Tuesday, 25 Apr 2023

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (61, 99, 113)

Holly Cairns

Question:

61. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to support and promote employment and remote working on offshore islands. [19393/23]

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99. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if remote working hubs can be expanded in the constituency of Cork east, and in towns such as Midleton and Youghal. [19383/23]

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Richard Bruton

Question:

113. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has assessed the potential of the high-speed broadband network to create potential for rural development and the number of projects emerging for support from her Department's programmes which utilise its potential. [19323/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing local pressures and demand for primary and post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in Dublin 9 and 11.

Where 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 either one, or a combination of, the following:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.

My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those of schools in Dublin 9 and 11, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate further action to that already in train, including the provision of modular accommodation where necessary.

The Department has engaged with Dublin City Council in regards to the 2022-2028 County Development Plan. The Jamestown Industrial Estate Lands close to the Meakstown area have been identified in the plan as having significant potential for re-generation. It is noted that the Jamestown land bank has the potential to deliver a significant number of residential units (2,200+). A site has been zoned within the Jamestown lands for a future primary school should the projected population materialise as a result of the development of the potential residential units within this land bank. The County Development plan provides that a masterplan for the lands shall be prepared and that consultation will take place with all the key stakeholders, of which the Department of Education is one. The Department will continue to engage with the Council regarding this area.

Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in this, and other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the school planning areas in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

My Department is currently planning the delivery of a major campus project on the current Clonturk Community College site in Whitehall. The project will deliver two new 1,000 pupil post-primary schools and 1 new primary school (8 classrooms) on the Clonturk site. One of the new post- primary schools will be for Ellenfield Community College to replace their existing school. The new school will include a 4 classroom SEN Base. The other new post-primary school is a replacement school building for Clonturk Community College. The expanded post-primary schools will provide circa 1,200 additional co-educational, multi-denominational post-primary school places in North Dublin City.

The Department is currently developing the accommodation brief for this significant campus development and is engaging with the school patrons as part of this process.

The requirement for additional school places in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 is kept under on-going review. My Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.

Question No. 62 answered orally.

Ukraine War

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Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 79, 89, 93, 98 and 109 together.

In January I launched the Community Recognition Fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection applicants.

The Fund will support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine.

The Community Recognition Fund is being administered at a local level by the relevant local authority. A funding proposal, comprising of projects selected and prioritised locally, was submitted to my Department by each local authority for final approval.

A key principle of the Fund was the need for local authorities to engage with impacted communities. The funding proposals submitted by each local authority were developed based on direct engagement with impacted communities and in consultation with the Municipal Districts, Local Community Development Committee and the local Community Response Fora.

I am happy to confirm that over 830 proposed projects are included in the funding proposals received from local authorities, with the full €50 million being applied for. I would like to thank all those who were involved in the consultations and the development of these proposals in communities all across Ireland. It was important to me that the projects were developed in consultation with communities so that the best value for money could be achieved in a way that ensures clear impacts and benefits for those communities.

The Fund is structured on a 2 year basis, and the applications received from local authorities reflect this structure. This means that some projects will be delivered this year, and others in 2024. €30m of this Fund will be allocated for those projects to be delivered in 2023, with the remaining €20 allocated for projects to be delivered in 2024.

The funding proposals are under consideration in the Department and I expect to make an announcement on them shortly as I am aware that local authorities and communities are anxious to commence work on projects. As part of that announcement all the successful projects will be published on my Department’s website.

Questions Nos. 64 to 66, inclusive, answered orally.