Written Answers Nos. 261-280
261. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise concerns with the Chinese authorities following the recent arrest of a person (details supplied) in Hong Kong under national security laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25548/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who is 90 years old, was among a group of four people arrested separately and detained by the Hong Kong National Security Police for alleged conspiracy to collude with foreign powers. All four of those arrested served as trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which provided legal assistance, funds for psychological counselling and medical treatment, and emergency relief to protesters during the 2019 unrest in Hong Kong.
On 11 May, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, expressed his great concern at the arrests. I share his concern. The arrests are the latest in a series of actions under the National Security Law that impinge upon fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong. During my visit to China in May 2021, I raised Ireland’s concerns in relation to the National Security Law directly with Foreign Minister and State Counsellor Wang Yi.
Prior to that, in line with EU Council Conclusions of July 2020, the Government suspended Ireland’s Extradition Agreement with Hong Kong. This clearly signals Ireland’s concerns in relation to the rule of law in Hong Kong. Our Consulate General in Hong Kong continues to actively monitor the situation in relation to these arrests, the detention of other activists in Hong Kong, and the broader impacts of the National Security Law.
Ireland will continue to raise concerns directly with China and to address these issues in the appropriate multilateral fora. In March this year, Ireland joined an EU Statement at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council which urged the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to restore full respect for the rule of law, human rights and democratic principles.
In addition, we also called for the authorities to observe the independence of the judiciary and to preserve Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy under the “One Country, Two Systems’ principles”, in compliance with Hong Kong’s Basic Law and China’s domestic and international commitments.
These concerns were also raised at the UN Third Committee on Human Rights in October 2021. In February this year, Ireland also joined a Media Freedom Coalition statement expressing our deep concern regarding attacks on freedom of the press and the suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong.
The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in appropriate multilateral fora to address our concerns.
263. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the annual cost of cleaning and sanitising roofs of buildings under his Department’s control for the past five years to date in 2022. [25588/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works is responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of my Department’s buildings in the State. The occasional cleaning and removal of weeds, moss, litter and other debris from roofs and other areas by the Department itself is included in general contract cleaning services procured by the Department and the cost is not separately recorded.
264. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that the original passport book was sought from the parent (details supplied) of a minor for a passport application considering that photocopies of both parents’ passports were submitted initially with the supporting documents; the sequence of events in relation to this application which resulted in it being deemed expired rather than it being processed considering that it was received by the Passport Office on 15 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25614/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service regrets any errors in processing this application. The Passport Service is in direct contact with the applicant's parent in relation to progressing their passport application.
269. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the annual cost of cleaning and sanitising roofs of buildings under his Department’s control for the past five years to date in 2022. [25583/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that neither my Department nor the military authorities have incurred any expenditure on cleaning and sanitising roofs of buildings in the period referenced by the Deputy.
270. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a late application for a post-primary-school-transport grant will be accepted from a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25406/22]
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 Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.
The closing date for receipt of applications for the 2022/2023 School Year was 29th April 2022.
Applications for school transport for the 2022/2023 school year can still be made through the Bus Éireann school transport portal after this date but will be treated as a late application.
Bus Éireann has advised that an application for school transport for the family referred to by the Deputy was received on the 5th May 2022 and as such is considered a late application and therefore a Remote Area Grant cannot be considered for the current school year. Should the circumstances remain the same and there is no service in place for the 2023/24 school year, the family may be considered for a remote area grant from the commencement of the 2023/24 school year.
271. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if additional resources will be provided to a school (details supplied) in order that it can increase the number of places in specific learning disability classes for the 2022-2023 school year. [25425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.
A continuum of education provision is in place covering the full range of need spanning placement in mainstream classes with supports through to more specialist placements either in a special class or a special school depending on the level of complexity of need.
Available supports include provision to meet care needs and to provide additional teaching support where this is required. In addition, there are specialist educational supports provided by the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to help schools provide an appropriate education for pupils with special educational needs including reading difficulties.
NCSE is currently undertaking Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.
This Policy Advice is to be completed shortly and will then be considered by my Department.
As the Deputy is aware, I have also requested my Department to arrange for a review of the policy on reading classes and schools. This review is scheduled to be undertaken by the Department's Inspectorate shortly. When completed, this report will also be considered in the context of overall policy on special education.
272. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if additional resources will be provided to a school (details supplied) in order that it can roll-out the leaving certificate applied course for students in the school. [25426/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Leaving Certificate Applied is a two year Leaving Certificate available to students who wish to follow a practical programme with a strong practical and vocational emphasis. It is one of three Leaving Certificate options offered by the Department of Education.
Where a school is considering the introduction of Leaving Certificate Applied, an application for school support can be made at www.pdst.ie/schoolsupport.
Additional teaching support is approved to all schools that operate the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme.
273. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the steps that her Department is taking to work with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and Fingal County Council to resolve the delay in providing a permanent site for a school (details supplied) due to the failure of a planning application on a site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25434/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no role in relation to the planning process for the school project referred to by the Deputy.
The site for the permanent accommodation for the school was recommended by the local authority as suitable for the development of school facilities and was acquired in conjunction with the local authority under the Fingal Model agreement
An application for planning permission was submitted to the local authority on March 4th 2022 for the development of a new two-storey, 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special education needs. My Department received notification that the planning permission application had been refused by the local authority on the 27th April 2022.
My Department is currently reviewing the reasons given for refusal of the planning application and is in communication with the local authority in preparation for a pre-planning meeting with a view to the submission of a further planning application for the school project on the site as early as possible. My Department also made a submission to the draft Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029 in relation to the re-zoning of the site in question.
274. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education if arrangements will be in place in summer 2022 for school secretaries and caretakers to be paid and that the practice of requiring these important workers to sign on for social welfare has been discontinued following agreement reached on this issue earlier in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25451/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.
On the 24th February, following a series of engagements at the WRC, a package to settle a claim on terms and conditions for grant-funded school secretaries was proposed, which Fórsa agreed to recommend to its members. A ballot was undertaken and the result was 95% agreement in favour of the deal. I was very pleased to hear of this overwhelmingly positive result on what has been a long running issue, the resolution of which has been a priority for me since my appointment.
The work to implement this agreement has now commenced in conjunction with Fórsa; it requires a complex process of assimilating information to capture accurate data in respect of each individual secretary, and the application of this data to ensure that each individual secretary is correctly assigned to the new agreed terms and conditions, if they so choose. As part of the initial assimilation, secretaries will also be provided with an opportunity to confirm whether they wish to move to the new terms and conditions or whether they wish to retain their current terms and conditions, as the benefits of either option will be determined by their individual circumstances.
Additional resources are to be put in place to provide capacity to manage this process, ensuring both individual and school data is captured and correctly applied. This will also require the development of an IT system to collect the data and action the payroll obligations.
As this work is currently ongoing, it is therefore not possible to commit to an exact timeline but the Department has expedited the process and will communicate further as the work progresses.
275. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the details of the site acquisition process for a school (details supplied) since it was initiated; if she will provide all of the reports and technical assessments that were carried out by or on behalf of her Department on the site in relation to the proposed development of a secondary school that was previously announced by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25458/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of my Department's standard general procedures for identifying potential sites for new schools and in line with protocols for the use of State Property Assets, State-owned lands were identified as a possible site for a new permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy. A master planning exercise for the site in question commenced and is currently at draft stage.
Given the passage of time since the original site identification process, my Department considered it prudent to carry out a further site identification exercise for a 1,000 pupil school in this area and this process is ongoing at the moment. The purpose of the current exercise is to establish if the situation has changed in the intervening period and if other site options have become available.
In respect of a solution for the permanent school, my Department is examining all options. In order to better inform these deliberations my Department has undertaken a site identification process in the greater Bray area. The site identification process has identified one site with some potential. However to advance to negotiations, my Department is currently seeking clarification on a number of issues which would impact on the deliverability of this site in a timely manner. A technical assessment is underway on a second potential site option, which will include consultation with the Local Authority. Due to commercial sensitivities my Department cannot provide further information at this time.
276. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the controversy over the refusal of an early intervention centre for autism in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25487/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes.
It is important also to point out that the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of pre-school within the eligible age range, without charge. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in 2016, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. A diagnosis of autism (or other disabilities/additional needs) is not required to access AIM supports. However, pre-school children with a diagnosis are generally supported in mainstream pre-schools with additional supports provided through AIM where required.
NCSE sanctions the establishment of special classes, including ASD Early Intervention (EI) classes where there is an identified need. I understand that, on occasion, EI classes are re-designated as school-age special classes to reflect the changing age-profile of students, the changing needs in an area and in order to ensure a continuation of support for students in the EI class who require a special class placement. Information on the location of EI classes is available on the NCSE website.
Both my Department and the NCSE are always grateful to schools who express a willingness to open a special class to meet the educational needs of students in their local communities.
The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.
As the Deputy's query refers to an individual school, I will arrange to have the details referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
277. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if the issue of a student (details supplied) who is being refused a reader for their junior certificate exams will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25494/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
278. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the steps that her Department is taking to work with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and Fingal County Council to resolve the delay in providing a permanent site for a school (details supplied) due to the failure of a planning application on the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25507/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no role in relation to the planning process for the school project referred to by the Deputy.
The site for the permanent accommodation for the school was recommended by the local authority as suitable for the development of school facilities and was acquired in conjunction with the local authority under the Fingal Model agreement
An application for planning permission was submitted to the local authority on March 4th 2022 for the development of a new two-storey, 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special education needs. My Department received notification that the planning permission application had been refused by the local authority on the 27th April 2022.
My Department is currently reviewing the reasons given for refusal of the planning application and is in communication with the local authority in preparation for a pre-planning meeting with a view to the submission of a further planning application for the school project on the site as early as possible. My Department also made a submission to the draft Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029 in relation to the re-zoning of the site in question.
279. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the current status of a site acquisition for a new school building for a school (details supplied); the stage that matters are at with purchasing the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conveyancing stage of the acquisition process is ongoing for the site referred to by the Deputy. Draft contracts have been exchanged. It is expected that conveyancing will conclude shortly.
280. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the current status of the construction of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the estimated timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25517/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.
My Department is considering the timeline for the progression to tender of a number of Design & Build projects including the permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy and will advise the school's patron body further as soon as possible.
