Vol. 517 No. 4
260 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if educational services are available to adults with refugee status; the total number of adults with refugee status; the numbers who have availed of any educational services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10082/00]
The Refugee Act, 1996 provides for the extension of certain rights to persons who are refugees. Under the Act, the right in relation to education and training is as follows: ". . . a refugee in relation to whom a declaration is in force shall be entitled to seek and enter employment, to carry on any business, trade or profession and to have access to education and training in the State in like manner and to the like extent in all respects as an Irish citizen."
The Act also provides rights to health care, social welfare and travel.
Thus refugees have rights of access to educational services on the same basis as Irish nationals. Statistical data distinguishing refugees from other persons participating in education programmes is not collected by my Department.
261 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will outline the additional services available, in both primary and post-primary schools, to assist in the education of non-nationals; the current arrangements regarding provision of extra teaching and financial support for the education of non-nationals; the number of schools that have availed of this support; and the number of extra teachers allocated. [10083/00]
Primary schools which have 15 or more non-national pupils with significant English language deficits are automatically entitled to an additional temporary teacher for a period of up to two years. Schools with 35 or more such pupils will be entitled to two temporary teachers.
Where two schools operate on one campus and have fifteen or more such pupils they will be entitled to an additional temporary teacher on a shared basis. Twenty three temporary posts have been sanctioned to date to deal with those cases.
Schools eligible for additional teacher(s) will also receive a once-off grant of £200.
Primary schools in which between four and fourteen, inclusive, non-English speaking non-national pupils are enrolled will receive grant assistance.
Schools with between four and nine such pupils will receive grant assistance in the amount of £5,000 while schools with between ten and 14 will receive grant assistance in the amount of £7,500. This grant aid is intended to enable schools to take appropriate measures to improve the standard of English of non-national pupils with significant English language deficits. Schools with three or fewer such pupils are expected to provide for the educational provisions of those pupils from their existing resources.
Eleven application forms have issued to primary schools in connection with the grant aid for refugees and seven schools have completed applications submitted to my Department.
At second level, my Department has allocated approximately 12 whole-time equivalent teaching posts in the current school year specifically to cater for the needs of children who do not speak English as their first language. Individual post-primary schools or vocational education committees may apply for additional teaching hours in respect of non-national students who may have particular English language deficits.
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides that the arrangements in relation to the allocation of teachers to cater for the education of refugees and asylum seekers will be subject to review. In addition, the refugee language support unit, established under the auspices of Trinity College, will be provided with a budget of the order of £1.2 million over the period of the programme to co-ordinate action for language tuition for refugees to assist them along the pathway to independent living. The unit's functions are fulfilled in co-operation with the refugee agency, FÁS and refugee groups themselves. In addition, refugees are among the groups catered for as part of the adult literacy programme provided by the vocational education committees.
All non-national pupils who are validly enrolled are included in the total enrolment of a school for the purpose of capitation grants, free books and other grants on the same basis as Irish pupils.
262 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science the educational services, if any, available to adult asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10084/00]
There is no distinction made between refugees and asylum seekers in relation to primary and post-primary education. It is not the policy of the Department to refuse any of these persons or their children access to the education system.
With regard to third level education, all programme and convention refugees and those who have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State have access to third level education and financial support under the same criteria as Irish nationals.
Traditionally, tuition fees have been charged in respect of non-EU nationals who wish to pursue further and higher education options in colleges in this country. Asylum seekers or other non-EU nationals who are not programme and convention refugees or have not been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State would not benefit under the general schemes of financial support for PLC and third level students.
