Written Answers Nos. 91-110
91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any exceptional circumstances in which a local authority can sell a social house at market value to a family member of a deceased long-term social housing tenant who does not meet the current social housing or tenant purchase criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59829/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can derogate from Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage tenant purchase guidelines in unique exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59837/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.
The Tenant Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.
All sales under the scheme must meet the criteria set down in Part 3 of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and associated Regulations. While the sale of any dwelling under the scheme is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority, local authorities have no scope to derogate from the legislative requirements or associated guidelines.
93. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of accessible units built in 2022 for people with disabilities in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59838/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
In January 2022, I launched the second joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027. This strategy operates within the framework of Housing for All which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities and older people.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. Data to the end of Quarter 2 2022 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. While the data does not include specific details on the numbers of units delivered or acquired on behalf of people with disabilities, this data may be available from the individual local authorities.
The Housing Agency also publishes data in relation to the number of social housing allocations to disabled people. Data from 2016- 2020 is available on the housing programme for disabled people at the following website: gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/
The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), provides that funding of up to 100% of project costs may be advanced by local authorities to Approved Housing Bodies to provide accommodation for priority categories on the housing waiting list including elderly, persons/families who are homeless and people with a disability. Expenditure under this programme from 2017-2021 supported the delivery of 489 units of accommodation for persons with a disability and persons moving out of a congregated setting environment. Details are set out in the table below in respect of 2022.
|
Year |
Construction |
Acquisitions |
Totals No of units delivered |
Number of units of accommodation delivered for people with a disability to include persons moving out of a congregated setting environment. |
|
*2022 |
71 |
95 |
166 |
34 |
*Position as at the end of Quarter 2 2022
94. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a list will be provided of all schemes and programmes under the remit of his Department for which a means test applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59656/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no schemes or programmes under the remit of my Department for which a means test applies.
95. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide the attendance record of his Department at all joint policing committee and city and county development board meetings since 2015 to date, in tabular form. [59683/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not attended a joint policing committee or a city or county development board within the time specified.
96. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the plan for Ireland's participation in the European Union Assistance Mission Ukraine; and if he can provide a guarantee that Irish soldiers will only be involved in training related to de-mining and that they will not be involved in other aspects of the military training which will be taking place. [59587/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to bring a proposal to Dáil Éireann in advance of Irish Defence Forces personnel participating in the European Union Assistance Mission Ukraine in order to comply with Article 28 of the Constitution which sets out that "the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann". [59588/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
On 15 November, the Council of the European Union launched the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).
The aim of the mission, formally established on 17 October, is to enhance the military capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to allow them to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, as well as to protect the civilian population. The mission will operate on a needs-based approach, answering to Ukrainian training needs.
EUMAM Ukraine has a non-executive mandate to provide individual, collective and specialised training to up to 15 000 Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel over multiple locations in the territory of EU member states. The Mission Commander will be the Director of the EU's Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC).
While it has always been and remains a matter for each Member State to decide whether or not to participate in any given military or civilian CSDP mission or operation, I support Ireland’s participation in the mission. A Defence Forces' Officer will shortly take-up a senior staff position in the mission’s Operational Headquarters, which will operate within the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) in Brussels.
Consideration is now being given to other areas where the Defence Forces could contribute, based on an assessment of the identified needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As this process is ongoing, I am not yet in a position to confirm the precise nature of the training that Defence Forces' personnel may provide, though demining is one such area in which the Defence Forces have an expertise and could add significant value.
Any deployment of personnel for the provision of training to contribute to the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will, of course, be done in full compliance with the provisions of the Defence Acts. Ireland’s approach to our active engagement in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, remains guided by our policy of military neutrality and our long-standing contribution to crisis management and peacekeeping.
Finally, for the sake of clarity, let me confirm that there is no question of Irish Defence Forces’ personnel being deployed to Ukraine as part of this mission and no other EU Member State intends to send personnel to Ukraine. All of the training will be provided on the territory of the European Union, primarily in Poland and Germany, but also in a number of other Member States.
98. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Defence if a list will be provided of all schemes and programmes under the remit of his Department for which a means test applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59651/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no schemes or programmes under the remit of my Department for which a means test applies.
99. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide the attendance record of his Department at all joint policing committee and city and county development board meetings since 2015 to date, in tabular form. [59678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not attended a joint policing committee or a city or county development board within the time specified.
100. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will request her Department's planning and building unit to engage with the principal and board of management of a school (details supplied) on the proposed additional accommodation scheme to ensure their existing general purpose room is protected for future use or an alternative GP room is provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59600/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority in question.
Officials from my Department are completing the final stages of the assessment process. Upon completion of the assessment process a decision will then issue directly to the school authorities.
The actual design of a project, including any implications on the existing GP hall, will be determined by the appointed design team in conjunction with the school authorities.
101. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will request her Department's planning and building unit to engage with the principal and board of management of a school (see details supplied) on the proposed additional accommodation scheme to ensure the existing general purpose (GP) room is protected for future use or an alternative GP room is provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59601/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question.
This project was accepted by the school authorities and it has been devolved for delivery. The design of the project, including any implications on the existing GP room, will be determined by the appointed design team in conjunction with the school authorities.
102. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update through her Department's planning and building unit for a school (details supplied) on the proposed additional accommodation project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59602/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers has been granted funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. This funding has been devolved to the school authority for delivery and will provide for 4 General classrooms, 1 Construction Studies/Woodwork room, 1 Construction studies/ Woodwork prep area and ancillary accommodation.
A Stage 1/2A Report was submitted in August 2022 and was reviewed by my Department's Professional & Technical (P&T) Team. Comments arising from this review subsequently issued to the school.
The school authority has recently submitted a response to these comments, which is currently being reviewed by the P&T Team. A decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this review has been completed.
103. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update through her Department's planning and building unit for a school (details supplied) on the proposed additional accommodation project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59603/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.
The Project Manager has visited the school and is currently arranging site surveys for all projects on this ADAPT Programme including this school.
The Project Manager has begun initial engagement with my Department's Consultancy Frameworks in respect of all the projects on this ADAPT Programme and it is anticipated that the Design Team procurement process will be initiated shortly, when an Invitation to Tender will issue to those potential Design Team Consultants.
Upon appointment, the Design Team will proceed to Stage 1 of Architectural Planning – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team will assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage.
104. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans to increase payment of the remote area grant towards the cost of private transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Under the terms of my Department's Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8 kms at post-primary from and are attending their nearest 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 and payment 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.
While there are no plans currently to increase the rate of payment for the Remote Area Grant, as you are aware my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes to include an examination of eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the scheme's objectives.
The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services. The review will consider issues such as climate action, supporting rural development and promoting where possible initiatives that encourage walking and cycling to school.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the second phase of the review. The Technical Working Group has undertaken extensive consultation over the last number of months; including running a public survey for parents/guardians and students who use the service and those who do not use the service but who would like to. The Group has also consulted with a broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments.
The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses. While work on the review is being impacted somewhat by challenges including the pandemic and the impact on resources arising from the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the completion of the final phases of the review will be in the shortest timeframe possible. I will then examine and consider the final recommendations once received from the steering group on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
105. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 18 October 2022, the status of the planning application for the permanent site for the school; and the date on which the application will be ready and submitted. [59625/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the status of a permanent site planning application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59794/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 117 together.
The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
The school and its patron body were advised by my Department in August 2021 that it would not be possible to proceed at that time with the proposed planning application for the school as South Dublin County Council had advised my Department of its intention to undertake a masterplan of the Rathcoole area, including the proposed school site. Following conclusion of the master-planning exercise and consultation with the Council, my Department’s Project Manager progressed the preparation of the planning application for the school on the existing Department-owned site.
A further pre-planning meeting with the Council was held on 30th June 2022 at which the local authority proposed a new road layout around the north, east and southern boundaries of the site, which will comprise approximately 25% of the Department-owned site and will have a significant impact on the current design and site layout. As a result, it has become necessary to undertake redesign work in relation to the school design and site layout which will impact on the programme for delivery of the new school. My Department’s Project Manager is progressing with the necessary redesign work in this regard.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and its patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.
106. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on a DEIS application and school meals application for a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59627/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity across the primary and post-primary sector.
Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model, which is an objective, statistics-based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
The DEIS identification process is based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school. The DEIS identification model aimed to identify those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage or the highest proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school using the school's enrolment data and national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index which is publicly available.
A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a3c9e-extension-of-deis-to-further-schools/#how-schools-were-selected-for-inclusion-in-deis
Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly across all appellants, the window for appeals has now closed and the results are final. My Department will continue to support schools to deliver high quality, inclusive teaching and learning to students and young learners.
It is also important to note that the extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one phase of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. The next phase of work will explore the allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
The school meals programme, including criteria for inclusion and provision of funding, is under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. Priority for inclusion is afforded to DEIS schools.
107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if a list will be provided of all schemes and programmes under the remit of her Department for which a means test applies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59652/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme and State Examinations processes both determine if an exemption from their respective fees is applicable. My Department does not carry out means testing directly. The determination is based on whether a student or one of the parents/guardians has a current medical card and, if so, are then exempt from the fees. It should be noted that a temporary measure is in place for the waiver of the 2022/23 school transport fees and that fees were waived for all students sitting the junior and senior cycle State Examinations in 2022.
My Department also operates a Protestant Block Grant scheme. This is a means tested student support scheme that enables students to attend a school whose ethos accords with their faith tradition. This scheme, which is administered by the Secondary Education Committee, ensures that Protestant children who satisfy a means test can attend a school of their choice and can be used by the student to help pay boarding costs and/or tuition fees where the recipient attends a fee charging school. It can also be awarded towards boarding costs where the student attends a Protestant school in the free scheme that provides boarding facilities. Details of the means test for this scheme are available on: secgrant.ie/means-test-calculator/.
108. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the status of the school building projects approved for a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59673/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe first school referred to by the deputy was granted approval for the provision of a new 1200 post-primary school building with 4-class special educational needs base under the Major Devolved Capital programme. This project is devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This school is part of ‘Project Lee’ and is currently at pre-Stage 1. The design team has been appointed and is preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design). At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress. The second and third schools referred to by the deputy were granted approval for a campus project which will provide the following: a new 1000 Pupil Post Primary School with 4 Classroom Special Education Needs base and a new 8 Classroom Primary School with 2 Classroom Special Education Needs Base. This campus project is being delivered via the Department's Major Devolved Capital Programme and has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This school is part of ‘Project Lee’. The NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
109. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the attendance record of her Department at all joint policing committee and city and county development board meetings since 2015 to date, in tabular form. [59679/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that no officials from the Department of Education have attended Joint Policing Committees and city and county development boards since 2015 to date.
110. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details regarding the procedures for the making of a final decision on whether or not to proceed with a proposal to reconfigure schools in the listed pilot areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59718/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2022 I announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools at present as part of a pilot reconfiguration arrangement. This work involves identifying potential schools and engaging with school authorities, school staff and the school communities, including parents, with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this.
Where a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number and operating from the same school property. All State-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same rules and regulations.
The Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) and relevant Bishops have confirmed their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and cities. The pilot areas are:
|
Arklow |
Athlone |
Cork* |
Dublin* |
|
Dundalk |
Galway* |
Limerick* |
Youghal |
*parts of these cities
My Department has made available a number of independent facilitators across the pilot areas to work with the school patron and relevant school authorities at a local level:
- to progress the reconfiguration pilot initiative;
- to assist in identifying potential school(s) in this regard; and
- to engage with stakeholders including school authorities, school staff and parents
with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this in the pilot areas.
As part of the structured engagement process, the relevant facilitator engages with the school Principal and Board of Management Chairperson (or full Board as appropriate), school staff and parents of children in the school. In respect of parents, the structured engagement process involves the facilitator inviting parents to an information meeting where the facilitator makes a presentation to parents providing information on the schools reconfiguration for diversity process initiative, including information on what this may mean for parents and pupils and setting out the steps in the engagement process. At the information meeting with the facilitator, parents have the opportunity to raise any questions and to share their views.
Following this, the facilitator and patron/patron’s representative where appropriate, reviews the engagement as part of each of the information sessions with the school community and the facilitator writes a preliminary report reflecting the engagement with the school authorities, staff and parents and submits this to the patron.
In pilot areas where the engagement has already progressed to this stage, the facilitator’s preliminary report to the patron was circulated to the full school community and a reconfiguration e-mail address was provided so that the school community, including parents, could provide any feedback/views and the Department collated this and provided this to the relevant facilitator.
An information pack for school communities, including parents, on transfer of patronage was published in March this year and can be accessed from: www.gov.ie/schoolsreconfiguration
Parents in the pilot areas can contact my Department directly by e-mail to ask questions or share their views on reconfiguration@education.gov.ie .
