Thursday, 26 May 2022

Written Answers Nos. 249-269

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (251, 253, 256, 261)

Paul McAuliffe

Ceist:

251. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied). [27046/22]

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

253. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27104/22]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

256. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that an email was not sent to the parent of a minor in relation to a passport renewal application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/22]

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

261. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of three passport applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27186/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 251, 253, 256 and 261 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (252)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

252. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in time for the travel date of 24 June 2022 for a child (details supplied) travelling abroad to play football for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27053/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant's guardian and has requested the urgent return of the Birth Certificate. 

Question No. 253 answered with Question No. 251.

Question No. 254 answered with Question No. 248.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (255)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

255. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that the passports of the parents of a minor (details supplied) have not been returned to them considering that they are required urgently for travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted and advised the applicants parent that it has issued the passport and returned all the supporting documents including the original passports of the parents. 

Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 251.

Question No. 257 answered with Question No. 248.

Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 248.

Question No. 259 answered with Question No. 244.

Question No. 260 answered with Question No. 248.

Question No. 261 answered with Question No. 251.

Prison Service

Ceisteanna (262)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

262. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the annual cost of providing Army security at Portlaoise Prison; the cost of escorting prisoners to medical appointments and court hearings outside the prison; the amount that is reimbursed by the Irish Prison Service to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26991/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.  

At the direction of Government, the Defence Forces continue to provide 24/7 security at Portlaoise Prison. They also provide prisoner escorts to and from the courts and hospitals, at the request of An Garda Síochána.

In addition to basic pay, prison duty allowance is paid to personnel of the Permanent Defence Force below the rank of Commandant engaged on security duties in Portlaoise prison. Military personnel drawn from all Brigades are mobilised into a special unit for this purpose.

The total cost associated with Defence Forces personnel performing ATCP roles at Portlaoise Prison for the year 2021 is set out below.  The total cost includes the costs of escorting prisoners to medical appointments and court hearings outside the prison.  These costs are not reimbursed and are met in full from the Defence Vote.

Year	Annual Cost associated with ATCP support at Portlaoise Prison
2021	€2,777,244

The Commission on the Defence Forces which was published on the 9 February 2022, included a recommendation “That an immediate focus be given to standing down a number of current Defence Forces’ ATCP taskings which no longer seem justified in the current security situation”. The next stage in the process is for the careful consideration of the recommendations and in-depth discussion and inter-departmental consultation. The intent is that following relevant consultation, and before the summer recess, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan. 

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (263, 264)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

263. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of applications that have been received for the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations for the junior certificate and the leaving certificate examinations in 2022; the number of successful applications for both examinations; the number of appeals for both examinations; the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals, respectively for both examinations; the breakdown of the categories for unsuccessful applications and unsuccessful appeals, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27038/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of applications that have been received from schools and educational institutions in County Meath for the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations for the Junior Certificate 2022 and the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022; the number of successful applications for both examinations, respectively; the number of appeals for both examinations; the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals for both examinations, respectively; the breakdown of the categories for unsuccessful applications and unsuccessful appeals, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27039/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together.

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Question No. 264 answered with Question No. 263.

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (265, 266)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

265. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of applications that have been received for the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations for the mock Junior Certificate examination 2022 and the mock Leaving Certificate examination 2022; the number of successful applications for both examinations; the number of appeals for both examinations; the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals for both examinations; if she will provide a breakdown of the categories for unsuccessful applications and unsuccessful appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27040/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

266. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of applications received from schools and educational institutions in County Meath for the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations for the mock Junior Certificate examination 2022 and the mock Leaving Certificate examination 2022; the number of successful applications for both examinations; the number of appeals for both examinations; the number of successful and unsuccessful appeals for both examinations; if she will provide a breakdown of the categories for unsuccessful applications and unsuccessful appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27041/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.

Neither my Department nor the State Examinations Commission has any role in relation to the setting, running or marking of mock examinations. Decisions to hold mock examinations are taken by individual schools and not all schools run mock examinations. The format of these examinations varies from school to school and are a matter for the school concerned.

Question No. 266 answered with Question No. 265.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (267)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

267. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will review the decision to grant funding for an ASD extension at a school (details supplied) but not for accommodation for staffroom facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27092/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department approved funding for the provision of permanent additional accommodation at the school in question under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in 2021. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.

The purpose of the 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.

At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.

The main focus of resources over the last decade has been on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and for special education needs provision. However, under Project Ireland 2040 there will be an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock.

As the Deputy may be aware, at a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease significantly over the coming decade, from a peak in 2018. While there will be local and regional variations, and the impact of Ukrainian arrivals will mitigate this reduction somewhat, there will be strategic opportunities to consider the overall accommodation needs of schools.

The Deputy may also be aware of the very significant school building programme that is currently underway. Overall, there are in excess of 1,300 school building projects at various stages of design, planning, and construction. Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme 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 will continue to work to ensure that capital investment in our schools is targeted in the most efficient and effective way to support schools in meeting the education needs of their students and communities.

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (268)

John Lahart

Ceist:

268. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with English teachers to discuss their concerns about the potential impact of moving the Leaving Certificate paper one to fifth year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27093/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

As the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience.

The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:

- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century

- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system

- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels

In my announcement I set out a clear vision for Senior Cycle, building upon the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA’s) Advisory Report. The reforms I announced on 29 March include initiatives to spread the assessment load for students and do so in a way that enhances student wellbeing.

As I set out in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 4 May 2022, the NCCA’s review of senior cycle involved an extensive range of research, consultations and communications with a wide range of stakeholders across a number of phases, including teachers and teacher representative organisations, including teacher unions and subject teacher associations.

As individual subject specifications are developed there will be further engagement with stakeholders including subject teacher associations. It should also be noted that teachers are represented on the Council of the NCCA and also on the various working and development structures employed by the NCCA. Furthermore, a network school approach will be used in the development of the first tranche of new and revised subject specifications which will also specifically involve teachers.

Education Schemes

Ceisteanna (269)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

269. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if the reconfiguration pilot scheme for primary schools has commenced; if an area (details supplied) was included in the pilot scheme; if it is possible for communities to request reconfiguration of schools in their area; and if the public will have any role in consultation in relation to reconfiguration. [27105/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Palmerstown/Ballyfermot/Chapelizod/Cherry Orchard was one of 43 areas surveyed as part of the patronage divesting process in 2013 and the outcome in this area at that time was that there was sufficient parental demand for a multi-denominational school.

As the Deputy will be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this.

The Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) and relevant Bishops have confirmed their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and cities. The engagement has involved reviewing learnings to date and developing agreed arrangements to explore reconfiguration opportunities in these areas as part of a pilot arrangement, as follows: 

Arklow	Athlone	Cork*	Dublin*
Dundalk	Galway*	Limerick*	Youghal

*parts of these cities

To facilitate the pilot, the Department has made available a number of independent facilitators across the pilot areas to work with the school patron and relevant school authorities at a local level:

- to progress the reconfiguration pilot initiative;

- to assist in identifying potential school(s) in this regard; and

- to engage with stakeholders including school authorities, school staff and the school community

with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this in the pilot areas.

As part of this process, in each area the facilitator appointed by the Department, along with the relevant patron/patron representative will review data on the schools in the area and will engage directly with the relevant school authorities to progress the initiative at a local level. The process will be shaped by the stage (if any) of consideration of reconfiguration in the area concerned and whether any schools have already been identified or have opted-in at this point.

While the facilitators have commenced their work and are working with the patron representatives in each area as outlined above, the process is at an early stage. 

The learnings from the process in the pilot areas should provide a pathway forward on the process for providing multi-denominational options for parents in other towns and areas of the country going forward.