Jackie Cahill
Ceist:80. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if there are any new ASD units opening in County Tipperary in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55881/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (80)
Freagraí scríofa
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
The NCSE have current data on students attending Special Classes and Special Schools for the area but data relating to future planning for each school’s projected needs would be held locally at the school level.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
For 2022, my Department will spend in excess of €2.3 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
My Department and the NCSE continue to work very closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
I am satisfied that this approach is delivering. We have seen 393 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,545 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 393 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 133 at post primary level.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at: www.ncse.ie
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
I want to reassure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (81)
Robert Troy
Ceist:81. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite a school bus ticket for a pupil (details supplied). [55902/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last 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 at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary 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 have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but did not apply for school transport by the closing date of 29 April 2022 and did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July 2022.
It is very important for such families to note that the application deadline for 2022/23 was 29 April 2022, and that the deadline to confirm registration for tickets was 29 July 2022. Any application completed after this date is a ‘late application’ and therefore, many school transport services are already operating at full capacity. Late applications will only be assessed after all “on time” applications have been processed and there can be no guarantee of places for late applicants.
Bus Éireann has advised the Local Office is currently assessing school transport routes for late applicants and the family referred to by the Deputy will be contacted directly by their Local Bus Éireann Office.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (82)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:82. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if the one-off payments in budget 2023 will be counted as income when applying for a means-tested social protection payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55722/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
These measures include the following lump sum payments:
- €400 Fuel Allowance lump sum
- November double Child Benefit payment
- €500 Working Family Payment
- €200 Living Alone Allowance lump sum
- €500 Disability Support Grant
- €500 Carer's Support Grant
In addition, an Autumn Cost of Living Payment was paid last month, and a Christmas Bonus will be paid in December.
These cost of living once-off payments will not be assessed as means for Social Protection purposes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (83)
Mick Barry
Ceist:83. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of civil servants in her Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, more than 20 and more than 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has two staff members seconded to a Partnership Company which is contracted to provide a Local Employment Service (LES). The individuals were originally employed by FAS and seconded to the Partnership company in 1996 with an allowance to carry out a LES Mediator role. When specified FAS employees were integrated into this Department in 2012, these two individuals came across to DSP at their substantive grade. However the secondment arrangement continued with the Partnership Company and both staff members continued to receive a higher duty allowance. Both secondments are due to finish on the 31 December 2022.
My Department has one staff member seconded to the North Inner City Partnership since August 2017. The staff member is in receipt of a higher duty allowance.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have advised that staff on secondment remain pensionable in their substantive grade.
Community Employment Schemes
Ceisteanna (84)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:84. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection when the community employment ex-gratia payment for supervisors and assistant supervisors will be made in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.
Following an agreement between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection, a final settlement was reached with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors at the end of 2021. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. This settlement which will benefit approximately 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.
Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age are now able to apply for this payment.
Over the past number of months, an administrative and ICT system to accept applications and process payments was put in place within the Department of Social Protection. The first group of ex-gratia applications have been received and are being processed - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. Following Government approval last week, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill, which will also facilitate payments issuing.
A notification will issue to recipients as soon as payments are processed and are ready to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Personal Public Service Numbers
Ceisteanna (85)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) who has submitted the required documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number on 31/05/2022. The application was referred back to the person’s MyWelfare account on 18/06/2022, with a request for proof of his identity. The person concerned was asked to provide an image of either the back of his National Identity Card or of his passport. As a response was not received, his application expired on 28/07/2022. The person concerned can reapply online for a PPS Number using www.MyWelfare.ie and uploading his photo identity document, proof of why he requires a PPS Number and proof of his address. When all the required information is received his application will be processed promptly. I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (86)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in respect of an alleged overpayment; if their appeal can be expedited given the stress that this ongoing case is causing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55677/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9 September 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. I understand that these papers will be forwarded to the Appeals Office in the very near future. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing. This appeal will be given priority consideration by the Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (87)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:87. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a guardian's payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55684/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned has been awarded a guardian's payment (non-contributory) at the weekly rate of €148.50 with effect from the 18th of March 2022. A decision letter has issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (88)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:88. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55685/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of Disability Allowance from 23 February 2000 until 08 November 2022. The person concerned was awarded State Pension Contributory from 07 November 2022. A letter notifying her of this decision issued on 04 October 2022. The Cost of Living Disability Support Grant of €500 will be made to those currently on a Disability Payment - (Disability Allowance (DA), Invalidity Pension (IP) and Blind Pension (BP). In order to receive the Payment, a person must be in receipt of one of the Disability Payments- DA, IP or BP the week commencing 14 November 2022. As the person concerned will not be in receipt of DA on 16 November 2022 they will not qualify for the payment. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.