Written Answers Nos. 128-147
128. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education his plans to provide Irish Sign Language support for children whose primary language is Irish Sign Language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13350/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast week Minister Foley and I were pleased to announced details of a new scheme for the provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) in-school support for students who are Deaf and whose primary means of communication is ISL.
The new scheme will involve two key strands of support:
- Programme of intensive in-school support for individual students to enable them access teaching and learning and participate in school life.
- Programme of training and support to build capacity among the school community including teachers, special needs assistants, other school staff and pupils on communication using Irish Sign Language.
The new scheme is targeted at children and young people attending primary, special and post-primary school who were born without an auditory nerve or due to infection, disease, trauma, failed technology intervention (for example cochlear implants), their auditory nerve has ceased to function completely and whose primary means of communication is using Irish Sign Language.
Under the scheme, a package of dedicated specialist ISL supports will be allocated to relevant schools so these students have a more inclusive school experience.
The establishment of the new scheme follows the commencement of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 on 23 December 2020. Section 5 of the Act outlines a number of requirements in relation to education including the establishment of this scheme.
In developing the new scheme, we recognise that the primary educator in a school is the class teacher, who is qualified and registered with the Teaching Council.
The new roles will support the work of the class teachers and complement other teaching support and care support provided for the targeted students.
The deployment of the new supports is consistent with a key principle underpinning Department policy on the allocation of supports to students with special educational needs that the child with the greatest level of need should receive the greatest level of support.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) will be responsible for the delivery of the new supports under the scheme. Schools that identify students with a need for specialised ISL support will be invited to submit an application to the NCSE.
The proposals and the operation of the scheme will be discussed with education stakeholders in the coming weeks with a view to finalising the scheme as soon as possible so that it is in place in time for the commencement of the next school year.
129. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the progress which has been made by her Department to date in the implementation of measures to assist parents and guardians with the cost of school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13351/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest primary school or reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point. The grant amount is distance related and is payable annually at a fixed daily rate, to each eligible family, regardless of the number of children from the same family, travelling to a particular school.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.
A Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided to families of eligible children in certain situations, for example where Bus Éireann is not in a position to provide a transport service or where a child's age or care needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable. The rate of grant payable is calculated at 39.12 cent per kilometre from home to school for the first 6,437 kilometres and 21.22 cent per kilometre thereafter. Payment is based on the number of days that the families provided transport for their children.
With regard to the annual cost of school transport tickets, as part of the cost of living measures announcement by Government on 10 February 2022 for policy measures to mitigate the cost of living, for the 2022/2023 school year the annual school transport cap per family will be reduced from the current cap of €220 to €150 per family at primary level and from the current cap of €650 to €500 per family at post-primary level.
Eligible children holding valid medical cards and eligible children with special educational needs remain exempt from paying the annual charge.
Applications for school transport for the 2022/23 school year opened Monday 24 January 2022. The closing date for applications is Friday 29 April 2022.
The facility to pay/enter medical card details for school transport for the 2022/23 school year will be open in mid-June with a closing date for payment of Friday 29th July 2022.
The reduction in the maximum family contribution will take effect for the 2022/2023 school year.
130. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if progress has been made by her Department in the provision of schoolbook rental schemes in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13352/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €17.2 million in 2021 to all of these schools.
School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents and in order to support the establishment of book rental schemes my Department provided €15.7 million seed capital in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to primary schools. Circa. 96% of primary schools and 69% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme.
It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of book grant funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need.
Additional funding of €1million provided under Budget 2020 was allocated to 102 Primary DEIS schools for a new pilot programme for the 2020/21 school year. This funding continued for the 2021/22 school year.
The aim of this pilot is to provide free school books for students in the schools involved, and to support these schools in eliminating the cost of school books for parents. It will continue to run for the 2021/22 school year and it’s effectiveness and impact will be monitored and evaluated before any decision is made as regards its possible extension or continuation. It is my intention to complete this process as soon as possible. Under Circular 46/2013, DEIS schools receive a book grant of €21 per student. This pilot provided an additional €64 per student to increase the overall book grant rate to €85 per student enrolled in the school.
131. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if the summer provision programme will continue in its expanded role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13353/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if there are figures for the number of pupils who benefitted from the summer provision programme in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13354/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.
My Department ran an expanded summer education programme for Summer 2021, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under this expansion, students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage had access to an enhanced summer programme of education. The total funding available to provide the programme was €40 million, which was a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.
The programme’s aims were to support pupils to re-engage with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and for some who are at key transition stages, help to ensure they could move on to their planned educational placement for the start of the next school year along with their peers.
For the first time ever, all schools (primary and-post primary) were encouraged to provide summer programmes and the eligibility criteria was extended to include post-primary children with complex needs and children at risk of educational disadvantage. Prior to this expansion, summer programmes were only available to special schools and pupils in special classes in primary schools and in DEIS schools. This resulted in 945 schools participating in the overall programme, a rise of 72% over 2021. 24,656 pupils participated in the 2021 school-based programme, an increase of 85% over 2020.
A home-based summer programme continued to be available for children with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school based programme. A total of 13,321 students availed of the home-based programme, an increase of 35% on 2020.
Overall, 37,977 pupils participated in the 2021 summer programme across both home and school-based elements, which represented an increase of 65% on participation in the 2020 programme.
Planning work for the 2022 summer programme is ongoing and my Department will be consulting with education partners in the coming weeks. The aim for this year is to make the programmes as accessible as possible, particularly to continue attract more schools to run the school-based programme, but also to make the overall experience simpler for parents, teachers and schools. As part of the consultation and planning process my Department are looking at what worked well in 2021 and what can be improved on for 2022.
133. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the position in respect of the operation of the schools energy retrofit pathfinder programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13355/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.
My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency and they are based on solid energy research projects.
Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009 with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher performance than required by the current Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
All new technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments. The Departments policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie. which is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
In the interest of sustainability, it is critical that renewable applications are properly suited to the schools needs and not just applied for the sake of having a renewable tag on a school. It is also critical that we minimise the demand for energy before we invest in renewable energy applications.
My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI in 2017, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
The pathfinder programme has retrofitted 41 schools across Ireland to date with work on an additional 9 schools added in 2021 underway. 2022 sees six additional schools undergoing deep retrofit to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems. Each school undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.
The pathfinder programme builds on significant investment by the Department of Education in energy efficiency through the 2009/10 Cavity and Attic Insulation/Water Conservation Scheme and ongoing Summer Works and refurbishment projects.
The schools for the 2022 programme are:
- Ennis Community College
- Bishopstown Community School
- St Marys Holy Faith Secondary School Clontarf West
- Our Lady of Consolation NS Donnycarney
- Scoil Mhuire NS Abbeyleix
- St Annes Primary school, Tallaght
The upgrades target a Building Energy Rating of B, 50% energy efficiency improvement and 51% emissions reduction. The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
134. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if her Department has engaged with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications in respect of retrofitting schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13356/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.
My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency and they are based on solid energy research projects.
Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009 with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher performance than required by the current Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
All new technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments. The Departments policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie. which is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
In the interest of sustainability, it is critical that renewable applications are properly suited to the schools needs so as to reduce energy costs and carbon and not just applied for the sake of having renewables. It is also critical that we minimise the demand for energy before we invest in renewable energy applications. This has been assisted in previous years with the wall and attic insulation programme and the water conservation programme.
My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. It is facilitating research
on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
The longer-term outcome of the pathfinder will be to create an accurate and scalable model for energy efficient retrofits of schools across Ireland. The deep energy retrofit programme for schools built prior to 2008 is due to be rolled out as included in the National Development Plan.
The pathfinder programme has retrofitted 41 schools across Ireland to date with work on an additional 9 schools added in 2021 underway. 2022 sees six additional schools undergoing deep retrofit to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems. Each school undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.
The Department recognises that transition to full decarbonisation raises the bar even higher in terms of requirements with feedback from our pathfinder projects as noted above indicating a greater depth of challenges at a significantly enhanced cost for primary and post primary schools.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 Annex of Actions published this year actions the Department to confirm its decarbonisation pathway trajectory to meet 2030 and 2050 targets for the schools sector by end of 2022.
Work is ongoing on decarbonisation options for new schools with a focus on the standard of required design criteria and specification to achieve a net zero energy school building and establishing the trajectory for the integration of suitable solutions on a phased basis in a risk controlled manner providing a credible cost effective transition to zero carbon school buildings while ensuring no delays to school accommodation delivery.
135. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if a non-denominational, co-educational secondary school will be provided in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13412/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) is an external independent advisory group which was set up in 2011 to advise the Minister on the patronage of new schools. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas to assist them in making an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for the new school. A prospective patron can choose the school(s) it wishes to apply for and complete an application form in that regard for each school, for submission to my Department. The Department provides details on the OPPS of the school(s) and the list of applicant patrons which have applied for patronage of the school(s). Parents access the OPPS website, which allows them to access the appropriate survey for their area, to input the details of the eligible child(ren) and to select their preferred patron and language of instruction (where applicable). Parental preferences from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of the process.
Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are made available on my Department's website.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Dublin City Council in respect of its review of the Dublin City Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.
136. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) in an area of deprivation in County Donegal will be considered for the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13413/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraToday, I announced the expansion of the DEIS programme benefitting 347 schools. This will add an additional €32million to the Department’s expenditure on the DEIS programme from 2023. This is the largest ever single investment in the programme and will extend additional resources to those schools most in need. For the first time since 2017 the DEIS programme is being significantly expanded and eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage.
The extension of the DEIS programme to additional schools follows intensive work by the DEIS technical group, which involved valuable input from stakeholders. The refined DEIS identification model builds on the objectivity and fairness of the 2017 version, but now captures a greater breadth of disadvantage and accounts for severity of disadvantage through the application of a weighted process. It also takes into consideration the significant educational disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma learners and of students residing in direct provision or emergency homeless accommodation. Using this approach we can extend the additional targeted supports of the DEIS programme to those schools serving high concentrations of students at risk of educational disadvantage. We can also be confident that the largest investment to date in the DEIS programme is being provided to those schools most in need. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
This announcement achieves the Programme for Government commitment to complete the new DEIS identification model and to extend DEIS status to schools serving the highest numbers of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage.
137. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the position specifically in relation to caretakers following a development (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13415/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs announced last week the proposal offered relates only to school secretaries at present. As set out in the framework agreement of 14 September 2021, while there is agreement in principle to take the same approach to the consideration of appropriate pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers there remains a deficit of data on working terms and conditions of such staff. Should the proposal be agreed and an implementation plan put in place, intensive engagement will begin on regularising the pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers.
138. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made to transfer the land for a proposed amenity (details supplied) from her Department to the Department of Health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13528/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith respect to the transfer of this land, the current position is that the Heads of Terms for the contract are being finalised by my Department with the Health Service Executive (HSE). As this is a Minister owned site consent for disposal is being sought from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
My Department will progress as quickly as possible the disposal of this particular piece of land to the HSE in line with the protocols for the transfer of property sites between State bodies subject to the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of exceptional appeals made each month by schools that were refused the number of SNA or resource hours applied for regarding children and young people with special needs between 1 September 2019 and 30 October 2021; the number of appeals which were successful; the number of appeals with were upheld in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13541/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe appeals process for SNA allocations is dealt with by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), therefore I have referred your query to the NCSE for direct reply.
140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if the situation facing job initiative scheme community workers is being considered in relation to the plan to introduce a living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13380/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraJob Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities.
The Department of Social Protection provides financial support in the form of allowances and funding to assist with the Job Initiative, for example participant wages, team leader grants and material grants.
Participants are employed and paid weekly by the JI managing agent and have certain statutory employment rights including annual leave, maternity leave and public holidays. Participants work on a full-time basis of 39 hours per week.
Several Social Welfare payment increases were announced in Budget 2022. The JI rate was increased by €10 in Budget 2022. The current rate for JI participants is €461.00 for 39 hours per week and equates to €11.82 per hour, which is above the current minimum wage of €10.50 per hour.
The Low Pay Commission makes recommendations to my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to set a minimum wage that is fair and sustainable. In 2021, the Low Pay Commission was requested to examine the Programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government and to make recommendations on the best approach to achieving this commitment. Following this request, the Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth to conduct supporting research on the living wage. The terms of reference for this research include a consideration of the policy, social and economic implications of a move to a living wage and the process by which Ireland could progress towards it.
This research report was recently received by the Low Pay Commission. Informed by its findings, the Low Pay Commission is due to make recommendations to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the progression to a living wage before the end of Q1 2022.
My Department acknowledges the valuable and dedicated service that JI team leaders and JI participants provide in delivering local based community services. The Department is fully committed to the future of employment support programmes and will continue to support and improve them for the benefit of the team leaders and participants, given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
141. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the timescale for the Government response to the recommendations of the Pensions Commission with particular reference to an essential ending of forced retirement at age 65; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13162/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. Once it completed its work and fulfilled its obligations, the Commission was dissolved. The Commission's Report was published on 7th October 2021. The report, Technical Sub-Committee's working papers and submissions made to the Pensions Commission are available on the website, pensionscommission.gov.ie.
The Commission’s Report is a comprehensive report that takes account of an assessment of various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process. It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed. It has set out a wide range of recommendations in this regard - including measures in relation to aligning retirement ages in employment contracts with the State Pension Age, PRSI base broadening measures, and allowing a person to continue paying PRSI contributions past State Pension Age to improve their social insurance record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes.
Successive Governments have committed to supporting older peoples’ continued engagement in economic and social life, including in the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013), the Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Fuller Working Lives (2016) and the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 – 2023 (2018). Building on the work of these previous groups, the Pensions Commission supported measures to facilitate and encourage fuller working lives. The Commission also fully supported Government commitments to facilitate employees remaining at work past the prevalent contractual retirement age of 65 if they wish to.
The Government agreed in October 2021 that the Commission’s report and recommendations would be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and also to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare for its views. That Joint Oireachtas Committee published its views on the 2nd February 2022. The Commission on Taxation and Welfare has also submitted its views on the Pensions Commission’s PRSI related recommendations earlier this week. These comments, along with the views of the Joint Committee will be considered as part of our deliberations over the coming weeks.
In the interests both of older people and of future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. My officials are currently examining each of the recommendations and in this regard are consulting across Government through the Cabinet Committee system. I think it is really important that we complete that work and get those views before reaching conclusions on any one recommendation such as the recommendation to align retirement ages in employment contracts with the State Pension age. My intention is to bring a recommended response and implementation plan to Government by the end of March this year.
The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
142. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the independent non-governmental organisations, including organisations with charitable status, non-profit organisations, religious bodies including churches, social enterprises, clubs, societies that her Department has supported with financial assistance from 1 January 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13247/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure for non-governmental organisations in receipt of funding from the Department in 2020 and 2021 was as follows:
|
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice |
€80,000 |
€80,000 |
|
Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed |
€255,000 |
€255,000 |
|
Community Law and Mediation |
€350,000 |
€350,000 |
In addition, the following amounts were allocated in 2020 to organisations which made applications for funding under the initiative for the promotion of awareness of the annual United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The Deputy may wish to note that the groups may not have fully drawn down these amounts because of the impact of pandemic restrictions on planned activities.
|
Applicant |
Amount Allocated 2020 |
|
All Together in Dignity (ATD) Fourth World - Ireland Ltd. |
€2,854 |
|
Aster Family Support |
€2,365 |
|
Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living |
€1,500 |
|
BREFFNI |
€2,500 |
|
Doras Buí |
€2,550 |
|
Foodshare Kerry |
€1,550 |
|
ICTU |
€2,000 |
|
Irish 17 October Committee |
€2,080 |
|
Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership |
€3,000 |
|
Lus Na Greine |
€1,500 |
|
North West Simon Community |
€2,800 |
|
Offaly Traveller Movement |
€3,000 |
|
SAOL |
€3,000 |
|
SICCDA |
€813 |
|
Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP) Young SVP Programme |
€3,000 |
|
Treoir |
€2,700 |
|
Tullamore Community and Family Resource Centre |
€2,770 |
|
Yola Hedge School |
€1,400 |
The Deputy will also be aware that, under its Employment Programmes, the Department provides funding in respect of a range of schemes, including Community Employment (CE), Job Initiative (JI), TUS and Rural Social Scheme (RSS). The total spend for these schemes in 2020 was €491.9 million in 2020 and €461.4 million in 2021.
The Citizen's Information Board funds grants to Service Delivery companies. The spend in 2020 was €56 million and in 2021 was €51.3 million.
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when payment in respect of a disability allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13270/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a review of the entitlement of the person concerned, their claim was suspended on 13 December 2021 as they failed to supply the information required in order to assess their entitlement.
The requested information was received from the person concerned and their file was sent to a social welfare inspector (SWI) on 22 December 2021 for a full report of their means and circumstances.
Further information which was requested by the SWI from this person has not been submitted and a second request for the outstanding documents has now issued. On receipt of the report from the SWI a decision will be made on their DA and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
144. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will postpone means assessment reviews of carers until after the new arrangements of Budget 2022 are introduced in June 2022 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13436/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the crucial role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support.
As part of Budget 2022, improvements were introduced to the income and capital limits for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment, effective from June 2022. The weekly income disregard increases to €350 from €332.50 for a single person, and to €750 from €665 for carers with a spouse/partner. The Carers Allowance disregard when assessing capital increases to €50,000 from €20,000.
These measures bring significant changes to the Carer's means assessment and is the first time there have been changes to the means assessment in almost 14 years. These changes will mean that more carers will now qualify for Carer’s Allowance, while those in receipt of a reduced rate will also see increases in their payments.
To accurately assess CA customers means, it is necessary to obtain up to date income and capital information and to review existing CA entitlement to ensure that the Budget 2022 changes are applied correctly and that people are issued with the correct rate of payment in line with the improvements we are making to the means test.
The Budget 2022 improvements will benefit thousands of Carers currently on a reduced rate due to means and will enable more carers with modest incomes to qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
145. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees admitted into Ireland in each year since 2011, by country in tabular form [13283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not currently in a position to supply details for refugees admitted between 2011 and 2014 but I will revert to the Deputy with that information.
The table below sets out the number of refugees brought into Ireland through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) which was established in 2015.
A total of 3,320 people have been brought in through IRPP since 2015. Please find the breakdown of their country of nationality, by year, below:
|
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Iraq |
27 |
63 |
23 |
5 |
19 |
|
7 |
|
Syria |
136 |
531 |
771 |
604 |
764 |
195 |
92 |
|
Irish born |
|
15 |
11 |
9 |
19 |
2 |
|
|
Palestine |
|
10 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Libya |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Afghanistan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
Myanmar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
Total |
163 |
619 |
807 |
618 |
802 |
197 |
114 |
In addition to the 3,320 persons outlined in the table above, I can also inform the Deputy that there were 404 Afghans arrivals in 2021 and 29 Afghans in 2022 in Ireland through IRPP as Humanitarian aid cases.
The Irish Refugee Protection Programme Humanitarian Admission Programme (IHAP) administered by the Department of Justice is a further channel for admitting refugees to Ireland and that Department can supply details for this scheme.
146. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person who refuses to attend an information session under the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 will be denied access to their birth certificate. [13139/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that his Department, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla will proceed if a person refuses to attend an information session under the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022. [13140/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
The information session achieves a necessary balancing of EU and constitutional rights in the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022. Through the inclusion of a phone call in this process, the two sets of competing EU and constitutional rights are balanced in a way that does not limit the information that can be provided to someone availing of the legislation, while still acknowledging the privacy rights of mothers.
While I believe that an information session will be required in a minimal number of cases, it will be necessary where a parent has actively ‘opted in’ and registered a preference for no contact on the Contact Preference Register. Where an information session is required and a relevant person chooses to abstain, the person can still make a subject access request. That application will then be considered in accordance with the GDPR.
