Written Answers Nos. 260-282
260. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the increase in workload for teachers with the new Junior Certificate cycle will mean new job opportunities for unemployed teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46281/12]
View answerIt is not the intention that the new Junior Cycle will require extra staffing. It is about working differently rather than adding to teachers' workloads. It is not expected that the reform will lead to significant changes in teacher numbers.
261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact the new Junior Certificate cycle will have on the take up of history at Junior Certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46282/12]
View answer262. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact the new Junior Certificate cycle will have on the take up of geography at Junior Certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46283/12]
View answer263. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact the new Junior Certificate cycle will have on the take up of foreign languages at Junior Certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46284/12]
View answer264. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact the new Junior Certificate cycle will have on the take up of science at Junior Certificate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46285/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 264, inclusive, together.
In the new Junior Cycle all students will be expected to achieve 24 statements of learning over the period of their Junior Cycle. These include valuing local and national heritage and understanding the importance of the relationship between past and current event and the forces that drive change, understanding the origins and impacts of social, economic and environmental aspects of the world around him/her, listening, speaking, reading and writing in a foreign language at a level of proficiency that is appropriate to the student's ability and observing and evaluating empirical events and processes and drawing valid deductions and conclusions. It is clear therefore that geographical and historical awareness skills, modern languages and scientific skills will be necessary to achieve the required outcomes. Overall, I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered at the discretion of the school, and of students having as broad a range of options to choose from as possible.
267. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the filling of the position of education officer with Wicklow Vocational Education Committee. [46338/12]
View answerMy Department received a request in August 2012 from Co. Wicklow VEC for approval to fill the vacant education officer post. My Department informed the Acting Chief Executive Officer that, in accordance with the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service, the vacancy could not be filled.
268. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was appointed to a position, turning down other opportunities in the process, and has now been removed from the position due to qualifications which were known in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46365/12]
View answerTeachers are employed under a contract of employment with the board of management of a school or a vocational education committee. It is the Board of Management or VEC, as appropriate, which is responsible for recruitment, selection, appointment, discipline and dismissal of staff in accordance with procedures published by the Department following consultation with the education partners. In this instance those procedures are outlined in the 'Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure, 2011' in relation to the recruitment process and Circular 31/2011 in relation to qualification and registration requirements, both of which are available on www.education.ie.
In accordance with Circular 31/2011 where an employer can satisfactorily demonstrate that every reasonable effort has been made to recruit an appropriately qualified registered teacher, a teacher registered under any regulation of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009 may be appointed pending the recruitment of an appropriately qualified registered teacher. The contract of employment must include a condition that the contract will terminate on the recruitment of an appropriately qualified registered teacher or the following 31 August, whichever happens first.
269. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Gaelscoil (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be allowed retain its second teacher in view of the needs of pupils in this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46369/12]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy is a newly established school which originally projected that it would have an enrolment of 25 pupils on 30 September, 2012. Based on this projected enrolment the school was allocated a principal and 1 mainstream teaching post for the current school year. The required level of enrolment, minimum of 20 pupils, failed to materialise at 30 September 2012. The school submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board which met on 18 October. The appeal was provisionally upheld on the basis that the school will secure it's projected enrolment by 31 December, 2012. If the required enrolment is not achieved at that date the post will be suppressed. The Board of Management of the school has been notified accordingly.
270. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of educational psychologists currently available to primary and post primary schools under the National Educational Psychological Service; the number provided in each year since NEPS was established in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46390/12]
View answer271. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of and percentage of primary schools who do not have access to an educational psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46391/12]
View answer272. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number and percentage of post primary schools that do not have access to an educational psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46392/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved and paid for by NEPS.
In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS encourages a staged assessment process, whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention, in consultation with their assigned NEPS psychologist. Only if there is a failure to make reasonable progress in spite of the school's best efforts, will a child be referred for individual psychological assessment. This system allows the psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention. Prospective candidates for assessment are discussed in general terms and agreed by the Principal and assigned psychologist. Parental consent to proceed with the assessment is obtained and a referral document is raised by the school, with input from parents and teachers outlining the child's specific difficulties and education history.
There are currently 167 psychologists employed within my Department's NEPS service (amounting to some nearly 159 whole-time equivalents when working sharing is factored in) and I attach for the Deputies information a table of the number of psychologists employed in this regard by year since its inception in 1999.
These psychologists are assigned currently to some 83% of Primary schools (representing 89% of the pupil population) and 93% of Post-Primary Schools (the same proportion of student population). Therefore some 570 primary and 48 post-primary schools have no NEPS psychologist assigned to them and, as described above receive assessment service from the S.C.P.A. I can inform the Deputy that an additional 10 new psychologists are currently engaged with the public appointments service with a view to their being recruited to NEPS in the current academic year at which stage, and following a short period of induction, they will be assigned schools.
No. of Educational Psychologists employed in NEPS by Year.
|
Year |
No. Psychologists |
Whole-Time Equivalent |
|
1999 |
43 |
43.0 |
|
2000 |
69 |
68.0 |
|
2001 |
84 |
82.5 |
|
2002 |
118 |
116.1 |
|
2003 |
123 |
120.4 |
|
2004 |
127 |
122.9 |
|
2005 |
118 |
114.0 |
|
2006 |
124 |
117.8 |
|
2007 |
134 |
126.7 |
|
2008 |
155 |
148.5 |
|
2009 |
153 |
146.9 |
|
2010 |
165 |
158.9 |
|
2011 |
173 |
166.0 |
|
2012 |
167 |
158.8 |
273. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects to have approval granted to commence the construction of permanent buildings to replace the existing prefabricated units in a school (details supplied) in County Kerry, as the prefabs are in a seriously deteriorated condition and are a health and safety hazard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46453/12]
View answerThe school, referred to by the Deputy, requested that consideration be given to the replacement of the school's temporary accommodation with a permanent structure. My Department has recently carried out a technical assessment and my officials will be in contact with the school authorities shortly.
274. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence regarding teaching posts (details supplied). [46516/12]
View answerThe redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the ability of the Department to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. The redeployment of these teachers was completed during the summer. However, some additional surplus also arises in the Autumn as a result of the suppression of teaching posts given to schools on the basis of projected September 2012 enrolments and the required level of actual enrolments not materialising. The mechanism for the redeployment of such surplus permanent teachers in the Autumn can result in a post that was filled initially by a teacher on a fixed-term contract to 26 October is then thereafter filled by the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher.
Boards of Management should make clear to teachers the contractual arrangements in relation to the filling of such posts. The allocation of all teaching posts is contingent on compliance with redeployment arrangements. This is monitored by the Department. The Department's assessment of compliance with the redeployment arrangements relates firstly to the requirement to notify the vacancy to the panel operator and then the requirement to offer the vacancy to teachers in the following sequence – firstly to surplus permanent teachers on the main panel, then to teachers on the subsidiary panel and thereafter to teachers on the supplementary panel before filling posts through open recruitment. Where it was found, based on information supplied by schools to the Department, that schools that are seeking to fill posts through open recruitment had not complied fully with the redeployment arrangements such schools are permitted to fill their vacancy only on a fixed-term basis.
275. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a Student Universal Support Ireland grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46518/12]
View answer276. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a Student Universal Support Ireland grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46519/12]
View answer277. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a Student Universal Support Ireland grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46520/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 to 277, inclusive, together.
The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). The eligibility of an applicant, or the level of the grant awarded, may be re-assessed by the awarding authority in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that they are reviewing the cases referred to by the Deputy in light of a possible change of circumstances.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
278. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 will receive a decision on their appeal for a student grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46542/12]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that the student in question applied for grant assistance and I understand that a decision has issued.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI. No appeal has been received by SUSI to date.
279. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in a tabular form a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies that have been created since 9 March 2011;the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body and if the body engages manpower resources from outside the body. [47124/12]
View answerNo new agencies have been established under the aegis of my Department since March, 2011.
For the Deputy's information: The Student Grants Appeals Board was established in September, 2011. The Board has seven employees and has a budget of €45,948 for 2012.
The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences were merged into one entity - the Irish Research Council (IRC).
The Deputy may also wish to note the following:- In June 2011, the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.- Since September 2011, the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) is within the remit of Dublin West Education Centre alongside the Department's largest support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST).
The Deputy will also be aware that there are a number of major structural reform projects and other initiatives being progressed in the Education sector (of which some are included in the Public Sector Reform Plan published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform last November). These include:
The amalgamation of the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) / establishment of 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The ETBs will take over the work of VECs and will have an expanded role in the delivery of further education and training across the country.
The consolidation of Higher Education provision under the Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.
The establishment of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland which involves the merger of the National Qualifications Authority, FETAC and HETAC.
Following the enactment of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, the necessary steps are being taken to establish the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board. This body will be funded from the contributions of the religious congregations offered in response to the request for additional contributions, following the publication of the Ryan Report. The legislation also provides for the dissolution of the Education Finance Board, which has almost exhausted the €12.7 million available to it, and the transfer of any remaining functions of the Education Finance Board to the new Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board.
280. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the French model of public procurement where a tender can be spilt up into smaller modules to make it easier for small and medium businesses to compete for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45924/12]
View answerThere are many EU countries including Ireland that sub divide larger contracts into smaller lots to make it easier for small and medium businesses compete for procurement opportunities. Current guidelines (Circular 10/10) issued by my Department require that public bodies conduct the public procurement function in a way that facilitates and does not place barriers to participation of small and medium enterprises. As one measure to achieve this, the guidance advises that the sub-dividing of procurement requirements into “lots” should be considered by contracting authorities where it would be appropriate and practical and can be done without compromising efficiency and value for money.
This guidance also highlights practices that are to be avoided because they can unjustifiably hinder small businesses in competing for public contracts. The key provisions of the guidance include:
- supplies and general services contracts with an estimated value of €25,000 or more to be advertised on the www.etenders.gov.ie website;
- less use of “restrictive” tendering procedures and greater use of “open” tendering;
- ensuring that the levels set by contracting authorities for suitability criteria are justified and proportionate to the needs of the contract;
- sub-dividing larger requirements into lots where this is practical and can be done without compromising efficiency and value for money.
In order to further encourage SME participation in public procurement as outlined in Circular 10/10, the National Procurement Service (NPS) recently established a Working Group on Small & Medium Enterprises to respond to public procurement issues arising for SMEs. The Working Group consists of representatives from the NPS, the Health Service Executive, the Irish Business and Employers Federation, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, Chambers Ireland, and the Small Firms Association. The Working Group will develop measures to highlight the scope that contracting authorities have under circular 10/10 to encourage SME participation in public procurement processes.
In addition, the National Procurement Service, as part of its education and development remit, also has an active programme to assist SMEs in how to participate effectively in the public service procurement process. To date the NPS has facilitated workshops and presented at seminars to over 3,000 SMEs nationwide. The next event in this programme will be a major 'Meet the Buyer' event in Kilkenny in November at which it is anticipated more than 400 SMEs will attend.
281. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the quantum of total salary payments to judges in each court in 2011; the annual savings achieved in each court following the 29th Amendment to the Constitution and the forecast total salary payments to judges in each court 2012. [45985/12]
View answerIn line with the favourable outcome of the referendum on the Twenty Ninth Amendment of the Constitution, which concerned judicial remuneration, legislation was enacted in 2011 to provide for the application of the two Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009 to both serving and new members of the Judiciary and military judges on the same basis as other public servants. This has resulted in reductions in remuneration for serving judges ranging from 23% to 16%.
In addition, for newly appointed judges, revised salary rates have been implemented to reflect the 10% reduction applied at the beginning of 2011 to new public servants appointed to the public service entry grades. These provisions effect reductions in remuneration for new appointees to the judiciary ranging from 31% to 25%. These measures came into effect on the 1st January 2012. A table outlining the total salary payments to judges in each court in 2011, the estimated total payments in 2012, and the approximate total savings for each court from 2011 to 2012 is below.
|
Court |
2011 |
2012 |
Savings |
|
District Court |
€9,140,305.02 |
€8,394,122.86 |
€746,182.16 |
|
Circuit Court |
€6,665,815.94 |
€5,702,620.09 |
€963,195.85 |
|
High Court |
€9,062,885.24 |
€7,298,186.02 |
€1,764,699.22 |
|
Supreme Court |
€1,843,147.80 |
€1,747,150.42 |
€95,997.38 |
|
Total |
€26,712,154.00 |
€23,142,079.39 |
€3,570,074.61 |
282. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the number of public servants that earn more than €100,000 annually; and the proportion of this number that this represents of the public sector pay bill. [45732/12]
View answerContemporary data on earnings for public servants is not available to my Department. The estimated number of employees with an annual salary over €100,000 (based on a whole time equivalent figure of 292,000) within the public service (excluding Commercial State Companies) in 2012 represents approx. 2% of the staff employed. Details of the numbers of staff by salary range over €100,000 are set out in the Table below:
|
Pay Range |
Numbers |
|
€100,001-€125,000 |
2,112 |
|
€125,001-€150,000 |
975 |
|
Over €150,000 |
2,721 |
|
Total |
5,808 |
The above salary figures include the reduction imposed on the remuneration rates of public servants under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009 effective from 1 January 2010. However, the salary ranges exclude the impact on gross salaries of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 which imposed a pension related deduction on the salary of public servants of an average of some 7% effective from March 2009.
