Written Answers Nos. 356-375
356. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 400 of 18 October 2022, the locations in which the in-person meetings of the Ukraine defence contact group at which Ireland has been represented have taken place. [53105/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing receipt of an invitation to join the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, Ireland has been represented at three in-person meetings of the group. Two of those meetings took place in Brussels, Belgium and the other in Ramstein, Germany.
357. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the amount that the Defence Forces spent on purchasing military equipment from companies based in the UK excluding Northern Ireland in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [53182/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvestment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various Subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications and information technology equipment etc.
I am informed by the Defence Forces that the amount spent on purchasing military equipment from companies based in the UK in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 was as follows:
|
Year |
Amount* |
|
2020 |
€7,159,928 |
|
2021 |
€550,311 |
|
2022 (up to 20 October) |
€2,244,570 |
* Includes expenditure on ammunition.
The Deputy is also advised that the Defence Organisation routinely publishes details of Purchase Orders for goods and services valued at more than €20,000. This information is published on the Department of Defence website – www.gov.ie/en/collection/b61276-purchase-orders-over-20000/. The Department has published details of Purchase Orders including those placed for weapons and equipment by the Defence Organisation for the years 2020 to the second quarter 2022. I am advised that a small number of Purchase Orders for that timeframe were excluded from the published list for security and operational reasons. Details of Purchase Orders placed for the third quarter of 2022 are currently being compiled and will be published shortly.
358. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Defence the amount that the Defence Forces spent on purchasing military equipment from companies based in the United States 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [53183/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvestment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various Subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications and information technology equipment etc.
I am advised by the Defence Forces that the amount spent on purchasing military equipment from companies based in the USA in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 was as follows:
|
Year |
Amount* |
|
2020 |
€3,623,894 |
|
2021 |
€616,248 |
|
2022 (up to 20 October) |
€1,665,946 |
*Includes ammunition purchases
The Deputy is also advised that the Defence Organisation routinely publishes details of Purchase Orders for goods and services valued at more than €20,000. This information is published on the Department of Defence website – www.gov.ie/en/collection/b61276-purchase-orders-over-20000/ . The Department has published details of Purchase Orders including those placed for weapons and equipment by the Defence Organisation for the years 2020 to the second quarter 2022. I am advised that a small number of Purchase Orders for that timeframe were excluded from the published list for security and operational reasons. Details of Purchase Orders placed for the third quarter of 2022 are currently being compiled and will be published shortly.
359. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Defence if his Department received a request for assistance from the HSE and the Department Heath during the Covid -19 pandemic for a specific nursing home (details supplied) during the first outbreak of Covid-19; if so, the date that such request was made; the nature of the request; the response of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53489/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn supporting the national effort in countering COVID-19, the Defence Forces provided a range of non clinical and administrative supports in a number of residential care home facilities at the request of the HSE.
All requests for assistance from the HSE were managed centrally by HSE Head Office who liaised directly with the Defence Forces Joint Task Force established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response.
Neither my Department nor the Defence Forces have any record of receiving a request for assistance in relation to this specific nursing home.
360. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education her assistance on a matter which has been passed between multiple departments relating to the lack of funding for trainee educational and child psychologists, similar to that for trainee counselling psychologist colleagues. [53144/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra361. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will consider funding for a cohort of students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53444/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra363. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the financial supports available from her Department for those completing educational psychology trainee courses who are on placement in the children's disability network team. [52699/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra420. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the recently announced funding for a cohort of third-year doctoral students of educational psychology to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; the estimated annual cost of extending the payment to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53524/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra421. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to extend the recently announced funding for a cohort of third-year doctoral students of educational psychology beyond the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53525/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra422. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of the development of the workforce plan for educational psychologists; when she expects the workforce planning group to submit its final report; if the workforce planning group is examining the provision of financial support to all second and third-year doctoral students of educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53526/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 360, 361, 363, 420, 421 and 422 together.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners.
The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:
- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment
- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and
- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.
This overall approach allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent individual cases and, through supporting school staff, to benefit many more children than could be seen individually.
In 2021 the NEPS casework service extended to over 8,500 students. Additionally, under the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) process, private psychologists provided assessment to schools for over 900 students. Furthermore, the NEPS Support and Development service reaches an estimated 25,000 teachers annually.
A working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The group has agreed on a number of actions that must be taken to address supply issues in the medium to long term. These include the development of a workforce plan for educational psychologists within the Department of Education and work has begun with other Government Departments to advance this.
A number of options were considered to address some immediate supply issues. Following analysis of these, it was decided that the Department would use some available NEPS funding to sponsor a cohort of third year students of the Educational Psychology Doctoral programme in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC) University of Limerick, for the academic year 2022/23 by providing a contribution towards their fees and associated expenses. Details will be made available in the coming weeks.
The workforce planning group referred to above will be asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of next year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. It is envisaged that funding supports for students on the educational psychological doctorate programme will be considered as part of this process.
362. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the monetary value of the support that each school can avail of to install solar panels. [53574/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware Budget 2023 provided for the provision of funding from the Climate Action Fund in relation to the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output.
This is really positive news for our schools and will assist with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings.
It is intended the provision of the solar panels will be fully funded for schools.
My Department's Officials are working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications colleagues in relation to the arrangements for this scheme and details will be announced in due course.
364. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) that has been approved funding under the additional accommodation scheme will receive approval to go to tender; if her Department will provide an update on where the current situation is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52709/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA project for the school referred to by the deputy received approval under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to construct a one-classroom SEN Base and two mainstream classrooms.
I can confirm that the school was issued approval to proceed to the planning stage of the project by my Department in October 2021. A Stage 2b Report was received in my Department for review in October 2022. This is currently being examined and a response will be issued to the Board of Management in due course.
365. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the supports that exist for trainee educational and child psychologists in the earlier years of a course (details supplied); and if the NEPS will sponsor a cohort of trainees in the years to come. [52719/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra366. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if he will provide confirmation that students who are participating in a course at a college (details supplied) are not being sponsored. [52720/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra367. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education her views on whether funding rather than sponsorship should be given to final year students that are undertaking a course at a college (details supplied) in recognition of the work that they carry out within the service from year one through to year three in much the way that was recently announced for counselling psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52721/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra368. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will consider increasing funding for those studying trainee educational and child psychology courses to bring them level to their trainee clinical psychology counterparts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52728/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra387. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the situation in which trainee educational and child psychologists are working side-by-side with clinical psychologist trainees in schools, but are unpaid for their work, unlike their clinical psychologist colleagues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53023/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 366, 367, 368 and 387 together.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a school-based psychological service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners.
The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:
- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment
- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and
- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.
This overall approach allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent individual cases and, through supporting school staff, to benefit many more children than could be seen individually.
In 2021 the NEPS casework service extended to over 8,500 students. Additionally, under the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) process, private psychologists provided assessment to schools for over 900 students. Furthermore, the NEPS Support and Development service reaches an estimated 25,000 teachers annually.
A working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The group has agreed on a number of actions that must be taken to address supply issues in the medium to long term. These include the development of a workforce plan for educational psychologists within the Department of Education and work has begun with other Government Departments to advance this.
A number of options were considered to address some immediate supply issues. Following analysis of these, it was decided that the Department would use some available NEPS funding to sponsor a cohort of third year students of the Educational Psychology Doctoral programme in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC) University of Limerick, for the academic year 2022/23 by providing a contribution towards their fees and associated expenses. The workforce planning group referred to above will be asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of next year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. It is envisaged that funding supports for students on the educational psychological doctorate programme will be considered as part of this process.
In the interim, given the particular time pressures for students in third year of the programme, interviews will be held in the coming months to provide financial support to those students of Educational Psychology, currently on training placements in NEPS who are due to complete their doctoral training programme in 2023. Details will be made available in the coming weeks.
369. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the issues presenting at a school (details supplied) as a consequence of two schools sharing the same building; her views on whether this is negatively impacting the education of the young people attending the school not permanently resident in the building; the action that her Department is taking to ensure the delivery of a new school building for the school at the earliest opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52737/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the deputy has been approved a modular framework project under the Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The Department is aware that the design team is currently finalising construction of the modular accommodation and it is due on site shortly.
The school authority has provided an update to the Department regarding works to the existing school; I am pleased to inform that this work is due to commence imminently, during the school midterm break.
370. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if funding is available from her Department to assist schools with the cost of school tours for pupils; if there are plans to establish a funding scheme to assist schools and parents with these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52767/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 15 of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.
Decisions in relation to educational tours by schools are a matter for each individual school. In accordance with the Department's circulars the objective of an educational tour should be to provide a significant benefit in the educational, intellectual, cultural and social development of pupils taking part. It is a matter for each individual school to decide on the suitability of any proposed school tour having regard to these requirements.
My Department provides funding to all recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services/ school services support fund (SSSF) grants. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management has the flexibility to allocate according to its own priorities and there are no plans to provide additional funding as outlined by the Deputy.
In making decisions about extra-curricular activities of school or school tours, all schools should take into account the costs for parents so as to ensure that these are not prohibitive or serve to exclude any pupils.
371. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education when the 2022 Junior Certificate exam results will be given to the students who sat the exam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52770/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday last week, the SEC announced this year’s Junior Cycle results will be available in schools on Wednesday 23 November 2022. Candidates will also be able to access their results online from 4pm on that date noting that the online service is not intended to replace the valuable results service and advice provided by schools at results issue time.
I am conscious that students are keen to receive their Junior Cycle examinations results for 2022.
This year saw a welcome return to examinations for all candidates across Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Cycle programmes. Providing examinations has been a significant undertaking in the current year considering the ongoing effects of Covid-19 and the changes made to examinations delivery as a result. The requirement for increased numbers of teachers to mark the examinations across all subjects especially at Junior Cycle has been particularly challenging in the current year.
In a small number of subjects, in which the examiner supply challenges were most acute, it was not possible to complete the marking and the marking process is ongoing. Marking in these subjects is being undertaken at this time by examiners who had been marking during the summer with these teams supplemented by other teachers qualified to mark in the relevant subjects including teachers who had marked at Leaving Certificate this year. Unlike in the summer marking period, teachers are in schools during the day and only available to mark at evenings and weekends. The SEC has an absolute responsibility to examination candidates to ensure that their work is marked to the highest standards of quality and integrity and the Commission must be able to stand over the results it issues each year.
372. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the number of persons working in her Department’s press office, communications team and social media team in tabular form. [52777/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of posts in the Department’s Communications Unit, which consists of press and digital communications, is 9.
Staff in the Communications Unit carry out a range of duties across different aspects of communications including press office and digital media.
373. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the process for allocating a school bus escort and or special needs assistant in this circumstance; the length of time that such an allocation would take at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52806/22]
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, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost in 2021 was over €289m.
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.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Parents should contact their school principal who will assist in making an application for school transport to the SENO that is affiliated with the school the child is attending.
My Department issues grant funding to schools for the employment of School Bus Escorts. School bus escorts are employed by each school through School Management Authorities. They are employed on board a school transport service provided through Bus Éireann where the child’s care and safety needs while on board the school transport are such as they require the support of an escort.
If a child’s safety needs are such as to require the support of an escort on a service and the application meets with the Departments criteria, the SENO will advise the Department accordingly. If the family require any further information, they can contact school_transport@education.gov.ie where officials in School Transport Section will be happy to assist them.
374. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will review her Department’s decision that from September 2023, Leaving Certificate candidates will take paper 1 in Irish and English at the end of fifth year instead of at the end of sixth year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52822/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience. I set out a clear vision for Senior Cycle, building upon the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA’s) Advisory Report. The NCCA’s review of senior cycle involved an extensive range of research, consultations and communications with a wide range of stakeholders, including teachers.
The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:
- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels
The reforms I announced include initiatives to spread the assessment load for students and do so in a way that enhances student wellbeing.
Bearing in mind the significant assessment load at the end of sixth year, as an interim measure I have asked the SEC to alter the timing of Paper One in both Irish and English so that Paper One would take place at the end of fifth year commencing with fifth years entering fifth year in September 2023.
In making this announcement, I have responded to a broad consensus for spreading the assessment load. The NCCA Advisory Report emphasised the need to reduce the focus on the final examination period and the stress experienced by students associated with this time.
The Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science published a report Leaving Certificate Reform: the Need for a New Senior Cycle in May. Throughout the hearings leading to this report, a desire to spread assessment over a greater period was a recurring theme on which there was a broad consensus.
I have also listened to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which made a number of concluding observations in its 2016 periodic report on Ireland. The Committee expressed its concern about the pressure that the Leaving Certificate examination places on children and recommended that Ireland consider reforming the Leaving Certificate to reduce the stress caused to children.
Importantly, I have also listened to students themselves who have called for the spread of assessment and to strike a balance between final exams and other forms of assessment.
I am committed to reforming Senior Cycle in a student focused way and that has to include addressing student stress levels. We can combat those stress levels by spreading assessment load. I have said that the scheduling of Paper 1 at the end of fifth year is an interim measure and a signal of our commitment to systemic change. It is important to note that this will deliver reform for a very significant number of students in advance of further reforms.
375. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if she will provide clarity on the situation in relation to substitution cover particularly for ASD classes at primary level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52829/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Circular Letter 0032/2007 and Circular Letter 0054/2019, details the agreed terms and conditions for the main leave types currently available to teachers, including the provision for substitute cover. My Department’s Circular Letter 0033/2013 permits a primary school to utilise their Supervision Hours to cover absences including, all uncertified sick leave absences, and the first day of Force Majeure Leave and Illness in Family Leave.
As stated in Circular Letter 0054/2019, each employer should have a policy on teacher absences, specific to the needs of their school. The welfare and educational needs of the pupils must take precedence over all other considerations and have due regard to the capacity of the school to meet its obligations to its pupils. Individual employers may therefore have to apply a limit to the number of teaching staff that may avail of non-statutory leave (e.g. Career Break, Job-Sharing) at any one time. An employer must take into account the availability of an appropriately qualified replacement teacher when making a decision on a teacher’s leave application.
Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas.
Any changes to the current substitution provision available to teachers would widen the scope of the current leave schemes in place and would be considered cost-increasing in nature. The Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forms part of the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers, the purpose of which is to provide a forum for claims and proposals relating to the salary, and other terms & conditions of service for teachers. The Council is comprised of representatives from the Teacher Unions, the School Management Bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education. The TCC is independently chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. In relation to the details supplied, it is open to the individual to raise the matter with their Teacher Union.
