Monday, 11 Sep 2023

Written Answers Nos. 581-600

Capital Expenditure Programme

Ceisteanna (581)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

581. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the 2023 capital budget allocation for the future growth loans scheme. [38957/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

There is no 2023 capital budget allocation for the Future Growth Loan Scheme (FGLS) in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Vote.

The FGLS was launched in June 2019 to provide an option for SMEs and small mid-caps to access appropriate finance for investment purposes. The scheme initially provided for up to €300 million in long-term lending. In July of 2020 it was expanded by €500 million to make a total of €800 million available through participating financial providers. In partnership with the European Investment Bank Group, the scheme is operated by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and is funded by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

All the participating lenders are now closed to new applications. As of 31 August 2023, there have been 3,512 loans sanctioned under the scheme, to a total value of €770.96 million.

Work Permits

Ceisteanna (582)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

582. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to seek a review of the complicated employment permit case (details supplied) relating to a person and his hope to progress a career through the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38985/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that under Employment Permits legislation, in order to qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, a non-EEA national must have a relevant third level degree qualification if the annual remuneration on offer is less than €64,000 based on a 39-hour working week.

The person mentioned in the details supplied has submitted two critical skills employment permits applications. Both applications were refused as the individual does not possess the required third level degree qualification, which is required in this case as the annual remuneration is below €64,000. The refusal decision in respect of the both applications was upheld by the reviewing officer.

The applicant has been granted two general Employment Permits, the second one having issued on 28 July 2022.

Information in relation to Critical Skills Employment Permits is available on the Department’s website and can be accessed through this link:- Critical Skills Employment Permit - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).

A FAQ document which answers the most common questions is also available on the Department’s website and this can be accessed through this link:- employment-permits-faqs-2020.pdf (enterprise.gov.ie).

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (583, 584, 585, 586)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

583. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the data relating to the share of Government enterprise financial support, funding and investment (direct and indirect) awarded to women-only founder companies, men-only founder companies, and mixed founders men-and-women companies; for a breakdown in relation to Enterprise Ireland's HPSU, Enterprise Ireland's Pre Seed Start Fund (formerly CSF), New Frontiers Programme, NDRC Accelerator, other Government VC investments (often indirect via Enterprise Ireland), and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), for the period between 2017 and 2022; and for all information to be provided in tabular form. [39009/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

584. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the number of company applicants for each support (Enterprise Ireland's HPSU, Enterprise Ireland's Pre Seed Start Fund (formerly CSF), New Frontiers Programme, NDRC Accelerator, other Government VC investments (often indirect via Enterprise Ireland), the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF)), broken into women-only founder companies, men-only founder companies, and mixed founders men-and-women companies, for the period between 2017 and 2022; and for all information to be provided in tabular form. [39010/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

585. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies which were awarded funding, broken down into women-only founder companies, men-only founder companies, and mixed founders men-and-women companies, for each support (Enterprise Ireland's HPSU, Enterprise Ireland's Pre Seed Start Fund (formerly CSF), New Frontiers Programme, NDRC Accelerator, other Government VC investments (often indirect via Enterprise Ireland), and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF)), for the period between 2017 and 2022; and for all information to be provided in tabular form. [39011/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

586. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to confirm the total euro value awarded to companies directly and indirectly through each support (Enterprise Ireland's HPSU, Enterprise Ireland's Pre Seed Start Fund (formerly CSF), New Frontiers Programme, NDRC Accelerator, other Government VC investments (often indirect via Enterprise Ireland), and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF)), broken down into women-only founder companies, men-only founder companies, and mixed founders men-and-women companies, for the period between 2017 and 2022; and for all information to be provided in tabular form. [39012/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 to 586, inclusive, together.

Enterprise Ireland (EI), an agency of my Department, manages a range of programmes that provide support to new and growing companies. These programmes include New Frontiers, High Potential Start Ups, Pre-Seed Start Fund (formerly Competitive Start Fund) and Venture Capital (VC) support.

While EI compiles data on these programmes, the information requested in these questions is not in line with the manner in which the data is recorded – for example data on mixed founders is not readily available, nor are the details on the number of applications for all programmes. In addition, data on the number of approaches to venture fund managers is not available, as companies would typically approach multiple VC funds, both formally and informally.

Information has therefore been supplied in the tables below based on the data currently recorded by EI.

I would also note that the NDRC Accelerator and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) do not fall under the remit of my Department and therefore data on these funding programmes cannot be provided.

I have broken down the request of these PQs across the various programmes on which information was sought. In relation to female founded companies, it is noted that EI count funding for female-led companies as those that hold a shareholding of 25% of greater in a company.

1 Venture Capital Investments

Of the EI allocation of €185 million to funds since 2017, 70% of the capital has been allocated to fund management teams with female decision makers.

Between 2017-2022, 337 Irish companies have been supported by EI supported venture funds at a value of €670 million, of these 53 (at a value of €122 million) were female founded/led businesses.

Over the period 2017-2022 there were a total of 1,110 investment rounds into Irish companies (including multiple into individual companies), of these 224 were to female founded/lead businesses.

2 New Frontiers Programme Phases 2-3

Female	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of Successful Applicants P2	47	46	60	60	41	58
Euro Value	€705,000	€690,000	€900,000	€900,000	€615,000	€870,000
No. of Successful Applicants P3	N/A	N/A	0	13	11	3
Euro Value	N/A	N/A	0	€97,500	€82,500	€22,500
Male	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of Successful Applicants P2	122	126	108	99	117	98
Euro Value	€1,830,000	€1,890,000	€1,620,000	€1,485,000	€1,755,000	€1,470,000
No. of Successful Applicants P3	N/A	N/A	2	25	17	5
Euro Value	N/A	N/A	€15,000	€187,500	€127,500	€37,500
Total	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of Successful Applicants P2	169	172	168	159	158	156
Euro Value	€2,535,000	€2,580,000	€2,520,000	€2,385,000	€2,370,000	€2,340,000
No. of Successful Applicants P3	N/A	N/A	2	38	28	8
Euro Value	N/A	N/A	€15,000	€285,000	€210,000	€60,000

3 High Potential Start Up (HPSU) programme

Female	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of Successful Applicants	25	18	19	19	24	34
Male	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of Successful Applicants	65	64	72	61	58	57
Combined	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of Successful Applicants	90	82	91	80	82	91
Euro Value	€21,774,055	€20,956,256	€21,382,304	€19,311,900	€18,823,000	€22,263,000

4 Competitive Start Fund (CSF)

It should be noted that the Competitive Start Fund (CSF) ceased in early 2022, while the Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) commenced in late 2022, which is the reason for 2022 figures only for PSSF.

Female	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of CSF Calls	8	9	4	3	4	1
No. of Applicants			135	113	101	23
No. of Successful Applicants	41	12	22	20	16	5
Euro Value	€2,050,000	€600,000	€1,100,000	€1,000,000	€800,000	€250,000
Male	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of CSF Calls	7		3	2	3	1
No. of Applicants			158	165	164	40
No. of Successful Applicants	50	44	14	26	27	11
Euro Value	€2,500,000	€2,200,000	€700,000	€1,300,000	€1,350,000	€550,000
Combined	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
No. of CSF Calls	8	9	4	3	4	1
No. of Applicants	766	406	239	278	265	63
No. of Successful Applicants	91	56	36	46	43	16
Euro Value	€4,550,000	€2,800,000	€1,800,000	€2,300,000	€2,150,000	€800,000

5 Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF)

Female	2022	Male	2022	Combined	2022
No. of Applicants	28	No. of Applicants	126	No. of Applicants	154
No. of Unique Applicants	N/A	No. of Unique Applicants	N/A	No. of Unique Applicants	N/A
No. of Successful Applicants	15	No. of Successful Applicants	29	No. of Successful Applicants	44
Euro Value	€1,350,000	Euro Value	€2,25,0000	Euro Value	€3,600,000

Question No. 584 answered with Question No. 583.

Question No. 585 answered with Question No. 583.

Question No. 586 answered with Question No. 583.

Industrial Development

Ceisteanna (587)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

587. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the progress of the strategic IDA land purchase in Castlebar, as well as the status of when planning permission for the new ABS project will be lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39053/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme aims to ensure the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices and is a significant driver of regional economic development and job creation.  

A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be a key differentiator in winning FDI projects, as evidenced by the record regional results achieved under IDA’s 2015-2019 strategy and its current strategy - Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth, 2021-2024. 

The provision of property solutions is a key element in IDA’s marketing of Mayo and the West Region. In that regard IDA, as part of the Regional Property Programme, has delivered an Advance Technology Building to Castlebar which has been occupied by Meissner Filtration Products who announced 150 jobs in 2019.

IDA Ireland has committed to build a second Advance Technology Building in Castlebar to support the winning of new investment. An extensive site selection process for the new building is well underway.  The acquisition of appropriate lands has proven challenging in this location and IDA continues to explore all possible options to identify and secure suitable lands aligned with investor needs.  The site selection process is commercially sensitive until a land acquisition has been completed.

On conclusion of site selection, the design and planning phases will commence. The specific dates for commencement of construction are wholly dependent on and subject to the successful outcome of these processes. IDA will use its best endeavours to deliver the building in a timely manner.  IDA Ireland has had regular engagement with Mayo County Council on its plans.

IDA continues to work with regional stakeholders and the private sector on opportunities to add to the supply of competitive property solutions in regional locations.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (588)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

588. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a detailed description and breakdown of the expenditure by an organisation (details supplied) under Section 8(A) General Administration for its 2022 financial statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39054/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

A breakdown of the expenditure under Section 8A General Administration of IDA Ireland's 2022 Financial Statements is set out in the table below:

General Administration Costs	€
Office Accommodation Costs (Rents, Rates, Service Charges, Maintenance, Heat & Light and Cleaning of all IDA Offices).	8,919,648
Office Operating Costs (Insurance, General Office Supplies, Canteen Subvention, Health & Safety, Equipment and Telephone).	2,311,058
Employee Related Costs (relocation costs for Overseas employees and Employment Training and Development Costs).	3,516,122
IT and Digital Transformation Costs (Systems Maintenance, Licences, Hardware and Software and Digital Transformation Costs).	3,849,861
Total	18,596,689

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (589)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

589. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a detailed description on the types of campaigns, the consultancy agencies employed, the types of advertising undertaken, the specific media, and the amount paid to each and breakdown of expenditure for an organisation (details supplied) under Section 8(A) Marketing, consultancy, promotions and advertising for its 2022 financial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39055/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The table below outlines a breakdown of expenditure under Section 8A of IDA Ireland’s 2022 Financial Statements as requested by the Deputy. 

Marketing, Consultancy Promotions and Advertising	€
Marketing Costs	3,383,044
Consultancy & Studies Costs.	2,045,940
Promotions & Advertising Costs	6,257,635
	11,686,620

Of €11.7 million expenditure on marketing, consulting, advertising and promotions in 2022, €6.3 million covered advertising and promotions costs. This €6.3 million included digital marketing campaigns, international media partnerships, industry events, development and maintenance of the IDA website, public relations, design and content creation.

IDA Ireland’s engagements with suppliers is governed by strict compliance rules and the agency has framework agreements in place on media buying (Zenith, part of Core), creative advertising (BBDO), design (Allen Creative), web development (Continuum by Granite) and public relations in various jurisdictions, namely Europe (Finn Partners), East Coast US (Padilla), West Coast US (Kimber), Japan (Kyodo), India (Ad Factors) and China (BCW Public Relations). All payments over €20,000 are published on IDA Ireland’s website, alongside the supplier name, on a quarterly basis at www.idaireland.com/information-compliance.

IDA Ireland operates in a highly competitive market for international investment and as such, the details of campaigns are highly commercially sensitive, given they are an important competitive lever for the Agency and for Ireland in winning FDI. These investments, and the outcomes of campaigns, are reported to the IDA Board who have oversight of expenditure, however publishing this level of detail would compromise the Agency’s competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (590)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

590. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the location, project type/land or capital building and costs for an organisation (details supplied) associated with the regional property programme to provide current and prospective clients with the supply of land, buildings, and infrastructure in regional location from 2021 to current contained with annual financial statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39056/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA’s Property strategy sets out ambitious plans for the delivery of advanced building solutions in regional locations and key capital-intensive regional infrastructure to support the organisation’s strategy. The timely provision of appropriate, innovative and cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions that meet the needs of MNC’s at the forefront of the modern economy remain essential to winning FDI.  In a challenging, competitive and uncertain global environment, IDA’s regional property programme ensures the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects, as evidenced by the record regional results achieved under IDA’s Winning 2015-2019 strategy and its current Strategy - Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 - 2024.

Under its current strategy IDA is progressing delivery of 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS’s) to regional locations. IDA also partners with the private sector and Local Authorities to deliver buildings in key locations where appropriate. In addition, IDA is investing in significant infrastructure projects across the portfolio of Business and Technology Parks to upgrade and is maintaining these key assets in line with the evolving requirements of IDA and EI clients.  IDA has maintained a focus on land banks and utility intensive strategic sites to future proof the ability of our property portfolio to support the project pipeline, most notably large-scale capital-intensive projects which can have significant regional and national economic impacts.

Capital investment on land acquisition, buildings, and infrastructure in 2021 and 2022 is detailed in the table below:

Spend Type	2021 €m	2022 €m	Transaction/Works Locations
Land Acquisitions	€9.31	€24.63	Midlands/West/ MidEast/ Southwest
Building Programme	€27.68	€40.67	Northeast/ Border/Northwest /Southeast
Infrastructure	€22.80	€26.80	Mid-West/ Southwest/Northeast /South East
	59.79	92.10

The significance of property to the winning of FDI particularly in regional locations is clearly demonstrated by investment wins from Gilead in Carrigtwohill, Almac, Wasdell, Wuxi Biologics and Irish Life in Dundalk, Regeneron, Eli Lilly & J&J in Limerick, State Street and Abbott in Kilkenny, Zoetis in Tullamore, and Enterprise Ireland Clients such as Kilkenny Cheese.  Other successes to date in line with IDA’s Building programme include the investment or expected investment of companies such as Meissner in Castlebar, Vistakon in Limerick, Medtronic in Galway, Horizon Therapeutics, Eirgen, and Artesyn Biologics in Waterford.

In this context, continued investment in delivering advanced property solutions and infrastructure upgrades, in addition to further land acquisitions is critical to delivering on IDA’s and EI’s balanced regional development agenda.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (591)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

591. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify whether key management personnel in an organisation (details supplied) consisting of the members of the Board, the chief executive officer, the executive directors, the divisional managers or management personnel receive compensation such as car allowances or get a car leased under their contractor of employment, health insurance, or any other applicable remuneration other than basic pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39061/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

IDA Ireland has confirmed to officials in my Department that that key management personnel consisting of the members of the Board, the chief executive officer, the executive directors, the divisional managers or management personnel do not receive compensation such as car allowances or get a car leased under their contractor of employment, health insurance or any other applicable remuneration other than basic pay.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (592)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

592. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if clarity could be provided regarding the way a new company pursues an application for a sports and culture visa (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39180/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that in order for an employer to meet the eligibility criteria for a Sport and Cultural Employment Permit, the following criteria must be fulfilled:-

• Applications will only be accepted from employers who are registered with the Revenue Commissioners and, if applicable, with the Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies and which are currently trading in Ireland.

• An employer–employee relationship must exist in that the prospective employees concerned must be employed, salaried and paid directly by the employer.

• An Employment Permit will not issue unless at the time of the application 50% or more of the employees of the firm are EEA nationals.

• A Labour Market Needs Test is not required for a Sport and Cultural Employment Permit.

Employment Permits Section does not issue employment permits to any employer who is not registered as an employer with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.  If the employer is a newly established employer and is unable to provide a copy of a statement issued by the Revenue Commissioners showing the monthly return made by the employer dated within the three-month period preceding the application, a copy of an official letter from Revenue confirming registration as an employer, date of registration and the ERN (Employers Registered Number) would be accepted.

Further information in relation to Sport and Cultural Employment Permits is available on the Department’s website and can be accessed through this link:- Sport and Cultural Employment Permit - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).

It should be noted that all employment permits granted are employer and employee specific and therefore cannot be transferred from one employer to another.  From the details supplied it appears that the prospective employees currently hold Sport and Cultural Permits in respect of employment for another entity. In order for the persons concerned to enter employment with a new employer they will need to obtain new employment permits. 

Permit holders employed in the State based on their first employment permit are expected to remain in that employment for a minimum period of 12 months from the commencement of the employment before considering applying for a new employment permit. This provision attempts to strike a reasonable balance between, on the one hand, the employer’s expectations that the individual will remain in his or her employment for a reasonable period given the costs involved in recruitment and, on the other hand, not unduly binding them to the employer.  This is commonly referred to as the 12-month rule.

There are a number of exceptions to the 12-month rule. This includes redundancy, or where circumstances (unforeseen at the time of the application) arise in their employment that fundamentally changes the employment relationship (for example, the employer plans to change the location of the business to a site a significant distance from its current location, or the hours that s/he work are being significantly changed, or significant changes are being made to the nature of the work that they are required to do), an employment permit may be granted for an alternative, eligible job before 12 months have elapsed from the date the employment started.  In cases where the 12-month rule would apply, documentation which demonstrates that such circumstances apply to the individual concerned would be required to be submitted with a subsequent application.

All permit holders are also required to notify this Department if their employment terminates within a period of 4 weeks from the date of cessation of the employment.  Failure to do so is an offence under employment permit legislation.

Information is provided on the Department’s website in relation to employment permits including information on changing employer,  latest developments and an FAQ document which answers the majority of the most common questions, all of which are available through this link -  Employment Permits - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).

School Transport

Ceisteanna (593)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

593. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if additional seating will be provided on school transport for persons (details supplied). [37198/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. 

There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9 million.

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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 an agreed selection process.

Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil’s referred to by the Deputy are attending their 5th nearest Post Primary schools and are therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme.

The pupils were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the coming school year as there is no spare capacity for the pupils to be accommodated.

Home Schooling

Ceisteanna (594)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

594. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has received correspondence from a school (details supplied); and if she is in a position to allocate resources for an adequate home school liaison service. [37232/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Currently, all DEIS Urban Primary and Post Primary schools are included in the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL), which serves 687 DEIS schools. The scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL Coordinators, who are teachers in these schools and who are assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or in clusters of schools, catering for approximately 207,000 pupils.  

The HSCL scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention.

The HSCL scheme is one of a suite of initiatives funded by my Department as part of the DEIS programme and Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) manages the scheme on behalf of my Department.

Tusla Education Support Service’s (TESS) Integrated Service Manager, assigned to the area is available to assist the schools in question. TESS will continue to provide support to help ensure that the allocated HSCL resource is utilised to its fullest potential in order to best support those who are most in need.

My Department is continuing to undertake work towards achieving its vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. It also recognises that we need to target resources to those schools who need them most. To support this work my Department have invited the OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies Project to review the current policy approach for the allocation of resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage in Ireland. This review will provide an independent expert opinion on the current resource allocation model for the DEIS programme and, drawing on international examples, inform a policy approach for an equitable distribution of supplementary resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage attending all schools, both DEIS and non-DEIS. The OECD are engaging with a range of relevant stakeholders to inform the review process as well as drawing on international examples. The OECD estimates that the review will be completed in Q2 2024.

The OECD review is being complimented by a programme of work by my Department which will look at reviewing individual resources and allocation approaches. This work will involve consultation with a range of relevant stakeholders. It will also seek to ensure that schools are supported to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to achieve their potential.

Demographic changes to schools will be considered within this work underpinning my commitment to an effective and responsive resource allocation strategy. Following the National Census held in April 2022, it is envisaged that an updated HP Deprivation Index will be generated by Pobal and will be available in Q4 of 2023. My Department will engage with Pobal in relation to this process. The updated HP Deprivation Index, when available, will be considered by my Department to help inform future resource allocation to tackle educational disadvantage.

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Ceisteanna (595)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

595. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education her views on whether “white people, Irish people and males” have a privileged status in Irish society, as is indicated in the new NCCA draft curriculum; and her further views on whether the education system should be free of political ideology and offer a neutral space for all in society to learn. [37269/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Equality, inclusivity and diversity are core values of the curriculum from early years to post-primary level in Ireland. The curriculum seeks to meet the needs of learners of all backgrounds, abilities and genders within our schools. It is vital that all students can avail of an inclusive, welcoming and respectful environment during their time in school.

Teacher Training

Ceisteanna (596)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

596. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if, given the particular emphasis on continuing professional development (CCPD) and equality, consideration would be given to the entitlement of an allowance to teachers with additional qualifications (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37312/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

My Department implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments in September 2012 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which meant that many allowances, were no longer payable to “new entrant” Teachers.

Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this review on teachers. In common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries of certain allowances was withdrawn from 1 February 2012 under the terms of this Circular. Furthermore, if a teacher was eligible for receipt of the allowance prior to 1 February 2012 and subsequently left that job role on or after 1 February 2012 on a voluntary basis, their entitlement to the allowance ceases from the date of the move and they cannot re-gain entitlement.

Amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions. Over the course of recent collective agreements amendments have been agreed, including that new entrant teachers had the equivalent of an Honours Primary Degree allowance integrated into their salary scale. More recently the equivalent of the Professional Masters in Education (PME) Allowances has been integrated into the salary scale of new entrant post primary teachers.

Any review of the eligibility criteria for allowances, including qualification allowances, can occur only under that process and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by the Department should the relevant unions seek to engage on this.

Teaching Qualifications

Ceisteanna (597)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

597. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if a teacher (details supplied) in County Clare who is on loan from one school to another will receive their Gaelscolaíochta allowance while on loan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37313/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I wish to inform the Deputy that the particulars of the case are being reviewed and advice on the interpretation on this case has been sought from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. A response will issue to the Deputy and the individual concerned as soon as possible.

Education Policy

Ceisteanna (598)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

598. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education whether there is discretion within her Department to approve special leave with pay for a person who has had a child through surrogacy in the absence of any statutory maternity leave provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37364/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Leave entitlements for public servants, including teachers, are determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and 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.

Currently, as there is no legislative entitlement to surrogacy leave in Ireland, there is no overarching civil service or public sector policy pertaining to leave entitlements for surrogate parents.  

The recognition of surrogacy is a matter for Government as a whole, and is not within the remit of my Department.

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (599)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

599. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a shortage of places for all Irish primary education in the Clontarf, Killester and Raheny catchment area; if she has any plans to increase the availability of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37376/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 School Planning Areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand.  Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area 

• My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

• Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through: 

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.   

There can be a high degree of inward and outward mobility of children between School Planning Areas, particularly in urban areas, and parents are free to apply to enrol their children in any school, whether that is in the School Planning Area in which they reside or not.

There are 25 Primary schools in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area.  The published school’s enrolment data for the 2022/23 academic year reported 5,846 enrolments in primary schools in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area.  Surveys conducted during the academic year indicated additional available capacity at these schools. 

The enrolments for 6th class for 2022 was 723.  The intake level at Post Primary for Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area is 131% - the intake pattern shows the percentage of children attending 6th class in primary schools in this SPA that enrolled in 1st  year in a Post Primary in the SPA in the previous two years.  66% of first years attended primary school within the SPA.

The most recent projections for Killester School Planning Area indicate a slight increase in requirements at post primary level up to 2025 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. 

The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across School Planning Areas including in Killester_Raheny_Clontarf SPA.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (600)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

600. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of school bus drivers that will have to retire this year on age grounds due to the rule that they do not allow Bus Éireann employ people with eligible full licences to work once they reach 70 years of age; whether she intends changing the age criteria for school bus drivers to bring it in line with national eligibility to drive a bus or alternatively whether she intends commissioning a report on the extra risk posed by allowing eligible drivers to drive over 70 years of age as compared to drivers under 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37386/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year.  This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.

Department officials engage with Bus Éireann staff on a daily basis with regard to the operation of the School Transport Scheme.  In addition, quarterly strategic, and monthly operational meetings are held throughout the year.

Officials also hold regular meetings as the need arises which include but is not limited to: planning for additional school transport places, the management of transport provision for children arriving from Ukraine, and the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services. 

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.

While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on school routes.  This includes vetting and background checks.

It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years.  However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.  This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.   

The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.