU partners and others on issues relating to exit routes from Ukraine. However, given the current situation on the ground in Ukraine, the capacity of my Department to provide direct consular or other related assistance in the period ahead is very limited.
117. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific sanction aimed at the Russian Federation as a consequence of its assault on Ukraine that will target the funnelling of funds through Russian shell corporations based in the International Financial Services Centre. [12148/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, the EU has adopted a broad range of measures in response to Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine. These are the most significant sanctions ever adopted by the EU. Many of the sanctions are financial measures, aimed at weakening Russia’s economy and its financial system.
Asset freezes and travel bans are now imposed on almost 500 people, including bankers, oligarchs and businesspeople. Asset freezes have also been imposed on three Russian financial institutions (Bank Rossiya, PROMSVYAZBANK and VEB.RF).
The EU has also adopted a series of far-reaching sectoral financial sanctions measures, which are of general application throughout the EU rather than targeting specific corporations or financial centres. The key measures introduced to date:
- restrict the ability of the Russian State and Government, as well as certain entities, to access the EU’s capital and financial markets and services;
- extend prohibitions on lending and buying of securities to all five of the major Russian state-owned banks, as well as two private banks;
- prohibit the listing of new shares of Russian state-owned entities on EU trading venues, as well as related services;
- prohibit lending to and purchase of securities from certain Russian state-owned enterprises;
- prohibit the acceptance of deposits exceeding €100,000 from Russian nationals or residents;
- prohibit the EU central securities depositories from holding accounts from Russian clients;
- prohibit the selling of euro-denominated securities to Russian clients;
- prohibit any transactions in the EU with the Central Bank of Russia;
- prohibit investment, participation or contribution to projects co-financed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund;
- prohibit the sale, supply, transfer or export of euro denominated banknotes to Russia or to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Russia, including the Government and the Central Bank of Russia, or for use in Russia; and
- prohibit the provision of specialised financial messaging services to seven Russian banks (i.e. removal from SWIFT system).
The broad suite of financial sanctions that has been introduced is expected to impact on the financial services sector throughout the EU, including in Ireland. The Minister for Finance may be able to provide more detail on the specific implementation aspects of these financial sanctions in Ireland, including any implications for the International Financial Services Centre.
118. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to reduce the delays for first-time passport applications; and the number of backlog applications awaiting processing. [12150/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service is currently experiencing high demand for first time passports, particularly for children. My Department has been pro-actively planning to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet the current and expected level of demand in 2022 and is making an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.
My Department is working with the Public Appointments Service on a major recruitment drive that has been underway for several months. Since June of 2021, over 300 members of staff at all grades have been assigned to the Passport Service. Additional staff are being assigned on a weekly basis with a goal of reaching staff numbers of 900 which represents a doubling of staff numbers.
It is a priority for the Passport Service to improve processing times for first time applications in 2022. The Passport Service is implementing a number of further measures that will positively impact the current turnaround times and improve customer service:
- Intensive training of new staff and upskilling of existing staff is underway to increase the resources that can process complex applications.
- The Passport Service is actively prioritising first time applications and directing increased resources to processing these complex applications with a view to reducing the current turnaround time.
- A new document management process is being put in place in the coming days that allows for a much quicker turnaround time when an applicant is asked to submit additional documents. Once these documents are received, they will be prioritised and complete applications will be processed in three weeks. This will greatly reduce the waiting time for applicants who are missing documents in their initial application.
We are confident that the measures that have been implemented will help to reduce passport turnaround times in the course of 2022, particularly for first time applications, and will assist the Passport Service in meeting the high demand forecast for this year.
The current passport processing times are:
- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals
- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals
- 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online
- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service
First time passport applications do take longer to process than renewal applications and there are a number of reasons for this. First time applications are necessarily complex to process, since, in many cases, they are applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.
In the case of first time passport applications for children, the consent of guardians must also be thoroughly validated.
Due to the intensive analysis and extra measures undertaken by highly trained and experienced staff, first time applications take 40 working days to process. In cases of children whose parents are not Irish citizens, the process can sometimes take longer due to the need to ensure that all of the required supporting documentation to prove the child’s entitlement to Irish citizenship is submitted and correct. Due to the high level of complexity with these particular applications, further documentation is often required adding to the processing time.
There are currently over 160,000 passport applications in the system. While there is a very high volume of applications in the system, this does not represent a backlog. There is a continuous stream of new applications and a continuous dispatch of completed passports happening every day. Passport Service figures show that 57% of applications are fully complete and are being processed by the Passport Service. The other 43% of applications in the system are incomplete, which means the Passport Service is waiting for the applicant to submit the necessary documentation required. While the Passport Service makes every effort to contact applicants in such circumstances, their experience is that many applicants take weeks and sometimes months to send in the necessary documents.
I strongly urge anyone who is considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply for their passports online in plenty of time.
119. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to provide aid to individuals and families fleeing violence in Ukraine. [12160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am extremely concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked attack is causing immense suffering for the people of Ukraine. Russia’s war is illegal and immoral, and Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. Ireland will do all it can to support the humanitarian response both in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries.
As an Taoiseach announced last week, a €10 million Irish Aid Ukraine humanitarian package has been put together to enable organisations on the ground, including the UN and the Red Cross Movement, to provide life-saving assistance.
Some of this assistance is allocated to the UNHCR Regional Response Plan (RPP) for Ukraine, which is providing support to neighbouring European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees in the region. Separately, visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens wishing to travel to Ireland have been lifted.
In addition, Ireland contributes to global funds and core funding to key agencies that are allocating funding to Ukraine, including WHO, OCHA, UNHCR, IFRC, ICRC and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Ireland was the 9th largest donor to the CERF in 2021. Last week, the CERF allocated more than €17.8 million to Ukraine. This year we will increase our annual contribution to the CERF from €10m to €11.5m, as I announced at the CERF pledging conference in December.
My officials are coordinating closely with our EU partners and other countries in the region on the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine and the related humanitarian response.
120. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to provide aid to other European countries that are taking in large numbers of Ukrainian refugees. [12161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am extremely concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked attack is causing immense suffering for the people of Ukraine. Russia’s war is illegal and immoral, and Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. Ireland will do all it can to support the humanitarian response both in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries.
As an Taoiseach announced last week, a €10 million Irish Aid Ukraine humanitarian package has been put together to enable organisations on the ground, including the UN and the Red Cross Movement, to provide life-saving assistance. Some of this assistance is allocated to the UNHCR Regional Response Plan (RPP) for Ukraine, which is providing support to neighbouring European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees in the region.
In addition, Ireland contributes to global funds and core funding to key agencies that allocate funding to Ukraine, including WHO, OCHA, UNHCR, IFRC, ICRC and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Ireland was the 9th largest donor to the CERF in 2021. Last week, the CERF allocated more than €17.8 million to Ukraine. This year Ireland's annual contribution to the CERF increases from €10m to €11.5m, as I announced at the CERF pledging conference last December.
My officials are coordinating closely with our EU partners and other countries in the region on this rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine and on the humanitarian response.
121. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence his plans to award a pandemic service medal to members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11925/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government Covid-19 response. A wide range of supports have since been provided by the Defence Forces to the HSE as well as to other Departments and Agencies, including support to the ongoing vaccination programme. Currently the focus remains on dealing with the ongoing Recovery phase.
As the Deputy is aware, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces in line with Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9, which sets out the qualifying criteria, delineates the procedures required for the awarding of Defence Forces Medals and sets out the various types of medal awards. Currently there are no plans to amend DFR A9 in relation to the introduction of new medals and the question of issuing a medal to Defence Forces personnel engaged in aid-to-the-civil-authority operations in conjunction with the Health Service Executive or in Operation FORTITUDE, the Defence Forces response to the Covid-19 pandemic, is not under consideration at this point in time.
122. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the cost of the recently purchased site for the relocation of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11915/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, following an extensive site identification, assessment and negotiation process, the Department reached an agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of 8 acre site at Magee Barracks in Kildare Town to facilitate the relocation of the school to which the Deputy refers.
The acquisition process is at an advanced stage. Heads of Terms have been agreed with the Vendor and draft contracts have been exchanged.
Due to commercial sensitivities while conveyancing is ongoing and relating to site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to provide further information at this time.
123. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the interactions between her Department and education and training boards in relation to a hybrid working model for staff; the engagements that have taken place with staff in an education and training board (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11935/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing recent changes to public health advice, a phased return to physical attendance in workplaces, for staff who had previously been working remotely, began with effect from Monday 24 January. How this will work in practice is a matter for each Civil and Public sector employer, including individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The approach is dependent on the individual circumstances of each workplace and the necessary business requirements.
However, there is a recognised need to focus on a longer-term approach to remote working which is consistent across the wider public sector. A process is therefore underway centrally, through engagement with relevant unions, to agree on a framework approach that can inform the development of organisational blended working policies which are tailored to meet the specific requirements of each public sector organisation. In due course, individual organisations will then develop their own blended working policies.
124. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the options available to an education and training board (details supplied) to avail of a hybrid working model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11936/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing recent changes to public health advice, a phased return to physical attendance in workplaces, for staff who had previously been working remotely, began with effect from Monday 24 January. How this will work in practice is a matter for each Civil and Public sector employer, including individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The approach is dependent on the individual circumstances of each workplace and the necessary business requirements.
However, there is a recognised need to focus on a longer-term approach to remote working which is consistent across the wider public sector. A process is therefore underway centrally, through engagement with relevant unions, to agree on a framework approach that can inform the development of organisational blended working policies which are tailored to meet the specific requirements of each public sector organisation. In due course, individual organisations will then develop their own blended working policies.
125. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education her views on the report issued to her by Caranua, entitled Evaluation of the impact of Caranua in providing funding supports to survivors of institutional abuse; the steps she plans to take on the back of this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11807/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if an enhanced medical card identified as a need for survivors in the Caranua Report, entitled Evaluation of the impact of Caranua in providing funding supports to survivors of institutional abuse will be made available; if she is working to achieve this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11808/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.
The report which the Deputy has referred to was submitted to me on 22 March 2021. This report highlighted, along with a number of other reports, the ongoing needs of survivors of institutional abuse and the lifelong difficulties they may experience. A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has provided a very good insight into the areas where supports may be provided in the future.
This work is currently being considered by my Department with input from colleagues from other Departments. Significant resources are being devoted to progressing this which will feed into my consideration of proposals to Government in this context.
127. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the processes that are in place in her Department to help and support children and young adults who are subject to expulsion from schools; if there is ongoing research or data on the social, economic and educational outcomes for young persons expelled from school; the efforts that are made to try and improve outcomes over extended timescales in view of the vulnerable status of many of these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11811/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 the Board of Management of a school must inform Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) of their intention to expel a student. TESS prioritise expulsion cases. Once the intention to expel notification is received by TESS, 20 school days must elapse before a decision can be made by the Board of Management of the school to expel the student. During this 20 school day period an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) will contact the parent(s) / guardian(s), or a student who is 18 years or older, to discuss the options available. These include appealing the decision to expel under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, applying to enrol in another school and home tuition which may be made available where the student meets the qualifying criteria.
In addition during this 20 school day period an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) will arrange a meeting in line with the provisions of Section 24 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 and will discuss the students’ ongoing education during the period they are without a school place. Following the 20 school day period, should the Board of Management of the school uphold the decision to expel the student an EWO will advise and assist the parent(s) / guardian(s), or student if aged 18 years or older, on the options available to them. Home tuition may be provided where the student meets the qualifying criteria. Tusla have produced an information leaflet for parents which provides information on the process:
TESS-Expulsion-from-school-info.pdf (tusla.ie)
My Department provides a range of resources through the DEIS programme, the Special Education Teacher model and the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure targeted supports are provided to those children who need it most. This has meant that Ireland’s school completion rates at post-primary levels are among the highest in Europe. The results of the analysis of the first-time enrolments in secondary school in 2014 showed that, 97.6% went on to sit the Junior Certificate exams in 2017 or 2018 and 91.5% went on to sit the Leaving Certificate exams in 2019 or calculated grades 2020.
An analysis of Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate Retention Rates from 2001 to 2014 shows that the gap has narrowed between DEIS and non-DEIS schools. For the 2014 entry cohort DEIS retention rates to Junior Certificate is 96.3% compared to 97.9% in non-DEIS, a gap of 1.6 percentage points. The gap in retention to Leaving Cert rates between DEIS and non-DEIS schools stood at 16.1 percentage points for the 2011 Cohort. The 2014 retention report results shows a retention gap of 8.6 percentage points for the 2014 cohort. For the 2014 entry cohort the retention rate to the Leaving Certificate of DEIS schools was 84.8% per cent, while for non-DEIS schools, it was 93.4%.
128. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a request by a school (details supplied) for an exceptional review of its SNA hours with the National Council for Special Education given that its SNA allocation of half of one SNA post is not sufficient to cope with its needs; the steps that are being taken to address the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11817/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools is to be deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year:
- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 will be maintained and will automatically rollover into the 2021/22 school year.
- No school will therefore receive an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.
- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the next school year in the normal way.
- Priority consideration will now be given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year, in particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools will be prioritised. Determinations will be made before 30 June. Other applications will be processed in order of date received.
- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website ncse.ie/for-schools.
The NCSE has published the SNA allocations on its website www.ncse.ie.
SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.
Circular 0029/2021 has been published and advises schools of the arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for the 2021/22 school year.
Provisions set out in Circular 0030/2020 has been extended for the 2021/22 school year.
Circulars 29/2021 and 30/2020 are available on the Gov.ie website. www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?organisation=department-of-education.
My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly your correspondence has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.
