Written Answers Nos. 63-70
63. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide full details, shown separately for the National Asset Management Agency and the National Treasury Management Agency, of all professional fees, including the identity of the service provider, incurred in the provision of public relations, media and communications services in 2011 and to date in 2012. [41024/12]
View answerI am advised by NAMA that it, operating under the aegis of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), draws on the NTMA’s shared services in a number of areas including its outsourced press office facility. The NTMA does not maintain an internal press office. Instead, its internal communications resources are supported by an external service provider (appointed following a public procurement process) - currently Gordon MRM - in order to offer a full press office and communications service (including out-of-hours contacts for the media) across all the NTMA’s business areas: Debt Management, NAMA, NPRF, NDFA, SCA, NewERA and during 2010 and 2011 the Banking Unit.
These arrangements were put in place during 2010 in light of a significant increase in the volume of domestic and international media queries being received by the NTMA and associated bodies.
That contract is now coming to an end and the NTMA is retendering the contract in accordance with public procurement procedures.
In view of the tender process, I do not propose to publish details of the costs of the outsourced press office function at the current time. I will have this information forwarded to the Deputy following the closing date for receipt of tenders - 15 October.
In the light of the sovereign debt crisis the NTMA also engaged Powerscourt - a London based communications consultancy - for international communications initiatives in the funding and debt management area. Total costs of €74,395 (ex VAT) were incurred in 2011. No costs have been incurred in 2012.
64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he and his Department can engage with children at primary and or second level with a view to identifying structures most likely to address noticeable issues such as bullying, low self-esteem or depression and putting in place relevant support structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40880/12]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that an Anti-Bullying Forum was held on Thursday 17th May bringing together a range of experts, support groups and representatives of the schools sector including parents and students. I was very pleased to open this important Forum and to provide an opportunity to explore with all the relevant stakeholders how best to tackle bullying in schools and to consider what changes or updating of existing practices and procedures are required to achieve this having regard to what is feasible to implement in the current financial climate. The range of speakers on the day of the Forum included contributions from my Department, Professor Mona O'Moore of the Anti-Bullying Centre, Trinity College, representatives of the National Anti-Bullying Coalition (NABC), and contributors from the school sector from the various perspectives of school principal, parent and pupil. The Forum also gave other stakeholders an opportunity to give their views. The proceedings of the Forum were broadcast live over the internet and recordings of the day's events can be now viewed by accessing the Anti-Bullying Forum webpage of my Department's website www.education.ie. The presentations of the various speakers can also be viewed and downloaded from this page. As a follow on to holding the Forum itself, I invited the stakeholders and any other interested parties, including those unable to attend the event on the day, to submit their views on this important topic to my Department by 29th June 2012. The Deputy will be aware that Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory part of the curriculum in primary schools and in the junior cycle since 2003. SPHE provides particular opportunities to foster the personal development, health and well-being of the child and to help him/her to create and maintain supportive relationships and become an active and responsible citizen in society. SPHE aims to foster self-worth and self-confidence and places a particular emphasis on developing a sense of personal responsibility for one's own behaviour and actions. The Deputy will also be aware that I recently established a working group to address the issue of tackling bullying in schools. During the course of its work, the working group will be considering the outcomes from the Forum together with the submissions from stakeholders and other interested parties.
65. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide some information on the categorisation of VEC’s, further to Circular 24/2012; if he will detail the criteria used for this categorisation; if he will detail the way in which this criteria was applied to North Tipperary; if this categorisation impacts negatively on the staffing structure for the new Education and Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40737/12]
View answerOn 19 June last, my Department published Circular 24/2012 which detailed the categorisation of the new Education and Training Boards (ETBs), once established, for the purposes of the pay scales applicable to Chief Executive Officers of these Boards. The categorisation of each ETB, including the Board encompassing County Tipperary, is based on a proposal set out by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). It would not be appropriate for me to speculate on the criteria used by the LRC in formulating its proposal, or on how such criteria may have been applied in the case of County Tipperary ETB. This categorisation relates specifically to determining the salary scale applicable to the Chief Executive Officer of each of the new ETBs. It will not impact on staffing numbers or structures.
66. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) in Dublin 24 must take a taxi to and from school and leave an hour early; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40758/12]
View answerBus Éireann has advised that due to the re-location of part of the school in question, school transport services to this school were re-organised, including the service of the pupil referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann has been requested to provide a detailed report to my Department on the re-organised services to establish the factual position.
67. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places in undergraduate medicine offered to candidates in the Education (D.A.R.E.) scheme in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 in UCD and TCD; and the number of combined HPAT and CAO points achieved by the lowest scoring successful applicants to UCD and TCD under the D.A.R.E scheme in 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 [40765/12]
View answerThe Disability Access Route (D.A.R.E) to education is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on a reduced points basis to school leavers with disabilities. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions under this programme are regulated by the institutions themselves. Further details are available at www.accesscollege.ie. I understand that UCD offered two places in undergraduate medicine under the DARE scheme in each of 2010, 2011 and 2012 academic years. UCD allows eligible applicants under DARE compete for the quota of places within a 15% reduction off the published points for the course. Due to the small number of places available in UCD they considered it inappropriate to disclose the points for the lowest scoring successful applicants as disclosing this information would be potentially giving personal information which could be identified with the individual.
The DARE Undergraduate Medicine (course code TR051) offers for Trinity College 2010 – 2012 are as follows:
2010: 3 offers under DARE. Highest points 711, lowest points 642. Minimum entry points to TR 051 = 731
2011: 6 offers under DARE. Highest points 736, lowest points 698. Minimum entry points to TR 051 = 739
2012: 7 offers under DARE. Highest points 746, lowest points 708. Minimum entry points to TR 051 = 746 The information above has been supplied to my Department by the Higher Education Authority.
68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the statutory powers that have been delegated to Ministers of State in his Department; and the date on which the statutory powers were delegated. [40778/12]
View answerThere is one Delegation of Functions Order currently in force in my Department. Under the Education and Skills (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (SI No. 379 of 2011), the Government delegated to Mr Ciarán Cannon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, the powers (other than the power to prosecute an offence) and duties of the Minister for Education and Skills, conferred on him by or under the Industrial Training Act 1967 (No. 5 of 1967), the Youth Employment Agency Act 1981 (No. 32 of 1981), the Labour Services Act 1987 (No. 15 of 1987) (other than subsection (2) of section 3, section 6 and Schedule 1), section 7(1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 (No. 51 of 1998), in so far as it relates to adult education, including educational disadvantage (within the meaning of section 32(9) of that Act) among adults, section 7(1)(c)(ii) of the Education Act 1998, in so far as it relates to transport services, and the National Training Fund Act 2000 (No. 41 of 2000). This order was made on the 31st May, 2011.
69. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if CAO offers can be issued more promptly after the CAO results are published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40902/12]
View answerThe entry requirements for third level education courses are determined by individual higher education institutions and the processing of applications is administered by the CAO on their behalf. My Department does not have any role in relation to the operation of the CAO or the timing of offers of places on courses.
70. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department funds the installation of CCTV cameras in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40903/12]
View answer71. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of State run schools that have installed CCTV cameras in the school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40904/12]
View answer72. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the incidence of school break ins have dropped with the installation of CCTV in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40905/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 72, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the general security of the school community is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new school buildings and major extensions. This includes the provision of perimeter fencing, CCTV, smoke and fire alarms, emergency exits etc., as an integral part of the design process. In addition, over the past number of years, school authorities had the opportunity under Summer Works and Minor Works Grant Schemes to carry out works to improve school security. However, due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it is not possible for me to advance with these Schemes for the foreseeable future. My Department does not have access to specific data in respect of the number of schools that have installed CCTV cameras or the impact of CCTV installation on the incidence of school break-ins. Individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for health and safety issues, including making adequate security arrangements at schools. School authorities should liaise with their local Gardaí who are best placed to provide practical advice and support and to make recommendations on how best to mitigate the potential risk to the school.
