Written Answers Nos. 183-202
183. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding allocated to any measure falling under the National AI Strategy for 2023; the projected funding for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23586/24]
View answerIreland’s National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good, was published in July 2021 and a progress report was published in August 2023.
The overall aim of the Strategy is to drive the development and adoption of trustworthy, person-centred AI for economic and societal good. It sets out actions for a range of government Departments and agencies, across seven strands:
AI and Society,
A Governance Ecosystem that Promotes Trustworthy AI,
Driving Adoption of AI in Irish Enterprise,
AI Serving the Public,
A Strong AI Innovation Ecosystem,
AI Education, Skills and Talent,
A Supportive and Secure Infrastructure for AI.
The National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, published early in 2022, sets out a roadmap to drive the digital transition across the economy and society, encompassing enterprise, skills, infrastructure, and public services.
My Department is responsible for implementing the elements in both strategies that relate to digitalisation and AI adoption in enterprise. Growing the use of digital and AI technologies by businesses will help to build the resilience of our enterprise base as we look to future-proof our economy. For businesses, investment in digitalisation and AI adoption brings increased efficiencies, easier access to and better services for customers, and greater cybersecurity and scalability.
A coherent whole-of-Government approach is central to effective management of cross-cutting digital and AI policies and a Senior Officials Group on Digital Issues meets regularly and reports to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
Details of the funding allocated to enterprise digitalisation and AI adoption are set out below.
The Digital Transition Fund accounts for €58 million of the €85 million in funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) that is focused on Digital Transformation of Enterprise, and which is funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The fund is administered by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta through a range of schemes to boost uptake of digital technology. The funding allocated in 2023 was €16 million, with a further €10.5 million allocation in 2024.
Ireland’s four European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), CeADAR, FactoryxChange, ENTIRE, and DATA2SUSTAIN are part-funded by the RRF and the Digital Europe Programme. EDIHs support the digital transformation of enterprise, in particular SMEs, and public sector organisations either for free or at a reduced cost. The EDIHs act as “one stop shops” providing access to technical expertise and experimentation, financing advice, training and skills, and information on the innovation ecosystem and networking.
Participation in the EU network of hubs will also encourage the adoption of the latest advances in the three key digital technologies of Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing. CeADAR is Ireland’s EDIH for AI, and specialises in enabling the uptake of AI and data analytics. The funding allocated to support this activity in 2023 was €6m, and a further €4.9m was allocated for 2024.
The Network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) support small businesses to attain basic digital intensity to help them to grow and increase productivity. Supports for digitalisation available through LEOs include,
• Trading Online Voucher, worth up to €2,500 with 50% co-funding by the applicant. €3 million was allocated to businesses under the scheme in 2023, and €3.3 million in 2024.
• Digital for Business scheme, designed for businesses with up to 50 employees in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, to support preparation and implementation of a plan for the adoption of digital tools and techniques. €982,900 was allocated to businesses under the scheme in 2023, and €1.165 million in 2024.
The Government's recently announced SME Package contains proposals to widen the eligibility for these schemes.
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), established in 2018, is one of four National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027 funds, and is aimed at encouraging collaboration and innovation in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies on a commercial basis, in order to tackle national and global challenges. It is managed by my Department and administered by Enterprise Ireland. Although not exclusively focused on digital technologies, the fund encourages projects that complement the priority enterprise policy objective on digital transformation as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise and nearly half (44%) of the funding allocated so far has been to projects with an AI element.
DTIF has a particular focus on SMEs, with SME participation a mandatory requirement for each collaborative project. Six DTIF Calls for Projects have been held to date, ranging in value from €8 million to €95 million, with a total of €365 million allocated to 103 collaborative projects to date. €61 million was allocated in 2023 and €42.5 million in 2024.
A seventh DTIF Call is now open for applications, with a closing date of 30 April 2025, and details are available on my Department's website.
184. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding funding for a new national supercomputer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23587/24]
View answerHigh-performance computing and the infrastructures that support this are important enablers of innovation, digital transformation and enterprise development in Ireland.
Policy responsibility for the area of high-performance computing (HPC) falls under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS).
The former national high-performance computer – Kay – was hosted by the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC), under the auspices of the University of Galway. It reached its end of life in November 2023.
DFHERIS has been in consultation with my Department as it developed an interim service using existing EU supercomputers for a fixed period until a long-term sustainable model of HPC provision in Ireland can be agreed.
An interim solution is currently in place allowing Irish researchers to use a range of other EU supercomputers available to them on a competitive basis, due to Ireland’s membership of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU).
As planned, migration of researchers and the national HPC service projects from Kay to the interim service, MeluXina, in Luxembourg, began in December 2023 and was concluded in April this year. Preparations are underway to fully decommission the compute component of Kay at the end of June.
Before Kay can be replaced, DFHERIS has this year initiated an independent review of national HPC requirements in Ireland to inform any decision, due to the significant additional capital investment potentially involved.
HPC, such as that available across the EU under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and proposed in the Computational Analysis and Simulation Platform for Ireland (CASPIr) project, will be considered in my Department's discussions with colleagues in that Department as they undertake this work.
185. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding provided by his Department, either directly or through a State agency, for upskilling, reskilling, and further education of the workforce in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23588/24]
View answerIn preparing a response to this PQ, I understand the term workforce as referring to the general workforce in Ireland and not the staff of agencies under the aegis of the Department, thus internal training initiatives do not come within scope of this response.
It is essential that Irish enterprise has access to high quality, adaptable and flexible talent. In order to meet this demand, my Department and its enterprise agencies work closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as well as the wider education and training system, with a view to building and retaining a highly skilled indigenous workforce to serve the needs of the economy.
My Department and its enterprise agencies actively participate in Ireland’s responsive National Skills Architecture, which aims to ensure that education and training provision is optimally aligned with identified skills needs across the enterprise base. This architecture is overseen by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The table below outlines total Training Grants paid to IDA Ireland client companies in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Grant Payments for the year 2024 are not yet available.
|
Year |
Training Grants Paid ‘000 € |
|
2020 |
12,736 |
|
2021 |
17,801 |
|
2022 |
15,976 |
|
2023 |
14,857 |
Under its strategic priority of Promote, the Health and Safety Authority provides a number of awareness raising learning resources to the formal education system and for the workplace. Such health and safety e-learning resources are delivered free of charge through an online portal and can be used to support upskilling, reskilling, and further education among the workforce.
Expenditure incurred by the HSA relating to the on-going development of its e-learning platform, HSAlearning.ie is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Funding provided |
|
2020 |
€27,992.87 |
|
2021 |
€47,390.81 |
|
2022 |
€43,489.82 |
|
2023 |
€48,481.66 |
|
2024 |
€7,304.46 |
Furthermore, as the competent authority under Regulation 10(1)(g) of the European Communities (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 to 2023, the Authority is required to:
• approve driver basic and tanker specialisation training courses;
• examine persons who have completed such training;
• issue driver training certificates; and
• administer the safety adviser examination scheme.
Under Regulation 10(3), the Authority has appointed the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Ireland (CILT) to manage the ADR driver and safety adviser examination schemes and the management of approved training providers. There is no funding provided by the HSA to CILT, as the cost of schemes are funded by fees paid by the end-user directly to CILT.
186. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding provided for the trading online voucher in 2023; the cost for the State to provide 90% funding based on 2023 data, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23589/24]
View answerThe Trading Online Voucher (TOV) Scheme helps businesses develop their online trading capability and can cover various areas including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation. The TOVs are administered by the Local Enterprise Offices.
In 2023, there were 1,715 Trading Online Vouchers approved, and there was an expenditure of €3,125,242. This was with a 50:50 contribution model where the Trading Online Vouchers provide 50% of eligible costs, or €2,500, whichever is the lesser.
The table below sets out the estimated cost if the contribution rate in 2023 was 90%. The calculation is based on using an average value per voucher for 2023 and assumes that the average value of the voucher represents 50% of project costs in all instances.
|
Contribution Rate |
Average Value per TOV |
Outturn for 2023 for 1,715 Vouchers |
|
50% |
€1,822 |
€3,125,242 |
|
90% |
€3,280 |
€5,625,435 |
187. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the delays in bringing forward the ERO for security officers in 2024. [23672/24]
View answerOn the 25th August 2023, the then Minister for Business Employment and Retail signed the Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the Security Sector which came into force on 4th September 2023. The ERO provided for a wage increase to €12.90 per hour from that date. The full details of the ERO are available here: si-no-424-of-2023-employment-regulation-order-security-industry-joint-labour-committee-2023.pdf (enterprise.gov.ie)
Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are independent in their functions. If a JLC adopts proposals for an ERO for a sector, it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. The Labour Court will then make a decision on the adoption of the proposals. If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, a copy will be presented to me and, if I consider it appropriate to do so, I will make an ERO giving effect to the proposals.
I have not received a proposal from the Labour Court in relation to a new ERO for the Security Sector. Should the Labour Court submit such a proposal, I will give it due and timely consideration.
188. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the abrupt implementation of substantial salary hikes for employment permits (details supplied) without adequate transitional measures for existing permit holders has plunged them into upheaval and despair, given that employers may not accommodate these increases, numerous families face the devastating prospect of job losses and being forced to uproot their lives in Ireland; if he will reconsider this change in thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23768/24]
View answerThe 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupation Lists and Review of Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) Reports have delivered comprehensive changes to the employment permits system, with changes to 43 occupations and the introduction of a Roadmap for increasing salary thresholds for employment permits. The first adjustments commenced on 17 January this year, and they affect new permit applications and renewal applications received from that date onwards.
The thresholds for most employment permits had not changed in almost a decade and were out of date, having not kept pace with wage inflation since 2014. Indeed, when introduced, the MAR threshold was 9% above National median annual earnings of €22,570 (as estimated by the CSO). In 2022, the MAR threshold was 40% below the national median annual earnings of €41,823.
The purpose of these increases was to mitigate risks associated with out-dated thresholds, such as the potential suppression of domestic wages, possible employment rights abuses and to ensure economic migrants have sufficient means to live in Ireland and to avail of the Department of Justice family reunification scheme. They also recognise the valuable contribution economic migrants make to this country and aim to ensure they have the means to make a decent life for themselves and their families.
It is also important to emphasise that the purpose of the Employment Permits System is to assists economic growth by facilitating the filling of key skills gaps which cannot be filled using domestic or EEA labour markets as opposed to facilitating access to cheap labour.
As mentioned above, the first adjustment on the Roadmap has now been made. The implementation of further increases across the remainder of the Roadmap will be subject to ongoing stakeholder consultation to include employers, employee advocacy groups and relevant Government Departments. This consultation is underway, and officials have held discussions with a number of sectoral employers in relation to the Roadmap. Officials have also engaged with the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland in relation supporting and protecting the rights and welfare of current permit holders who may have concerns regarding their continued employments under the Roadmap. This process will continue over the next number of months and all feedback received will inform future policy development in this area.
189. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by each local authority area in the State, that registered for the increased cost of business grant by close of scheme, as a percentage of all eligible or estimated eligible businesses, to date, in tabular form. [23785/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I announced the reopening of the ICOB grant scheme from May 15th until May 29th. This is to ensure those business owners who missed the deadline can now register. They should do so without delay as the sooner they register the sooner the Local Authority can verify the information and make a payment to businesses.
I have made a change to the scheme that now allows for a second payment to be made to businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors or a double payment for businesses in those sectors now registering.
As the scheme is still open until 29th May I attach the following table as at 1pm Monday 27th May:
|
Local Authority |
Original estimated businesses |
No of submissions |
No of properties |
Number of businesses as percentage of original estimated business |
|
Carlow County Council |
1504 |
974 |
1129 |
75.07% |
|
Cavan County Council |
2385 |
1138 |
1273 |
53.38% |
|
Clare County Council |
3474 |
1921 |
2272 |
65.40% |
|
Cork City Council |
9333 |
3963 |
4283 |
45.89% |
|
Cork County Council |
6404 |
5018 |
5418 |
84.60% |
|
Meath County Council |
3801 |
2443 |
2590 |
68.14% |
|
Donegal County Council |
4449 |
2402 |
2763 |
62.10% |
|
Dublin City Council |
16246 |
7741 |
8508 |
52.37% |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
4369 |
2580 |
2711 |
62.05% |
|
Fingal County Council |
5310 |
2920 |
3133 |
59.00% |
|
Galway City Council |
2900 |
1911 |
2096 |
72.28% |
|
Galway County Council |
4251 |
1887 |
2145 |
50.46% |
|
Kerry County Council |
3880 |
2427 |
2645 |
68.17% |
|
Kildare County Council |
4083 |
3018 |
3121 |
76.44% |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
2521 |
1374 |
1564 |
62.04% |
|
Laois County Council |
1470 |
928 |
1033 |
70.27% |
|
Leitrim County Council |
991 |
474 |
528 |
53.28% |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
4466 |
2943 |
3691 |
82.65% |
|
Longford County Council |
1106 |
771 |
913 |
82.55% |
|
Louth County Council |
3393 |
1942 |
2363 |
69.64% |
|
Mayo County Council |
3372 |
2509 |
2674 |
79.30% |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1702 |
1215 |
1398 |
82.14% |
|
Offaly County Council |
1707 |
986 |
1105 |
64.73% |
|
Roscommon County Council |
1439 |
997 |
1029 |
71.51% |
|
Sligo County Council |
1656 |
1001 |
1100 |
66.43% |
|
South Dublin County Council |
6210 |
3030 |
3624 |
58.36% |
|
Tipperary County Council |
4683 |
2435 |
2917 |
62.29% |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
3355 |
2002 |
2285 |
68.11% |
|
Westmeath County Council |
2206 |
1395 |
1579 |
71.58% |
|
Wexford County Council |
4417 |
2713 |
2938 |
66.52% |
|
Wicklow County Council |
3448 |
2053 |
2353 |
68.24% |
|
Totals |
120531 |
69111 |
77181 |
64.03% |
190. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the supports available from his Department for businesses to decarbonise; if he will provide a breakdown of schemes; the amount of funding available to be drawn down per scheme ; the amount of funding drawn down per scheme; the number of grants awarded per scheme; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, per scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23844/24]
View answerI have sought the information required from the agencies under my remit and will revert to you in due course.
191. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he plans to publish the next report on the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce. [23846/24]
View answerThe Government committed to examining the recommendations of the independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce in detail upon the publication of its Final Report in July 2023. An initial update report, published on 21 December 2023, outlined the good progress that has been made towards implementing many of the Taskforce’s recommendations, while highlighting that several proposed actions remain subject to detailed consideration across Government in recognition of their complexity and long-term focus.
My Department coordinates the Government response to the Taskforce’s action plan and my officials continue to engage across Government and State Agencies on this with the intention to publish a second implementation update by July of this year.
192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) relating to the payment of the increased cost of business grant where rates are paid via a landlord; if he will permit payment in such situations; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24032/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I announced the reopening of the ICOB grant scheme from May 15th until May 29th. This is to ensure those business owners who missed the deadline can now register. They should do so without delay as the sooner they register the sooner the Local Authority can verify the information and make a payment to businesses.
I have made a change to the scheme that now allows for a second payment to be made to businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors or a double payment for businesses in those sectors now registering.
An important aspect of the ICOB grant scheme has been to directly involve the Local Authorities in the authorisation and payment processes, as they are closest to the commercial life within their cities and counties and work in the provision of supports to smaller enterprises via the Local Enterprise Offices. This is one reason why eligibility is in part determined by the rates system which is a good proxy for determining the scale and size of businesses.
Businesses that are tenants can register as long as they are ratepayers. It has been brought to my attention that some businesses have entered into arrangements with their landlords whereby the rent payable includes an amount towards rates and their rates bill is in turn satisfied by the landlord. The legal position under section 4 of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 as well as the amendments introduced through the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 is that tenants whose rent incorporates their rates obligation, which is remitted by the landlord, cannot be deemed to be ratepayers. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate and possibly counterproductive for me to attempt to interfere with existing commercial arrangements between small businesses and their landlords in the context of the increased cost of business scheme.
The priority has been to ensure that as many businesses as possible receive the money as quickly as possible.
193. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the definitive timeline for the completion of the permanent buildings for a school (details supplied); what stage the development is currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23528/24]
View answerSince 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction.
School building projects under construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion.
This is a record level of investment and highlights the department’s very strong track record in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
The permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a shared educational campus project which will deliver two 1,000 pupil post-primary schools and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special educational needs and an 8 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.
The Project Manager was appointed in Q3 2023 and is in the process of preparing documentation for the tender process for the appointment of multidisciplinary design team consultants.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will keep the schools and their patron bodies informed of the progression of this campus project and will continue to liaise in relation to interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the schools.
194. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if the forward planning unit in her Department has identified the potential shortfall in primary school places in the Carrickmines area due to the large amount of development taking place in the area; the plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23530/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department.
While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, 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
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, including CSO Census data, Child Benefit and school enrolment data, 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.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
The 2023 demographic exercise indicates that 79% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2027 compared with 2022. At post-primary level some 78% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2030, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years. Carrickmines is in the Kilternan school planning area. The Kilternan school planning area has 3 primary schools. The projected peak year for enrolments at primary level is 2026 with enrolments decreasing thereafter.
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.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (Aonad) in an English-medium school.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plan and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
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.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Carrickmines area as with other areas across the country, under review.
195. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education the number of individuals who failed to secure a place in their preferred secondary school in the Dublin south west area; and whether an assessment has been made to determine the level of additional places required in the area. [23549/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications
• School of choice
• Single sex schools
• External draw
Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
In response to such previously identified demographic pressures, my Department is providing additional post primary capacity in the Dublin South-West school planning areas of Firhouse_Oldbawn, Ballinteer_Stepaside_DLR, Dublin_6w, Dolphin's Barn_D12 and Tallaght. The projects include a new school building project for Firhouse ET Secondary School which will provide for an LTPE of 1,000 and 6 SEN, this project is currently at Stage 2b, and Phase 2 of the new school building project for Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School which is currently at Stage 2b. In addition, there are a number of extension projects in train including an extension project for Presentation Community College which is at Stage 1 and Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School which is currently at Stage 2b.
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, may be viewed on the 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'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.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/. The specific information requested is not available at this time.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Dublin South West school planning areas of Ballinteer_Stepaside_DLR, Dolphin’s Barn_D12, Dublin_6w, Firhouse_Oldbawn, Tallaght and Rathfarnham, as with other areas across the country, under review.
196. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the supports available to a school (details supplied) to purchase land adjacent to it for a carpark; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23567/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.
The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
I can advise the Deputy that the purchasing of land for a car park does not fall under the remit of the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures.
The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools and should ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children.
My Department does not provide funding for site extensions where the original site is not in state ownership. In these cases it is a matter for the Board of Management or the Patron to purchase any site extension required. However, my Department will consider an application for funding to develop a safe set down area and carpark on any new site that may be purchased.
197. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she intends the digital strategy ICT grant to be an annual payment to ensure continuity for pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23572/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I recently announced €50 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This ICT grant has now issued to all recognised primary, special schools and post-primary schools. This funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to embed the use of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and represents the second tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
The specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
As part of the review of the National Development Plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.
To date under the Digital Strategy for schools, a total investments of €310 million has issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in ICT grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
Additionally, further Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.
198. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the reason the school books grant was reduced by €16 this year; if she will consider reinstating the higher amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23573/24]
View answerIn 2024 over €47 million is allocated to continue implementation of the free schoolbooks scheme at primary level. On the 8th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to all pupils enrolled in recognised primary and special schools. More than 563,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme.
Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year was published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes and has issued to schools.
As the scheme is now implemented in every recognised primary and special school it is expected that schools have used the funding provided in the 2023/24 school year to purchase stocks of schoolbooks and other classroom resources. Many of these items are now available to schools for reuse in the 2024/25 school year and in future school years. The funding allocated to the scheme in the 2024/25 school year takes account of this.
Under the scheme for the 2024/25 school year schools have received €80 per pupil. The grant is calculated based on validated September 2023 enrolment figures. Special schools that have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes have received funding at the Junior Cycle rate of €309 per student, as set out under the new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme, in respect of these students.
As part of the on-going evaluation of the scheme, all schools will be asked to provide data on their expenditure in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.
199. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to extend the cost-of-living measure to support increased school running costs past the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23574/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.
As part of Budget 2024, €10.5 billion in total funding was secured for Education. This significant increase in funding ensures that the total budget is at the highest ever for our primary and post primary schools. The funding will ensure continued reduced costs for families; it will continue to tackle disadvantage and it will provide further supports to safeguard inclusive education for all school communities.
Budget 2024 provides targeted funding for school communities with an increase in capitation of over €81 million.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and at post primary the standard rate is €316 per student for voluntary secondary schools.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024, I secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation to €200 per student in primary schools and to €345 in voluntary secondary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% on current standard and enhanced capitation rates.
The €81 million secured for capitation also includes €60 million as part of the Cost of Living measures in Budget 2024. All recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education scheme have benefitted from this additional capitation funding, paid at a rate of €49 per pupil at primary level and €75 at post-primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils. This funding was paid in two instalments to schools, in October 2023 and in early 2024 respectively.
Any possible further increases will be part of Budget 2025 negotiations. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the additional funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools as part of the annual Estimates process.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters.
200. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she will consider increasing the capitation grant at primary school level, given the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23575/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per student in primary schools. Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding was the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.
Any possible further increases will be part of Budget 2025 negotiations. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the additional funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools as part of the annual Estimates process.
201. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on salary and pensions for caretakers in school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23577/24]
View answerCaretakers are valued members of our school communities who carry out work vital to the operations of our schools. At present, the majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under ancillary grant funding. Under the February 2022 agreement the implementation of revised salary and annual leave entitlements for school secretaries is now fully operational, and lessons learned from that process are now playing a key role in the drafting and implementation of a similar deal to be offered to grant funded school caretakers.
The Department is committed to ensuring that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail a similar package offered to school secretaries of revised salary and annual leave entitlements in the near future.
At present, work is ongoing to finalise and issue a compressive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patters as well as terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. In parallel with this, the Department are actively in communication with Fórsa on this important issue and regular bilateral meetings are occurring. Matters discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the differences in existing terms and conditions of caretakers to secretaries and have been helpful in forming and developing the upcoming survey.
It is envisaged that the survey will issue to schools in the coming weeks, and once schools have returned their replies, the Department will then be in a position to progress this claim further.
202. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to confirm the number of children in south Tipperary who are currently engaged with the SENO and NCSE and who are yet to have a school placement confirmed for September 2024; the number of children who require a placement in a special school in south Tipperary and have yet to receive confirmation of placement for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23584/24]
View answerI understand that this is an anxious time for parents seeking a school place for their children and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to do all it can to help families seeking a special educational placement for their child.
My department works closely with the National Council for Special Education in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. In the Budget last year funding was secured for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2024/25 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children.
The NCSE has advised my department that over 320 new special classes have already been sanctioned nationwide for the coming 2024/25 school year, providing over 1,900 special education places in mainstream schools. of these 13 are in Tipperary 8 at primary and 5 at post-primary level. This brings to 133 the number of special classes in the county.
There are now over 3,000 special classes in our education system providing places for over 20,000 students.
We have also opened four new special schools for September 2024 and increased capacity in a number of existing special schools to ensure that more children than ever can access an education which is appropriate to their needs.
My department and the NCSE are actively engaging with school patrons and management bodies to ensure additional special classes for the coming school year are provided in areas where they are needed.
I expect these remaining new special classes will be finalised in the coming weeks and that this additional provision – coupled with vacancies in existing special classes - will provide the additional capacity needed.
It is important to note that there are vacancies in existing special classes as children move from primary to post primary or leave our school system. These places are filled on an ongoing basis.
Furthermore, the NCSE is working with schools who may be available to open classes for September 2024 but whose capacity may not be required at this time. They will remain options for additional provision if required throughout the 2024/25 school year.
I am therefore satisfied that we have created the additional capacity required to meet the needs of children known to the NCSE for September 2024.
The enrolment process for school places takes place at local school level, with decisions on admission resting with individual schools. Therefore, the position for each child will continue to evolve as the enrolment processes - some of which are still underway for new classes - comes to a conclusion.
This government has heard the voice of the parents in regard to the anxiety faced when seeking placement in a special educational setting.
For that reason, this government has provided significant additional resources to the NCSE to allow for their expansion. We will have 120 local special educational needs organisers at a local level in September who are a pivotal point of contact for parents, guardians and schools. This increase in on-the-ground support coupled with enhanced capacity of other services within the NCSE will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.
The NCSE are working tirelessly with the families known to them to access specialist places and this will continue until children are in the places they need to be to ensure they have an appropriate education.
