Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Jun 2024

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my matter today. The Minister of State is very welcome and I am delighted he is in as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works when this an Office of Public Works issue. That is really good news. I have had the privilege of working with the Chapelizod historical society and a lot of those same individuals are in Chapelizod Tidy Towns. They are the most passionate, committed, wonderful people to have the honour of working with because they are so active on the ground. Chapelizod has an amazing history but right at the heart of it, as you go into the Phoenix Park, a cromlech was discovered about 200 years ago. It is a small dolmen and a piece of our nation's heritage that goes back 5,000 years. Remains and jewellery were found under it. It was a most amazing find and there is a whole piece on it in the visitor's centre of the Phoenix Park. Everything about it is there, including the history and how extraordinary it is. Yet, here you have the cromlech that has been weather-beaten and left to crack under the heavy snows that fell a couple of years ago. The Chapelizod historical society has been raising the need for this to be preserved and protected for 20 years. At one stage, it proposed having a perspex cover over the top of it to stop a terrible crack in it from getting worse. It has been repaired over the years.

Various commitments were given and its importance noted but actually getting the finger out and doing something about it did not happen until a heavy duty vehicle crashed into it and broke a piece off in the last 18 months. It took until something that had stood there for 5,000 years actually got broken to do something. It caused untold damage to the monument itself but the heartache and grief of those who have been passionate about this was awful. There was a profound sense of loss and abandonment. We brought through a heritage Bill here from the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and I had raised it and asked him to come out to it on several occasions. He never once made a commitment to do so. He said he would but he never replied to any offers I put to him. It took until it was damaged before the OPW stepped up. I had believed it was a heritage issue; it is actually an OPW issue.

To be fair, the Chapelizod historical society held an event with the outgoing Lord Mayor of Dublin and invited me to it because its members and I have been passionate about this. At that event, officials of the Office of Public Works came forward and spoke about the repair of the damage and what they were going to do. They committed to engaging with the residents and the locals and I really believed them. On the day, I asked them if this was for real, as we have been talking about it for a long time and they said it absolutely was. They were not prepared to commit to a timeline and as you can imagine, things like that undermine confidence. I was eager to get it straight from the horse's mouth, that is, from the Minister of State, to find out where we are at with this cromlech. Let us see progress and let us see our 5,000 year old heritage protected.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senator Seery Kearney for raising this important issue about the cromlech in the Phoenix Park. I acknowledge the work of Chapelizod historical society and it is a project that Senator Seery Kearney has been with from the start. To give context, the cromlech has many names. It is called the Knockmaree or Knockmary dolmen or cist, the Knockmaree Linkardstown grave or simply the Linkardstown tomb. It is, as the Senator said, around 5,000 years old. The capstone measures around 2 m in length and 1 m in width and is supported by four slabs. It has a modern concrete pillar for stability. The underground chamber has a floor of compacted clay.

The cromlech was discovered in 1838 by workmen who were employed by the then commissioners of woods and forests to remove an ancient tumulus. When discovered, there were two almost complete male skeletons in the crouched position found inside the chamber. The artifacts found in the burial, which include a flint knife and a shell necklace, can now be found in the National Museum of Ireland. It is located close to the Chapelizod pedestrian entrance of the Phoenix Park. The Commissioners of Public Works, through their management of the Phoenix Park, also take care of the recorded monuments within. The Office of Public Works is committed to the repair and protection of the historically important cromlech. The cromlech is protected by the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 and is a recorded monument RMP DU18 - 007011. Unfortunately, the cromlech has been damaged a number of times over the course of its history. There are photographs from the 1970s that show the cromlech in pieces on the ground. It was extensively repaired with dowels at this time.

As the Senator stated, the Office of Public Works met the community at an event held by the Chapelizod historical society at the cromlech itself in the Phoenix Park. This focused on the required repair works to address the most immediate damage and making future plans for the protection of such an important site.

The OPW, with the National Monuments Service, intends to make the necessary repairs to the current damage to the cromlech capstone. There is a set process to ensure the works are carried out appropriately. First, the OPW submitted a ministerial notification to the Department of Housing and Local Government earlier this month. This is a standard requirement for all recorded monuments. A two-month notification period is required in advance of any proposed works. Where the Department has any queries or requires further information, this will be provided. However, if there are no requests for further information from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, then the Office of Public Works intends to complete these works by October 2024. We have to go through a process with the application to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A ministerial notification must go to that Department for all recorded monuments and a two-month notification period is required in advance of any proposed work. We are in normal dialogue with that Department. Once we get that notification, we will be looking to proceed with these works - I am talking about July, August or September over the next four months.

The Phoenix Park guide service is also currently working on interpretive signage for the site and it is envisaged that we will have a sign in place by October 2024. This signage will alert visitors to the history and importance of the cromlech. As outlined earlier, I reiterate that my officials and I recognise the historic importance that the cromlech holds for the park, the surrounding area and indeed the city. We are committed to ensuring that these repairs are undertaken and that the cromlech is protected for future generations.

Finally, to address an important point brought up by the Chapelizod historical society and community, the OPW, as caretaker of this site, feels that a surrounding fence would not be appropriate. In general, monuments throughout Ireland have been placed in their natural locations and fencing would disrupt the public enjoyment and understanding of this monument. However, we will continue to look at ways to protect and preserve the monument. The process is under way and once we have the ministerial notification from the Department, we will proceed. We hope to have the works completed in October. The fencing and protection of the site itself has been discussed. As a rule, the OPW wants to retain natural habitat and environment. Those are the latest updates and I wait to hear the Senator's observations.

I thank the Minister of State. In Ballina, there is a cromlech that the OPW has surrounded and to which it has given fantastic support and promotion. It has the signage and sympathetic infrastructure around it highlighting just how important it is. It is very important to Peter Kavanagh and the Chapelizod historical society that that is considered. I know that Peter has submitted photographs of the site in Ballina, County Mayo to the officials in order to say that this is what this should look like. There is no point talking about signage or commemorating the cromlech in the Phoenix Park museum if the actual thing is left open to the possibility of damage by scramblers or by anything and everything, because it is an area of the park which is tempting for scramblers. It is possible that that is what caused the damage, although again, fingers are pointing elsewhere. It needs to be safeguarded. There is sufficient space around it for a sympathetic bank or wall - a grass-type arrangement - to cause an impediment for scramblers to come in on top of it. The OPW is fantastic, in that when it does this, it does it incredibly well. Lastly, while I know the Minister of State has a busy schedule, I would love him to come down and meet these people and see their sheer passion and commitment.

I again thank Senator Seery Kearney for raising this important issue regarding the cromlech in the Phoenix Park. I will make three points. As for the officials, during my short time there I have seen a genuine intention and appreciation among the staff to try to preserve what we have in terms of the natural environment. Second, I will follow up with the Chapelizod historical society with regard to what has been implemented for Ballina, County Mayo. Third, I will find time to visit the cromlech together with the Senator. It is not too far away from here so we can arrange for that. Most importantly, as the Senator said, the cromlech is 5,000 years old. It is of fantastic historical significance and we in the OPW want to preserve it, as do the Chapelizod historical society and the people of Dublin generally. We are all working toward the same common purpose. Let us keep up the dialogue. I will follow up on Ballina and I look forward to visiting the site with the Senator.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach and I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for further and higher education. The Minister of State is aware that after a long process to determine how higher education funding should be carried out, the Government committed to addressing that deficit through the publication of a document called Funding the Future. That deficit was identified to the sum of €307 million. At the time when this document was published, in June 2022, the then Minister for Education stated in the foreword:

Today, we confirm our commitment to addressing legacy issues in higher education and detail our ambitious plans for investment and reform.

Crucially, we also set out our response to the increasing cost of third level education. Cost cannot and should not be a barrier to accessing education.

Clearly within that document, a sum of €307 million was identified. That was agreed between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the then Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. While that €307 million was to address core funding, that amount identified two years ago did not take into account any potential increase because of a rise in student numbers. It did not take into account pension costs and it did not take into account any sums of money made available under pay agreements. The €307 million was a base and there obviously were additional costs. I do appreciate that, as we continue to expand the numbers in higher education, the Government is committed to looking at meeting the full economic cost for all additional places. However, as the Minister of State will be aware, one of the difficulties is that under national pay agreements that have been honoured by our universities and the higher education system, the €100 million that has been provided over the last two budgets in core funding essentially has been gobbled up by the €90 million plus that has had to be set aside for the agreed pay awards.

It is right that the universities honour the pay agreements that are agreed by the Government with the wider public service but it means that we have not made any progress on that €307 million core funding issue that was identified two years ago. Once again, we are not taking inflation into account. The Minister of State will be aware of the fact that the public has seen significant cost-of-living increases and that applies as much to the higher education sector as to any other. The Government has rightly laid great emphasis on - and the Minister of State is aware that our party, in setting up this Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science made clear the importance of - further and higher education to our society and the economy. There is a problem of rhetoric not being matched by the reality. Addressing the core funding has been identified as a key priority for this budget by all of the stakeholders including the Irish Universities Association, the Union of Students in Ireland and all those involved in higher education.

My real concern, and I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will give us some answers today, is that Funding the Future is not being forgotten about as the baseline we set out as a Government to address this crisis.

The Senator raises a very important issue. I am happy to provide an update to him. The Funding the Future Framework, published in May 2022, outlines the Government's vision for how higher education will be funded and how this will support students, employers and wider society. At the core of this approach is the maintenance of a dual focus on increasing recurrent funding for our third level institutions to enable enhanced quality of provision while also addressing the costs of education for students and their families.

Budget 2024 secured an additional €65.2 million in core funding under Funding the Future, which combined with the €40.5 million secured in budget 2023, brings the total additional core funding provided under Funding the Future to €105.7 million. This funding will lead to increased staffing levels and enhanced support services for students. It will also expand the capabilities of our higher education institutions to deliver on priority skills needs and lead to the further development of tertiary programmes.

The provision of higher education funding on an annual basis is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy for the Government. It is of course imperative that funding continues to be made available to the Department to support these plans to progress reforms, to implement a sustainable funding model, to improve pathways from further education to higher education, and to address cost as a barrier. The additional €105.7 million provided over the last two budgets in response to Funding the Future, represents the Government’s policy intention to improve the standing of our higher education system internationally and to progressively bring our funding and staffing levels to where they need to be. It is aligned with the intent of Funding the Future that over a number of years further additional core funding will be prioritised through the Estimates process, while taking account of the Government’s budgetary and fiscal stance.

Additional funding has also separately been provided in recent budgets to meet other demands in the sector including demographic pressures and additional pay costs arising from public sector pay agreements. The level of increase, particularly in light of other demands on Exchequer funding, demonstrates the Government's commitment to the sector to enable it to fully realise its potential.

I appreciate that the Minister of State is only giving us the answer that is provided by the Department but the reality is that the additional pay costs that resulted from public sector pay agreements are not being matched by the funding being made available. The Minister of State mentioned that in the last two budgets there has, quite rightly, been an additional €105.7 million provided in core funding but the core pay costs have increased in our universities and higher education by more than €90 million so really we have not seen those costs being covered. The figure of €307 million was a shortfall identified two years ago. Obviously there has been inflation and I do not have a figure within the Minister of State's answer as to what that is now. The real test this year for the new Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, is if he will be able to deliver significantly on Funding the Future. If the Minister fails to deliver on it, he will not respond to the really important economic and social needs of this country.

Funding the Future outlines an ambitious programme of reform, centred on improving quality, driving skills and engagement, enhancing student participation and creating a more unified third level system. The measures taken over the last two budgets represent the Government’s response to Funding the Future. They signal the policy intention to improve the standing of our higher education system and to progressively bring our funding and staffing levels up. This investment will provide funding to strengthen capacity to deliver on reforms. This includes a reduction in the student to staff ratio.

In closing, the Senator will appreciate that, at this time, it is not possible to provide an indication of measures in budget 2025. The Government is committed to a right-sized and appropriately funded higher education system. We will continue to work through the Estimates process, which is starting now in all Departments, with the intention of delivering further investment in our higher education system. I thank the Senator for raising the issue and I will absolutely address concerns about the funding being provided to the higher education sector to the Minister.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The matter I wish to raise this morning is the future of Newpark Academy of Music in Blackrock, which has been a staple of musical education south Dublin for 45 years. It was founded in 1979 and is a really important small, effective, efficient, and incredibly well-renowned music school on the grounds of Newpark Comprehensive School on Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock. In May, this school closed and nobody seems to be able to divine why exactly that happened. It is a charity and it is something that has worked very well. It has been in operation since 1979. It had 600 students, 42 members of staff and was, on the face of it and as far as everyone could see, a very effective school. It had generated so many people as graduates of the school. One thinks of big names like Hozier and big names in music like drummers Rory Doyle and Sean Carpio, and singers like Aoife Doyle and Lauren Kinsella. Anybody who liveds in south Dublin will know of academy and many of them will have learned instruments there. It has been a vital pipeline for musical education, not just in Blackrock and south Dublin but in that wider Dublin and eastern regional area. It was a school of great accomplishment and great reputation.

In May, a decision was made without notice to anyone that the school would cease trading and would close. In fairness to the 600 students and their 42 members of staff, they have been left without answers and there are a number of questions they cannot get answers to from the board or from the people who are managing the school. It is grossly unfair on them. Importantly, it also shuts down that vital pipeline of musical education for Blackrock.

Music is really important as something that is available to people to learn. It obviously has massive benefits beyond the actual enjoyment of music. Music matters and the Newpark Academy of Music matters but it seems that the people who are involved in the academy simply do not have answers. I will put two specific questions to the Minister of State. The lease is owned by the Department of Education. The building in which the academy currently operates is leased to them by the Department and only the Department can take away that lease. I do not know what the status is of that lease and nobody can find out.

The second issue is that, as I understand it, no notification was made to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the 42 staff who are to be made redundant or what procedures will be put in place for them. Perhaps most puzzling of all for everyone is the rationale for closing this school. It appeared on the face of it to be so successful and so busy with 600 students. Why can it not be preserved as a going concern? If it is the case that there is financial difficulty or organisational difficulty, or whatever it might be, the Department of Education must step in to safeguard this school because if the Newpark Academy of Music closes it shuts off a way in which parents can bring extracurricular activities for their children and a whole collection of potentially hugely successful musicians will essentially be prevented from gaining a quality music education as they have been doing for a long number of years in Newpark.

I do not necessarily expect the Minister of State to have the answers today because I know he has kindly come in to answer this matter but can these questions be answered about the lease and about the status of the employees? More importantly, will the Department stand its ground and protect those people who are seeking musical education to provide them with a facility in line with its remit and step into the breach if that is what can be done? Whatever happens, let us save Newpark Academy of Music and the future musical education of the people of Blackrock. Let us ensure that when music matters, Newpark Academy of Music also matters.

I thank the Senator for raising this issue as it gives me a chance to provide an update to the House on the current position on the recently announced closure of Newpark Academy of Music.

Newpark Academy of Music is a separate entity and simply does not come within the remit of the Department of Education. It has operated from Melfield House, a 200-year-old building on the grounds of Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock. The building has hosted the academy since 1979. Whilst the academy used the building on this property that is in the ownership of the Minister for Education, the academy itself does not fall under the remit of this Department. The Department is aware of the recent decision by the board of the academy to cease operations. The Department's understanding is that this decision has been based on operational and financial concerns. The Department was not involved in any decision to close the Newpark music school. It is a stated policy of the Department to encourage and support the use of school facilities for wider community and recreational uses, where appropriate. Only yesterday we published revised procedures around that. We really want schools to be open to other entities and facilities, of which this is an example.

It should be underlined, however, that the primary role of the Department of Education is to cater for and deliver primary and post-primary educational needs locally. It is important to recognise the distinction with regard to the academy, which is a completely separate entity from the Department and the school.

As I said, I am grateful to the Minister of State for coming in. I know that he is acting on behalf of the Minister for Education, but I really think that answer is not good enough. It is not enough for the Department to wash its hands and say we are not specifically responsible and that it is a separate remit. As the Minister of State said, the responsibility of the Department is to provide education at primary and post-primary level. Music is part of education. The provision of musical educational facilities are tremendously important. It is not okay for the Department to wash its hands and say it can do nothing. The Minister of State may not be able to answer the question I have today, but I would be grateful if he would bring it back to the Minister, Deputy Foley. Does she accept that this is an important part of the musical educational infrastructure in Dublin? If so, is the Department willing to step in? We have no answers to the questions about why it is actually closed. If there are financial issues, would the Department not help to solve them? Would the Department not help to save Newpark Academy of Music when it knows the good it does, knows the educational benefit it has to everybody involved and knows that it is a mainstay of musical education in Blackrock? It is part of its remit, whether it is primary or post-primary. Primary and post-primary students as well as adults go to that school. It is not good enough for the Department to wash its hands.

I fully understand and appreciate the concerns the Senator raised. That said, the decision to close the academy was not made by the Department of Education. The academy is not in any way under the remit of the Department of Education. The role of the Department of Education is to support, fund and deliver primary and post-primary education in the State. This is the update as far as the Department of Education is concerned. As I understand it, the Department has no further information with regard to this situation.