​Question No. 406
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the situation in Venezuela; his views on the elections for a new constituent assembly due to be held on 30 July 2017; the actions taken to date by the European Union in relation to recent developments in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017.
Ref No: 35854/17

REPLY

I reiterate my deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, a country faced with grave political, economic, and humanitarian crises. The past months have seen almost daily mass protests and violence in Venezuela, resulting in dozens of deaths in clashes between security forces and opposition demonstrators. The reported human rights violations, excessive use of force, and mass detentions are unacceptable. I condemn unreservedly any act of intimidation or violence perpetrated against those seeking to defend or exercise their rights, whether in Venezuela or elsewhere. 

Ireland’s view is that the establishment of a clear electoral calendar, the reopening of dialogue, and the full restoration of the country’s democratic institutions will be critical to achieving a settlement to the crisis. This was made clear when the situation in Venezuela was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in May 2017. Ireland and other EU member states used this opportunity to condemn the use of force in Venezuela and urge the Government and opposition to seek peaceful and democratic solutions through dialogue. 

Regarding the Constituent Assembly, I share the view expressed by Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, in her press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council last week. The convening of a Constituent Assembly risks further polarising Venezuela and increasing confrontation in the country. The focus of all political actors should instead be on finding ways to create the conditions to resume efforts towards a peaceful negotiated solution. 

While Ireland does not have diplomatic representation in Venezuela, officials at my Department and at our Embassy in Mexico, which has responsibility for Venezuela, will continue to monitor the situation closely. Ireland will continue to work with EU partners in trying to urge a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the crisis.

​QUESTION NO:  355

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to help alleviate the need for primary school places in Swords, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy will be aware from answers to previous parliamentary questions, there are 13 primary schools serving the Swords area.  My Department has been in direct contact with a number of these schools in respect of their junior infant capacity. In that regard it is understood that two schools in the area have junior places available should parents wish to avail of them for September 2017.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in school planning areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another school. 

My Department is monitoring the enrolment position in the Swords area closely. While the situation may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that the existing schools in the area can, between them, cater for the demand for Junior Infant places in September 2017.

​QUESTION NO:  332

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Malahide/Portmarnock Educate Together National School.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s capital programme.

Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.

​QUESTION NO:  331

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


The Patron of the new Swords post-primary school, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to defer its opening to September 2018. 

The Patron has confirmed to the Department that Swords Community College will open in September 2018, with a high number of applications having already been received. 

In respect of the permanent site my Department will continue to work in close co-operation with Fingal County Council and the site acquisition process is underway in respect of the permanent accommodation for this school.

​QUESTION NO:  330

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


The Patron of the new Malahide/Portmarnock post-primary school (Educate Together) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to postpone its opening to September 2018.  

Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.

Where a requirement for additional post-primary schools has been identified, details including proposed timelines related to the opening of the schools are made known by a Ministerial announcement. However, patrons may decide for different operational reasons in a particular year that it is in the best interests of a new post-primary school to defer its opening.  In some cases there may be a timing issue, where many parents will have already committed to other second level schools in the area ahead of the announcement of the new school.

​QUESTION NO:  329

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Gaeilscoil Ros Eo, Rush, Co Dublin.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme and a site acquisition process is underway.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.

​QUESTION NO:  328

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of the school building for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Lusk Community College, Lusk, Co. Dublin
  
REPLY.


The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at tender stage. Subject to no further issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2017 and the project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.  

QUESTION NO:  327

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin.
  
REPLY.


As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.

Officials in my Department have been liaising with officials in the relevant Local Authority and have been in contact with the school patron and trustees to discuss the potential acquisition of a site for the school. 

​QUESTION NO:  326

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Hedgestown National School, Balbriggan
  
REPLY.


The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2b - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.

My Department issued comments to the Board of Management on 7th February and had requested confirmation from the Board that a lease for the new school site has been finalized between the Patron body and the land owner. The Department has been in contact with the school again recently and has been informed that the site is being purchased by the parish from the land owner. The purchase is ongoing, however, a definite date could not be given as to when the contracts will be signed and purchase completed. 

Confirmation that the purchase has been completed will be required before stage 2(b) can be fully approved. Upon receipt of this confirmation my Department will then revert to the Board of Management with regard to further progression of the project.

​QUESTION NOS:  1713,1715

DÁIL QUESTIONS addressed to the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Deputy Eoghan Murphy)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien,Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 26/07/2017  

 
 
* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning; Community and Local Government his plans to carry out a formal detailed review of the pyrite remediation scheme; his further plans to amend the scheme to permit the inclusion of homes with a level 1 category damage assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26 July, 2017.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning; Community and Local Government his plans for homes that are affected by pyrite but that have been left out of the remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 26 July, 2017.

  
REPLY.


The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board, with support from the Housing Agency.  The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope.   The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.

The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave, established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol.  In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.  Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme.  This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave.  I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.