Wednesday, 28 Feb 2024

Written Answers Nos. 49-70

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (49)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

49. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her plans to further reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9567/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Budget 2024 has provided for an unprecedented €10.5 billion investment in education, which includes an increase of €421 million in core current funding, as well as over €80 million in core capital funding. An additional €170 million is also being provided as part of Cost of Living and COVID-19 supports. These additional funds build on significant increases in recent budgets and further enhance the investment in Ireland’s education system. The significant increased investment is the largest education budget in the history of the state and reflects government’s commitment to a quality inclusive school system and improved learning outcomes for every student.

In the three previous budgets, I prioritised reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools, by one point each year,  which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, which I introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. I also improved teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools which now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.  Any further improvement would have to be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.

The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 15.7:1 to 13.4:1 at primary level when comparing the 2016/17 school year to the 2022/23 school year.   In the same period the primary staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 24:1.  Average class sizes at primary improved from 24.6 to 22.8 in the same period.  The improvements brought about by Budget 2023 for this school year will be available in the statistical reports published at the end of the school year.

Education and Training Boards

Ceisteanna (50)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

50. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of the proposed LMETB headquarters location (details supplied); to indicate if any funding request have been received to progress the plans to the next stage, if so when, can he also indicate when they expect any further progress to be made with targeted timelines provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9599/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB).

The project is at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process. The Stage 2b report was submitted to the Department by the design team and is currently under review by the Department.  Following this review and once approval of this report is sanctioned, the project will progress to tender stage and construction in due course.

It is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project at this juncture.

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna (51, 52, 53, 54)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

51. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education which part of the three limbs of the school profile takes specific account of children who can only access the curriculum with SET assistance, due to their complex, additional needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9624/24]

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

52. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education how a school profile which is directly correlated to, and focused on, pupils with the greatest level of need in the areas of literacy and numeracy will ensure that those will complex additional needs are identified and assisted from the outset of their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9625/24]

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

53. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education what is the "high quality, verifiable education data" that is being used as the basis for the new SET model; if she can publish that data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9626/24]

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

54. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the reason data which was used by NCSE/Department of Education since 2017 from the HSE CDNT can no longer be routinely available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9627/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 52, 53 and 54 together.

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question.

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). 

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers.

In 2023, my department spent over €2.6 billion on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113m will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.

As the SET allocation model has been in place since 2017 based on a 2014 NCSE report, my Department believed a review of the model was prudent. The department commenced a review in late 2022 to ensure that the model was meeting the changing needs in special education.

The review examined the following: 

• The individual inputs (components) of the model

• The validity and reliability of the data used for each component

• Feedback from our education partners and individual schools

The review of the SET allocation model further identified that a programme of continuous development was required to ensure that the model was delivering effectively, both in supporting the changing needs in the education system, and for individual schools.

A high level roadmap has been discussed and agreed with our education partners during a series of consultations to enhance the inputs and improve the sensitivity of the model.

The journey of enhancement begins with the 2024/25 allocation by ensuring that the model has a strong foundation.

The key to building a solid foundation is ensuring that the data, for each pillar within the model, is already available to the department and provided by schools. Where data used in the model is received from external sources, it is critical that the information is being received on a consistent basis.

Upon examination of each of the five components used in the model, concerns were identified in relation to two of them, namely gender and complex needs data from the HSE.

Gender was included as a component in the 2017 allocation model on the basis that in Ireland, just as in other jurisdictions, there appeared to be a higher incidence of special educational needs in males.

However, in the intervening period since the model was introduced, there have been developments in research in this area and also in the perception of gender. It is now accepted that the female pupils may have a similar level of need and that this need is becoming apparent at later stages in their growth and development.

The complex needs input, which was introduced in the 2017 model, was predicated on the provision of data from the HSE Children Disability Network Teams on children entering junior infants with special education needs who were assessed or triaged for a waiting list for assessment.

The review highlighted concerns in relation to the veracity and the consistency of the data provided on a national basis by the CDNT. This resulted in the potential for significant variations from one area of the country to another. In addition, it is not possible to verify whether all data reported relates solely to educational need as distinct from care needs, which are resourced through the Special Needs Assistant allocation process, or medical needs.

To ensure that schools are not negatively impacted by these issues, all existing hours assigned for complex needs are being maintained for each school and data from the education sector in respect of complex needs will be relied on to understand the number of children with complex needs in each school. This is being done by reapportioning this value at individual school level across the remaining pillars with an emphasis on the Literacy and Numeracy category which demonstrates where additional teaching supports are required. This exercise strengthens the model to give a sustainable allocation to schools, which recognises where there are significant learning needs.

At primary, the Educational Teaching needs profile is calculated based on educational outcome (STen) data which are collected and held within schools and submitted to the Department of Education. At post primary, the data used is Junior Cycle results. Hence, the profiles are directly correlated to, and focused on, pupils with the greatest level of teaching need in the areas of literacy and numeracy.

In addition, to ensure children with the greatest level of need are addressed by the model all pupils who are marked as exempt (approx. 1% of the population) are included as STen 1 to ensure that the school receives an allocation to support them. STen 1 & 2 scores (including exempted) would align in general to pupils in our education system who are in need of the greatest level of teaching support.

Separately from the provision of special education support in mainstream schools and classes, over the last number of years we have seen significant growth in special classes from 548 in 2011 to 2,921 in 2024, with 390 opened in the past year alone. We have also opened new special schools with 130 special schools nationwide with an enrolment of over 8,700 students. A significant number of pupils who were previously supported in mainstream are now supported in these settings.

These elements of the continuum of education provision are resourced separately to the SET model. 

My department is committed to ongoing engagement with our education partners in relation to future developments and enhancements to the SET model.

The Department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. This is always a challenge when making allocations in respect of 4,000 schools. It is for this reason that the Department, working with the NCSE has streamlined the review process for special education teachers and schools who have any concerns can engage with the NCSE on their allocation.

Question No. 52 answered with Question No. 51.

Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 51.

Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 51.

Education Policy

Ceisteanna (55)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

55. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost that would be incurred by requiring all primary schools to conduct the Drumcondra test in Irish, as well as those already required for English and maths, above the current costs for Irish medium schools where it is already a requirement. [9647/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can inform the Deputy that the Education Research Centre (ERC) develops Irish standardised testing on behalf of the Department. The ERC have estimated that the cost of developing the standardised tests would cost and estimated €1.85m. It would involve the recruitment of new staff and the tests would take a number of years to be completed.

There are addition annual costs for the Department estimated at €1.35m per annum (based on the pupil numbers for 2022/2023 school year. Pupil numbers change from year to year.) These are to allow the schools to purchase the tests/manuals required.

Standardised testing is being considered as part of the development of the new Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy strategy.

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (56)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

56. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost that would be incurred by making an oral exam a required part of Junior Certificate Irish for all students. [9649/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The assessment of skills in spoken Irish forms an integral component of the overall language learning experience at Junior Cycle and occurs in a number of ways. Students' oral language skills are formally assessed through Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs), the second of which is entirely based on students’ oral language competence. The CBA is linked to ongoing classroom exchanges and represents a more authentic reflection of students’ interests and competence levels in Irish. Importantly, the oral skills of all students as assessed in CBAs are formally reported upon in each students’ Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. Unlike the previous reporting format in which candidates receive one overall grade based on their achievement in Irish in the Junior Certificate, whether they undertook the optional oral or not, the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement allows students’ achievement in the CBAs to be recorded independently of the result in the state-certified examination.

The Deputy may wish to note that the previous oral examination in the Junior Certificate was optional and was taken by approximately 40% of students, and was generally assessed by their teachers. The current assessment arrangements on the other hand require all students to engage in an assessment of their oral skills through the CBA.

As CBAs are an integral part of teaching and learning in Junior Cycle, costs associated with these are not separately identifiable.

The Deputy’s question has also been referred to the SEC for any further direct response.

Teacher Training

Ceisteanna (57)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

57. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the current funding provided to teacher training colleges and the average funding provided per trainee per year. [9650/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has advised that it allocates grant funding to public higher education institutions under the authority of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) from the Exchequer and the National Training Fund (NTF) in respect of their current expenditure. In 2024 the allocation, as per the 2024 Revised Estimates, is €1,529,035,000 to be provided from (i) Subhead B4 (€1,380,683,000) and (ii) NTF Enterprise Focused Higher Education (€148,352,000).

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science allocates this recurrent grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA funded institutions.  The recurrent funding made available by Government is intended to contribute towards pay and non-pay costs of the Higher Education Institutions within their overall operating budget. Funding is not provided on a budget line item basis. In this regard the provision of funding on a per student basis to institutions or to a particular faculty within an institution, such as a teacher training faculty, does not apply. 

The HEA provides block grant funding to the higher education sector through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM), this model has been developed to appropriately disburse the available funding but is not intended to incentivise one activity over another. The grant is to the institution as a block grant towards teaching, research and related costs, and the internal disbursement across departments or faculties is a matter for each institution.

Marino Institute of Education (MIE) is not currently under the remit of the HEA. It is the only State-funded provider of initial teacher education that continues to receive block funding directly from my Department via Capitation Grants.  Grants in lieu of tuition fees in respect of approved numbers are paid on the following courses:

• Primary initial teacher education programmes: Bachelor of Education and Professional Master of Education

• Bachelor of Education through the medium of Irish

School Attendance

Ceisteanna (58)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

58. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if supervision should be provided by the school for a child (details supplied) who arrives at school by bus at 8:50 and was told there would not be a teacher there until at least 9am; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9654/24]

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 current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

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.

I am pleased to advise that my Department has been working closely with Bus Éireann and they are currently in the process of accommodating this pupil on a service which will cater for the pupil's drop off at the school at school opening time. 

When this service is established and a start date is available, Bus Éireann will contact the family directly with details.

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (59)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

59. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if an adult is permitted to resist a Junior Certificate mathematics exam; if there are supports available to a person to assist with the exam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9676/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Eligibility for entry to the State Examinations is included in the Rules & Programme for Secondary Schools. A candidate who is not a recognised pupil of a post primary school but who is attending an approved course of study outside the state or who is attending a course of study organised under the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, the Adult Literacy and Community Education Scheme or the Department of Social, Community and Family affairs second level scheme for unemployed or an analogous scheme may be admitted to the Leaving Certificate or Junior Cycle examinations

As laid out in circular letter 28/2023, adult learners in the school year 2023/2024 continue to have the flexibility to study a subject or subjects at Junior Cycle level within one academic year. These adult learners will undertake one Classroom-Based Assessment (that completed in third year by students in mainstream schools) and the final examination. Adult learners may also study short courses and Priority Learning Units as suited to their learning needs. Adult learners are not required to undertake study in any specific subject and they are not required to study PE, SPHE or CSPE or other elements in the area of learning known as Wellbeing.

Education Schemes

Ceisteanna (60)

James Lawless

Ceist:

60. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if she can give an outline of various flags for schools programmes in secondary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9677/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The role of the school is to provide an appropriate education for all its students. A stable, secure learning environment and a diverse range of programme options are an essential requirement to achieve this goal. Schools have autonomy in choosing the resources and programmes that best support their work within their own school and their broader school community. There are a number of programmes available to schools to enrich or accompany the curriculum, and some of these programmes include flags as symbols of participation or achievement. It is a matter for individual  schools to participate in such programmes and fly these flags if they wish.

A Cineáltas Flag and poster was delivered to every primary, post-primary and special school in Ireland during Anti-Bullying Week 2023 and schools are invited to fly these flags to highlight that they are engaging in measures to prevent and address bullying. The Cineáltas Flag acknowledges the good work that schools are doing and will do to prevent and address bullying and to promote kindness, respect, inclusion, diversity and wellbeing. The flag was developed as part of the implementation of the Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying, a whole-education approach to preventing and addressing bullying in schools. Cineáltas is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying, cyber bullying, racist bullying, gender identity bullying and sexual harassment, among other areas, in schools. It is centered on a child right’s based approach and provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying in our schools. The total cost of the Cineáltas Flag and poster, to include design, printing and postage, was €100,887.06 and this will not be a recurring cost.

While the Cineáltas Flag is provided by my department directly, my department and other government departments  provide funding for some other programmes such as the Active Schools Flag, Green Schools Flag, Gaelbhratach, and the Yellow Flag Programme. In addition, the Blue Star Programme, funded by the EU, presents a European Union flag to primary schools which complete the programme.

The Active School Flag is an initiative of my department, supported by Healthy Ireland and administered through Mayo Education Centre. The aim of the programme is to get more schools, more active, more often. The flag is awarded to schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. Currently, 46 post primary schools are working nationwide with the initiative team and University of Limerick to co-design a new Active School Flag Post Primary process.  The total 2023 allocation from my department was €214,500, which included both Primary and post-primary programmes. Healthy Ireland allocation to Active School Flags in 2023 was €360,000. Additional funding for this programme has been provided in Budget 2024

The Green-Schools international environmental education programme and award scheme is operated in Ireland by An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities. Qualifying schools are awarded the Green Flag after completing a year-long project.  An Taisce report that in 2023, 747 schools around the country, between the primary and post-primary, were awarded a Green Flag. 52 of these schools were awarded the flag for the first time. My Department has provided funding for Green Schools over a number of years providing €25,000 in 2023 under the grant call for National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development to 2030 .  The Green Schools programme is also supported by a number of other departments including the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Transport in relation to the various strands of the programme.

'Gaelbhratach' is a recognition scheme to give recognition to examples of best practice in the promotion of spoken Irish in primary and post-primary schools on an all-island basis. Schools are awarded the Gaelbhratach after successfully completing the programmes objectives over one school year. Gaelbhratach provides support to teachers in the promotion of spoken Irish in their own school. The scheme also provides opportunities to collaborate with other schools and the wider community. In summer 2023, almost 300 schools around the country, between the primary and post-primary, were participating in the scheme.  The programme is run by Gael Linn with funding provided through Foras na Gaeilge from my department over a number of years.  A  total of €180,000 is allocated for 2024, split evenly between primary and post-primary level. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has recently announced additional funding to support this programme.

The Irish Traveller Movement’s Yellow Flag Programme is a practical programme that supports Early Learning and Care settings through to third level to become more inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities, celebrate diversity and challenge racism and discrimination. Successful education settings are awarded the Yellow Flag after completing 8 steps. A successful project aims to involve students, teachers and parents. While respecting schools' autonomy to participate in such programmes, my department has introduced a number of measures to assist schools in this matter. It’s not funded directly by my department, funding for the programme is through a range of sources to include government grants, private donations and support from non-profit organisations.

There are other programmes available for post-primary schools to choose which involve flags such as the Pieta Amber Flag Initiative which recognises the efforts of schools to create healthy and inclusive environments that support mental well-being. Similarly, the ADHD Friendly School Programme run by ADHD Ireland aims to promote understanding, knowledge, and practical strategies to support students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna (61)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

61. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the locations of four new special schools announced in Q4 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9693/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). 

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

In 2023, my department spent over €2.6 billion on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113 million will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.

This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.

My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level. 

As a result of this forward planning, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

In December 2023, I was also very happy to announce with my colleague Minister Foley, the establishment of a further four new special schools for the 2024/25 school year in Counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years. The special school in Meath will be located in Enfield and the special school in Wexford in Gorey.  The exact locations of the special schools in Limerick and Kildare are expected to be confirmed shortly. 

The new special schools are being established under the patronage of the local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) – Limerick and Clare ETB, Louth and Meath ETB, Waterford and Wexford ETB and Kildare and Wicklow ETB.  These are the first special schools being established under these ETBs.

Dedicated working groups comprising of Department, NCSE and ETB staff have been set up to support the establishment of each new special school. Each working group has already met on a number of occasions. The admission policies of two of the special schools have been published already and the admission policies of the remaining two schools are expected to be published shortly. 

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list

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.

National Cultural Institutions

Ceisteanna (62)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

62. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current members of the Irish Museum of Modern Art; and the Minister that appointed each member [9539/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Deputy Catherine Martin)

The current membership of the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is as set out in the table below.  All members are appointed by the relevant Minister of the time.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) administers the competitions for membership of State Boards. PAS operates an open, accessible, rigorous and transparent system to support Ministers in making appointments to State Boards, including the Board of IMMA.  My officials have initiated engagement on a new PAS competition to fill the two current vacancies and, upon completion of the competition and subsequent selection process, a panel of successful candidates will be established from which I can appoint new members.

Name	Membership	First Appointed on	First Appointed by
Ali Curran	Chairperson (from 05-Sep-23)	18-Jan-23	Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Dermod Dwyer	Ordinary Member	23-Oct-15	Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Mary Apied	Ordinary Member	23-Oct-15	Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Gerard Byrne	Ordinary Member	03-Feb-16	Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
John A Cunningham	Ordinary Member	17-Jul-18	Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Margot Lyons	Ordinary Member	17-Jul-18	Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Eva Kenny	Ordinary Member	02-Dec-20	Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Jess Majekodunmi	Ordinary Member	18-Jan-23	Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Mike Fitzpatrick	Ordinary Member	18-Jan-23	Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Sinéad O'Sullivan	Ordinary Member	18-Jan-23	Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Sports Funding

Ceisteanna (63)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when applications will open for the sports capital grant funding in 2024. [9615/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last (2020) round. 

The "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with  a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. These details can be accessed at gov - SCEP 2023 - Applications Received (www.gov.ie).  The necessary assessment work has commenced and it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations to be announced later. 

After every recent round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP), a review is undertaken by the Sports Capital Programmes Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the programme and process for future calls. Accordingly any new round of the SCEP can be considered when the 2023 round has been completed and the necessary review has been undertaken.

Sports Funding

Ceisteanna (64)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

64. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when applications will open for the new round of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund in 2024. [9616/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Both of these capital programmes are demand-driven.

The National Sports Policy published in 2018 provided for the establishment of the LSSIF. The aim of the fund is to provide support for larger sports facilities where the Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the SCEP.  

A new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be confirmed in due course. While the LSSIF programme is aimed primarily at the National Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities it was also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply. However, such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or a Governing Body.

I would encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process when it opens later this year.

Sports Funding

Ceisteanna (65)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

65. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to open new rounds of funding under the healthy Ireland GAA walking tracks initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9617/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 provides a clear roadmap of how we can continue to work together to bring about good health, access to services, healthy environments, and the promotion of resilience and to ensure that everyone can enjoy physical and mental, health and wellbeing, to their full potential. The Action plan and associated funding comes under the remit of the Department of Health.

Sport Ireland works with Healthy Ireland to support the delivery of a range of activities targeting physical activity and health. Through Healthy Ireland funding of €1.46 million in 2023, Sport Ireland supported the national programmes of Get Ireland Walking, Running, Swimming and Cycling, Special Olympics, GAA Healthy Clubs, the development of a National Outdoor Amenities Database, the Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration, the Children's Sport and Physical Activity Study, and events held during the European Week of Sport and Physical Activity.

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Ceisteanna (66)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

66. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the two Government commissioned reports into RTÉ will be published; the reason the reports have been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9653/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Deputy Thomas Byrne)

The Chairs of the Expert Advisory Committees each provided an update to me on 23 February 2024 to indicate that they are in the process of finalising their Reviews.

The Review of Governance and Culture will shortly undergo the necessary fact-checking processes, as well as the processes necessary to ensure that fair procedures have been followed. It is expected that these processes will take at least three weeks. It is expected that the Review of Contractor Fees, HR and Other Matters will be finalised this week. 

On that basis, and in light of their complementary nature, the Minister expects that both Reviews will be submitted together during March.

Sports Funding

Ceisteanna (67)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

67. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next call for applications for sports capital funding will be announced; if the funding thresholds will be increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9675/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last (2020) round. 

The "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with  a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. These details can be accessed at gov - SCEP 2023 - Applications Received (www.gov.ie).  The necessary assessment work has commenced and it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations to be announced later. 

After every recent round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP), a review is undertaken by the Sports Capital Programmes Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the programme and process for future calls. Accordingly any new round of the SCEP can be considered when the 2023 round has been completed and the necessary review has been undertaken.

Planning Issues

Ceisteanna (68)

Frankie Feighan

Ceist:

68. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the exemption for local authorities from the part 8 own development approval process and from planning, for the provision of specified forms of housing developments on designated State lands, beyond the current deadline of 31 December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9485/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

With regard to the exemption for local authorities from the 'Part 8' own development approval process to provide housing on designated State lands. The duration of section 179A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) is set in primary legislation under section 179A(1)(g) of the Act and any amendments to this requires a Bill to pass through both Houses of the Oireachtas. To this end, an amendment for inclusion at committee stage of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, which is currently passing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, will include similar arrangements under section 179A of the Act for an extended duration, for local authority housing developments on designated State lands commenced prior to 31 December 2025.

A full list of proposed amendments of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 is available on the Oireachtas website at www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2023/81/.

Wastewater Treatment

Ceisteanna (69)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

69. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a grant scheme to support local authorities to bring wastewater treatment facilities up to standard in order they can take estates in charge and Uisce Éireann take the treatment facilities in charge. [9492/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I understand the Question refers to housing estates relying on Developer Provided Infrastructure (DPI) for their water services.

Funding is provided by my Department under the Multi-Annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme to progressively resolve issues with DPI across the country.

Funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, to resolve these issues (this sum includes a small allocation for domestic lead pipe remediation).

I have approved funding of over €18m for projects under the programme to resolve issues in locations across the country that enables to estates concerned be taken in charge.  

I can confirm that from 1 January 2024 Uisce Éireann, as the national water authority, have assumed responsibility for the remediation of DPI infrastructure.

Local Authorities

Ceisteanna (70)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

70. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of funding requests his Department received from Tipperary County Council towards purchasing additional fire appliances in the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; of the funding requests received, the number that were approved per year in tabular form. [9540/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects and the procurement of essential frontline fire appliances, ancillary vehicles and equipment.

Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, 31 local authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide, with 16 of these stations staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters.

In December 2020 I announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme under which a total of 35 “Class B” fire appliances were allocated across the fire authorities. It was envisaged that through an extension of that framework an additional allocation of appliances would be proposed for the period 2024-2025. Unfortunately, due to COVID and issues in the market such as the lengthening of supply chains and cost inflation, the previous framework became unviable economically for the commercial partners. My Department re-engaged with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and established a new framework for the provision of fire appliances. The three successful tenderers were HPMP Ltd. (Carlow), Sídheán Teo. (Galway), and Emergency One (UK) Ltd. (Scotland). The new Framework commenced with the awarding of contracts for the supply of the revised number of 40 “Class B Fire” appliances, at a cost of some €20.8 million, from 18 October 2023, to be allocated across the country's 27 Local Authority and Rescue Services. It is envisaged that contracts will be divided in three tranches in 2023/2024. Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service have been allocated 2 appliances under this programme.

The previous joint procurement programme which ran from 2018-2020 supplied 23 new appliances to 20 local authorities at a cost of approximately €9.2 million. Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service received 2 appliance under this programme.

Scheme	Appliance/Equipment	Value	Status
Fire Appliance Joint Procurement Capital Programme 2018-2020	2 Class B Appliances	€400k each	Delivered
Fire Appliance Capital Programme 2023-25	2 Class B Appliances	€520k each	Approved

In the years in question Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service also submitted requests for the following equipment and vehicles all of which were approved.

Year	Equipment/Vehicle	Value	Status
2022 2022	Fognail Extinguishing Equipment and Smoke Curtain Air Lifting Bags Emergency Rescue Equip	€33,756 €12,530.75	Approved and Delivered Approved and Delivered
2023	3 Modular Solutions	€80,550	Approved
2023	2 Panel Van Vehicles and 2 Crew Cab 4WD's	€184,938	Approved
2022	Equipment for HVR/Agri/Forestry and Large Plant Incidents	€141,270	Approved
2024	BA Drager Cylinders and Covers	€38,500	Approved