Wednesday, 6 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 54-60

Broadband Services Provision

Ceisteanna (54)

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

54. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the broadband connection status of every primary school in County Meath; including whether or not the school has broadband; the speed of the connection if it does; the type of connection; for schools that have no connection, the date on which each can expect to be connected; the stage this process is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47219/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were re-tendered last year under a public procurement competition. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 with the aim of ensuring that satisfactory solutions would be awarded to schools.Where schools were awarded slow DSL solutions or satellite solutions, the contracts were for one year only and these schools were retendered for last August. In total 414 schools were retendered by way of a mini competition under the framework that was set up in 2012. Of those 414 schools, the Minister has awarded improved solutions to 14 schools in Meath, however these connections would not yet be installed and as they were only recently awarded an indicative date is not available. On the following spreadsheets there is a list of all schools in Meath and their current status and a list of the 14 new awards on a separate worksheet.

School Roll Number	School Name	County	Technology	Expected Bandwidth Down (Mbps)	Expected Bandwidth Up (Mbps)	Guaranteed Contention (x:1)
00883P	AINE NAOFA N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
00885T	RATOATH JUNIOR N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
01309L	STACKALLEN N S	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
01421F	KILSKYRE MIXED N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
03275H	NEWTOWN N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
05062A	KELLS PAROCHIAL N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
05630L	SCOIL MHICHIL NA BUACHAILLI	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
07120V	KILLYON N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
09238I	BALLINLOUGH N S	Meath	DSL	5	1.12	12
10801Q	DRUMBARRAGH N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
11039O	KILBEG N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
11978O	SCOIL MHUIRE NS	-	Satellite	1	0.125	64
12068D	OUR LADY OF MERCY NS	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
12488C	OLDCASTLE MXD N S	Meath	DSL	6	1.12	12
12788O	FLOWERFIELD N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
12897T	UGHTYNEILL N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
13775K	ST PATRICKS N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
14348T	CARRICKLECK N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
15104T	BRIDE NAOFA N S	Meath	DSL	10	1.12	12
15483H	ST LOUIS N S	Meath	Satellite	1	0.125	64
16067V	SCOIL NAIS FININ NAOFA	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	2	2	10
16100Q	MERCY CONVENT N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
16143L	S N PHEADAIR AGUS PHOIL	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
16549Q	KNOCKCOMMON N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	10	10	4
16655P	ST. NICHOLAS PRIMARY SCHOOL	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	6	1	10
16722E	SCOIL CHOLMCILLE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
16774A	SCOIL NAIS AN OBAIR	Meath	DSL	6	1.12	12
16790V	S N NAOMH SEOSAMH	Meath	DSL	5	1.12	12
16825O	KILBRIDE NATIONAL SCHOOL	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	24
16991I	CARNAROSS N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17029S	S N NAOMH CIANAIN	Meath	DSL	4	1.12	12
17123K	KILMAINHAM WOOD N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17162U	S N BHRIGHDE	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
17175G	BOHERMEEN N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17203I	S N ULTAIN NAOFA	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	1	10
17203I	S N ULTAIN NAOFA	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
17213L	S N MHUIRE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17220I	S N BHRIGHDE	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
17312N	S N CUL AN MHUILINN	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
17480L	S N BAILE CHEANT	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
17494W	S N AN RATH MHOR	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
17513A	S N CILL BHRIGHDE	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
17520U	S N MHUIRE	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	6	1	10
17521W	S N COLMCILLE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17560J	S N SEOSAMH NAOMTHA	Meath	Satellite	1	0.125	64
17623H	SCOIL NAIS UI GRAMHNA	Meath	DSL	6	1.12	12
17629T	S N PADRAIG NAOFA	Meath	DSL	10	1.12	12
17652O	SCOIL OILIBHEIR NAOFA	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
17705J	S N CROS BAN	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
17741N	SCOIL NAIS AITINN BHUI	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
17742P	SCOIL NAIS MHUIRE NAOFA	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	6	1	10
17821L	SCOIL NAIS MHUIRE NAOFA	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17839H	S N BHEINN NAOFA B	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17840P	S N BHEININ NAOFA C	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17856H	S N DUN UABHAIR	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
17857J	S N AINDREIS NAOFA	Meath	DSL	4	1.12	12
17930Q	S N SEACHNAILL NAOFA	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17946I	SCOIL NAIS NAOMH AINE	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
17947K	SCOIL NAOMH BRIDE		DSL	1	0.128	48
17964K	S N MHUIRE NAOFA	Meath	Satellite	1	0.125	64
17969U	S N MHUIRE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
17986U	S N NMH SHEOSAMH	Meath	DSL	1.024	1.024	4
18016O	S N COLUMBAIN	Meath	DSL	6	1.12	12
18037W	S N MHUIRE	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
18040L	S N NAOMH PADRAIG	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
18044T	S N NAOMH PADRAIG	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
18051Q	COOLE N.S,	Meath	DSL	5	1.12	12
18106P	S N NA TRIONOIDE NAOFA	Meath	Satellite	1	0.125	64
18132Q	S N MUIRE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
18169Q	S N RATH RIAGAIN	Meath	DSL	1	0.128	48
18195R	ST FINIAN N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
18344I	S N MHUIRE	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
18358T	S N FIACH	Meath	DSL	4	1.12	12
18413B	S N NAOMH TREASA	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
18429Q	S N MHUIRE	Meath	DSL	5	1.12	12
18448U	S N RATH BEAGAIN	Meath	DSL	4	1.12	12
18453N	S N MHICHIL NAOFA	Meath	DSL	5	1.12	12
18500T	S N NAOMH COLMCILLE	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
18762D	S N REALT NA MARA (B)	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
18767N	S N REALT NA MARA (C)	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
18887A	SCOIL NAIS MAOL HOSAE	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	5	5	4
19018A	DANGAN MIXED N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
19292U	CASTLETOWN N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	8	4
19300Q	CASTLEJORDAN CENTRAL NS		Satellite	1	0.125	64
19476H	ST OLIVER PLUNKETT NS	Meath	DSL	24.576	1.024	4
19486K	SCOIL NAIS DEAGLAIN	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
19671F	ST PAULS N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
19725C	GAELSCOIL EANNA		Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	2	2	8
19768U	SCOIL MHUIRE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
19779C	GAELSCOIL NA CILLE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
19813W	KILDALKEY CENTRAL N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
19867W	SCOIL NA RITHE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20017F	SCOIL AN SPIORAID NAOIMH	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20032B	DUNBOYNE JUNIOR N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20033D	DUNBOYNE SENIOR N S	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20051F	GAELSCOIL NA BOINNE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20082Q	GAELSCOIL DHUN BUINNE	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20164S	NAVAN EDUCATE TOGETHER NS	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20179I	ST STEPHENS NS	Meath	DSL	10	1.12	12
20180Q	SCOIL NAOMH EOIN	Meath	DSL	3	1.12	12
20191V	ST PETERS NATIONAL SCHOOL	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20200T	RATOATH SENIOR NS	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20215J	ST PAULS NS	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
20216L	SCOIL OILIBHEIR NAOFA	Meath	DSL	12	1.12	12
18174J	S N CAITRIONA NAOFA	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6	6
20258E	Gaelscoil an Bhradáin Feasa	Meath	DSL	1.024	1.024	4
19253K	Scoil Naomh Barra	Meath	DSL	6	1.12	12
20382F	Gaelscoil na Mí	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	6	1	10
17088L	Scoil Uí Ghramhnaigh	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	12	1
20396Q	Ashbourne Educate Together NS	Meath	DSL	12	1.09375	12
04210H	KILMESSAN MXD N S	Meath	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	12	1
02905J	S N NAOMH PADRAIG	Meath	On hold due to building works	-	-	-
16646O	ST MARYS CONVENT N S	Meath	Connection refused	-	-	-
20352T	ARD Rí COMMUNITY NATIONAL SCHOOL	Meath	Connection refused	-	-	-

School Roll Number	School Name	County	Compnay Name	Technology	Expected Bandwidth Down (Mbps)	Expected Bandwidth Up (Mbps)
17162U	S N BHRIGHDE	Meath	Digiweb	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	16	8
17946I	SCOIL NAIS NAOMH AINE	Meath	Digiweb	DSL	4	1.09375
18037W	S N MHUIRE	Meath	Net Limited	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	5	5
15483H	ST LOUIS N S	Meath	Net Limited	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	5	5
18169Q	S N RATH RIAGAIN	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	6	1
17203I	S N ULTAIN NAOFA	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	1
01309L	STACKALLEN N S	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	8	1
17560J	S N SEOSAMH NAOMTHA	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6
18174J	S N CAITRIONA NAOFA	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6
17947K	SCOIL NAOMH BRIDE	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6
17964K	S N MHUIRE NAOFA	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6
18106P	S N NA TRIONOIDE NAOFA	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6
19300Q	CASTLEJORDAN CENTRAL NS	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6
17312N	S N CUL AN MHUILINN	Meath	Ripplecom	Wireless Local Loop (FWA)	12	6

Schools Building Projects Applications

Ceisteanna (55)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

55. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any further consideration has been given by his Department to the application by a college (details supplied) in County Sligo which has forwarded revised documents on the provision of a link building extension at the campus at Lough Gill, Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47236/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is in receipt of documentation regarding the provision of a link building extension at the College referred to by the Deputy.

While the matter is still under consideration within my Department such capital resources as are available to the Department must be prioritised to deliver school places. This is the conclusion that the Government came to in deciding on the capital envelope to be made available to the Department for the years 2012 to 2016 in November 2011. In effect the education capital budget targets addressing the provision of much needed school places due to the extensive demographic growth and extends only to meeting commitments that existed in the higher education sector in November 2011. The exception to this latter position relates to the advancement of the Grangegorman project which is being progressed through the Public Private Partnership process as part of the Economic Stimulus Plan as announced in July 2012.

Schools Building Projects Applications

Ceisteanna (56)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

56. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any further consideration has been given by his Department to the application by a school (details supplied) in County Sligo and the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board for a phase 2 extension to the facilities at Riverstown, Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47237/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that following a further demographic review, devolved funding has been approved for the provision of a Phase 2 extension to replace temporary accommodation at the school to which he refers. The school authorities have been advised accordingly.

State Examinations Issues

Ceisteanna (57)

Heather Humphreys

Ceist:

57. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will instruct the State Examinations Commission to ensure that in future the leaving certificate rechecks are completed before the new academic year commences in view of the difficulties and distress caused to students who receive their correct results in mid-October, some six weeks into the academic year, when many students have already started a course that was not their preferred choice, and when they may no longer be able to transfer due to the fact that their first-choice course is now full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47243/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has advised me that the Leaving Certificate results which issue in August each year, are provisional and this is clearly stated in all correspondence they issue. Results may be subject to further check and alteration, usually through the appeals system. While the difficulties for students awaiting upgraded results in order to access their preferred college course are appreciated by the SEC, they have ensured that the viewing and appeals processes are delivered to the tightest possible timescales and deadlines. The need to process the appeal results as early as possible must be balanced with the need to allow appeal examiners sufficient time to carry out a thorough remarking of the students' work.

The SEC's objective is to ensure that the process of marking papers is as free from error as possible and that, in addition, there is a transparent, easily accessible and effective appeals process available to all students who feel aggrieved at the result achieved. I am aware that third level institutions generally make efforts to accommodate students who reach a qualifying standard following re-checks and I support that approach.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland Remit

Ceisteanna (58)

Derek Nolan

Ceist:

58. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been a reduction in the number of students enrolling in FETAC courses this year; if training fund reductions are responsible for this drop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47291/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, the awards formerly made by FETAC have been made by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) since its establishment in November 2012. QQI makes further education and training awards to a large and diverse range of providers, including large bodies such as SOLAS as well as small private providers of education and training.

QQI does not collect statistics centrally on the number of persons enrolled in programmes leading to their awards. That is a matter for the providers themselves. It is therefore impossible to say whether overall enrolments in 2013 are less than 2012. QQI only becomes involved when they are approached to provide awards to learners. Overall statistics on the awards made for 2013 will be available in 2014.

Figures for 2012 show that FETAC made awards to approximately 170,000 learners, compared with approximately 180,000 in 2011. However, the number of major awards increased from 37,857 to 42,593 in the same period.

With regard to funding, the amount allocated from the National Training Fund has been €362 million for each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Budget 2014 maintained this funding level.

State Examinations Reviews

Ceisteanna (59)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

59. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the development of e-portfolios being used for the junior certificate cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47322/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

It is envisaged that the school work component of the new junior cycle programme which may involve assignments, projects, case studies, oral activities and written pieces could lend itself very well to the use of electronic portfolios. Assessment of short courses, which are also a feature of the new Junior Cycle programme, could also lend itself to the use of ePortfolios. In view of this potential, my Department is exploring ways in which eportfolios can facilitate the implementation of junior cycle in schools.

Officials have met with a number of industry representatives to discuss requirements and also my Department along with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) – Technology in Education (formerly NCTE) and the State Examinations Commission (SEC), are participating in a European Commission funded eportfolios project.

There are six other EU countries (Austria, Cyprus, Slovenia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Spain) involved in the EUfolio project with a view to developing a common specification for the use of ePortfolios in second level education. As part of the project a number of post primary schools will shortly be invited to participate in a pilot. The pilot will be useful in informing our thinking on how eportfolios can be used in the junior cycle programme.

School Staffing

Ceisteanna (60)

Ciara Conway

Ceist:

60. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills the pension rights school caretakers have in situations where their employment is paid for by a grant or sum that is issued by his Department to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47323/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The majority of schools receive grant assistance in respect of caretaking or secretarial services under the Capitation Grants scheme.

Within the Capitation grant scheme, the level and extent of services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded under the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for secretarial and caretaking services according to their priorities and as resources permit.

Circulars 40/2009 & 48/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding for schools. The circular states that capitation funding provided for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

As the secretaries and caretakers are employees of individual schools, my Department does not have a role in determining the pay and conditions, including pension rights, under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities.